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Violet snorts.

"He's our Uncle Jesus, Jailbait. You're safe with him. Let me lift you up to him." Ridge reaches out to take Jailbait in his arms. "You have to get on my shoulders."

"I don't like this," Violet mumbles.

With my help, she gets on Ridge's shoulders and reaches up with her arms. Jesus grabs hold and pulls her up and into the dark void where he is. "These are friends. Don't be afraid." I hear him say to Violet, not sure who he's brought with him.

"Okay, we need to hurry. There's a lot of activity out there," Jesus says. "Is there anything to stand on?"

"A table." The table I suggest is small, but I'm sure it will hold our weight. "Ridge, you go next."

"Hell no, little brother." Ridge gives me a little nudge and I reach up and grab the ceiling. With the help of Jesus, I drag my ass into the void.

"Move it, Ridge!" I hiss as I hear voices outside the door to the room. Frustration builds as I catch my brother looking at the door. "Ridge! Don't you fucking dare—" My words are cut off as my asshole of a brother reaches up and pulls the cover over the hole in the ceiling. I curse silently.

"Go! Take care of Violet."

"What the—" I slap a hand over Violet's mouth.

“I don’t like this either, Violet. But he's buying us time to get away. We'll be right back with Ed and the others. I promise."

Tears fall down Violet's face as I slowly pull my hand away.

40

BEATRICE

Heat surroundsme as I snuggle deeper into the embrace. My eyes pop open and I gasp in surprise before bursting into tears.

"It's okay, Mermaid Girl, I've got you." Essex pulls me all the way into his arms.

"How?"

Rolling me onto my back, Essex hovers above me. "Jesus found a way out for us." He holds me close, not an inch between us. "I suspect he's been there before," he admits.

"Violet and Ridge?"

"Violet is here. She's sleeping in Ridge's bed. Galen is with her. Ridge didn't get out. Ed and Jesus are going to get him."

"No." I shake my head. "Richard wants the phone, Essex. The fake is ready." Wiggling off the bed, I pull him up with me and press my lips to his.

Essex cups my face and deepens the kiss. I feel his heartbeat against my chest, a steady rhythm that reassures me. With a final squeeze of my hand, he intertwines our fingers and opens the bedroom door, only to find Ed about to knock. Ed's gaze catches mine. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm not afraid of Richard. We get Ridge in exchange for the phone. Once he's free, you do what you have to do to end this." We follow Ed downstairs because I'd fallen asleep in Essex's bed. Well, I guess it's our bed now that I've moved in with him.

I look around the kitchen, which is full of bodies. I frown when I don't see David. He should be here by now. I walk into the study where I find Ed, who says, "Have you eaten?"

I shake my head. "Where's David?"

He sighs. "I'm sorry, Bea, but we don't know."

"What? You said there was a man with him."

"He went out the back of the building. There's a blind spot back there. We don't know if he left alone or if he was forced."

"Damn it." I stomp forward. "Where's the phone? I want this done now. I'm sick of all this. I want everything back to the way it was." I cringe. "For the Redds, I mean. And I want to spend some time with my boyfriend."

Ed gives me a one-armed hug. "Please eat something." He kisses the top of my head. "The darkness is our friend."

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