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I don’t remain conscience long enough to hear the reply.
16
GAVIN
Muffled voices infiltrate my groggy mind, and I try desperately to rouse from what feels like a drugged sleep. There’s a piercing ache in my temples, my mouth is dry as hell and my lids seem to be made of lead, they’re so hard to lift.
It’s the smell of bacon in the air that gives me the strength to finally crack open both eyes.
For a moment, I gaze out into a fuzzy haze of shapes and colors. But after a few blinks in an attempt to clear my vision, I find myself staring into the quizzical face of a child that seems extremely familiar to me even though I’m sure I’ve never met her in my life.
“Hello,” I say.
Tiny creases form between her brows and she narrows her bright eyes on me. “Did you know you talk in your sleep?”
“No.” I frown back at her. “What was I sayi—” Suddenly, the entire room comes into focus.
Everything here is completely foreign to me. I’ve never before seen the antique floral prints hung on blue walls, the painted dresser and armoire, or the three shelves full of chess trophies.
“Where am I?” I try to sit up, only to realize I’m restrained to the yellow spindles of a headboard. “What the fuck?”
The little girl’s jaw drops open. “That’s a really bad word.”
“Says who?”
“My mom. She says it all the time, but tells me I shouldn’t. Not that I would. I don’t like how it sounds on people,” she adds with a hint of distaste.
“Who’s your mother?”
“Anderson Burrows.”
“Andie?”
She nods. “I’m Charlotte. But everyone calls me Lola.”
Lola. Of course. How could I not immediately recognize her? Even if she wasn’t Andie’s clone, I’ve seen her picture on her mother’s cell phone screen.
“What do you prefer to be called?” I ask her, unable to keep myself from staring at the miniature version of Andie.
She wrinkles her small nose and shrugs. “Either.”
Glancing toward the door I assume leads to the main living area, I whisper, “Where is Andie?”
“In the kitchen.”
“Did she do this to me?” I tug the ropes holding my wrists firmly.
I wince as a sudden wave of pain slices through my brain, bringing with it faint memories—Being roughly dragged out of the casino, my body shoved into the seat of a vehicle, tires screeching. Two female voices, Andie’s and someone else.
Andie’s hovering over me as she tied me up.
“Why did she tie you up?” Lola asks, her frown deepening. “I asked if you were a bad guy, but then Momma just got that funny look on her face, like when she doesn’t want to answer me but can’t think of a lie.” She takes a breath. “So are you a bad guy?”
Dropping my head onto the pillow, I shut my lids until the pain subsides. “I’m not sure anymore, kid. I need a doctor.”
“Miri is in nursing school. She said you’d be okay.”
Cracking one eye, I look at her. “Who’s, Miri?”
