Page 15 of Tethered to the World
When they didn’t budge, panic began to stir the darkness inside her. A ferret popped his head out of her bag, his concerned chitter doing little to ease her anxiety.
She wouldn’t go back.
Her uncle was smart. If he was going to come after her, he’d do it quietly. He couldn’t let others know his prized possession had escaped or he would lose all claim to her. She had to get out of there before he caught up with her…and she had no doubt that he would use all his ill-gotten gains to hunt for her, even if it was solely to punish her for making a fool of him.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She hadn’t realized she spoke out loud until Rufus spoke, and she whirled to face him. “What did you do?”
He sat on the edge of his desk, his brows furrowing. “When you left the other day, I did a little digging.”
She stumbled away from him, ducking her head with shame.
He knew everything, she could tell by the way his eyes shaded completely black.
He rose, coming to stand in front of her. “You’re safe here.”
She flinched, imagining the revenge her uncle had planned for her if he ever caught her again. She would be safer on her own. “You don’t know that.”
When he lifted his hand, she braced herself for the blow—and everyone in the room froze.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Camden scowled at both of them, edging between her and Rufus, almost as if he was protecting her.
Rufus heaved a sigh, then circled his desk and took a seat, looking haggard for the first time. “That’s her story to tell. The only thing you need to know is anyone who shows up claiming to be her family should be killed on the spot.”
The guys snapped to attention, and she didn’t have to turn to know their focus was one hundred percent directed at her. She swallowed hard, her mind completely blank except for the need to run. “Listen, I—”
“He has his people searching for you.” Rufus rested his arms on his desk and wove his fingers together. “We took care of two of the groups, but I’m sure there are more out there. He’s not the kind of man to give up.”
All the strength went out of her legs, and she plopped down, her ass barely hitting the chair Mason shoved under her.
“We searched his mansion…and found the subterranean basement where he held you, but your uncle has vanished.” He leaned across the desk, his eyes shading black again. “We burned the place to the ground. You’ll never have to go back. I promise.”
She swallowed hard at the compassion in his voice, dropping her gaze as humiliation burned in her cheeks. She was barely aware of him speaking again.
“I know you want to run, but it’s the worst thing you can do right now. They are actively searching for you. I know you feel trapped, but the school will protect you.”
When she opened her mouth to turn him down, he held up his hand. “You need to learn how the supernatural world functions, and this school is the best place for that. If you go out into the human world, you’ll be a lamb to the slaughter. Give us a chance. Stay. Work one case with the team. Learn. Train. Because if you leave and he finds you, I’m afraid no one will ever see you again.”
She wanted to tell them she could protect herself, but it would be a lie. She barely escaped the last time. It had taken years of planning, waiting for the smallest opening. Her uncle wouldn’t let her off so easily next time. And he knew most of her abilities. If he ever caught her again, he would bury her so deep underground she would never be able to claw her way out.
She licked her lips, then lifted her chin and met Rufus’s gaze. “You’ll teach me how to kill him.”
It wasn’t a question, but Rufus nodded. When he smiled, his teeth were all very pointed and long. “Not if I catch him first.”
Then he leaned back into his seat and got back to business. “You will bunk with the guys, and—”
“No, I think it’s best—”
“Yes, sir.” The guys barked all together, completely overriding her protest, but Rufus was no longer talking to her anymore.
The director was in charge, not the gym owner who had taken time to befriend a lonely girl. He reached into his desk and pulled out a folder, handing it over to Camden. “You’ll report only to me.”
“Yes, sir.” Which seemed to be some sort of code. The guys turned and headed out the door.
Annora stood, but couldn’t make herself follow. “I—”
“Don’t trust anyone but the guys. They’ll keep you safe. Work this case with them, let us prove you belong here. You can decide afterwards what you want to do.”
