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“Shit, Aggie…” Jamie sighed and gave me a look that was too close to pity for my comfort. “You have my number. I’m always down to hang out, you know. I think we might even be able to get Mary to go out with us.”
I smiled. “I—”
Loud footsteps quickly approached the kitchen and I sat up, thinking it was the guys rushing to see me. That was the level of pathetic I’d reached. Instead, five men I’d never seen before filled the kitchen, their eyes all narrowed in on me. I gasped and nearly fell off my stool as I stumbled away from them, unsure of what was happening.
“Miss Young? Jim Rune, head of security for Mr. Graves. I’ve been instructed to remove you from the property.” A mountain of a man, Jim Rune stared down at me. “Now.”
Jamie held up his hands and came around the island. “Wait a second, guys. This has to be some kind of mistake.”
“No mistake. Mr. Graves wants you and your things out, Miss Young. If you don’t cooperate, we’ll be forced to call the cops and have you charged with trespassing.” The man winced. “Also Mr. Graves’ orders.”
I stared back at them, unable to make sense of what I was hearing. “Sorry… what did you say?”
“Call him back. Call Mr. Graves and get your orders straight.” Jamie wrapped his arm around my shoulders and held me close. “Call him.”
“No. Mr. Graves was very clear. You have thirty minutes, Miss Young. If you’re not finished packing in that time, we’ll finish for you.” Jim stepped aside. “Twenty-nine minutes and forty-five seconds.”
I looked at Jamie and then at Jim. My heart had already cracked open, even without my brain fully processing everything. I pressed my fist to my chest and wiped my face with my other hand. “Um. Okay. I’ll…I’ll pack.”
Jamie swore. “This is fucked up, Aggie. I’ll call them and fix this.”
I put my hand over his and shook my head once. I was holding on by a thread. “No. I’m going. Just…find Gracie so I can say goodbye?”
“No, ma’am.” Jim sighed. “You’re not to see Gracie. You’re to pack your things and leave.”
I became a statue as a crushing pain, unlike any I could remember feeling, settled throughout my body. Dragging in my next breath hurt. I wasn’t sure if I exhaled before I tried sucking in more oxygen.
“Fuck this. Give her some space. Fuck your thirty minutes. I’ll help her, if this is how it’s going to be. Just back up and leave her alone.” Jamie pulled me into his side. “We all work for fucking monsters.”
I didn’t remember climbing the stairs or sitting on my bed, but there I was, sitting on it while Jamie packed my clothes. I could see him folding my shirts like it mattered. He was muttering to himself, but I couldn’t hear him. I couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of my heart in my ears.
They were having me removed from the property. I was no more to them than a piece of broken furniture. Once I’d served my purpose, they had someone come take me away to wherever broken things went. I’d spent so much time worrying about being without them that I’d never considered how we’d part ways.
Jamie’s face appeared in my vision, concern etched deep. “I’m so sorry, Aggie. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’ll call you. You’ll be okay.”
I blinked as I felt myself being lifted from the bed. Looking over, I saw one of the security guys holding my arm. The rest of them were shoving my things in trash bags without care. They had a job to do and nothing else mattered.
“Come on.” Jim grabbed my other arm and they led me out to the stairs.
“Aggie!” Gracie’s voice rang out, confused but happy. “Where are you going? Do you want to swim?”
I tried to pull away from the men holding me, but they refused to release me. I realized that they really weren’t going to let me say goodbye to Gracie, even though she was standing right in front of me.
“Aggie?” She looked up at me with fear in her eyes. “Aggie, where are you going?”
“Please, please. Just stop and let me tell her goodbye. For her sake. Please, just let me tell her goodbye.” I whispered urgently at Jim, but he didn’t even glance at me. With no other choice, I twisted as far as I could and raised my voice. “I have to go, Gracie. It’s okay. I…I love you. Remember our secret club and keep your chin up, butterfly.”
Gracie ran after us, latching onto my legs. “You can’t go! Why are they taking you? You have to stay!”
The sound of her screaming drew Olivia into the mess. She looked horrified and immediately grabbed Gracie. “Let her go, Gracie! Now!”
“No! No, no, no!” Gracie screamed at the top of her lungs and held onto my tighter. “Aggie, stay with me!”
I struggled against the men holding me. “Gracie, it’s okay. Gracie, butterfly, you have to let go.”
Olivia yanked harder at Gracie. “Stop this, Gracie!”
One of the men carrying my things dropped my bags and moved at Gracie like he was going to grab her. I struggled harder and shouted at him. “Don’t touch her! If you’ll just stop! Juststopand give her a second!”
