Page 35 of Captured Immune

I’ve got to be dreaming. There’s no way that Trey,myTrey, is a part of this.

Trey doesn’t stop glaring at Mustache Man. “Why wasn’t I consulted first?”

Mustache Man narrows his eyes at Trey. “What makes you think I need to consultyoubefore making any decisions? Now, do you think you can convince her to call her grandma or not? If the answer’s no, get the hell out and go be useless somewhere else.”

Finally, Trey turns his attention to me. His chest rises and falls like he’s not getting enough air. I hold back tears as we lock eyes and I silently plead with him to stop whatever’s happening.

He must not hear my plea, because he clears his throat and says, “I’ll convince her to call.”

I burst into tears, covering my mouth with my free hand.This can’t be happening.My breaths are sharp as Katie hands my phone to Trey, and he accepts it.

Mustache Man heads toward the door. “Katie, send me a full report when it’s done, then return her phone to me. I’ll be in my office.”

“Yes, sir.” Katie stands to open the door for him.

Mustache Man points to the bulkiest of his three bodyguards. “I want round-the-clock security on this Ordinary. You’re first.”

“Yes, sir,” the man replies.

Even with the door shut, my baby senses Mustache Man and his two guards as they head down the hall. After several footsteps, I don’t sense them anymore. I’ll assume that’s because they’re out of my baby’s range, not because they disappeared off the face of the planet.

Now I’m left alone in a silent bedroom with Katie and this master of deception I used to call my boyfriend.

Suddenly, everything starts to come together: Trey’s late-night phone calls, his irregular sleeping habits, the mysterious air about him. He’s been living a double life this whole time. He’s a criminal. I think I prefer him being from an alternate universe over this.

“Could you give us a few minutes?” Trey asks, slipping my phone into his back pocket.

Katie nods. “Sure thing.”

Trey waits until the door clicks shut behind her before he eyes the charred walls. At first, I think he’s looking for an escape route like I did, but once his eyes land on the camera behind him, he turns back to me.

For a moment, he just stares. It’s nothing I’m not used to. He’s always had a habit of staring at me, except this time, it’s not in admiration. He’s looking for something. I’m not sure what.

I jolt back a little when he drops to his knees at my feet. Silent tears roll down my cheeks as he continues to scan my body up and down.

“Did anyone hurt you?” His question comes out in barely a whisper.

I can’t respond, because if I do, I’ll burst into tears again.

“Arella...” My name comes out like a plea. “Did anyone hurt you?”

There’s no evidence of it on his face, but the baby senses relief from him when I shake my head. I want to tell him that, technically, no one’s hurt me. Not as much as it hurts to see him here and to know that he’s involved in this.

“How did you get here?” His voice is still a whisper.

My words come out through choked tears. “I woke up here.”

He grits his teeth together. “So they fucking kidnapped you?”

It’s nice to hear someone call it what it is. I want to say,Of course they kidnapped me. Do you think I willingly drove here myself?What I actually say is “Who’sthey?”

He ignores my question. “Why are you handcuffed to the bed?”

I glower at him and wipe my damp face off with the bottom of the gigantic T-shirt I’m wearing. “You’re asking me likeIshould know? When I woke up, I was already cuffed to this stupid bed, and that Katie girl was sitting on that chair, watching me sleep. Do you think I have any clue what’s going on? I don’t even know where I am.”

“You’re in Three Rivers.”

“Your hometown?”

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