When West shows Sam and Hayden, Sam rolls his eyes. “The future grandfather of our children, everyone.”
West’s phone pings. “Leslie says she’ll meet us around back at the entrance for food delivered. I’ll text Kole and let them know they can move to the lab.”
Kole and the guys will use the same hole in the gate we used to escape to infiltrate the underground lab. And if they fixed the gate? I guess they’ll just have to make a new one.
Nodding, Sam starts the van up and pulls out of the spot we had been hiding in. We had stopped about two minutes from the entrance, and when the gates for the Thornfield Asylum for the Criminally Insane come into view, I shiver.
Hayden’s hand finds my knee, and when I look over at him, he gives me a determined look. “They aren’t keeping us, Fireball.”
My hand clasps over his, and I meet his steely gaze. “Burn it down?”
He smiles. “Burn it down.”
It’s only been about a month since we broke out, but so much has happened in the meantime, it feels like a lifetime ago. The Jo that entered these gates the first time is completely different from who I am now.
We pull up to a back gate I’ve never seen before, just in time to see Leslie rushing toward us. She squints at the headlights shining in her eyes as she starts to undo the lock on the chain holding the gates together. The woman who looked so put together and utterly fabulous the first time I met her is practically falling apart, her hair limp and circles under her eyes.
She pulls the gate open, waving us in. Sam pulls forward, parking behind the cafeteria.
Shuffling out of the car, I notice the way Leslie’s eyes dart around, like she’s expecting someone to pop out at any moment.
“Hurry,” she hisses, waving us in. “We don’t have much time.”
The four of us move together behind her until we reach the corner that goes between the cafeteria and the medical wing. “This is where I leave you.” She glances around again. “Everyone should be at dinner right now. Just keep in mind, things aren’t the same since you left. Doctor Whitmore's been giving—”
My head snaps up. “Whitmore? He’s here?”
Leslie looks confused. “Of course he is. He came back about two weeks ago. And he’s…” She shivers, shaking her head. “You’ll see for yourself. Please be careful.”
Sam gives Leslie a look of understanding. “My dad has Hudson. He’s in good hands. Do you still have access to the lockdown protocols?”
“Yes.”
“Lock the doors to the staff housing. But set it on a timer to unlock in…” he checks his watch, “two hours.”
Jaw tight, she nods and disappears into the night.
Taking a deep breath, I double-check all my supplies again. Knives strapped to my legs, pistol at my side. It’s go time.
“Are we sure about this plan?” Hayden hisses, sounding unsure for the first time. “If things have changed as much as Leslie says—”
“We don’t deviate.” My voice is hard. “Let’s go.”
My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and when I check it, I curse. “Aidan says we have five minutes until the cameras in the Monroe house go live.”
“Let’s get this over with, then,” Sam mutters, and we all follow behind him.
Pasting a slightly maniacal grin on my face, I kick the doors of the cafeteria open. A sea of navy blue and orange jumpsuitsgreets me, bringing back way too many memories. The noise has the inhabitants jumping though, and then all eyes are on me.
Conversations hush, and then…silence.
“What’s up, bitches?” I grin, striding forward into the center of the room and looking around. “Did you miss me?”
“Holy shit,” someone mutters behind me, and then a flurry of gasps and whispers flow throughout the room. Guess they didn’t recognize me at first since I’m actually healthy now.
Three orderlies lining the Cafeteria go pale, and one looks like he’s about to bolt, but then my guys are coming into the room behind me, West and Sam standing in front of the doors.
Turnip squeaks, scrambling out of my jacket pocket and climbing to my shoulder, where she proceeds to let out a series of chitters that I can only hope to interpret as“What’s up, human bitches, did you miss me?”
