Page 44 of Ramshackle
“I know,” he admits, his voice low. But his gaze is unwavering where it meets mine. “I have a lot to make up for.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you finally agree.”
“She sacrificed herself for us. For Dane to get Vera back. Of course, I’m not going to brush that off. That, coupled with what Vera told us gives me a pretty good idea of some things she may have been trying to hide.”
“You’d better not keep pushing her for details, Aiden, orI’ll—”
“Save it. I won’t push her anymore.”
I nod. “Good.”
“Good. You’re done,” Reid interjects. “Now, get out of my room. Also, I need a new door.” He gestures to the beat-up door hanging on its last hinge and dented into the wall behind it.
Did I do that?
Aiden shoots me a look, and I shrug.
Whoops.
Chapter thirteen
Raegan
“That’s my good pet.”
“You’re safe now.”
“No one else cares about you.”
“You can wake up.”
“It would be better for you to be alone.”
“Please, Rae. Open your eyes.”
“No one needs you.”
“We all need you. You have to wake up.”
“You are nobody.”
The words echoing in my head are confusing. Why would Gordon be saying these things? But when I listen harder, there’s a second voice. One that I haven’t heard in a while, but I’d still recognize anywhere.
And there’s something restraining my hand. I jerk it to test its resistance, and it flies back easily. My eyes jolt open to the sight of Dane leaning on his elbows at the edge of the bed, his hands partially open.
His entire face lights up in a smile I haven’t seen him wear since we were stupid kids. “You’re awake!” I can hear the relief in his tone, but he keeps his voice to a quiet murmur so it doesn’t startle me.
I’m still a bit shocked.
By his smile.
By the fact thatDane, of all people, is here with me and the one who I think was asking me to wake up.
And the key detail that he’s either on the island with me, or I’ve been rescued. Or else…
“Am I dead?” I ask him in all seriousness.
His smile falls and he reaches for me, but I pull away just enough to avoid his touch that he stops. “No. You’re at the bunker. I’m sorry it took so long, but we finally found you and brought you back.”
