Page 8 of Savage Surrender

“Can we visit you?” he asks. “Where is this place you’ve been staying? I need a number. An address.”

My teeth grind together. I open my mouth, but nothing useful comes out.

Weller steps closer. “We’re staying with her, sir. We’re making sure she has everything she needs.”

Dad holds Weller’s gaze, then looks at me. “Okay,” he says slowly. “You’re staying for dinner, then. Can you spend the night?”

I want to say yes. I want to crawl into my bed under the glow-in-the-dark stars and pretend the last few years were one long, terrible dream. “I’d love to, but⁠—”

Someone knocks hard on the front door. “Ms. Quinn.” Ellis is back to professionally polite, rasp and all. A deeply irritating combination. “Your time is up.”

Dad’s body goes rigid. “Time is up?” He turns toward the door. “What the hell does that mean?” Another knock lands harder than the first. Dad yanks the door open. “Excuse me? My daughter isn’t going anywhere unless she wants to.”

I wish what I wanted mattered.

“Sir, your daughter is under supervised medical care. If she refuses transport, I’m required to report her as a danger to herself.”

I touch his arm, and he pulls me into a hug. “It’s okay,” I say. “I have to go, but I’ll come visit soon, I promise.”

“You better. We miss you. Winston convinced us you needed to heal on your own terms but please don’t go back to the woods. Come here.” He holds me tighter. “I love you, honeybee.”

He looks over my shoulder at Weller. “I want to sit down with you boys soon and have a proper conversation.”

I squeeze Dad’s shoulder and make myself step away. Mom rises when I approach, and I wrap my arms around her and feel her trembling.

“I’ll figure out how to tell him,” she whispers against my hair. “Let me handle that.”

I nod into her shoulder.

“Bianca, before you go...” Winston gestures toward the dim hallway beside the kitchen.

I follow him into the narrow laundry room. He pulls the door mostly closed behind us. The room smells like dryer sheets and old wood, so familiar that I stand there for a second and breathe it in greedily.

“I’ll get what we need for the blood tests,” he says quietly, his eyes kind. “And we’re getting you the fuck out of there. Everything’s almost set up. We found a place to hide you. Ezra and⁠—”

“Ezra? Is everyone at the refuge okay?”

“Keep your voice down. The refuge is fine.” He glances at the door. “Being watched, but fine.”

“No one has approached?”

“No, it’s an attempt to confine them so they don’t interfere with you. Pass a message to the guys - Mason is waiting to hear from them.”

“Wait.” I hold up a hand. “Mason? Why does it feel like there are a bunch of plans happening behind my back?”

Winston’s nose crinkles. “They didn’t tell you?”

“How long has everyone been conspiring behind my back?” I ask, looking at him incredulously. “I hate this. Just because I’m a girl, I’m out of the loop?”

“They’re trying to protect you, Bianca. They are insanely territorial now after losing you for five years. Weller and Tristan coordinate with Ezra, Mason, and me. We’ve been working together since you disappeared into that lunatic’s abyss. We want to make sure we can hide you. They’ve been assuring me no one is physically hurting you. We are getting money together - a safe house.”

“Next time, don’t leave me in the dark, Win. The sentiment is sweet. But it really pisses me off.”

“I’ll tell you everything. Here.” Winston hands me a small black phone. “Do you think you can sneak this in? It would make coordinating easier if I had a way to contact you.”

I look at the phone, considering, then back at him. “They’re going to search us when we get back.”

“I figured.” He moves to put the phone back in his pocket, and I snatch it before he can.