Page 11 of Harmless
“Oh, thank fuck!” I sagged into the couch, relief shooting through my sore limbs. “I’ve been trying to call you.”
“Yeah, I ditched my old phone. Rumors started flying around my employers’ circles that something happened at the resort. So I took some vacation time and decided to make myself scarce for a few weeks.”
“So you’re okay, then? You’re safe?”
“Oh yeah, I’m good. Lupa and I are staying with family. Nobody from Blakeworth knows where I am.”
“Good. That’s good.” I raked a hand back through my hair. “Shit, I was worried.”
“I told you one of my dads is a hacker, right? I know how to make myself untraceable.”
I smiled even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m glad.”
“So, I take it you and Torr are not at the resort anymore?”
I swallowed, my throat going dry again. “I’m not. Torr still is and…he’s in trouble. I’m working on a plan to get him out.”
“Oh no! The place was that bad, huh? Or worse?”
“Worse,” I sighed, and gave her a brief run-down of events from when we first touched ground in that canyon to being separated and me forced out at gunpoint.
“Holy shit,” she breathed. “I don’t even want to think about how many missing people have gone through that place.”
“Yeah, getting kidnapped just to be thrown in a colosseum to die? It’s sickening.”
“What can I do to help?” Gwen asked, or rather, demanded.
“Nothing.” I practically barked into the phone. “They’re probably already looking into you since you dropped us off. So you stay hidden and safe until this blows over.”
“Rori, I can’t just sit on my hands while you’re—”
“Thank you, Gwen, but you’ve done enough. You got us in, and now we know someone’s dirty little secret. We just have to find out who’s it is.”And blow it the fuck up.
“I’m already involved. I might as well help,” she insisted.
“Gwen, please.” I rubbed my forehead. “I fucked up, and Torr’s still in there because of me. If something happens to you, I don’t want that on my conscience. I won’t be able to handle it. Please.”
Silence stretched out over the phone. “You’re serious,” she said finally.
“Yeah.” I rubbed my forehead. “We kinda fucked the whole thing up. Bad. And other people got caught in the crossfire.”Like Santos and Paige. I know Santos is strong, but God, I hope Paige is alright.
Some crackling and shuffling came over the speaker like something was fuzzy with our connection.
“Gwen? You still there?” I glanced at my phone screen to check my reception bars. All good on my end.
“Yeah, sorry!” she said after a few seconds. “Lupa just told me something, and it startled me, so I dropped the phone.”
My pulse started to pick up for no apparent reason. Lupa was like Astarte and Tezcatlipoca, a deity in an animal vessel. In Lupa’s case, a wolf.
“What did she say?” I almost dreaded the answer.
“She said to tell you that all is unfolding as it’s meant to. Trust yourself and try not to worry. You are on the right path, Rori.”
I closed my eyes and tried to conjure up the patience to keep this frustration away. “Tell her thank you for me.”
I heard a bark and soft howl in the distance, to which Gwen and I both laughed softly. “We’re thinking of you and Torr,” Gwen added. “If there’s anything we can do, please let me know.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you’re okay.”
