9. Sawyer
SAWYER
In the morning, Luna comes to retrieve me. But she isn’t alone.
I’m staring at the ceiling when the door bursts open. A frequent nightmare flashes: boots stomping, wood splintering, someone yelling ‘FBI.’
I sit up, half tempted to raise my hands, but when I see which meaty neanderthal has accompanied my handler, I can’t even bother with the joke.
Thorne strides into the room, giant arms swinging like sledgehammers. When he glares at me, I try to gauge if it has anything to do with last night.
“I was wondering when I’d see your beefy face again.” I sit back on my hands. “I thought for sure you’d come visit me at the mines. I made tea and everything.”
The big guy’s face reddens as his hands ball into fists, while Luna seems content on ignoring us both. Her attention locks on the crumpled paper I’ve since flattened and laid on the dingy table.
“Where’s your collar, Dreg?” Thorne spits like it was me who took it off. Or he just really wanted the chance to call me Dreg.
“She didn’t let you visit, did she?” I tip my head toward Luna. “Why do you think that is?”
“Because she knew I would kill you, and we aren’t finished with you yet. But don’t worry, Dreg… Your time is coming.”
“But not today?”
His jaw tics. He only glares in response.
“Hmm.” I flick my eyes between him and Luna. A black turtleneck bunches against her jaw as she carefully reads the paper. “She must not have told you about last night.”
My lips pull as the large, tan space between his brows bunches, but I’m hardly enjoying this. Riling Thorne up is too easy. It’s Luna I’m interested in hearing from.
He turns to her with the question in his expression, but she doesn’t seem interested in answering it.
Her face is a blank mask as she looks at me, the piece of paper lifted in her hand. “These are the names?”
“My grocery list, actually.”
“Answer the Head Keeper’s question.” Thorne shuffles a foot my way. He looks like there’s an invisible wall he’s struggling to break through, his face tomato red with self-restraint. It seems pointless for him to be here if he isn’t allowed to hurt me.
Why?
I meet her eyes. Her vacant, unfeeling eyes, but I know better. It’s an act. There’s something underneath that frosty exterior, but whether it’s rage or deep sadness, I’m not sure.
I hope it’s rage.
“Yes… The region listed is my best guess of their location.”
“Tell me about them.” She lowers the paper and cups her hands behind her back.
“Aubry is a sure bet. She suffered severe abuse from a husband who isolated and subjected her to daily psychological torment. She hadn’t left her home in a year when I found her and spent the first five months on my island terrified to go outside…
I’m pretty sure she left my island with a master, but she’ll adjust if you let me introduce her to your compound at my pace. ”
A breath slowly exits Luna’s nostrils as she allows the slightest bit of relief to show in a momentary slouched posture.
She rights herself in an instant, but for the second she slips, I feel something strange.
Disappointment, I think. Because the relief she feels is about to blow the fuck up in her face.
At some point, I’ll think it’s funny. Right now, I don’t know what I think.
“Is she a single mother?”
I rear back just a hair, my eyes constricting.
Luna raises a brow. “Isn’t that your preference?”
Blinking slowly, I shake my head.
She thinks I’d scoop up someone’s mother for here? This fucking breeding farm?
“That isn’t the type we’re going to be targeting.” You fucking monster. “They’ve already experienced their children being taken from them. Most would rather die than relive that… Aubry is young and malleable. Trust me, she’s a good fit.”
Luna’s chin raised high, she nods. “And Liberty?”
I don’t jump to answer. But I don’t hesitate long. Just the right amount of time to make it seem like she’s harder to explain, but that I’ve thought the decision through.
And I have thought it through.
It’s terrible. It’s fucking evil. The worst thing I’ve ever done, by far. Already, I regret it.
But it’s done. It was done the moment the idea occurred to me.
“Liberty is slightly more complicated. She was also in an abusive marriage but not as full of gratitude when I rescued her from it. I ended up selling her to a master on my island known for being ruthless and cruel, which I’ve always regretted…
” Regret is a massive understatement. “He took her with him off my island. For her sake, I want to take her back.”
Luna frowns. “Will she be a problem?”
You have no idea.
“No… She’ll be upset at first, but give me some time with her, and she’ll calm down. They all will.”
Luna stares at me a few moments, her chest lifting and falling before she breaks her gaze to Thorne and hands him the paper. “Go ahead, my love.”
Slowly, he reaches out to take it. The paper crinkles in his tight grasp as he pins me with a death stare. He doesn’t look thrilled to be leaving us.
Is he going to be the one to get the girls?
An image conjures of Angel with a gun to Thorne’s head, asking him one last question before he pulls the trigger.
Who sent you?
I can see my old friend in my mind perfectly. His chilled voice. His cold eyes. It’s funny that I once thought Luna resembled Liberty, because no. She’s Angel… Patient. Clever. Ruthless.
If he kills Thorne but learns I’m the one who sent him, he’ll come here for revenge.
If Thorne successfully captures Liberty, he’ll come to save her. And then get his revenge.
Either way, he’s coming.
Once Thorne leaves, Luna gives me a brief glance before heading for the door. “Come… It’s time to see the library.”