Page 38 of Ruthless

I immediately strip out of the damn jumpsuit and pull my sweats back on, the scent of him enveloping me again and causing tears to sting my nose. Collapsing on my cot, I dig the heels of my hands into my eyes until Angela comes in with dinner a few moments later.

When I see what’s on the tray she sets on the edge of my cot, I look up in surprise.

“It’s encrypted to hell and locked down tighter than Fort Knox, but you should be able to email your brother.”

I pick up the laptop and clutch it to my chest. Angela has been doing her best to apologize for betraying me by bringing in extra treats during meals and sneaking in little comforts. The peppermint-flavored lip balm she gave me is a lifesaver.

Even if Dante only provided the laptop so I could use it to lie to Jeremy, I’m still excited. Since I’m no tech whiz like Dante or my brother, bypassing the security measures preventing me from calling for help is beyond my ability. Not that I want to do that. So long as Jeremy is out there and I’m in here, I’ll behave. I won’t put my brother at risk for anything.

“Thank you.”

Angela grins at my obvious relief. “No problem. Oh, and here.” She unwraps a napkin on the tray to reveal a flaky, freshly baked almond biscotti. “I brought you something special from the kitchen today.”

I accept the treat with burning eyes. I don’t understand these people. Cruel one minute, kind the next. Things would be simpler if they all treated me like dirt twenty-four seven, because the constant yo-yoing only confuses me. At times, I can almost believe they care, and not just Dante and Angela. Gregor still visits my cell every day, even after Angela admonished him for abandoning his post.

He’s moving a lot easier now, and though I don’t ask, I know he’s helping me not as a means of punishment, but because he wants to.

As soon as the first tear falls, Angela reaches for me. “What’s wrong?”

Articulating my spinning thoughts proves too difficult, so I blurt the first thing that comes to mind. “I’m…I don’t… That was just really nice of you to bring me—” A sob catches in my throat, and as I cover my eyes, the subtle scent of Dante’s cologne adds insult to injury. “I’m just fucked up. Look at me…crying over a pastry!”

Angela captures my wrists and lowers my hands, her lips pressing together in sympathy. “It’s no wonder, Sara. I’ve known you for years, and you’re always giving, always sacrificing for everyone else. Your patients, your brother…you never stop.”

Groaning, I use the sleeve of my sweater to swipe the dampness from my cheeks. A pathetic laugh bubbles out of me. “Honestly, besides the emotional abuse, this whole being kidnapped thing has kind of been a nice break.”

Angela clears her throat. “Therapy, Boyd. Work it out in therapy. I have a guy. Once you get out of here, you can make an appointment.”

Considering the circumstances, the idea of speaking with a therapist seems like a joke.

In a few minutes, Angela will leave this cell, and I’ll still be trapped. I recognize the moment that realization hits her. She ducks her head, her brow furrowed, before nodding sharply to herself.

“Here.” Reaching into her back pocket, she removes my cell phone, and my stomach performs an uneasy flip. “Your brother texted you a few days ago. Dante wants you to use the laptop toemail him something about your phone being stolen, but…here. Just read it.”

Hesitantly, I accept the device and scroll past a sea of notifications until I get to Jeremy’s name. Once I click on it, I’m greeted by a huge block of text.

Hey. I know you’re probably busy with patients, but you could at least call me back, just so I know you’re not dead :( Also, do they not have Xbox Live wherever it is you are? SlobOnMyKnob67 has been kicking my ass at Halo for a solid week now because you’re not there to run interference, so thanks for that. Way to prioritize the mission, sis (-. -)

Irritated, I glance up and find Angela already shaking her head in amusement. “I know. Classic Jeremy. Keep reading.”

With an aching heart, I continue scanning the message.

I know I can be a pain in the ass sometimes, and that you never wanted to come back here, but we can be happy if we just stick it out. Things are going great at the office, and once I make enough money, I promise I’ll take care of all the bills and shit so you don’t have to. That was always the plan, but I just didn’t say anything in case I couldn’t pull it off. Just give me another year or two, and you won’t have to take any more out-of-town jobs unless you want to.

Anyway, come home soon or at least call, k?

The last few words are just a blur as my big ugly tears drip onto the screen. Angela extracts the device from my hand, and then her warm, safe arms envelop me.

I don’t realize how much I need the comfort until she pats my back. “Our friendship wasn’t a lie. You may not believe me right now, but?—”

“I believe you.” I cut her off, painfully aware that we’re still on camera and Dante could be listening.

“Are you okay?”

I sniffle and sit back. “No, but I’m glad Jeremy’s safe.”

“I’m sorry I can’t let you call him.”

“It’s fine.” Wincing at my harsh tone, I try again. “Don’t worry about it. You’re only doing what Dante told you to do.”