Had my parents been notified as I’d requested?
Tears suddenly burned my eyes and I slumped against the wall. If I survived this, I should become a lawyer like my dad and fight stupid laws that gave stupid A.I.R. agents the right to apprehend innocent people.
Never had I felt more violated. More helpless. At least you acted brave, there at the end, I told myself. Small comfort now.
What would happen to me next? I wondered. Just how far were these A.I.R. agents willing to go?
With a trembling sigh, I closed my eyes. That proved to be a mistake. My eyelids were heavy, like thousand-pound rocks held them down and there was no opening them once they were closed. The muscles in my shoulders sagged and gradually my chin fell forward. Black spots sparkled through my mind like dark glitter.
How much time passed, I didn’t know. I only knew that I drifted in and out of turbulent dreams and hazy wakefulness—and after a while, it was hard to distinguish which was which. I saw flashes of gunfire. Hard, smiling faces that didn’t care whether I lived or died. Buildings towering around me, clouds holding me, padded walls.
“She was certainly a surprise,” a hard female voice said, pushing into my consciousness.
Still dreaming?
“I know. Came out of nowhere.” Phoenix. Like I’d ever forget her commanding timbre.
“How’d she get the wound?” Stranger.
“We’re not sure. Somewhere inside the club, though.” Phoenix.
“I guess it doesn’t matter.” Stranger.
You’re awake. Have to be. Otherwise you could burst both of those women into flames with a single thought. I kept my eyes closed, my breathing even. Tried not to move even an inch—if I could have, that is. I still felt like lead.
“We had no idea she was working with Erik.” Cara. And she sounded bitter.
So. There were at least three people in the room with me. Great.
Cool breath fanned my cheek as one of the girls knelt in front of me. “She’s not his usual type.” This pronouncement came from the stranger.
Don’t frown, don’t frown, don’t frown.
“And what type is that?” Cara demanded.
“You,” the woman replied.
Which was? Pretty? Smart? Both? Everything I supposedly wasn’t.
“Well,” Cara said, clearly mollified. “That’s true.”
My teeth ground together.
A pause. Then a tortured “Mia,” from Cara. “Do you really think—”
Mia said, “Don’t go there. Just shut it, Cara. You dumped him. He’s working against us. Don’t fall for him again. Look where it got you last time.”
Heavy tension filled the room.
Phoenix cleared her throat. “I, uh, pulled up Camille’s history. Model student, never in trouble, no hint of being an addict. Parents aren’t rich, but they make enough to support her in style. So why would she dabble in Onadyn?”
“Thrills?” Mia said. I heard the rustle of clothing, as if she shrugged. “Love?”
I haven’t dabbled in Onadyn, you idiots!
“Not love. Not on Erik’s side, at least. For the most part, he ignored her at the Ship,” Cara pointed out. “Maybe they aren’t working together. Maybe she’s a sick little puppy and was stalking him.”
“You and I both know that isn’t true,” Phoenix said. “He knew the minute she stepped onto the fourth floor. You saw his reaction to her. His eyes heated; his body language changed, leaning toward her. He was aware of her every move and trying his best not to show it.”
What? My heart fluttered.
“But in the end, he did show it.” Mia sighed. “You said he gave her something. What?”
“After we cornered them, she told us it was a napkin.” Phoenix.
“I searched her and did find a napkin, but it was blank.” Cara.
“A decoy, probably.” Mia.
There was a second pause, this one so sharp and tight it would have cut me to pieces if I’d moved. Erik had noticed me? His eyes heated when he saw me? Despite the danger, the thought was intoxicating.
“And let’s not forget the way he protected her when each of our guns were aimed at her.”
“I get it, Phoenix,” Cara said hotly. “Point made. You can shut up now.”
Strong fingers wrapped around my sore arm. I had to fight back a wince. Cool scissors cut at the bandage and I wobbled in my seat, surprised that I hadn’t toppled over yet.
Wait! I was in a seat? Last thing I remembered, I’d been crumpled on the floor.
I took stock: legs under me, butt planted firmly on a flat piece of metal, arms bound behind my back. They’d moved me to the chair and bound me. Dread slithered through me. I was trapped. Totally and completely.
Oh, that sucked. They could do anything they wanted with me and I wouldn’t be able to stop them. I wouldn’t be able to fight them or shield myself.
Another set of hands settled atop my shoulders, holding me in place.
“What part does she play in this, do you think?” Mia asked. Fingertips probed at my wound.
Relax. Stay relaxed.
“Dumb girlfriend, most likely.” Cara. “And it really burns me that he was able to keep her a secret for so long.”
“Yeah, but does she sell?” Phoenix clicked her tongue. “What does she know?”
“Well?” Mia said.
Neither of the girls responded.
“Are you just a dumb girlfriend or do you have a solid role in this?” she added.
My dread and fear tripled. She knew I was awake. A part of me expected to be slapped as my eyelids fluttered open. I wasn’t. All three women remained in place, staring at me. Frowning.
I gasped when the mysterious Mia came into view. Nothing would be as expected, I guess. Someone with such a commanding voice should have been tall and stocky, even mannish. Not this woman. She was beautiful. One of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.
She had black hair and swirling blue eyes framed by long black lashes. A small, delicate body. A sweet, angelic face. And yet even bent over me, studying my wound, she looked completely untouchable, removed by emotion and everyone around her.
“Well?” she prompted.
“Not girlfriend,” I rasped. “Not seller. Not maker. Not dumb,” I added tightly.
“That leaves, what?” Mia pierced me with a fierce stare.
“Innocent.”
Cara snorted.
Mia shrugged, as if my answer hadn’t mattered. “Someone wanted you dead, little girl. Lancers are used for rendering death, not warnings. An innocent would not have been shot like this. You were doing something you weren’t supposed to, weren’t you?”