Page 60 of Jagged Souls

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I close my eyes as a tremble rushes through me. Then I open them again as I whisper, “There are kids here.”

I don’t want them caught in the crossfire. Whatever the sins of their parents, they are innocent.

We know

That doesn’t sound like he cares though. “Don’t –”

Zita. Ally. Bye

I don’t feel any different when he’s gone. There’s no way for me to tell when he’s here with me. I also still don’t know if he can really see or hear what I do or if he can only hear what I say. My throat tightens at the idea of him having witnessed any of my abuse. Then I think about the video Antonio sent Varius. I don’t know which one is worse.

Khalid watching in real time “through me.”

Or the love of my life seeing it at all.

How can I ever face either of them?

Taking a deep breath, I push those thoughts aside. I can’t lose my head right now. I need to keep it together so when Zita comes, I can do whatever she needs me to. Focusing on the tattoo I gave Dayne all those years ago – something I’ve been terrified to do, thinking I’d feel it gone, I concentrate on his heartbeat.

It’s faster than normal. A bit more panicked.

But it’s there.

He’s alive.

I breathe out on a shudder.

Breathe in on a fractured smile.

Out and in until my thoughts quiet...

As it’s done so many times, the rhythm of his pulse soon lures me into sleep.

Just for a little while though.

When I open my eyes, I look to the high windows of the gym. The sun isn’t up yet, but the sky’s darker than before, telling me the moon’s gone. It’s perhaps two or three hours before dawn.

A tear falls down my cheek as I focus on Dayne’s pulse. It’s calmer now, less stressed. He believes in the plan.

They’re going to save me before the men wake, before I’m forced to take a V.

Of course, that’s when one of the pod doors opens, and footsteps creep towards me.

Fifteen

HER

My heartbeat picks up at the sight of Grubs, but I tell myself I only need to stall him for one hour.

Sixty minutes.

Two sets of half-hour blocks.

Four fifteen-minute sections.

That seems more manageable.

I can do this.

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