Eventine, however, couldn’t look away. Not knowing why, she sprinted through the trees to the road and whipped her coffee at the van. The cup hit the van. Dark liquid splattered, and some sort of visual camouflage slipped off, revealing a truck with Conri Bloom behind the wheel.
From behind her, Wade swore and Trevor shouted. Vehicles roared to life. Eventine ran back to her vehicle and jumped in the passenger seat. Harlan gunned the engine to life and peeled out onto the road.
Trevor’s voice filled their heads.Change of plans.Team B is following Conri. Team A, he’s got a tail. Find it.
Trevor repeated the message over the radio.
A chorus of acknowledgements filled the radio channel. Eventine smiled at her mate and he smiled back.
Love you,he said inruhi, his eyes on the road, his hands on the steering wheel.
Love you more,she said, her eyes on the back of Conri’s head.
Harlan chuckled, like that wasn’t possible.
Conri turned toward town, and they followed.
58—Uncaged
Sage woke all at once, her brain and body quickly whirling with need. She felt desperately hungry and thirsty.
She sat up, her belly hurting. She groaned, needing foodright now, then wobbled to her feet and lurched into the kitchen to the nurse’s refrigerator. She yanked it open and found someone’s sandwich, which she ate in three bites. She opened a bottle of non-dairy coffee creamer and sniffed it, finding it sweet and fresh smelling—not spoiled. She chugged it like a frat girl downing a warm beer at a tailgate party, then stuck her head back in the fridge. She found a bottle of water and drank the entire thing. She went through the cabinets, mentally pouncing on a package of oatmeal cookies. She ripped them open and crammed a full row into her mouth, chewing and swallowing as fast as she could. Finally, her body relaxed, and her brain stopped screaming ‘FOOD’. Sage sagged against the counter, her hospital gown brushing her knees. She shoved two more cookies in her mouth.
The door to the treatment suite opened. Footsteps came down the hall. Sage wiped her mouth just as Maria, one of the nurses, came into view.
“Miss Sage, sit, sit.” Maria hurried toward her.
Maria took Sage by the elbow to guide her to a chair.
Sage grabbed on to her tightly, allowing herself to be led, saying, “Maria, I’m starving. I’m so hungry… and I ate your sandwich.”
They reached the bed and Sage lay down.
Maria shook her head, then bandaged Sage’s hand. “Not my sandwich. Maybe someone brought it for you. Doctor saidyou’d be hungry, and you’re to drink this.” She produced a bottle of medicine marked WHIT-WHIT from her scrub’s pocket.
Sage sat up and took the WHIT-WHIT. “Why am I so hungry?”
Maria shook her head. “Doctor didn’t say why, only that you’re to drink half now, and half when you get home.” Maria stood back and flapped her hand at Sage. “Doctor’s orders.”
Sage’s mind was already on what had happened for the last three days that she’d missed.Where was Reynard? Was Paisley fine?What about Reed? What about her job?
She cracked the lid on the bottle and drank half. It was thick and tasted like honey and it did make her feel better as soon as it slid down her throat. Her tummy settled, and her mind calmed.
“Good, good,” Maria said. “Stand now, can you?”
Sage stood obediently.
“Now sit.”
Sage sat and Maria took her vitals.
“Blood pressure is good,” Maria said. “You can go.”
Sage stood, feeling… mellow. She went to the bathroom, grabbing her purse from the table as she went by. She got cleaned up, then dressed, pulling on a purple long-sleeved blouse, low-rise jeans and suede boots. Once dressed, she sat on the side of the tub to check her phone.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw a message from Mugshots—her worst fears were confirmed. ShewasFIRED.Damn. Now what? Would the Vvyndicate be pissed? Or find her a new position?
She checked a message from Mina.
