Page 40 of Saving Her

“It’s okay.” I creep inside the room. “I just wanted to see how you two are holding up.”

The boy eyes me as if I’m his worst nightmare, his arms clutched around Penny’s middle, his legs curled close to hers.

“We’re dealing the best we can.” She runs a hand through Tobias’s hair, her mothering entirely natural.

“Can I get you anything? Food? Something to drink?”

Her gaze slowly treks me—from my face, all the way down to my hands. I do the same, taking in the blood splatter. Death stains every inch of me. My clothes. My skin. Some dried and cracking, other parts remaining liquified.

“I probably should’ve taken a quick look in the mirror before I came in.”

She winces in agreement. “What’s going on out there?”

I slowly inch to the bed and sit on the corner farthest from them, attempting a laidback demeanor. “We’re just finishing the clean-up.”

“What about the other woman? Is she still with you?”

“Anissa? No.” I tread lightly in the hope Penny won’t repeat information she never should’ve been privy to. “She’s outside, clearing her head.”

More accurately, I escorted her from the house because Cole couldn’t stand to look at her. I’m sure she’s down at the pier by now, impatiently waiting for a ticket out of here.

“I’d like to speak to her.”

“Maybe later. For now, it’s best if we all keep our distance It’s been a long morning.”

She falls quiet, her dark eyes filling with questions. “Can you at least tell me what happens next?”

“In terms of a detailed schedule, I have no idea.” I shrug. “But you’re not a prisoner, if that’s what you’re asking.”

She sucks in a breath and straightens. “Good. Because I’d like to leave as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, I get it. I’d be eager to get home, too. But it’s going to take time. We’re waiting on a jet—”

“No, I don’t mean going home to the States. I’m talking about Luther’s house. I need to get back there.”

“What?” I push to my feet and she scrambles to do the same, panicked caution flooding her features.

“We need to leave.” She drags Tobias to stand alongside her. “We have to get back to my sisters.”

She straightens to her full height like a mighty warrior climbing from the pits of hell. But her invisible armor is flimsy at best. The bravado she exudes is fake. I can see under the facade to the frightened woman beneath.

I shake my head and mentally curse the resulting thud of my brain. “That’s not an option.”

“So Iama prisoner?” she rasps.

I massage my temples, attempting to alleviate the quickly building stroke. “If we’re talking about being captive to your own stupidity, then yeah, I guess you’re a prisoner. Because there’s no way in hell you’re leaving here until it’s safe.”

Her nostrils flare as I witness the little trust I’d gained flitter away with every spite-filled blink of her eyes.

“Look.” I lower a hand from my temple, raising it, palm up, in peace. “It’s not rational for you to be anywhere but here.”

“It’s not safe for my family if I stay.” She starts for the door, Tobias tagging along at her side.

“Your family?” I stalk ahead and block their path. “I can assure you, they’re fine. In fact, your brother is on his way here as we speak.”

She stops, her eyes flaring, her gentle lips parted. Then the shock is hidden behind another firm squaring of her shoulders. “I don’t have a brother.”

Jesus Christ.

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