Page 30 of Heartless Legacy

I’m leaning forward, barely holding the stethoscope now. My body sags against Nurse Snyder’s, sweat beads between my brows. I’ve exerted what little strength I had following several days of sleep.

She holds my weight without complaint and says, “How about we give Thea some space? We can come back later, after she’s gotten some more rest.”

Hart nods his assent. The doctor leaves first. Then Hart. I release my hold of the plastic tubing and back away from Nurse Snyder, bracing myself against the bed.

She puts more space between us, and orders, “In bed, Thea.” I try to straighten, fighting back against her demand. “Nobody’s doubting how strong you are. But you’re still recovering and if I wanted to force you, I could.” She steps around to the other side of the bed. “You need more sleep.” Pulling a five by seven card from her pocket, she says, “This is the food menu for today. You can leave it on the table when you’re done, and I’ll come back to collect it later.”

Food? The thought makes me ill. Lucid dream or not, I won’t be eating anything she brings unless it’s pre-wrapped.

Chapter 20

Thea

The door to my non-cell swings open, a server enters, pushing a cart laden with food. Someone comes in behind her with a rolling dinner table. I watch as she sets it up, while the first person puts utensils on my bedside table, along with plates of food.

The door opens a second time and a man wearing a business suit strolls in. The staff tilts their heads to him in deference as they walk out of the room, pulling the door closed behind them. He takes off his jacket, hangs it on the back of the chair, and rolls up his sleeves before coming closer to my bed.

“Hello, Anotèa. I’m Alexzander Cabini Moreau. I was hoping we could share a meal and get to know each other.”

Anotèa. The name Scott and Moira gave me in Greece. We’re starting the get to know you stage off on the wrong foot if he insists on calling me that. “Good cop or bad cop?”

His hand pauses over a lid on my table. “I’m not a cop at all.” He answers, uncovering the dishes, placing the lids on the cart the servers left behind. Steak and potatoes. A salad, a bowl of soup and crackers. The only thing I’ll even consider touching is the knife and the crackers. I’ll drink water from my bathroom sink.

“Good shrink, or bad shrink?”

“Neither.”

“You say you’re not a cop and I’m told this isn’t a prison. Yet, the people walking around here carry guns and tasers. You’re not a shrink, but there are doctors on staff, and I’m definitely in a hospital room. I’m getting a whole lot of it’s not what it seems, so why don’t you tell me what this place is?”

“The staff was under orders to keep their answers vague. I wanted to be the one to explain things to you. As for where you are, you’re at a secure location.”

“Secure sounds a lot like institution, don’t you think?”

“We have armed security on staff and a fully functioning hospital facility on site. But that’s for protecting and treating the people who live, train and work here. Everyone is free to come and go as they please, and as soon as you’re healed, you’re free to do the same. I promise you’re safe here, Thea, and I’d be happy to give you the grand tour of our compound.”

He goes to his table and uncovers his dishes before taking his seat. I watch as he pulls his table closer and bows his head in prayer before stabbing his fork into a tiny bowl, bringing an olive to his mouth. His plate has a few different things from mine. Like the wrapped cabbage leaves he’s munching on now. Certain words in his non-explanation stick out to me, likecompoundandtraining. “You’re a guardian?”

He snorts, pouring himself a glass of wine. The drink ware isn’t the cheap plastic kind. It’s an actual wine glass, just like my knife is a real stainless steel steak knife. I slide it off the table and tuck it under the covers. “We are definitelynotThe Guardian’s.”

“But you are some type of stealthy military organization, right? Which one? Andor Reese?” My current accommodations and the man sitting across from me make more sense if Andor Reese is trying to recruit me.

“We’re known as The Phoenix Foundation.” He says, picking up another cabbage wrap. The little dishes on his tray remind me of the time Finn and I had tapas. I reroute my brain as soon as the thought appears. I can’t afford to let myself get lost in memories of my time with the Coxsuckers. All my focus and concentration need to be on figuring out how much danger I’m really in. Did they fake my death, too?

“Is the food not to your liking?” He asks, pausing mid bite. “Shall I ask the kitchen to send up something else?”

“You can, but I won’t eat that either.”

“Hmm.”

He shovels more food into his mouth before speaking again. “What other questions do you have for me, Anotèa?”

I ignore the name, and ask the one that entered my head when he walked into the room, fully expecting a lie to roll from his lips. “Does Van know?”

He blinks, slow to hide the shock on his face. That’s not the reaction I expected. “Van?”

“Evangeline Hughes. My grandmother.”

“So you know who I am.”

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