Page 66 of Black Bird

“Go on …”

“I think they made some kind of vaccine with Mom’s virus. I think maybe I wasn’t hallucinating or dreaming when I woke up on that table and they were sticking me with needles.” Sarah looked up and Rhaena knew exactly what she meant.

“You think they injected you and used you as a lab rat to test it out.”

Sarah nodded gravely. “I think that’s why they’re after me. Because whatever they did … it worked. And now they want me to be the world’s fountain of youth. The fucking cure for cancer. Something they can charge top dollar for, or dangle over people’s heads who know damn well they’ll die because no one could ever afford it. I’m a piggy bank, Rhaena. A treasure trove.”

Rhaena couldn’t help but admit she was in shock. This poor girl. It made so much sense. Everything made sense. The reason Conrad wanted her was a mystery … but Dahlia? Athan was living a pretty normal life these past few weeks because he’d fed on her. His heart had started beating, he could eat food or drink blood, and survive on either. He could walk in sunlight and if he didn’t want to be a vampire anymore … he really had that choice, it seemed. Of course Dahlia would want her. The government would want her for the exact reasons Sarah had just mentioned. Sarah would be hunted forever. She had unknowingly walked right into the trap they’d laid for her. They had to protect her.

“We’re not gonna let that happen, Sarah,” Rhaena soothed, rubbing her thumb over Sarah’s tattooed arm. “We’ll protect you.” Tears began to well in Sarah’s eyes, but she nodded and shook it off, sniffling.

“Thank you. Really … for everything.” She smiled.

Rhaena leaned over and wrapped her arms around her, and Sarah hugged her back. She suddenly felt just as protective of her as Athan was. This oddity of nature that should be allowed to have a life of her own but was being hunted down like a rabbit being chased by a fox. It was unfair. Unfair and fucking cruel. She’d never let it happen. “I think you need something stronger than coffee, friend.” Rhaena smirked, pulling away. “And I think you need to tell him about this. I don’t think it should come from me.”

“Things are … really tense between us. I dunno how to talk to him about any of it without things getting weird.”

“He hasn’t talked to you? About anything?” Rhaena tread carefully and Sarah shook her head.

“He—I think he tried earlier today. Wren was there and it just didn’t … you know.” Sarah shifted in her seat.

“I see …” Rhaena couldn’t hide her smile. “I could just be going out on a limb here, but … you could maybe let some steam out of the pot.”

“What? —I can’t … no.”

Rhaena slapped her palm to the table. “Why? You seemed pretty confident in those pictures I just saw.” She stood, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and setting it down on the table. “Here, use this.”

“Rhaena, that was a mistake, I can’t—I dunno what he wants. I don’t even know whatIwant. We barely know each other.”

“People sleep with strangers all the time. You’re not strangers. If you don’t want to then I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t wanna do. But go ahead and lie to me, girl. Youwanthim.” Rhaena crossed her arms and side-smiled at her.

Sarah’s mouth was held open, and she flopped back in her chair, throwing her head back, and rubbing her face with both hands. “Fuck … I do. So bad. What the hell is wrong with me?”

She knew. She knew and she felt bad for not telling her, but it wasn’t her place. Maybe pushing them into any kind of intimacy wasn’ther place, either. It didn’t matter. They were adults. If something happens, then it happens. If it doesn’t, then whatever.

“Look … he wants you too. Take it from someone who’s known him for a very long time. If the two of you are gonna have any kind of conversation, you need to find a way to get past this … whatever it is.” Rhaena waved a hand in front of her. “Maybe it’s not sex. You’ll figure it out. I’m just giving you a little liquid courage. Wherever that courage leads you is your choice.” Rhaena winked, pulling her hooded sweatshirt up over her head. Her shirt rose slightly with it, and she heard Sarah gasp.

“What the hell happened to you?” she asked. Rhaena tossed the hoodie over the back of one of the kitchen chairs and looked down at her side while she slid her tank back down. Bruising. Every single time. It onlylookedbad; they weren’t sore for very long. But the thrashing against the chains and the walls always left their mark. Sarah gaped at Rhaena’s bare arms. “Rhaena, oh my God.”

“I’m fine. Really. Three days a month I take off on a retreat at my uncle’s old place. I train my ass off and I always come back looking like I’ve been hit by a truck. I’m really okay. Trust me, I need it.”

Sarah slowly shook her head. “Damn, dude. Take me with you next time.”

Rhaena laughed. “I told you. Anytime you wanna come knock bags with me, say the word. I’ll toughen you up.” Damn … she really liked this girl. Who would have thought. “I’m gonna go shower and lay down. You stayin’?” she asked.

Sarah slid her house key across the table. “I’ll let you have your house back.” She snickered. “Knock if you need anything. Sounds like I’ll be around for a while.”

“Well take that with you.” Rhaena jerked her head toward the liquor bottle. “You’ve got my couch if things go south … if they go … anywhereelse, then bite down on a piece of leather or something, will ya?” She snorted.

“Oh, my G—” Sarah’s eyes bulged, and her mouth dropped open.

Rhaena grinned and nodded. “That’s pretty accurate.” She left Sarah sitting at the table and chuckled down the hallway towards her bedroom.

CHAPTER 10

SAFE

The prick had told them everything. Sarah’s suspicion had been right. One small stack of paper, offering him immunity when this whole case blew up, was all he’d needed to sing like a canary in that interrogation room. Athan was only sorry that it hadn’t been after a well-deserved beating for ever even thinking of doing this to her. It didn’t matter that Brent hadn’t known all the details ofwhyhis father wanted him to string her up. That was the problem with men like this. That was the reason so many of the women that Athan was paid to sleep with long ago were so broken. They were used, mistreated, or just desperate not to be alone. He’d tried calling Sarah a couple times after he’d left the precinct to see what kind of food she’d want him to bring home. He hadn’t spent enough time with her to figure out what else she liked other than her usual coffee and cigarettes. For some reason, that made her twice as attractive.

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