“When I was on that side of the table, he didn’t come to save me. I saved myself. And I promise you, he’s not coming to save you, Raina. You need to woman up and save yourself.”
Her chin trembled and my heart bled. That had been me.
“He’s not looking out for you, so stop looking out for him. Speak to us, and we can ensure that you get to serve your time in a better place than this hell hole.”
Raina whirled on me and slammed her fists onto the table, making me jump. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t have all ofthemto protect me.” She pointed to Owen’s badge. “And not even they would be enough. You said so yourself, no one can keep him from walking in here! If you think he wouldn’t come after me when I talk, then you don’t know him at all. He would decorate the fucking banisters with my intestines!” She slumped back into her seat. “Nowhere is safe. He already knows you’re here. He’s hearing every word we say. So you can go fuck yourself. I’m not ready to die yet.”
“Raina…”
She slammed her fist on the table. “I said I’m done! And word of advice, sweetheart. You need to shut your pretty little mouth. You’re so fucking blind, you have no idea, do you? You have no idea what he’s capable of. But me? I’ve seen it. I might be stupid enough to love Grayson, but I’d rather let your agent boyfriend shoot me in the head right now, then let him get a hold of me. So I’m done talking.” She banged on the table again and screamed at the one-way window, “You hear that? I’m not talking! So get me the fuck out of here!” She was visibly shaking. It was no act. She was scared shitless of Grayson.
Owen and I exchanged a look.
It was hopeless.
Owen leaned forward, placing the photos back into his file. “You’re still new to the Russian prison system, but have you heard of Mordovia? That’s where you’re headed. You think this place is fucked?” Owen snorted. “Nothing Grayson can do to you is worse than that hell. You’regonnatalk, Raina. You’re gonnabegus to come chat. It’s just a matter of how many days you can stomach that place. So give us a call when you’re ready. We’ll be patient.”
Ava
“AllI’msayingis,if you don’t believe in it, why not let us do a little balding spell on you?” Rachel pressed nonchalantly while Owen stared daggers at her. “It won’t do anything, if it’snot real, right?”
“If you come near my head, blondie, I’ll turn you into shark chum,” Owen huffed.
I giggled and burrowed my toes deeper into the sand. The heaviness that had taken a hold of me in Russia was starting to leech away as the sun warmed my skin, and my friends continued their debate. Rachel believed, as she had since we were kids, that I was a witch and had magical powers, but Owen thought it preposterous.
Come to think of it, it might have been Rachel that had been the cause of the rumours that started so many years ago. Thewhispers of me being a witch had followed me around all my life. And my…eccentricitieshadn’t really helped to clear my name.
I held up a handful of sand and watched it fly away with the breeze. It was a beautiful day on Bentley Cove’s beach. We’ve been here almost every day, all day for the past week, teaching Owen to surf. Rachel and I were tired of the water and the sand already, but once Owen put his mind to something, there was no stopping him. He finally caught a wave, and Rachel and I celebrated by demanding a damn break.
Owen passed us a drink from the cooler without stopping his bickering with Rach, and I couldn’t help but feel content. I liked this. This was normal. This was exactly what we needed when I dragged Owen back to Bentley Cove for a vacation away from asshole thieves who demanded every bit of our attention and lives and souls.
“How about we go see a movie tonight?” I interrupted them.
“Yes!” Rachel exclaimed. “Then we can get take-out from Harry’s Diner and have a picnic by the lake. Like we used to do back in high school. It’s a full moon tonight.” Rachel turned and wagged her eyebrows at Owen. “Andyou’llget to see I’m right when you witness how all the fireflies flock to her. It’s insane.”
Owen glanced at me thoughtfully. “Well, as long as it’s not spiders.”
Rachel laughed. “Oh, they like her too. In fifth grade, our teacher had a tarantula in a tank, and it kept following A’s movements. It would tap its hairy little legs on the glass until she went to it.”
Owen stared at me, looking horrified. “If that’s true, we can’t be friends anymore.”
I laughed. “She only did that because I would sneak treats for her. Miss Mavis only ever gave her worms to eat, and she didn’t like them. Too bitter. I spent hours in the park catching little critters for her.”
“And how would you know the spider found her food bitter?” Owen questioned.
I shrugged. I just knew.
“See?” Rachel said pointedly to Owen. “I’m not crazy. Spend enough time with her and you’ll notice all these weird little things happening.”
“My God, you were right, blondie.” Owen stared in amazement. “They just keep coming. Do you think you look like a bug to them?” he teased.
We were sitting on a blanket, next to the lake, enjoying our burgers. One by one, the curious little fireflies landed on me for a few seconds, then flew away again, going about their business.
I never could figure out why they did it, but I didn’t mind them. They were gorgeous little things.
“It’s that light of yours they’re attracted to, little star,”Grayson had said when he witnessed it. But now I knew that was not the case. My light went out the moment he left. Only faintly glowing embers remained, painstakingly revived by my friends.
I watched another firefly land on my shoulder, his light flickering in a morse code I did not understand, then flew off again. “Beautiful,” I whispered in awe, watching it go.
