54. Ember
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
EMBER
E lsie grips my hand the entire drive, and I squeeze it every so often to offer her quiet comfort.
She was standoffish when we first met, but now she clings to me like I’m the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
Which might be the case.
I can’t imagine the things she’s been through over the last seven months. In fact, I’m actively trying not to let my imagination run wild because I think it will probably break me.
Maybe her surly attitude when we met was her own way of protecting herself.
Cain waves us out of the van and into the clinic without giving us time to look around and get our bearings. Honestly, I’m too struck by the sunlight to see much of anything.
It’s so bright out here compared to the cells, and I have to squint to stop my eyes from burning.
Once inside the waiting room, he gestures to a couple of seats, and we sit without argument.
There are a few people sitting around, but they don’t so much as look up at us, which is suspicious, seeing as most people are inherently nosey by nature.
I don’t know for sure, but if Lucas is bringing us here, and he’s not worried about the doctor on duty calling the cops when they inevitably figure out we’re not here of our own free will, I’d guess this place isn’t aboveboard.
Fantastic.
That’s exactly what I need to be dealing with right alongside my shattered heart and loss of freedom. A doctor who likely doesn’t have an active medical license.
Cain sits down across from us and flicks through a magazine, his gaze flicking around the room every so often.
Elsie grabs my hand again and takes deep, calming breaths. This is not the time to try to escape, that much I’m sure of.
We might be able to get out the doors, but we don’t know where we are, and realistically, we don’t know how many of the people sitting here would help Cain get us back.
Those are not odds I’m willing to play with.
The door swings open, and a man with a baseball cap walks in, his eyes focused on the reception desk as he steps forward and speaks to the middle-aged woman behind the desk in hushed whispers.
He nods a couple of times, and I find myself analyzing his every move.
Why does he feel so familiar?
It’s not until he turns toward the seating area and I meet soft green eyes that my entire world tilts on its axis.
Darius.
Oh my god.
He gives me the smallest of nods before he takes a seat on the other side of the waiting room.
It takes everything in me not to stare straight at him, because I don’t want to draw any attention to him, but I manage to train my eyes on Elsie’s hand in mine.
She’s so tiny and definitely malnourished. I’ve heard her stomach rumble a handful of times in the hour we’ve spent together, but she doesn’t seem to notice it.
Cain pulls his phone out to take a call, and I hang on every word he says.
“Yes, we’re here.”
He pauses for the other person’s response.
“No issues. The girls have been well behaved.”
His filthy eyes drag over us both before flicking around the room again.
“I’ll go in with them and won’t let them out of my sight. Don’t worry, boss.”
He listens for another beat before ending the call and returning to his magazine.
I swallow heavily around the lump in my throat. “Cain?”
“What?”
“Would it be possible to get some water? I’m not feeling very well.”
“I don’t care.”
I frown. “I feel really dizzy. I think I’m dehydrated.”
He lets out an annoyed growl before shoving to his feet, turning his back on us for long enough for me to pull the blade from the pocket and shove it into Elsie’s hands.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
“The guy over there in the ball cap?” I pause to let her find him before continuing. “He’s my best friend. He’s here to save me. To save us. If you get the chance to run, go straight to him, okay? I’ll do the same.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but I squeeze her hands in mine.
“Please, Elsie. He will keep you safe, and I’ll be right behind you. If you get the chance, run.”
She nods hesitantly, and I breathe out a calming breath as I lean back in my seat, forcing my body to settle as Cain’s hulking frame weaves back through the chairs and shoves the paper cup at me.
“Here.”
“Thanks.” I offer him a small smile he doesn’t deserve before draining the contents.
For the first time since I woke up in that cell, I feel a whisper of hope in my chest, and I allow myself to lean into it.
“Ember and Elsie, right this way.” An older man with a receding hairline says, looking right at us with too much interest.
I help Elsie to her feet and follow after him, sparing Darius one last look before we step out of sight.
My heart aches knowing Orion isn’t waiting for me out there, but he’d want me to fight like hell.
He’d want me to survive, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.