Page 62 of Dying to Meet You

“You’re nothing but an abomination.”

“You shouldn’t even exist.”

“They’ll never stay with you…”“You’ll lose it all…all…all.”

Limbs stiff; my head is met with a throbbing ache. I realize whatever was placed on my head is now gone. There is one light shining on me, a utility light on a cord, and I’m handcuffed to a cabinet. I’ve never been inside the laboratory portion of the building-tiled floors, stainless-steel cabinets, counters, two rolling carts, and fume hoods on each side of the room. A speaker crackles and I hear in a chilling voice. “This is a lockdown drill, I repeat, this is a lockdown drill.” Goosebumps pop up on my arms, and my heart seizes up. It’s a voice that haunts me.

But it can’t be her…not anymore.

“This is a lockdown drill. I repeat, this is a lockdown drill” Then a laugh…a male’s humorless chuckle. It’s a recording. Her voice is meant to inflict further torture.

“I’ve been dying to meet you.” That voice…

A loud pounding noise can be heard. I stand straighter, tugging at the handcuffs tethering me to the cabinet. There is another light coming from across the hall. Since the labs have floor-to-ceiling glass with a section where it’s half glass and half wood veneer, I can see fairly well inside the lab.

There’s a tall form of a person in the shadows of the lab across the hall. Is that the person responsible for this? The noise is coming from that direction.

My voice is scratchy from screaming. I call out, “Hello? Can you hear me? Can you hear me?” I kick at the cabinet, but the only result is a shooting pain up my leg.

If I could just get closer to the glass wall…but I’m stuck.

“Eve.” The voice sounds taunting. “Eve, welcome back to the place of your inception. How does it feel?”

Terror floods my entire being.

Six years ago, I learned the hard way not to trust who people say they are. I didn’t hold onto the lesson like I should have, though.

Likeweshould have.

“Steve?!” How is this happening…again? “How could you? Why?”

What has he done? Matt’s been arrested, Wes is missing, Keir…Holy hell, where are Keir and Hutton? Who is across the hall? Did he murder Greg? What exactly is he capable of, and why?

I’m left with my agonizing thoughts because he doesn’t respond. The pounding subsides from the lab across from me. Sinking to my knees to keep from tearing the skin of my wrist, I weep. All the information Steve knows…He’s been a trusted friend of the family. He’s known Matt for well over a decade.

Wes would follow him anywhere; do anything he says. All the times he sat at our dinner table with us, engaged with the kids, had beers with Matt…All the times I thought of him as a close friend.

What’s his end goal? What does he want?

I know what I want…Other than finding my son, I want to inflict pain on Steve Harrison. I want to see fear in his eyes like he’s made me feel. I want to watch his light go out.

The sinister maneuvering he’s done won’t come close to matching what I want done to him. I never thought I’d advocate for blood shed, but this time…

Chapter Forty-Two

Unwavering

Blaine

IfIhadn’tfuckedup, all the attention wouldn’t have been on me, allowing that fake-ass church secretary who looked like a wacked, whimsical art teacher, but in reality is a psychopathic cult member the opportunity to drive off with the girls. I can’t even blame this reality on the after-effects of the drugs I did hours ago.

This is all causing irreversible damage to my heart.

Caleb sees all this as his fault, but this is bigger than the bitch who used him to do her damage. It’s bigger than the Realists. We had a hard time getting hold of anyone until Keir answered.

Maybe I’m too sober now to hear Dr. Wallen is dead, Matt is being questioned in his murder, Hutton is still MIA, Harrison and Eden are now unaccounted for, and we still have no idea where Weston is. The motherfucking shots keep coming…

By the time Keir arrives, the house is full of badges again. He stalks our way. Without thinking I dive at him, giving him a fierce hug. Instead of shoving me off discreetly, he returns it.

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