Page 44 of The Flame

Surprise and confusion tugged at his brows.

“It’s not good news,” I said, my throat thickening. Because whatever Julian Edgar deserved, Daniel had already lost the essence of his mother, and now he’d lost his father. “Daniel, I’m so sorry. They performed some procedure on him.”

“No.” He strangled that one, tiny word. The dread in his expression told me he knew exactly what that meant.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and I truly meant it. “I don’t know for certain, but Geneva wouldn’t have released him unless she’d…”neutralized the threat.“I just saw him, Daniel, and he’s…whatever they’ve done, he’s like your mother now.”

“No!” He yanked at his cuffs, struggling to sit up, fighting the effects of the sedative, his eyes suddenly alight with cold fire. “No.”

“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” Except, it wasn’t. I grabbed his cuffed hand, trying to calm him. “I’m so sorry.”

His wrist twisted within my grasp, his eyes wild. “I have to see him.”

“You can’t.” I looked into his eyes, pleading with him to understand. “We have to get you away from Capra. That’s the only way to keep you safe.”

He stopped struggling, a curse dragging on his ragged breath. “They didn’t have to do that to him. My father is a good man. Agoodman.”

No, he isn’t. The agony in Daniel’s eyes undid me and I very nearly told him exactly what kind of man his father really was. Julian Edgar was the reason Daniel had grown up without his mother’s love. Julian Edgar had committed his own wife to rehab.

That might dull his pain now, but he would soon be filled by another, far worse pain.

I couldn’t do it.

“There’ll be a time to do whatever you need to do, I promise.” I brought my other hand up to Daniel, brushed the hair from his forehead and cupped his jaw. “But you can’t do anything, you can’t help anyone, if you end up like your parents.”

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Is that what they have planned for us?”

“I don’tknow, Daniel.” My voice sounded raw, as raw as the nerve endings scraping my skin. I’d wanted Julian Edgar to hurt.I’d wanted to destroy him. But I hadn’t wantedthis, not for Daniel. “I don’t know, but I do know this. Geneva sees you and the other heirs as just as much of a threat as the councilmen. She’s never going to just let you walk out of here.”

His chest caved and he went still.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “We’re getting you out.”

“You’re not.” His gaze pierced mine. “I’m not letting you risk your life for mine. Don’t ask that of me.”

“I’m not asking.”

He shook his head, a sad, exhausted smile sliding into his expression. “I don’t need saving. I need you to be safe.”

“I told you, Roman and I have a plan, and it’s solid.” Especially now that it didn’t include Ward Red. “We’ll be gone before anyone knows what’s happened. Trust me.”

“Maybe, but what comes after?” He blinked, long and slow, shaking his head again. “You’ll be their number one suspect. You’ll just be trading places with me.”

“You’re right, we’ve realized that I can’t cover my tracks. That’s why Roman and I are escaping to The Smoke with you. We’re done with Capra. No turning back.” Somehow, I managed a small smile. “And I’m good with that.”

Daniel’s mouth opened, then closed.

I had him.

“When?” he said.

I made a snap decision. There was no other choice. Not after seeing Julian Edgar. Two days to map the brain, but what if they moved Daniel into Ward Red for that phase? That part of our plan had always been murky, pretty much designed to fail.

“Tonight,” I said. “It’s happening tonight.”

13

Roman fetched me from the rehab center at lunchtime. I had one hour to finalize everything and pack up my life.

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