“You said you could say the same about me. But will you actually?”
I slowly turned my head and locked my gaze with her stare. “Whatever he’s done to you, whatever you’ve endured down here, I’m sorry, Julia.”
Tears lined her eyes. “I’m sorry, too, Fangs.”
She reached out and squeezed my upper arm, and it was enough to almost blow me through the fucking roof. What the hell was up with her touch? Why was it so warm? Why did it feel so visceral every time she touched me? I wanted to welcome her touch, but instead I shrugged it off. I had to keep my focus, or else I’d get us both killed.
And that latter option simply wasn’t in the cards so long as I was driving this runaway train.
Julia cleared her throat. “So, what happens when they open that door? You going to throw me to the dogs while you escape?”
I scoffed. “Hell, no.”
“Then, what’s the plan, Stan?”
I peeked over at her. “We’re going to take them by surprise.”
“Two of us? Against all of them.”
“Just trust me.”
“Oh, even though you don’t trust me?”
I growled beneath my breath. “Can you just… not, right now? Can you just not?”
She giggled. “Spoken like a true basic white bitch.”
I paused. “A what now?”
She cackled, and the sound was so refreshing that I was physically sad when she stopped.
“Oh, man. You’re a hoot, you know that?”
I furrowed my brow. “Right, anyway. Stay quiet. I think they’re coming back this way.”
I was right, too. The men that had been tasked with feeding us dragged their heavy steps along the floor and I drew in a breath to speak. I knew what she wanted to tell me, though. She wanted to reassure me that we had to get her sister, that once we got out of the basement, we had to find Theresa. But I already knew that. I had already worked that into the plan. And I couldn’t risk those men knowing we were so close to the damn door already.
So, I pressed my finger to her lips.
Before putting my other finger to my own.
“Silent as a mouse,” I whispered.
She nodded and mouthed back to me. “No yelling, got it.”
I shoved her behind me but didn’t release her wrist. I’d have to keep an eye on her, for sure, especially since she moved damn near silently behind me. Outside of the occasional tick of the heel of her flats, we made no noise as we stood at the top of the steps. And as I watched the shadows beneath the door, I held my breath.
I waited for our moment.
And I listened as they spoke of something that dropped my stomach all the way to my toes.
“Next shipment is in a few days.”
“Shh. They’re going to hear you.”
“Oh, get over it. They’re all the way downstairs. What the hell are they going to do if they hear anyway? Run and tell their mommies?”
“Did you cancel the street runs?”
