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“My necklace?”
Lucas knew it sounded like a random question, given the circumstance. “There’s something inside of it. Something your dad put there to help you and your mom if certain people caused any problems after his death.”
“You mean, like, when my uncle took everything away?”
“Yes,” Lucas said, not wanting to waste time with details and unsure what he should and shouldn’t be sharing.
He could feel her hand move toward her neck. “Yeah, I’m wearing it.”
“It’s not safe for you to have it right now. Will you please let me keep it for you?”
She hesitated. Likely conflicted. If it was from Marshall, it was important to her. Sort of like a talisman or lucky charm. Lucas understood.
“Will I get it back?” she asked in a soft voice.
“Absolutely.” As long as he was capable of protecting it.
She pulled back, and he could see a faint outline of her hands moving to the back of her neck. A moment later, she pulled out his hand and placed it in his palm.
“It’s…kinda special to me, so please don’t lose it. Promise.”
His other hand found the back of her head, and he kissed her on the forehead. “I promise.”
That task achieved, he had to think about what to do when the door finally opened and he would be taken away. “Listen to me, Mia. There’s a cord of wood to the left of the door. When the guards return, they’re going to take me away. I want you to stay on the other side of that wood-pile and not make a sound. Do you hear me?”
“Where are they going to take you?”
“To another room. One that’s…more secure. I need you to stay hidden. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“No matter what they do…” They could start throwing punches again. “…or what they say, stay behind the pile of wood in the corner against the wall.”
“Should I go now?”
“Not yet,” he said, holding her tight against him. “I need to hold you a little longer.” He felt her arms fly around his neck, holding him tight, and he breathed her in. After a minute, he pulled her back by her arms. “After they take me, you’ll have a small window of time to move past them while they’re securing me in another room. Go straight to the stairwell. You’re going to have to move quickly. But be careful, there may be more guards upstairs.”
He could feel her head moving in agreement under his chin. Going back out the way she came in wasn’t an option given the goons standing nearby. But if she could get to Flynn and her mom, maybe they could find a way to escape together. If anyone could make it happen, it was Flynn. “I want you to find your Uncle Flynn. He’s likely in the downstairs office. Remember where your dad’s office used to be?” Again, he felt her head move in confirmation. “He’s either there or in the upstairs bedroom, second door to the right. Tell him I have the necklace and to do whatever it takes to get you and your mother out of the house.”
“Shouldn’t I take it to him? The necklace, I mean?”
“No, it’s not safe for you to have it. Just tell Flynn, and he’ll know what to do to get you and your mother somewhere safe.”
Not two minutes later, a light outside the door came through the cracks, and Lucas heard voices.
“What the fuck, Nadir? You’re supposed to be guarding the door while I checked on Hillsboro. Not taking a fucking nap.”
Lucas gently nudged Mia toward the wall on the other side of the door, the small streaks of light making it easier for her to make her way to the far side of the room and behind the stack of wood.
He slipped the necklace inside his shoe in case they’d search his pockets again.
As he straightened, the door swung open, and the two men each grabbed a bicep, the one on the right plowing his fist into his gut, making him suck in a gasp and double over.
Thankfully, there was a God who had listened to his prayers as Mia remained hidden as they dragged him bent over and out of the room.
“Hillsboro confirmed he’s on his way,” the guard who gave him the gut-punch said to the guard, Nadir. “We have to strap him down in the med room. It’s his turn to take a nap.”
* * *
