“Jonah, Mr. White asked that you stay here until he arrives,” Samuel said.
“Can Hayden stay with me?”
“No.”
I kissed Hayden’s chapped lips. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Don’t do anything reckless, Joe, ormorereckless. I mean it.”
“Okay.” Though he should have known I’d do whatever it took to get him out of here.
I turned to Nick, who looked very young and rattled, his puke soaking into his shirt. “Are you okay?”
“I… yes. I think. I’m happy to see you.” I could almost hear him thinking,‘Even though you aren’t here for me.’
I went to untie Nick as Samuel untied Hayden. When Nick was able to stand, we hugged. “Sorry about the puke,” he said, sobbing on my shoulder.
“It’s fine.” I wondered if he’d already figured out that his involvement with me had been the reason why he was chosen for this.
Hayden needed to lean on Samuel as he let him and Nick out of the conservatory. Once alone, I slumped into the wheelchair, my leg throbbing.
Time passed, and it dawned on me that I would soon meet Mr. White again. The man who had stuck the first needle intomy flesh, granted me my freedom, and later destroyed my relationship with Hayden, was once again holding my life in his hands.
I breathed in the rich scent of soil and plants to calm myself down. With the desert spread before me, I could almost feel an imaginary wind stroking my face.
When the doors finally opened, Mr. White entered wearing a white suit. He walked slowly using a cane to help him reach the chair next to me. He let out a weary sigh as he settled. His short, white hair was striking against his dark skin, and his eyes were as sharp as the day I last saw him, when he sent me back into the world with a tracker in my leg and an oath to follow his rules.
He scanned my face. “You look ridiculous.” I assumed he meant the fake smile of blood. “Is that puke on your shirt?”
“Yes.”
“Lovely.” He glanced at my leg. “I was told your running days are behind you.”
“I was never much of a runner.”
“Yet you still found your way here.” He shook his head, both palms gripping the golden handle of his cane. “Your impulsiveness is astonishing, Jonah. Wasn’t my gift to you generous?”
“You took Hayden.”
“Did your snooping detective leave me any other choice? I tried to separate the two of you months ago, but perhaps I was too subtle.”
“There was nothing subtle about those videos you sent.”
“I can name a few less subtle methods if you prefer.” His eyes hardened. “You should have kept him away from us.”
“I tried.”
“And you failed. Now, here we are, with a mess on our hands.”
I couldn’t deny that. “How desperate were you to give Bo this job?”
He chuckled. “Quite, but in my defense, we both knew his role would be short-lived. With the number of members at an all-time low, this place—our entire organization—has become meaningless.”
“Then you need to let it die already.”
He sighed. “You are as blunt as you are correct. My beloved Society is all but a memory.”
I felt encouraged hearing that, knowing he had no real reason to keep us here. “So, what happens next?”
