Page 54 of Lost In The Dark

Adam was waiting for us as we reached the living room. He looked as nervous as I felt about me leaving the house, but when Jordan had suggested he come with us if he were so worried, he’d declined, saying he had some errands to run.

“All set?” Adam asked as he stood from the sofa and looked me up and down.

“I just need my coat, I think.” I tried not to stare, but it was hard when he looked so good in his workout clothes. He obviously planned to hit the gym when we left. He spent hours down there, in the huge home gym which was set up in the basement. Asher too when he had chance. It had very quickly become clear to me why they were both as built as they were.

“Here, honey. I have your gloves too. You’ll need them today.” He told me as he held out my coat and the padded gloves Eli had insisted I needed, since my hands were always so cold. “I packed a bag too. There’s some snacks, water, and a thermos of hot chocolate.”

“Thanks dad,” Jordan laughed. “You pack first aid supplies and snake anti-venom too?”

“Fuck you,” Adam gave his brother a gentle shove. “I just wanted to make sure you had some stuff. Addy gets shaky if her blood sugar drops. You know that.”

“Thanks, Adam. I’ll be fine,” I tried to reassure him.

“Just make sure you don’t get too cold. You tell Jord if you need to go back to the car, okay?”

“Jesus Adam, relax. We’re both adults. I think we’ll survive a walk around the park,” Adam snarked as he grabbed the backpack and threw it over his shoulder.

“Fine. Just make sure Kane stays in sight. Call me if you need anything.” Adam leant in to kiss my cheek when he was done talking and it was hard to miss the worry written all over his face.

“See you later,” I told him with a smile, and I was relieved when he returned it.

We left the house, and outside an SUV was sat on the drive. I looked into it and saw the outline of Kane behind the wheel. I was dreading getting into the car but when I slid into the back, he didn’t even turn to look at me. He asked Jordan if we were ready to go, then we were moving. He was acting like I wasn’t even there, and even though I told myself that was for the best, it still hurt. He had told me he saw me that day in the pergola, in the garden, but now it seemed he just didn’t want to see any more. I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to see myself right then.

***

Driving into the center of New York had been crazy, especially for a girl from a tiny town that considered itself lucky to have aCostcoopen on the outskirts, a few years back.

I was relieved to get out of the traffic as Kane pulled up outside central park and got out of the car. I tried not to look at him when he opened the back door. Thankfully, Jordan stepped out first, then reached in to take my hand and help me out.

“Okay?” he asked me as I stepped onto the packed sidewalk and instantly pressed closer to him.

“It’s busier than I expected.”

“The park will be quieter,” Jordan assured me as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his side. It helped. I felt safer pressed against him.

I watched as one of the other security guards appeared and slid into the drivers seat of the car, then drove away, leaving us stood with Kane.

“Where’s he going?” I asked.

“We can’t stay parked here. He’ll stay close and I’ll call him when we need the car,” Kane answered. I glanced up at him but purposely avoided his eyes. I knew I’d get pulled in if I focused on those captivating green/brown eyes. I just nodded and looked all around me instead. The park was behind us, and huge, towering buildings surrounded it. The traffic before us was crazy and there seemed to be people milling about everywhere

I could feel the familiar tingling in my toes and the ends of my fingers, my anxiety rising.

“Jordan…” I whispered as I grabbed at the bottom of the thick padded coat he wore.

“I’m here, beautiful. We’re okay. No one is going to hurt you,” he told me as he grabbed my other, still cast hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Time to live, remember?”

I took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes again. He was watching me patiently. I knew if I told him I couldn’t do this, he’d take me straight back home without question, but he was right about me living. I wasn’t sure I ever had, not when I considered my life before I was taken, and definitely not during the years I had spent taking care of my mother and suffering her constant abuse. I had survived. I had gotten by, but I had never really lived and I wanted that.

“I’ll call the car back. She can’t do this,” Kane grumbled as he ripped off the leather glove he wore and pulled a cell from his tight jeans pocket. That was the final push I needed. He didn’t think I was strong enough and I hated that. Him doubting me made me feel like a complete failure. But I wasn’t. I was strong enough, or at least I could be. I was strong enough to try anyway.

“No! I’m okay,” I said as I sent Kane a determined glare. “Let’s go,” I told Jordan as I returned my gaze to him and smiled a little.

“You heard the lady,” Jordan said as he glanced behind him to Kane, then we were moving into the park and away from the crowded sidewalk.

“Adeline!” Kane called behind me, and I turned to him with annoyance. “You don’t have to prove anything. If you can’t do this there’s no shame in it.”

“My name is Addy,” I ground out through clenched teeth. “And I’m not trying to prove anything.”

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