Compared to the slap, falling to the floor, being doused with an acidic chemical, and Riley breaking up with me, the pinch barely registered.
As she prepped the sutures, I tried to focus on something besides the last couple of hours. “What about Logan’s vision? Isn’t he under your care?”
“I can’t do anything more for him. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Will he regain his sight?”
“His progress is promising, but I can’t guarantee it.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“No.” Lamont looped two stitches to close the tear in my lobe.
By this time, I drooped with fatigue. Lamont trailed behind me as I headed toward my room. I stopped at the threshold. She hovered, rubbing her hands together. I had spent enough time with her to recognize her anxiety.
“No mothering. Remember?”
Although she didn’t look happy about it, she nodded.
“I just need to sleep for about a hundred hours. If anyone comes looking for me, can you tell them I’m not here?” I asked.
“Even Riley?”
My hands shook. Doubtful he would be looking for me. “Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll keep everyone out.”
“Thanks.” I collapsed onto the bed, crawling under the covers and muffling my sobs. Eventually, I would seek out Anne-Jade and tell her everything about the riot.
Too bad she found me first.
Startled from a deep sleep, I stared at Anne-Jade through puffy eyes. Confusion clouded my mind and her words failed to make sense. I rubbed my face in an effort to focus. My cheek throbbed.
“…hear me?” she asked. Grabbing my arm, she yanked me from the bed. “Do you even know how much trouble you’re in?”
I swayed on my feet, but straightened real quick when I spotted her two lieutenants standing behind her. “I?—”
“No excuses, Trella. I have orders from the Committee to arrest you.”
Wide awake now, I said, “But?—”
“You had your chance to explain down in waste handling, but you chose to run away.”
“I—”
“Running is an act of a guilty person. I had no choice. Yuri, secure her.” Anne-Jade stepped back to let Yuri closer.
With nowhere to go, I could only appreciate the speed in which Yuri slapped a handcuff onto my left wrist, spun me around and snapped the other cuff onto my right. With my arms pinned behind my back, my sore shoulder ached.
“Anne-Jade, the cuffs aren’t necessary,” I said.
“I disagree. Let’s go.”
She gripped my arm, propelling me forward as if I would resist. With a lieutenant in front of us and one following, they marched me from my room. Lamont hovered in the sitting area. Hour three shone on the clock.
“You could have at least waited to call Anne-Jade until I got more sleep,” I grumped at Lamont.
“Give us some credit, Trell,” Anne-Jade said. “No one called us. You weren’t that hard to find.”
