Page 77 of I Am Salvation

Another pause, and then finally, some shuffling…and then the muted murmur of his voice and a higher, lighter one responding. A child’s voice. Bridget?

I wait.

And wait.

Finally—

“Hello?”

I close my eyes tight, trying to keep my emotions in check. There’s so much I want to say to her, so many questions I want to ask her, but not here, and not with him listening in.

“Hi, Bridget,” I say, forcing my tone to stay calm and friendly. “My name is Dragon. I’m?—”

“Dragon?” she gasps. “My mother has a brother named Dragon.”

Oh God… Griffin… She remembered me. She told her kid about me.

I almost feel happy…except that I’m not. I can’t be.

Not in the cards for me.

“Yes, Bridget,” I say, keeping the tremor out of my voice. “I’m your mother’s brother, your uncle.”

Another minute of silence.

“Why are you calling?” she finally asks with a voice so small it nearly breaks my heart.

“I wanted to know how you’re doing,” I reply. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Another pause, and then a soft sigh. “Yeah, I’m okay, just… I miss my mom.”

“I know,” I say, swallowing hard. “I miss her too.”

Once more silence swells between us, and in that silence, I promise myself—no matter what—that I will protect this child from the life Griffin was dealt. She deserves better.

“Can—”

Her voice is cut off.

“Bridget! Bridget?”

“It’s me.” The man’s voice again.

“If you hurt her, I swear…”

“You’ll what? You don’t even know where I am. Who I am.”

“You’re the person who stole my sister all those years ago, you motherfucker, and you’re going to—” I stop abruptly.

Fuck. I need to watch myself.

I can’t alienate this person. He’s my only link to Griffin, and now to Bridget.

He and Alayna and the Order of the Serpent.

“Did you sell Griffin off to that cult?” I demand.

He sniffs. “Why would I do that? I love her, and I love Bridget.”

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