Page 44 of Betrayed

Close the door? No, I need to get out. I pulled away and turned towards the door, but I wasn’t fast enough. AJ grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. I still had a death grip on the door, so it pulled closed when I leaned back against my seat. My chest rising and falling in rapid bursts as I tried to suck air into my lungs.

“Look at me.” He waited, but I couldn’t move. “Blake, please, look at me.” He reached up and gently turned my head.

When I finally made eye contact, the concern in his eyes nearly pushed me over the edge. AJ spoke softly as he gave me instructions. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” He grabbed my hands and held them, rubbing the backs with his thumbs. “You’re going to follow my lead while we do some breathing exercises, okay?”

It was too hard to talk while my lungs screamed for air, so I nodded.

“Breathe in nice and slow, like this.” He counted to four as he inhaled. I only made it to two before I exhaled. “Good.”

How was that good?I only made it halfway.

“Let’s try again.”

I don’t know how long we sat there before I got my breathing and heartbeat under control, but it felt like forever.

“I’m okay now.”At least I think I am.

“All good in the carriage. Aurora is Oscar Mike again.”

I remembered them telling me they’d refer to me as Aurora if things went bad. Apparently, Meg had a thing for princesses. I didn’t think much about it, other than being annoyed at being called a princess. I didn’t care if it was ironic that I hated being called a princess when my father called me his princess.

That was different. He meant it as an honorific, the daughter of a king; SSI meant it as a damsel in distress. When I said I didn’t want a code name; John said it was standard operating procedure.

I’d foolishly believed they wouldn’t need to use it.

And who the fuck is Oscar?

“Who’s Oscar Mike?”

“Sorry, military speak for on the move.”

“Right. Will everything be in code now?” I couldn’t keep the irritation out of my voice. I was smart enough to know I was acting out because of my fear, but couldn’t stop myself from doing it.

“Some of it will. I know this is stressful and frustrating for you, but there’s a reason for everything we do.”

“Fine.” I leaned back and rested my head against the headrest, praying my alarm clock would go off and end this nightmare.

But this wasn’t a nightmare, and no amount of praying would change that.Neither will acting like a bitch. I needed to put on my big girl pants and deal with reality. And that started with apologizing.

“AJ?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry. You just saved my life and I’m being a bitch,” my voice still shaky as I answered.

“It’s okay. It’s actually a normal reaction.”

Who knew? Not that it made me feel any better. A few seconds later it occurred to me I hadn’t thanked him.

“AJ?” I tried to sound friendly and calm.

“Yeah?” He turned to me with a soft smile.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Is Jack okay?”

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