Every time the SUV turns, Finn’s shoulder bumps mine. Each small movement sends another wave of relief crashing through me. I want to reach for him, squeeze his hand, tell him everything is going to be okay. But my hands are trapped behind my back, and worse, I don’t know if that’s true.
Another pothole sends the SUV bouncing. Finn gasps.
Without thinking, I shift closer. Pain explodes through my shoulder, but I ignore it.
“I’m here,” I whisper, my voice cracking. I swallow hard before trying again. “I’m here, Finn.” The words shake out of me. I need him to hear them as much as he needs to believe them.
For a long moment, there is nothing except the drone of the engine, tires grinding over gravel, and the muffled conversation of the men sitting above us.
Then I hear him.
“Eli?”
Relief nearly breaks me.
“Yeah,” I answer quickly. “I’m here.”
His breathing catches. “I can’t see.”
The words are small and disoriented, like he’s still trying to wake up.
“They put hoods on us,” I tell him quietly.
“Oh…”
A long pause follows before he murmurs, “My head hurts.”
My stomach twists as the memory of the gun striking him flashes through my mind. The sickening crack. The way he had fallen.
“I know.”
Silence settles between us again before he whispers, so quietly I almost miss it, “I’m scared.”
The confession punches straight through my chest. If it wasn’t for me, he’d be home with Deck, probably arguing over tea and making everyone laugh. Instead, he’s lying handcuffed on the floor of a moving SUV because Adrian wants me. The guilt tastes bitter.
“So am I,” I admit.
A weak laugh escapes him.
“Good.”
I frown. “What?”
“If you weren’t scared…” His words slur together. “…I’d be worried.”
Despite everything, a breath of laughter slips out of me. One of the men immediately tells us both to shut up. Neither of us answers.
Finn’s shoulder brushes mine again.
“Eli?”
“Yeah?”
“If Deck kills somebody,” his intake of breath is shaky, “don’t let him bury the body in the garden.”
A real laugh escapes me then. Broken. Brief. Gone almost as quickly as it came.
Finn hums softly.
