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“Google is free,” I repeat. “And I lead a pretty boring life, so…” I roll my shoulders in a shrug. “I’ve got time.” It feels a little obsessed to say that I stalkedCyrilall over the internet to figure out who the man was and that it was dumb luck that I figured it out. I’d rather them think that I’m just that determined and definitely just that smart.
“Good girl.” I have no idea where it comes from or why Ashe ruffles my hair, but I look up at him balefully all the same. “So you’re not going to scream, cry, or tell us to stop, understand?” His petting of my hair turns into a rough, bruising grip as he pulls me forward, out of Isaac’s protective hold. I don’t mind. I’m not afraid of Ashe, and even though he’s maybe, partially, threatening me, it’s hard to be afraid when I remember just how good he is with his mouth.
“I don’t plan on doing any of those things.”
“If you’re a good girl, you’ll get a treat.”
The old argument that rises in my throat makes me huff. “I’m not a fuckingdog,” I remind him, pulling back so that he has to either let go or pull my hair free from my scalp. He lets go.
“I know,” he agrees magnanimously. “You’re our precious Wendy Darling.”
If any more of them pick up that stupid nickname, I’m going to riot. Loudly, painfully, and destructively.
“We’re wasting time,” Isaac points out. I look at him and see he’s shifting from foot to foot, eyes on the building in front of him. He looksexcited, like a dog about to be set loose to hunt the rabbits in the brush, or at least to flush them out for larger predators.
Though, in this situation, I feel like they’re both the most terrifying things out here.
Ashe leads the way, pushing open the glass doors as both Isaac and I follow him. There’s a woman sitting at the front desk, and she looks up when she sees us, her face puzzled.
“Can I help you?” she asks, her voice full of the same confusion as her face.
“Nah,” Isaac says, heading straight for the elevator. “We have an appointment.” If the woman wants to ask anything else, she doesn’t get a chance. The elevator doors close, and for a moment, I feel a lot like Trinity inThe Matrix, about to go up and do something cool.
Only, I can’t dodge bullets, shoot with any kind of accuracy, or use melee weapons to my advantage. While Ashe and Isaac could be Neo and Neo number two on any occasion, I wouldn't exactly make a good Trinity when push comes to shove.
The comparison makes me smirk, and in the polished metal of the elevator doors, I can see my distorted, leering reflection looking back at me as we ascend.
“I’m kind of hungry,” Ashe admits, just as the elevator comes to a stop. “You guys are interrupting my lunch plans, actually.”
“I can take you to lunch?” The conversation is so out of place. Socasualfor the situation. “My treat.”
“No. You always want pancakes,” Ashe denies. “I don’t want pancakes.”
“What do you want?” I ask, staying in step with him as he follows a swaggering Isaac down the hallway.
“Steak.”
“Ehh,” I shrug. “I think pancakes sound better.”
He looks at me in abject horror, and I can’t help but giggle from nerves and hislook. My stomach is twisting the further we go, my heart reaching to pound in my throat to the beat ofthis is a bad idea.
“I’m joking,” I tell him. “Real lunch sounds pretty good right now.”
“I’lltake you,” he offers, sniffing disdainfully at Isaac. “To somewhere that breakfast isn’t on the menu past 10 a.m. If you don’t throw up everywhere or freak out.”
“She won’t,” Isaac says, stopping at the end of the hall in front of two large, wooden doors. “She’ll be fine.” He sounds so sure. So confident in me.
I wish I felt so sure.
