Page 27 of Revenant

Chapter Nine

RUE

Ifollow Jaceson down an unfamiliar hallway, then another, everything so generic that it blends together in my head. I would like to think I have a good sense of direction, but I never went anywhere to have it tested.

For the first eighteen years of my life, I was confined to my house, most of the time too fearful to even venture out of my bedroom…not that my caution saved me from frequent punishment. The last three months have shown me that being afraid gets me nowhere.

If I want to live, then I can’t afford to hesitate out of fear.

That includes the guys.

When Jaceson stops next to an ordinary wall and knocks, I peer at him critically, worried what else they might have done to him when I wasn’t there to protect him. No one knows better than me that even a short stay in an asylum can drive a person crazy. “Just how long were you waiting for me here?”

I’m uncertain if I want to know his answer. It kills me that the guys have no sense of self-preservation when it comes to me, each of them willing to sacrifice anything for my safety.

Just as he turns to look at me, a hidden panel in the door pops open. I don’t have time to react before a hand reaches out, grabs my wrist, and drags me inside the wall. Just as I twist my arm to break free, I glance up, then freeze. “Gunner?”

In the next second, I find myself wrapped up in his arms. I don’t fight him, just lean against his chest and enjoy the scent of man, body wash, and a trace of grease that is him. The contact calms my turbulent emotions, and I sigh before wrapping my arms around him in turn, then peer up at him.

His massive size is intimidating, especially to those who don’t know him. He radiates menace, his scowl making him appear even more like a grumpy bear who would be more likely to rip off your face than smile.

I fucking missed that smile.

I missed him.

I didn’t allow myself to feel how much until now.

Unfortunately, I’m now even more anxious that they were stupid enough to come after me. This place is dangerous in a way that every breath feels like it might be your last. “What are you doing?”

I glance over my shoulder to see Jaceson pushing the door shut with a click. The narrow room isn’t a room at all but a tunnel that doesn’t look like anyone has used it for over a hundred years. Dust and dirt are so thick, it coats my lungs with each breath, the darkness so absolute beyond the circle of light that I clutch Gunner closer for fear it will snatch him away.

“We are in the old mining tunnels under the asylum.” Gunner reaches up and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his shoulders almost broad enough to hold back the darkness.“They repurposed the tunnels for privacy purposes, using them when the front entrance was too public.”

I easily read between the lines.

It’s where they dragged the patients who protested being admitted.

Or where they would haul out their dead. “What about?—”

“The guards are distracted by the shift change. We only have a few minutes.” Jaceson doesn’t hesitate to step behind me and plaster himself to my back.

Warmth flushes my whole body at being sandwiched between the two of them, and I allow myself to relax between their hard bodies. It should be awkward after so much time apart, but being with them is like finding the missing pieces of my soul.

Much sooner than I’m ready, Gunner releases his hold, and Jaceson steps back. They don’t go far. It’s the only reason why I’m able to release them, rather than clinging to them like I so desperately want. “I’ve already alerted the guys that we found you. I’m going to meet with them tonight and work out a plan to slip both of you out of here as soon as possible.”

“We can’t just leave now?” I gaze at the darkness, battling against the instinct to escape before it’s too late.

But Gunner is already shaking his head. “We would be caught before we left the compound. There are too many guards, too many cameras. We can’t take the risk.”

Something about the tense set of his shoulders, the grim lines on his face, warns me that he isn’t telling me the full story. My suspicions are proven correct when Gunner meets Jaceson’s gaze over my head.

I don’t bother asking what’s wrong—we’re in an asylum, the answer is obvious. I suspect Gunner isn’t completely aware of the experiments they conduct here, or he would never leave without me.

“Just sit tight and don’t do anything stupid.” Gunner glowers at us, and I’m unsure if he’s talking more to me or Jaceson.

When he takes a step back, I automatically follow before I stop myself. Jaceson reaches out, his hand encircling my wrists almost too tightly, like he fears I might slip away. While I’m distracted, Gunner hits a button over the door. It pops open with a silent click of the latch. He checks the hallway, then shoves us out, as if afraid he won’t be able to let me go if he doesn’t do it now.

The passageway closes between us, and my anxiety skyrockets at the thought of being separated again, my chest tightening as I struggle not to have a total meltdown. I stare blankly at the door for a moment longer, doing my best not to claw it open and follow him, terrified something will happen to him.

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