“It’s three in the morning.Close your eyes, and I’ll turn on the light.”
She obediently closed her eyes, wondering if she would fall asleep again.Light bloomed painfully against her eyelids, she was glad he’d warned her.She felt emptied, swept out.Strangely clean.
Finally, blinking her watering eyes, she managed to prop herself up on her elbows and look at him.
He had a white bandage tied around his left arm, and a row of stitches along his forehead.“God,” she said.“What happened to you?”
“Just a little mix-up with an old friend.”One corner of his mouth quirked up.His face looked oddly familiar.
Of course.How long have I been with him?“How long?—”
“Two and a half weeks.It took a little time.”He shrugged, leaning against the wall.
Is he using it to hold himself up?“Are you all right?”
The question seemed to surprise him.At least, he seemed to consider it carefully before his flat eyes returned to hers.“I think I’ll make it.It was a bit touchy there for a while.I almost thought they’d manage to get us both.”
That piece of news made Rowan’s heart thunder against her ribs.Her mouth went dry.“Sigma?”
“Sigma.”He shrugged again and winced slightly as if the movement hurt him.
“You look like hell,” she informed him.
“I probably do.I think I should get some rest.”
“I’m sorry,” she began, but he shook his head.
“You kept me on my feet, Rowan.I’msorry, for not taking better care of you.But it’s over, and we’re at Headquarters, and we’re safe for now.So I’m going to catch some sleep.”
Rowan sighed, forcing herself to sit up all the way.She was wearing a T-shirt and sweats, her hair was tangled, and she felt crusty-eyed and dry-mouthed.“What should I do?”she asked, and hated the way that sounded—as if she was too stupid to figure it out.
“You can just roam around, however you like.I’ve keyed the door to you, so it’ll open for either of us.Anyone you meet will be able to help you if you get lost.I’m sorry, Rowan, but I’ve got to get some sleep.”
Shame gnawed at her.“Oh.Okay.”Abruptly she wished for more pills to make all this uncertainty go away.“Justin?”
He dropped into a big, shabby orange armchair set next to a rickety round table holding a dark-blue glass lamp.“Hm?”
“Thank you.”She didn’t really have the words to thank him for what he’d done.
“No problem, angel.Anytime.”And just like that, he tipped his head back against the back of the plush chair and fell instantly asleep.He was freshly-shaved, but he looked gaunt, and there were huge dark circles under his eyes.
I wonder if he slept at all during that entire time.Two and a half weeks?Did I hear that right?She glanced around, taking in the room.
Long heavy drapes were closed over what could have been a French door.There was also a draped window.The floor was hardwood.Other than the bed she was occupying and the armchair and table, the room was bare except for a steel bookshelf in one corner and their suitcases piled near the door.I don’t think much of their decorating,she thought, and stretched, yawning.She felt tired, true, but also clear-headed for the first time since the attack in the parking lot.
Her father had still been alive then.
Rowan’s heart clenched inside her chest.She studied Justin’s weary face in the light from the lamp.
What am I going to do now?What would Daddy do?
She shivered.The room was just slightly chilly, and the naked feeling from what they called dampers was pressing against her skin.And the electric prickles that told her she was near him.
Justin.He was either asleep or faking it so well she couldn’t tell.
Rowan slid her feet out of the bed.First things first.I’ve got to take a shower.Then I should find something to eat.
PARTTWO
