I jog lightly on the treadmill after lunch one day. My eyes scan the room. I have several faces and names memorized by now. Few talk to me, but I remain vigilant. That happens when someone tries to kill you on one of your first nights some place.
Caden steps from one of the rooms where they often hold meetings. By they I mean the “inner circle.”
My pulse jumps at my throat. It’s one of few glimpses I’ve had of him since we last talked. There’s been no sight of him at meals and the thought crosses my mind that perhaps he’s avoiding me, but then I dismissed it. That’s giving me too much credit. I have no hold over him.
He’s dressed in his usual fatigues. Tabatha walks beside him, her strides long to match his. She talks with her hands. He nods, his expression intent as he listens. Terrence, following one step behind them, catches me looking and glances between me and Caden with a lifted eyebrow. My face heats, but I don’t look away.
Marcus and Ruben bring up the rear. In addition to hating me for killing his cousin, Marcus craves power and sees me as a threat. I’ve learned that much from what Junie has said as well as what I’ve inferred. Caden broke procedures to bring me here. Letting that slide undermines Marcus.
Caden spots me over Tabatha’s shoulder and stops. He frowns, his gaze skimming me as I jog in place. His disapproval reaches me, palpable as smoke in the stale, recycled air. I stumble and catch myself. My face burns hot as I recover and continue running. I try to look straight ahead, but my attention strays back to him, trying to see if he’s amused over my clumsiness.
He’s not. He only looks more disapproving.
Tabatha follows his gaze and frowns, too. He makes a move toward me, but she stops him with a hand on his arm. I almost wish she would let him approach. It would ease my boredom at least. Talking to him might give me a headache and drive me crazy and make me feel things in general when I’m trying my best not to feel anything, but I can’t stop the flicker of longing.
Tabatha says something, motioning to me. Caden shakes his head no, but she keeps talking. Finally, he gives a single nod and stalks off, leaving her smiling. She comes toward me, her every movement satisfied, confident. I can’t help myself. My gaze drifts to Caden, watching his back as he walks away, wondering what he wanted to say to me and why he changed his mind—what she said to change it.
At least now I know. He’s avoiding me. My chest tightens. I shouldn’t care one way or another. I’ve given him every indication in word and action that I’m not interested in a friendship . . . in anything with him.
Tabatha stops in front of me. “Hey, there. You’re looking better.”
“I am,” I reply, determined to appear strong. I punch off the machine and slow to a halt. “Sling can come off in a couple days.” Phelps said a week, but I see it otherwise. The sling will come off tomorrow. Day after at the latest.
“Great. You should be ready for travel then.”
“What?” Surely I didn’t hear her correctly. “Really? I’m leaving?”
“Junie just got word. Your friends are at refuge number four.”
Everything inside me slumps and tightens all at once. It’s a combination of relief and a jolt of adrenaline for the trip to come . . . the reunion ahead. I’m actually going to see Sean again. Gil and Sabine. It’s really going to happen. Until this moment, I didn’t recognize that a part of me doubted that it would.
“When?” I demand.
“Day after tomorrow.”
I frown, disappointed it’s not sooner.
“Hey,” she adds, smiling, but there’s nothing nice about it. It’s judgy, tinged with contempt. “We have to get the group ready that’s been waiting to go out. This isn’t all about you.”
I clench my teeth, resisting the impulse to defend myself. She doesn’t care about me, so what I say doesn’t matter.
Marcus appears then, moving to her side. “So this one is finally leaving.”
“Yep. Heading out Wednesday.” Tabatha nods.
Marcus steps closer and looks up at me where I stand on the treadmill. “Watch yourself out there. The world isn’t as gentle where you’re going as it is in here.”
“You think it’s a gentle world in here?” I snort. “Your cousin trying to choke me out wasn’t bad?”
“You don’t know bad,” Ruben voices from behind Marcus.
I feel my lip curl over my teeth. I know I shouldn’t rise to his bait, but I just can’t seem to help myself. Maybe it’s what’s in my blood, coursing along with my DNA, that sets me apart from the average person and marks me as someone capable of killing. “I’ve had to deal with my share of thugs who lurk behind someone bigger and stronger because they’re really nothing but cowards.”
He snarls, attempting to step around Marcus. “You think you’re so tough.”
Tabatha laughs, her body lifting with the motion. Clearly she’s ready to watch some action.
Marcus holds Ruben back with a hand on his chest. “Easy there, Ruben.”
Ruben stops in his tracks, looking from Marcus back to me.
Marcus stares at me grimly. “You don’t belong here. You know that.” My skin prickles as his words sink in. It’s like he knows that Caden asked me to stay. “Why don’t you just keep your mouth shut and stay in your room until you leave. If you want to get out of here in one piece . . .”
It’s no empty threat. I see that in his steady gaze. And I can’t imagine this is just because he doesn’t trust me. It’s more than that. More than that Caden smuggled me in here minus a blindfold. I killed one of his men. His cousin. Never mind that the guy attacked me, I killed him. He won’t forget the fact. The sooner I leave here the better.