To my relief, Prue poked her head in. Her eyes widened when she saw Reid.
“Prue,” I said in a low hoarse voice, drawing her attention.
There was stress written all over her face as she quickly stepped into the room. She looked from me to Reid to me again as she closed the door silently behind her.
Whatever she saw, she seemed to come to some conclusion and met Reid’s eyes. “I’m going to assume that you’re her friend,” she said to him quietly.
He gave her a single nod.
“Where are you taking her?” Prue questioned.
Reid hesitated. It was clear on his face that he didn’t trust her. “Somewhere safe.”
Her gaze dropped to me. A pained look took over her face as her eyes bounced to different areas of my body. For only a moment, they turned glassy. Then she quickly blinked a few times and returned her attention to Reid. “You need to take her to her father.”
Reid didn’t respond.
“He’s a Haven’s Rebel.” Prue’s voice was full of desperation. “They have a place where they meet on the south side. I can get you the address.”
“I know who her father is,” Reid said.
He most certainly does.
Prue nodded. “Take her to him. He’s the only one who can protect her.”
Reid didn’t agree. Instead, he said, “Can you help me get her out of here?”
“How did you get in?” she asked.
Reid nodded toward the other side of the room. “The balcony.”
Prue looked past us toward the balcony doors, then to me, and I saw understanding wash over her. I couldn’t make that climb and Reid couldn’t get me down from there by himself.
Where are Roe and Wyatt?I wondered.Why is Reid here alone?
I had so many questions, but not enough energy to dwell on them.
Prue worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she quietly thought for a moment. “All right. Follow me and stay close.”
She turned and opened the door just as silently as she had closed it. She peeked her head out into the hall. When she walked out, I assumed it was clear.
Reid carried me effortlessly as he followed her. We moved as quickly and quietly as possible. The closer we got to the stairs, the faster my heart pounded in my chest. With each painful beat, I worried that my ribs might be broken. I wanted to just bury my face in Reid’s neck to hide or possibly return to that dreamy void, but I couldn’t. The new surge of adrenaline pumping through me wouldn’t allow me.
When we reached the top of the stairs, Mother’s voice carried up to us, making Reid and Prue pause.
“You shouldn’t have hit her face,” Mother grumbled.
“She already looked like she’d been hit in the face,” Clay said, sounding bored.
“That’s not the point,” Mother snapped. “Sharon Carmichael?—”
“The Stepford-cunt called you complaining about Charlotte’s disobedience. I’m sure she expected us to punish Charlotte to get her back in line.”
“She needs to be perfect, or they’ll back out of the deal,” Mother said, sounding panicked.
It went quiet and Prue gestured for Reid to continue following her down the stairs. We only made it down a step before the sound of Clay sighing traveled up to us and they both went still again.
“You wouldn’t be this stressed if you’d just kill her and be done with it,” he said flippantly.
