Page 20 of The Devil's Redemption

It occurs to me that I should feel elated that I’ve been rescued. I should feel some measure of relief. But I don’t feel happy. I don’t feel sad. I don’t feel angry or at peace.

I feel nothing.

I stare at Hawk, waiting for him to look at me again. I want to know what happened. When he’s finished messing with the machine I’m hooked to, his eyes meet mine.

“What… How did I get here?” I inquire with a hoarse voice.

“Once Blade figured out you were gone, we rallied some help from other charters and clubs in the area. The president of the Gettysburg Bastards had a daughter there as well.”

The girl in the cell next to mine.

“We ambushed them at the house, got you and her out of there, and brought you here.”

Sounds simple, but I imagine there’s more to it that he’s not telling me. I hope no one got hurt on my account.

“What…” I swallow to try to wet my sore, dry throat. “What’s her name?”

I want to know who it was who shared that cellar with me.

“Maggie.”

I could have sworn I saw a shadow of torment pass over Hawk’s gaze when he mentions her. But as quickly as it came, it’s gone again. Perhaps my vision is hindered from all of the blows to the head I received.

“I’ll tell Blade you’re awake. He’ll want to see you.”

I don’t say anything as Hawk walks from the infirmary back into the house. ItwasBlade who was sitting in the chair next to my bed. There is a part of me that wanted to stop Hawk from fetching him, but I’m not sure why. He’s all I’ve been thinking about, yet I’m not sure I can actually face him now. What I experienced was too shameful. I don’t know if he will ever look at me the same. I begin to take a deep breath, but my lungs and chest scream with pain, stopping me.

This isn’t a dream.

I’m here. I’m out of their grasp and away from their cruelty. I can finally go home and—

Michael.

The last of my family. Gone. Again, I feel nothing.

No emotion, yet Iwantto scream and cry.

My head turns to the right when I hear the door open again. Blade marches through the door and practically runs right into my bed.

“Sasha…”

He looks down at me with love in his eyes.

I love you…

The words float through my head much like Jasper’s did a moment ago, but I have to wonder where they came from. Blade has never told me he loves me.

“H—how are you?”

He takes my hand in his, and it hurts, but I don’t react. I want to climb out of this bed and into his arms. I want to kiss him and tell him how wrong I was for sending him away. That it’s all my fault I got taken. I want to thank him for rescuing me.

I also want to scream at him for getting me involved in all of this bullshit in the first place. Only, I can’t forget, he wasn’t the only reason why that pure evil came for me.

However, nothing happens. I can’t say anything. My mouth won’t move no matter how hard I try.I tear my eyes from his and stare at the wall across the room. I can feel his gaze on me. It’s weighing me down and exacerbating my pain. I want to tell him I’m fine. That I just need a little rest, and I’ll be good as new again. I want to believe that’s true myself, but neither of us are that stupid.

“Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?” he asks after several more minutes.

The silence has turned awkward. This isn’t the reunion I thought we would have. Does he already know everything that happened to me? I’m sure he does. Does he still want me? Do I still want him?

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