Page 59 of The Captive and the First Blood Game
“I don’t want to behereat all.” She closed the door to emphasize her point, but Reyna threw her hand out to stop her.
“What happened to make you feel like this about Elle?”
“Are you serious?” she asked. “I was the one urging you to break us out. I always wanted to get out. I mean, did you ever think about whether I had someone else out there?”
Reyna swallowed at the pain on her friend’s face. She had considered a lot about what Jodie must have gone through and how long she had endured it, but she hadn’t wondered about her life before Visage. Jodie hadn’t wanted to share, but Reyna hadn’t pressed. She should have.
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you wanted to talk. But if you have people out there you want to see, I’d help you get them here. Elle went out of the way to get my brothers and soon-to-be sister-in-law. I’m sure they’d do the same for you.”
Jodie gestured for Reyna to come inside. Reyna slipped the door closed behind her and took a seat on a chair as Jodie dropped onto the bed.
“So who is it that you want to find?”
Jodie shrugged. “My cousin and best friend, June. I was living with her in the capital after the economic collapse. Visage had just taken over, and her neighborhood was a test area for blood type testing before it went nationwide. When my blood type came back abnormal, June and I overheard them tell her parents I was going to have to leave, withthem. Thattheyhad a special program for us. They made it sound like a great opportunity, but we could tell right away it wasn’t.” Jodie glanced away as she fought back tears. “June tried to get me out of there. She promised she’d keep me safe. We didn’t even make it across the county line before we were picked up. June was taken from me, and I was taken to Visage. I’ve been there ever since.”
Reyna’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh my God, Jodie. How old were you?”
“Twelve.”
Reyna had no words. No words for the life that had been stolen from Jodie. It proved all over again that Visage was the villain of this world. One she was more determined than ever to take down.
“I think we can find June,” Reyna told her.
“No one is going to help me.”
Reyna walked over to the bed and sat down. She placed her hand on Jodie’s. “I’ll help you.”
“Really? And what do you want in return?” Jodie asked in the most jaded way possible.
“Nothing.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Well, one thing,” Reyna said with a small smile.
“Oh, here we go.”
“I need help planning a wedding.”
Jodie’s eyes widened. “You’re getting married and you’re justnowtelling me? Damn, that vamp moves fast. When did he ask you?”
Reyna laughed. “Not me. Though Beckham and I did get back together. But my brother is getting married on Christmas.”
“Like in two weeks?”
Reyna nodded. “Bun in the oven. And I promised I’d help. I thought some normal would do me good. Maybe it’ll do you good, too?”
“All right. If you help me find June, then I’ll help your brother get married in two weeks.”
Reyna held out her hand. “Deal?”
“Deal,” Jodie said, shaking her hand. “Now, tell me all about you and Beckham getting back together.”
…
A few days later, the girls had wrangled Meghan into helping them get the supplies they needed and a facility for Laura’s wedding. She was still pissed with both Reyna and Jodie for going out with Gabe, but she didn’t take it out on Laura. She just sent silent reprimands with her eyes.
“But the dress,” Reyna said.
