Page 53 of Stolen Rebel

I take it I’m dismissed because he picks up his glasses and pen and goes back to his papers.

I try—unsuccessfully—not to panic on my way back to the kitchen. A cup of tea will settle my nerves.

“I’ll take a cup if you’re making it.” Sorcha’s voice pierces the air as I reach for a mug, and my soul nearly leaves my body. I hate how obvious my fear is around these people.

When I spin to face her, she holds a hand up. “Sorry. Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

I cover my chest with my palm trying to convince my heart not to go into cardiac arrest.

“I don’t blame you for being jumpy.” She puts a paper bag on the table and sweeps in to take over tea duty. “Sit. I’ll sort this.”

She makes the tea in silence, puts two cups in front of us, and reaches into the bag, producing a handful of chocolate bars. She grins. “Period provisions.” She spreads them out then gestures for me to pick. “Friends don’t let friends consume unholy amounts of chocolate alone.”

My throat tightens. I miss my friends (okay friend, singular), my life, even my job at the shitty bar. I pick up a Twix and wag it at her. “Fine. But only if you’ll go to the shop for me when it’s my turn.”

She grabs a Lion bar. “Deal.” Her bar is half gone before I’ve even peeled mine open, and she makes small talk, about the weather, about what I want for dinner, and everything that isn’t the elephant in the room. Or rather the burner phone.

After about half an hour, she goes to make another cup of tea, and when she puts it down in front of me, she hands me the phone.

Relief floods my veins, tears fill my eyes, and I stare at it like it’s a mirage.

“Hurry up and tuck it out of sight before someone sees it.”

I stare at her in silence before putting it in my pocket. “Why?” It’s not that I’m not relieved, but I’m not sure whether I trust it.

She shrugs. “Protecting the Mahoneys comes with the ring. It’s just that simple.”

Is it?

Regardless of her motives, I’m already looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight knowing that Brian won’t be going door-to-door looking for me. I’ll make my check-in and pray he doesn’t hear a lie in my breathing.

Chapter 26

ROWAN

I try not to sprint up the stairs to my room, the thrill of victory surging through my veins making it hard to stay calm. Is it really a victory? Feels like it. Getting my phone back and being able to make today’s check-in feels like a win given my current circumstances.

It’s even harder to sit still until it’s time to message Brian. Too early, and I’ll raise his suspicion, too late and he’ll send in the cavalry.

So… I read in the library. Sorcha brought me some adult coloring books and markers, so I do that for a while, too. There’s a deep satisfaction coloring in a giant “fuck you” when it’s all I want to scream at my captor sometimes.

When it’s finally time, I make my way back to my room, scratching Titan behind the ears as I pass her in the hall, close my door, and take up position on the bathroom floor before I dare to power up the phone.

When it flickers to life, emotion clogs my throat. Sorcha charged it for me. The full battery sign weaves relief into my muscles. I lean my head back against the wooden door, sucking in a steadying breath.

It’s okay. I can do this. It’s going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.

The screen lights up with missed calls and texts that start out curt and escalate to rage. Shit. My stomach dips. I guess Brian decided not to wait until our arranged check-in after all.

Sometimes he likes to flex his authority over me outside of our regularly scheduled programming. He probably beats his chest when he texts, too. Just so we all know he’s the one in charge.

Carol

Where are you?

Answer me.

Don’t make me ask twice.