Page 205 of Unexpected Heroine

I guess that makes sense. I would have probably said yes if you’d been honest with me about it. I might not have borrowed Freya’s shoes and purse the night I was taken. It could have saved me.

Lyin’ Snake:

That explains why I couldn’t track you. But I didn’t know you were missing until Monday. So even if you had your own shoes or purse, I wouldn’t have known to access the tracking and look for you until Monday.

Sugar Bear:

Oh yeah. That’s right. So it would have happened either way.

Lyin’ Snake:

I’m sorry, baby.

Sugar Bear:

How fucked up is it that I’m both enraged you were spying on me and pissed you didn’t spy better?

Lyin’ Snake:

I get it. I invaded your privacy all those times, but not when you needed me to.

Sugar Bear:

Subject change. I want to meet him. My father.

Lyin’ Snake:

I know you do. When?

Sugar Bear:

I don’t know yet.

Lyin’ Snake:

Take all the time you need. Just let me know when so I can tell him first. In fact, I almost told him today. You texted me while I was in the middle of a conversation with him. Now I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t want him to force a meeting with you before you’re ready.

Sugar Bear:

I’ll let you know.

Lyin’ Snake:

Okay. I’m here for you. Whatever you need.

Chapter 36

Treat yo' self

LETTIE

“Ana? Oh my gosh.” Tina’s sweet face lights up, and she bolts across the room into my arms.

A slight oomph leaves me from the impact, but I shrug off the pain. Hers is another one of those hugs worth the ache. Such a sweet girl. Wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again.

She pulls out of the hug and pins me with an affectionate stare that warms my aching heart. “Are you staying here now too? Or here for day therapy?”

Tina’s the fourteen-year-old who woke up in the same room with me at the nightmare house. The last time I saw her, she was being carried into the emergency room by one of Tomer’s coworkers, tears streaming down her battered face. As I smile at her now, I find myself wiping her cheeks with my thumbs, utterly grateful there are no wet streaks this time.

---