“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled with your collection of STI’s.”
I burst out laughing at her sudden venom. “Hasanybody ever told you that you’re cute when you’re jealous?”
Violet seemed to bite her own response, her gaze forward as we descended to the ground floor, the doors opening to reveal a fake garden.
Greta sat alone on a bench, surrounded by large trees that shaded her against the overhanging lights. Fake grass crunched beneath my boots as we approached, Violet more hesitant than me as I sat opposite.
Greta seemed to hold herself slightly differently, her eyes distinctively dull compared to the wildness of our last interaction. Although they grew alarmed when she recognised me, only slightly calming once she realised her daughter was also here.
“Violet?” she whispered, reaching over the table. “What have you done? Why is he here?”
“Mum, I’ve missed you so much! How are?—”
“WHY IS HE HERE?” she wailed. “YOU’VE BROUGHT THEM TO ME!”
Well, this was going well. I honestly thought my presence alone would terrify her into compliance. People were usually more cooperative when they were terrified, especially with the unspoken threat my proximity posed to her daughter.
“I think you should leave,” Violet commented, and yeah, that might be a good idea.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” Greta screeched, causing some of the orderlies to come over to try and calm her down.
“She’s okay!” Violet insisted, holding her hands out to stop the men from grabbing her mother. “Ryder, please,” she begged me.
Gritting my teeth I nodded, but not before I leaned down to warn her. “Remember why we’re here.”
Her glare could cut glass. “Like I could possibly forget.”
Violet
It took three orderlies to calm mum down, and even then, it was only once Ryder was out of sight.
“Mum, are you okay?” I asked, her gaze hollow when they met mine. “Please, are you being treated?—”
“What are you dressed like?” Mum tutted, her upper lip lifting in disgust. “Honestly, Violet, it’s inappropriate.”
I tugged on Ryder’s jacket that I’d tied around my waist, pulling the arms down further. “We don’t have much time,” I grumbled, ignoring her jab.
“Have they found you?” she asked, so uncomfortably calm it was a complete contrast to her only moments ago. “Well, of course they have. You broughthimhere.”
“You know Ryder?” Cold rushed through me, sharp and sickening, my fingers curling reflexively into my thighs under the table.
“I can’t believe they’ve found us,” mum whispered. “After all this time…”
“Mum.” I leaned closer. “I need you to look at me, okay? Do you know Ryder?”
Her eyes snapped to mine, tension locking her shoulders. “You need to run. While he’s distracted. You can run. Hide.”
“I can’t.” My voice cracked. “They’re asking for a USB drive.” I leaned in further, lowering my voice. “Mum, what USB drive? What are they talking about?”
Mum paled, her eyes darting around the room.“Ich wusste, dass sie kommen würden,”she muttered.
“What?” I couldn’t understand anything she was saying.
“Did he hurt you?” she asked, reaching over to grab my hand so quickly I jumped. “Violet, did he hurt you?”
My eyes widened. “What? No.” I mean, not literally. Emotionally I was still mortified.
“Listen to me, carefully,” she said, her nails biting into my skin hard enough to draw blood. Her eyes burned, steady even as her voice trembled at the edges. “You need to run. It’s already too late for me, as you’ve likely led them here. But you…” She gripped tighter, desperate. “You can still get out.”
