Page 73 of Bone Dust

The woman beside her, who is also a nurse, makes a protective move and wraps an arm around her. Gigi’s nurse turns her face into the woman’s shoulder and the woman gives me a stern, tight-lipped stare.

“Sir, we’ve notified the security team. They’re doing everything they can.” She tips her head as her brow pinches. “Aren’t you Ian Stanton?”

I trudge away, unwilling to answer questions. All I can think about is Savi and Gigi. I’m determined not to lose any more people I love.

Love?

I freeze. Do I dare love anyone?

My mistakes haunt me, and I fight with myself on the days I want to give up, but the idea of losing Savannah and Gigi makes clear the realization that I love them. Although I know it’s irrational, I have this fear if I love anyone, I’ll jinx it.

My mind races with doubts. Negativity creeps in with thoughts like ‘good things don’t happen to people like me’. Old habits are hard to break, and old mindsets even harder. I shove the thoughts away. This is no time for a pity party. My immediate concern is protecting my two blue-eyed girls.

As I wait for Sam my hands clench into fists. My knuckles burn with the strain and my fingernails dig into my palms. My thoughts race as I think about the bastard responsible for this. As I piece everything together my bones ache and every breath I take burns with revenge. It’s Drake who’s responsible for this, I’m sure of it. If I get to him before the cops do, it’s almost a certainty I’ll go to jail.

Another code rings out through the speakers. Everything seems surreal and I’m impatient. It’s like I’m moving through quicksand. I don’t know what to do with the rage inside of me and once the elevator doors close, I punch the metal door. Goddammit!

I pull my hand back for examination and see bloodied flesh. Dismissing the minor ache, I wipe a few weeping knuckles against the side of my jeans. I’ve never felt so helpless and when the elevator door opens at the lobby, I feel a pinch of relief as I spot Sam.

He comes towards me. His eyes travel from my face to my fist, and a sober nod silently tells me he understands.

“C’mon.” He turns and I trail him to an exit door where an officer stands as a sentry. “Hank, let us through. He’s with me.”

“Sure thing, Sir.” The policeman moves aside.

Sir? The man addresses him with a reverence I’ve not heard before. My brain squirms for information and a question claws forth as I follow behind him. “Who the fuck are you?”

Sam shakes his head. “Not now, Ian.”

Everything blurs as we sprint across the parking lot in silence toward Sam’s truck. Once we’re inside we quickly fasten our seatbelts. My cell rings and, when I pull it from my back pocket, Savannah’s name comes up on the screen. I punch the speaker button.

“Where are you?” My tone is low and grave, then I hear her voice.

“—made a big mistake doing this. People will be looking for us.”

“Shut up.”

“Where are you taking us? Why are we headed toward Discord?”

“I said shut up!”

I hit the mute button. Somehow, Savannah connected the call undetected and is now attempting to give clues.

“Why is my daughter unconscious? What did you do to her? She’s shivering.” A pause. “If anything happens to my baby, I’ll?—”

“Whose baby?”

It’s Drake, and his ominous tone bristles the hair on the back of my neck. Urgency rises inside of me. I’ve gone from Rock Hills to Discord Flats and remember where the highway turns to back roads. The uptick in home sales that Rock Hills is having doesn’t reach that far out, so I concentrate on sounds that might lead us to them faster. So far, all I hear is humming tires, indicating a smooth road. That tells me they’re still on the highway.

“Drake, I need you to listen to me. This is a mistake. We can turn around and head back. I’ll figure out a way to help you.”

I look over at Sam. His face is so tight it’s a wonder his jaw doesn’t snap. In the silence, we exchange a look as we detect the graduating sounds of a smooth road to gravel.

“You’re such a stupid bitch. I don’t need your help to stay out of jail, Savannah. My father knows people—but that isn’t what this is about. Even you, with all your fancy words, can’t act as mediator between me and The Brethren. The kid is part of an exchange.”

He pauses, then chuckles.

“What? You didn’t think I knew about your kid? There’s a market for blue-eyed blondes. I don’t care about you, and I don’t give a shit about that kid. You said it yourself; I’m a monster. Right now, you two are currency, and I’ve got a debt to pay.”

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