Page 63 of A Captive Situation

They eased into the room. The bed protested as someone sat down. “I’m okay.”

“No, honey. I mean it. We didn’t bring up Beck at all tonight, but that’s the whole reason you’re here. Your mom’s worried. You’re not responding to her either.”

“I can’t. My phone—” She cut herself off.

I waited for her to finish that statement. Her phone had been charging under her purse.

I’d picked up her purse.

I’d put it back in the same place ... Or was I a few inches off?

Shit. I couldn’t remember.

Her aunt didn’t notice the slight hitch in Sawyer’s voice. “We’ll get that fixed in the morning, but I just wanted to check in with you. One on one. Your mom has been blowing up my phone. Did you want to talk about Beck at all? About ... About him, back home? About Manda?”

“I . . .”

She sounded defeated and tired, so tired. I held back my frustration at needing to stay hidden. Everything in me wanted to tear out of the closet, to take her away from all of these people who were making her talk about topics she clearly didn’t want to discuss. Let her deal on her own timetable. I didn’t care if she dissociated or deflected. I hated that she was second-guessing herself, hated what part I played in that, but they needed to give her fucking space. Let her talk about it whenever the fuck she wanted to talk about it. She didn’t owe them anything.

She finally confessed, “I just really don’t want to talk about it.”

Exactly.

Her aunt remarked, “Yes, but you need to. Eventually. Call your mom tomorrow. She knows you’re fine and she’s less worried now that you’re with family, but we’re all concerned. We have your back. You know that.”

“I know. Thank you, Aunt Bess.”

Christ. Her voice was soft, as if she were making herself smaller. I gritted my teeth, loathing hearing that. Let her fucking feel what she wanted to feel. Let her think what she wanted to think. Let her be. She’ll face her shit whenshewas ready. It was her timetable, not theirs.

“Clara’s already made friends with Willy.”

“She didn’t.”

“She did. Willy’s pissed at what Beck did to you. He trained his cameras on the house, and he’s been sending that footage to Clara on the regular. We know his entire schedule, and say the word, we’ll start moving in to fuck him up. You know that Clara also changed her daily walks to go through Manda’s neighborhood. She’s making connectionsthere, building up a network of spies. We’re loading our resources so you have them when you want them. We’ll keep compiling all the information you need to know.”

Jesus. Her aunt Clara sounded more gruff and abrupt downstairs, but hearing this one speak of their movements,bothof them thought how Mafia gangsters operated.

Sawyer’s voice was strained when she replied, “That’s very thoughtful and appreciated, but right now, I kinda just want to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow to enjoy a day with you guys. All of you. I mean, we’re in Graham’s house. Graham and Oliver.” Her voice dropped off to a whisper, thick with emotion. “That’s a really big deal, Aunt Bess.”

The bed whined again. “Come here.” Her voice grew muffled. “One last hug and I’ll head off, let you go to sleep.”

Sawyer’s voice was also muffled, a bit teary as she sniffled. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Sawsaw.” There was a kissing smack before the bed groaned once more. The floor creaked. The door sounded as it was swung open. “You sleep good. If you can’t, you can sneak in with us. That bed is giant. Did you see how big their bed is? Five people could fit in there.”

Sawyer snorted, holding back a laugh. “I think it’s more so they have enough room for them and the dogs.”

“Right. The dogs. We might need to get you a German shepherd when we get back. Or a Doberman.”

“I don’t need a Do—” She stopped to rethink. “I’ll think about it. Night, Aunt Bess.”

“Night, sweetie. Love you.”

The door shut.

She went to her bathroom and I could hear the water turned on.

I waited for her to finish in there.

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