My sky.
She was there, and I—I couldn’t tell her a goddamned thing. Maybe if I had, maybe if I’d opened my mouth and let the truth spill out, we could have talked, could have figured shit out before it all went to hell. Maybe if I’d have told her that even though she’d lost her memories, I remembered them for the both of us. That even after all this time, I held them, kept them safe and protected, just for her.
“Maybe if I’d said something, we wouldn’t be here now,” I breathe, shaking my head.
My fingers dig deep grooves in my palms, and my shoulders drop with the sharp bite of pain.
There’s no point arguing my choices with the bright void I’m existing inside of right now. It won’t do a damn bit of good. All Ican do is prepare, keep my mind right, and myself as healthy as I can.
The rest of the memory comes into focus, and I choke on the barely-there air in my lungs as I cling to the words.
“He’s always wanted your blood, little doll. From the moment I met him, it was always about your blood. Your mother first, and then you. He thinks you’re the key. He needs your name, your blood.”
Who the fuck was Eric talking about, and what do they want with our girl?
Where is she?
Is she okay?
What about the guys? Hunter?
So many questions fill my mind faster than I can process them. But above all, one stands out…
Are they alive?
Acid pools in my throat again. Fuck. I don’t know him well. Don’t know what our future holds, but I do know I want a chance to find out. If he—if they—ifshedied, I…I…
“No!” I growl, my voice low.
I refuse to believe it. Refuse to give way to that possibility.
My fists ball, and the motion tugs on my suit. My eyes snap down, and I trace my fingers over the golden cuff links I designed. Seeing her initials makes something inside my chest shift, reminding me what I have waiting outside of this cell.
Everything.
I slide my jacket off and quickly detach both before letting it fall to the floor. I roll them around in my palm, taking in the delicate design.
They took months for me to create, but the ode to Ella was a last-minute edition for her birthday. Though I’d hoped we wouldn’t need them, I’m glad I spent the time and money to getthem done on time. I flip one over and thoroughly inspect it, making sure it’s fully intact before checking over the other.
Glancing up, I double-check check there are no visible cameras in the room again. They may be hidden, but something in my gut says I’m not being recorded—not yet, anyway.
Once I’m as confident as I can be that I’m truly alone, I drop one onto my jacket and slide my nose stud out. It only takes me a moment to use the tiny metal end to pop the golden faceplate off, revealing mostly microscopic wires. I gently use the stud to push them aside. It feels like my heart is in my throat as I search for the tiny red light that’ll let me know they’re still emitting a signal.
It feels like I search for minutes, but I know it’s only seconds, and then finally…
“It’s perfect,” I sigh, my body deflating. A small smile tugs at my lips, and pride washes over me.
I quickly press the top back on, hearing it click into place before repeating the process with the second cuff link. I know something’s wrong the second I get the faceplate off. One of the tiny black wires is broken free from the main tracking component, and I don’t have the tools to fix it.
My jaw pulses as frustration replaces some of the pride I’d been feeling just moments ago, but I breathe through it. I have one tracking device. One chance to be found. And hopefully, if the guys are somewhere near me, their matching cuff links will multiply our hope.
I slide my stud back in and click the top back on the broken link before returning it to my jacket. I slide it on, checking that I look as normal as I possibly can in this situation. The link with the working tracker stays gripped in my fist like the lifeline it is.
I check my watch and see it’s nearly seven. The sun’s up, and life on the outside is starting to come to life. Whoever took me, whoever stuck me in this cell, will likely be here soon. Luckily,with my watch and that beautiful little red dot, I have some answers that I didn’t have before.
The tracker has a fifty-mile radius on it, which means we can’t be too far from the city.
“We’re still in the Bay,” I breathe, hope clinging to me like a second skin. Thank fuck.
