“She is. Heard her stomach grumbling all the way here.” Wayne answered for her, taking up one of the stools. He patted the one next to him. “Take a seat, doll. The tour’sover.”
Like a dam breaking, questions suddenly flooded from her. “What is this place? How is all this possible? Where am I? How did I get here from the LSR?Who are youpeople?”
Her hands flew to her mouth, and Jo panted softly. It was like an unnatural shroud of calm had been lifted and the more questions she asked, the more panic returned to her. Had she really been about to sit down and enjoy breakfast with these strange, suspiciously kind people, as though nothing was out ofplace?
“Wayne, you didn’t.” Nico gave the other man a disapprovinglook.
“What’s the matter?” Wayne held out his arms. “I had to show hersomehow.”
“You know the rules.” Nico sounded like a parent scolding a toddler. But he looked to be at least two or three years younger thanWayne.
“Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken,” Waynecountered.
“Eslar will hear of this,” Nico said ominously, though Jo recalled a man named Snow being referred to as “theboss.”
“All right, Mrs.Grundy.”
“Who’s Mrs. Grundy?” Jo shook her head, dislodging the question. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me what you want me to do for your ‘society’ and I’ll get on withit.”
“We don’t have any wishes right now, but as soon as one comes in, I’m sure your magic will be very helpful.” Nico walked back over to her from three small plates of food, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He continued before Jo could correct him on the “magic” subject. Then again, someone so clearly insane likely wouldn’t listen to reason. “Foremost, let me apologize for my friend using his on you. He never learned the merits of being a propergentleman.”
“I am the most proper gentlemen you’ve ever met.” Wayne shook his fist at Nico, but still helped himself to one of theplates.
“I know, it’s a lot to take in all at once. We’ll try to answer your questions, but I’m sure you’ll feel better if you get some food in your stomach. Wishing really takes it out of you, and you’re only freshly transitioned. But don’t worry—those last little necessities of humanity won’t be a bother for muchlonger.”
A plate appeared in front of her. Scrambled eggs, bacon—a basic breakfast that smelled positively divine when sweetened by hunger. Jo stared at it listlessly. Yeah, she’d had it “taken out of” her alright. She didn’t know if she was alive or dead. Awake or asleep. She felt exhausted and alert all at the sametime.
Suddenly everything felt too much. There was that burning feeling right behind her eyes and the one thing she wouldnotdo is cry in front of strangers. She had to escape, regroup, and then find her wayout.
“I just want to go home,” she pleadedsoftly.
“This is home now,” Nico replied gently. There was an apologetic note to his voice that only made the overwhelming pressure behind her eyes worse. This was starting to sound a hell of a lot more like akidnapping.
“I’m not worth anything. I don’t know what you guys want. . . But there’s no money. My family can’t pay for me and my employers won’t.” The memory of being cut off and left to die at the hands of the feds seared hot, putting the hairs on the back of her neck on end—a recollection too real to have been a dream. That, combined with the mention of magic. . .What had shedone?
“You are very much worth something,” Nico tried to soothe, cutting through Jo’sthoughts.
“And we’re your family now anyway,” Wayne added. So, her status had just rocketed from kidnapped to being held hostage by a cult.Perfect. Wayne gave her a broad smile, as if she should find the fact pleasing. Jo enjoyed it about as much as a lukewarm cup ofcoffee.
“I need a minute.” Jo stood, backing away from the bar. “I need. . . just aminute.”
Nico frowned, but he didn’t fight her on the matter and stopped Wayne from doing so with a look. “Of course. Why don’t you go back to your room, settle in. I’ll bring some food in a bit and you can get to know us all one at atime.”
“Right, perfect.” Jo backed away as though retreating from wildanimals.
“Would you like one of us toescort—”
“No!” she interrupted Wayne. She’d had enough escorting for one lifetime. “No,” she repeated more softly, gently, trying to pile on notes of sticky-sweetdon’t worry, everything is fine, I’m not trying anything funny. “I’ll be fine. You gave me such a good tour. I can find it, pretty simple, up the stairs, to theright.”
“Just so.” Nico beamed and set her plate aside, away from Wayne’s greedy and wandering eyes. “I’ll be there in alittle.”
No, you won’t, Jo wanted to correct. She started back down the hallway hastily, breaking out into a run the moment she was far enough away not to be seen by the men in the kitchen. She didn’t want to happen on anyone else and she certainly didn’t want to head back to whatever room she’d woken upin.
There was only one place she wanted togo.
Out.
Chapter 4
