Page 26 of Reckless Wolf

“Well, how am I going to relay all these messages to him?”

“You’re not. At least not now.” She pushed the bag toward me. “Eat up and get going. It’ll be dawn soon.”

I blinked, dismayed.

“Already?” I choked. She smiled tersely.

“You could stay all day if you like,” Sage offered. “But I thought you had to return to Jesse.”

I shivered at the reminder. Unfolding the bag, I reached inside and pulled out a sandwich that almost didn’t fit in my hand. My mouth immediately watered at the smell and sight of it. My stomach growled, which was strange because I rarely felt hunger anymore. It was just part of me now, like a thorn that never left and took up residence in me. A gleam of pity touched Sage’s eyes, but she turned away.

“When you’re done, a car is waiting to take you to the wall.”

With a mouthful of melt-off-my-tongue roast beef, I stared at her.

“WTF!” I mumbled, half-choking on my bite.

Sage paused and glanced at me as the phone began to ring again. I held up a hand, but she waved me aside.

“Don’t answer it. Eat,” she ordered.

I faltered warily. Was this another test?

She sighed. “Whoever it is will leave a message or call back if it’s urgent enough. The truth is, Bianca, you’ll never be able to keep up with everyone who wants Atlas, and there’s only one of him. You have to take care of yourself first, before you can take care of anyone else.”

I guffawed at the irony of her statement. I was in no position to take care of anyone.

“Why did you tell me to wait?”

I’d swallowed by now and stared at her with huge eyes.

“I don’t need a ride to the wall,” I told her. “I can walk.”

Sage rolled her eyes again, annoyance crossing over her face.

“You work for Atlas now. You can’t be lurking about in the shadows like gutter trash.”

Her words bit me more than I let on because that was exactly what I was, but I nodded stiffly.

“Hurry up and eat. It’ll be light out soon. I trust you don’t want to be caught sneaking around in the daylight.”

I listened to her advice and took another massive chunk of the sandwich into my mouth, jumping to my feet to gather my belongings.

Right. I don’t have any belongings.

“What should I do with these lists?”

“Just leave them. Atlas will get them,” she reassured me, this time without turning back.

She was gone again, and I eyed the delicious hunk of bread and meat, unwilling to leave the rest of it uneaten. Who knew when I’d get a chance to savor a meal like this again? Gods knew Jesse wasn’t feeding us like that.

I stifled the urge to consume the rest of the sandwich, despite wanting to eat more. Dahlia needed some just as much as I did—more. She needed to keep her strength up so we could get moving, and I resolved to tuck some away for her. I bolted toward the door, stifling a moan of pleasure as I licked the crumbs from my lips. I hadn’t been paid, but even if I never saw a cent for that night’s work, the food would have made it all totally worth it.

Chapter12

Bianca

Ididn’t recognize the driver waiting in the car behind the house. He didn’t introduce himself or even utter a word as he opened the back door to the town car and secured me inside. I found myself wondering if this was less to do with making me comfortable in my working environment and more to do with ensuring I was escorted off the property.

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