Page 16 of Adored By Them
Caleb closes his mouth.Good thing, because I wouldn’t put it past Troy to pull over and drop Caleb off an overpass.And I’d help.
But first we need to know what he knows.
We will find Danica.We will bring her home.
My father calls, but I ignore it.He probably knows we grabbed Caleb.He can leave a message.
Taking Caleb to Aseyev’s place is a much better move than Rendsell.At Rendsell, my father might be persuaded to show mercy to Caleb, his mistress’s son.
At Aseyev’s house?No mercy.
* * *
Danica
I’m not sure how much time passes.Maybe an hour or two.I doze off at one point, but I don’t sleep for long.My arms and hands hurt, especially my fingers where my nails tore when I tried to crawl away from Uriel.And no matter how often I try to shift from side to side, the rest of my body is uncomfortable, too.Bruised from my fall, aching from sitting in this chair for days.
Kellen told me it’s Monday.Why haven’t Edmund and Troy come yet?Maybe they don’t care enough.
No.I know they care.That last night I spent with them was full of care—I have no doubt they cherish me.They treasure me.They had been giving me space because of everything Malcolm put me through, but when I said I needed them, they were there.
I need them now.And they’re trying to get here.I know it.
Except I told Edmund I wouldn’t marry him if I didn’t have to.Would he take that stupid thing I said and think I left on purpose?What if nobody knows I’m missing?Leah would know, but if someone hurt her…
I struggle against my ropes again, grunting with effort.
“Calm down there.You’re gonna hurt yourself.”Kellen’s voice is soothing but gravelly.
“You’re awake.”I stop struggling and force my arms to relax.“You passed out for a while.”
“Did I miss anything fun?”He grins, but the effect is grotesque.His gums are still bleeding where his teeth were knocked out.
“Nothing happened at all.I don’t even know why this guy has us here.”
“Uriel?Because he’s a sick freak.”
“That much is obvious.”I swivel my head to indicate the creepy religious knickknacks and icons.
Kellen nods.“More’n that.His brothers, Tate and Allen, haven’t been able to keep him in line since Cressilda died.You probably know all about that.”
“I don’t know who any of these people are.”
He gives me a side-eye.“You really aren’t a part of the Aseyev business, are you?”
“No, why would I be?Everyone left me out.”
“Huh.Doesn’t seem fair.”When I shrug in response, he huffs out a heavy sigh.“Guess I may as well tell you about it.This knowledge will die with me otherwise.”
“You aren’t going to die?—”
“I am.”He levels me with a no-bullshit look.“I’m a tough motherfucker so I’m not showing it, but they got me bad in the gut.It’ll take some time, but unless I see a doctor, oh, a few hours ago, I’m a goner.You have a time machine?Neither do I.”
His resignation alarms me for some reason.I guess I care about him already, or, selfishly, I just want someone to help me escape.It’ll be hard to get him on board if he doesn’t believe he can get out.“I don’t think you should decide you’re going to die, Kellen.There’s always hope.”
He shakes his head.“I’m not getting out of here.No way.”
He can’t know that, not for sure.But I still want to hear about Uriel.Knowledge is power.
