Page 56 of Perilous Healing

There’s only one thing in this room that can make Bianca do as he asks.

The cool barrel of his pistol presses against my temple and Bianca’s eyes turn molten. “I’ll kill your boyfriend here. Maybe that will change your mind.”

“You need him,” she says. “You both said you do.”

“We can find someone else. Maybe I can step up as your bodyguard. I’d love nothing more than to spend every waking moment with you,Selena.”

Bianca turns to River. “Are you insane?”

To his credit, he looks a bit frustrated at this current turn of events. “Yarrow is right. I need you to play along, Bianca, or I risk losing everything I’ve built. Everything your father built.”

“I thought Bianca made it clear she didn’t care about anything Lucian built when she let him die,” I quip.

“Shut your mouth.” The barrel digs further into the side of my head. It hurts, but there’s no way I’ll let him see my pain.

“Lower your weapon.” Bianca sighs. “I’ll do it, but there are conditions.”

“Of course there are. I wouldn’t expect anything else than negotiation from a Culvers.” River glances past me at Yarrow. “Drop the gun and sit down. Your temper tantrum is over.”

Yarrow pulls away, then moves back around the table to sit across from me.

“What a good lap dog you are,” I growl.

Yarrow glares at me but doesn’t say anything else.

“What are your conditions?” River questions.

“I willnotbe alone with Yarrow. Silas stays with me at all times, and you’ll allow us one untraceable phone call.”

“One phone call? What is this, prison?” he jokes.

“That’s exactly what it is,” Bianca replies. “And you’ll let us tell those who care about us that we’re alive.”

River considers, and I find myself seriously hoping he agrees. One phone call is all I need to bring everything and everyone I know raining down on this place like ash after a volcanic eruption. “Fine. One phone call. Silas gets to make it.”

“Agreed.” She turns to me. “You can tell Eloise hi for me, too.”

River reaches into his pocket and withdraws a cell phone, then tosses it onto the table. “The number is untraceable. You get one try. If whoever you’re calling doesn’t pick up, you don’t get a second chance. And if you so much as breathe a word of what you’re doing or where you think you are, I’ll put a bullet in the both of you and start looking for a new doctor. Got it?”

I don’t answer, just reach for the phone and dial Knight Security’s number. Since it’s public, I don’t feel like River having it in his call log is dangerous. The last thing I’ll do is dial anyone’s personal number.

“Knight Security, this is Caleb.”

“It’s Silas. I need to talk to Lance.”

“Silas?” He sounds relieved. “Here he is.”

“Silas. Where are you?” Lance demands.

“I can’t tell you that, and I can’t tell you why we’re gone. I only have one minute, so I need you to give Eloise a kiss for me. Ask her to be extra kind to Bravo.” I can only hope he remembers who Bravo is, otherwise, there’s no hope of us being found.

“I’ll do that. And I’ll make sure Bravo is taken care of.”

Relief surges through my system, but I do my best not to let it show. “Tell her I love her and that I’ll be home soon.”

“I will. Bianca?”

“She’s okay, too. She’s with me, and we’ll both be home soon.”

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