Page 76 of Pen Me

We had planned to sleep in the next morning but awoke to the sound of car doors. Menace flinched and abruptly sniffed, shifting off the bed.

“Babe?” I sat up, fear rushing through me.

He held out a hand and we both remained completely still until we heard Octavia laugh upstairs.

“Fuck.” He put a hand over his chest and hunted for his pants.

We found her in the kitchen with Auggie, who turned and pointedly stared at me. She didn’t say anything and after a while it made me uncomfortable.

“What–? Where is Rumi?” Menace asked.

“School. We dropped her off bright and early then came home.” Octavia explained.

“Oh– I thought it was the weekend,” Menace mumbled.

“It’s Monday.” Auggie flatly informed him, her gaze finally shifting and narrowing on Menace like she’d spotted a bug.

He groaned and moved on to the bathroom, clearly not ready to deal with her yet. The sound of the bathroom door clicking shut sent Auggie’s gaze snapping back to me.

“Girl, do you know you’re on the run with a man who broke out of prison? That’s why he’s here, right?” She looked at Octavia like she expected testimony.

My heart leaped to my throat and swelled there.

“You can trust her,” Octavia whispered, placing her hand on mine. “She won’t say anything to anyone.”

“Then why are we having this conversation?” I spat the first question that came to mind.

“Look, I ain’t leavin’ until I know you’re here of your own free will.” Auggie’s voice lowered and somehow firmed all at once.

“I am,” I clipped, still not able to look at her, or control my racing heart.

“Mhm. Just checkin’,” she murmured, lifting her gaze as Menace came back out.

My shoulders dropped, grateful for an end to the interrogation.

Auggie, however, apparently wasn’t the kind to say something behind someone’s back, that she wouldn’t say in front of their face, once she’d assured safety wasn’t a factor.

“Cause you know…,” she slowly drawled, pushing onward, “full disclosure ain’t always his thing. Octavia brought it to my attention that ya’ll ain’t got no cell phone, and well, I know there ain’t no television here. So, I just wanted to make sure you were aware he did that. Oh, and that he murdered a female C.I. that he used to be romantically involved with in order to accomplish that escape. I wouldn’t feel right leaving someone who was being kept in ignorance about just how serious their situation really is.”

“Appreciate your concern,” I spat, in an effort to shut her up.

My heart fell and flailed all the way to the bottom of my empty stomach. I didn’t trust myself not to get sick, so I raced to the sanctuary of our bed.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Burning it Off

Menace

I placed every ounce of self-control into keeping my feet planted, and I was still terrified it wouldn’t be enough to keep me from charging at Auggie and choking off the sound of her miserable voice.

Her lips twisted into a smile, and she held my gaze to the point of side-eyeing me as she collected her things and headed out the cabin door.

I closed my eyes and slowly exhaled, trying to let go of the rage.

“Are you even going to deny it?” Octavia whispered, her voice dripping with disgust.

I opened my eyes, canted my head, and prayed for patience.

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