Page 23 of The Lies We Believe

“Got it. You coming in too?”

“Yup. He’s calling us in for a meeting at ten.”

“Okay. I’m gonna focus on Mrs. Burrows’ oil change, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You know it, Benson.”

CHAPTER 10

RIVER

Ididn’t expect to be woken up by my phone vibrating like mad on the nightstand, but here I was, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and trying to focus on the ultra bright screen. There had to be a way to make it less bright, so it didn’t feel like it was burning my retinas.

Bane

I’ve been called in for a meeting. I won’t be long.

One of the team is bringing someone over this morning to update the security system, but I’ll hopefully be back by then. If I’m not, you’ll have to let them in. Make sure they show you their badge. It should look like this.

*photo*

I let the phone fall beside me before interlinking my fingers and stretching them over my head, rolling my neck to ease the stiffness. I’d never felt as exhausted as I did right now, even though I’d slept more than I had in years. It didn’t make sense. Iwas waiting for the day when I’d wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Bane was under the assumption I had locked myself away in my room for the last few days. While accurate as far as he was concerned, his assumption wasn’t correct. I had left my room, but only when he was out cold, leaning against the wall opposite my door with a snore rumbling in his chest.

I wasn’t sure he’d understand how overwhelmed I felt right now. The only way I felt like I had any control was to lock myself away in a cage of my own making. It wasn’t about setting boundaries; it was about trying to replicate how I’d existed for so long that the possibility of being free, no matter how fleeting, was absolutely terrifying. Even if it was everything I’d ever dreamed of.

The phone fell to the floor when I kicked the blankets off and landed with a thump. I cringed, hoping I hadn’t damaged it, because I had no way of paying Bane back. There was only one thing I was good at—getting on my knees and taking whatever they forced on me. My fingers trembled as I scooped the phone up and headed to the bathroom. I needed a shower. My—Bane’s—hoodie was stuck to my body. My skin felt tight, and I stank of state sweat.

After a quick piss, I turned the shower on and brushed my teeth while I waited for the water to heat. After years of ice-cold showers, hot water was a luxury I never wanted to live without. Steam filled the room as I stripped off and kicked the clothes into the corner. Remembering I hadn’t replied to Bane, I fired off a quick message.

K

Feeling refreshed and a bit more awake after my shower, I scooped up my dirty clothes, stripped the bed, and unlocked mydoor. I paused, listening to make sure there was no one else here. When the only thing I could hear were the muted voices from my TV, I breathed a sigh of relief and ambled downstairs, trying not to trip on the way down.

It had taken me nearly an hour of YouTube videos to figure out how to work the washing machine. Bane was right when he said I didn’t have a lot of clothes, but it meant I could take as much as possible with me when he kicked me out.

While the wash was on, I poured a coffee from the pot on the counter. Wrapping my fingers around my mug, I inhaled the delicious aroma and sipped the warm nectar down like it was my lifeline.

“Hello?” I almost dropped my mug at the voice shouting through the mail slot. “Hellooooo?” A loud knocking came from the front door. I placed the mug on the counter and checked my phone to see if there were any new messages from Bane, but there weren’t. Great! Radio silence. I chewed on my bottom lip, my heart racing as indecision had me rocking in the middle of the kitchen, my eyes darting between the guy looking through the windows and my escape route back to my room, where I’d be safe behind a locked door.

“Benson said there’d be someone here to let me in to check over the security system.” Gripping the cuffs on my hoodie, I walked toward the door. I could still see the guy standing in front of the window, so I quickly typed a message and held it up to the glass.

Show me your badge.

The guy chuckled. “Alright, kid. Let me get him.” His silhouette moved away, the sound of his footsteps fading.

My knees buckled, and I slid down the wall while I waited for him to return. I gripped my phone to my chest as tears prickedthe backs of my eyes. God, I wished Bane was here. He’d know what to do. He’d be calm and take control. His heart wouldn’t be fighting its way out of his chest. Tears wouldn’t be leaking down his cheeks.

“Hey, kid.” I jumped at the sound of the guy’s voice and pushed up onto my knees so I could pull the blind back enough to see what he held against the window. “This is my business card and the guy’s who brought me down. I’m James Stevenson. I work in security, and Detective Davis is here escorting me.”

I looked down at the image Bane had sent of his badge, then googled James Stevenson and High Bar security to make sure he was legitimate. All the details on his card checked out against those listed on the company website.

Okay, I’ll unlock the door.

I held my phone up to the window and heard his low chuckle again.

“Alright kid, thank you. Unlock the door, then knock twice to let me know you’re done, okay? Then go keep yourself occupied while I work. I’ll lock the door and put the key back through the mail slot when I’m done.”

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