Page 21 of The Villains We Make

We hurry to the chopper and once we’re inside, Silas straps me in, then secures his own belt as it takes off. We slip on the headphones and look down at Lourdes and Father Emiliano, who grow smaller and smaller the farther we get. I see how far up on the cliffs we are, and the road that was impassable last night is now crawling with a procession of SUVs. Several of them have flashing lights.

“Fucking Sly,” Silas mutters.

We don’t speak as it all disappears from view and, twenty minutes later, the chopper touches down at an airfield where a private plane is waiting for us.

“I’m not going to Atlanta,” I say, remembering that was the plan as Silas hurries me toward the jet.

“No. The flight will take us to Boston.”

“Oh,” I say, honestly surprised. I wasn’t sure he’d stick to his end of the bargain. “Okay.”

Fifteen minutes after we’re on board, the jet takes off. Silas asks for a whiskey as soon as we’re airborne. I decline a drink.

“Tell me what happened. Which hospital is he in? Tell me what’s going on.”

“I already told you all I know, which isn’t much. We’ll learn more once we reach the house.”

“He’s all right?”

“It sounds like it.”

“Let me have your phone. I’ll call his lawyer.”

He considers, then nods and hands me his phone. I dial Mr. Higgins’s office and when I tell the secretary who I am, she puts me right through.

“Ophelia. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Where are you? Your fiancé told me what happened. Are you all right?”

By fiancé, he means Ethan, who must have my phone—who must have answered it when Mr. Higgins called. But that doesn’t matter. “I’m all right. Where is my dad? How is he?”

“He’s at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he’s stable. I saw him this morning.”

“You saw him?”

“I did. He’s worried about you, obviously, but he’ll make a full recovery. He was stabbed in the abdomen yesterday afternoon but he’s lucky. The guards got to him quickly and he was taken to the hospital.”

“Do they know who did it or why?”

“No. It happened during a busy period in a common area of the prison, unfortunately.”

“He can’t go back there. It’s not safe for him.”

“I’m working on that, Ophelia.”

“Can I see him?”

“I’m not sure they’ll allow a visit at the hospital. I’ll be able to see him as his lawyer but otherwise, I’m not sure. I’ll see what I can do, though.”

“Please do. Can I call him in the meantime?”

“I’ll call you tomorrow morning from the hospital. That’s the earliest I can get there.”

“Okay. Okay. It’ll have to do.”

“Are you safe, Ophelia?” he asks again, voice grave because I’m sure he’s seen what happened and believes I’ve been kidnapped.

“I’m safe.” I look at Silas who is watching me. “Just use this number until I get you a new one. I lost my other phone.”

“Okay.”

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