Page 77 of Torin

A moment later, the axe starts up again.

“Does he ever relax?”

“That is him relaxing.”

I laugh.

I dry my hands and lean back against the counter.

“I wish I knew how.”

Torin turns from the sink. “How to relax?”

“How to sit around when there’s nothing I can do.” I pick at a loose thread on the dish towel. “Bennett won’t be back for days. My dad’s out there telling everyone I’m some confused little girl who needs rescuing, and all I can do is wait.”

He frowns. “You’re safe here, Hannah.”

“I know.” I let out a breath. “I just hate... doing nothing.”

He watches me for a second. “You need something to keep your brain busy.”

I smile. “Pretty much.”

“Something you can get obsessed with.”

I point a finger at him. “Now you’re getting it.”

He smiles. “Hang on.”

“What?”

“I think I know just the thing.”

He heads for the hallway.

“Torin.”

He looks back.

“What thing?”

His grin widens. “Come and find out.”

14

Torin

Hannah follows me along the hall. At the far end, I open the door to the stairs and step aside.

She peers into the stairwell. “What’s up there?”

“Come and find out,” I say, grinning at the curiosity on her face.

I start climbing, and she follows close behind.

Nobody bothers with the upper floor anymore. There are too many rooms downstairs for the four of us, and over the years anything we didn’t know what to do with ended up here. I haven’t been up myself in a long time.

At the top, I push open the door to the landing. Hannah steps through behind me. Doors line both sides of the hallway.