Page 9 of Dane

Once clean, I put on one of the new T-shirts and sweats before brushing out my hair. Surprisingly, everything fit. The shirt was slightly big, but so soft I didn’t care. The second I sat down, all I wanted to do was go back to bed and curl up.

A note was taped to the inside of the door. At the bottom of the note was Hannah’s number.

Help yourself to anything in the kitchen downstairs. If you need anything, come find me. -- Hannah.

Awesome. I needed food. The ache in my stomach was the first thing to cut through the numbness. I racked my brain for the last thing I ate and thought it might have been a gas station sandwich, two mornings ago. After that, nothing but caffeine. I’d been too tied up in knots for anything else.

“Fuck,” I muttered. Wandering around this place on my own wasn’t something I really wanted to do.

Stepping into the hallway, I took a deep breath. The hallway was well lit with artwork decorating the walls. Most of it looked like children’s work hung by proud parents and I couldn’t help but smile. A couple were rather good, and I found myself walking slowly to admire each picture. Once I reached the lift, I headed down to the common room. We were in the main building of what looked like a very large neighborhood of warehouses.

Once on the ground floor, all I had to do was follow my nose. The smells coming from the kitchen made it obvious where the action had been this morning. While I had no idea what to expect when I got there, I figured it was better to get any confrontation over with sooner rather than later.

Coffee steamed in a big carafe near the window. Someone had stacked plates on the island, and there was a carton of eggs left out with a notecard beside it that said “Help Yourself.” I wasn’t sure if I was allowed, but the need to eat had overruled every other instinct.

Also on the counter was a platter of sausage, bacon, and hash browns. Finally. Someone who understood eggs were best served hot. Reheated microwave eggs suck. I made myself a quick egg sandwich, poured coffee into a thick mug, and took a healthy sip. Did I burn my tongue? Absolutely. Did I care? Not a fucking bit. Maybe I hadn’t drunk as much coffee yesterday as I’d first thought.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway behind me. I straightened. There was nowhere to hide. Dane had been partially right. I’d definitely come here wanting something. So far, Dane had given me what I needed in liberal doses. Which was punishment for sins that put a man in prison who hadn’t deserved it.

Dane Rourke, in a black shirt with the sleeves pushed up, the tattoos at his wrist dark against the rest of him, was devastating to look at. I’d been so terrified of him twelve years ago that I couldn’t look at him. Yesterday, I’d been terrified. Now, with my guard down, there was no denying his appeal. I promptly turned back to my egg sandwich, taking another bite.

He stopped in the doorway like he hadn’t expected to see anyone, but didn’t look surprised or flustered. At least, not that I noticed before I turned away.

Neither of us said a word. He crossed to the counter, picked up a plate and loaded it with what was left in the platter. He pointed at the stool by the island. “Sit.”

“I just wanted coffee. I was going back --”

“Sit, Brielle.” His order was firm, but not angry or irritated.

Moving to the far end of the island, Dane sat with his own plate. When he spoke, it was between bites, almost as if he was reading from a list he’d been forced to memorize as a child. “A few things you need to be aware of,” he started. “First, while you’re free to come and go as you like, let Hannah know before you leave and when you think you’ll be back. If something happens, we need to know as soon as possible so we can help. If you can’t get a hold of Hannah, text me.” He handed me a card. On the back was a handwritten number.

I turned the card back over to look at the front before shrugging. Translation? Don’t bother me. If you need to bother me, text. Don’t call. “Understood,” I responded.

“Second, your room key also works the gate along with your PIN. If you don’t have one, text Hannah. She’ll set you up. You’ll have to have the card and your PIN. There’s usually a prospect at the gate, but if they don’t know you, you ain’t gettin’ in without the card. Also, disconnect your phone from anything to do with the bank. Email, secure texting, even your mobile app if you have an account there.”

“OK.”

“Unless Hannah takes you herself, you don’t cross into the area next to the compound. That’s Haven. It’s a shelter for abused women and children. There aren’t usually many residents, but they do need privacy and Haven is always under heavy guard. So Haven is off-limits.”

“Understandable,” I said softly. At some point I knew I was speaking in that same monotone I’d adopted over the years working for Grant. The defeat in my tone was more than obvious, and I realized I’d fallen into a habit of observance and obedience I had no idea how to break.

As he spoke, Dane continued to eat. He didn’t look up or watch me, but I knew he was aware of my attention. If I’d tuned him out or just nodded in the appropriate places, I had no doubt he’d call me out.

Now, he set his fork down next to his plate a little harder than necessary and I knew he was irritated. “Stop that.”

I blinked up at him, knowing my eyes had to be wide as saucers. “Stop what?”

“Sounding like you’re afraid of me.” His expression was almost angry even though his words were spoken softly. “I’m not going to hurt you. No one here would ever hurt you. Do you understand?”

I nodded my head. “Yes. I understand.”

“Fuck,” he muttered, shaking his head slightly and rubbing a hand over his face. “No. I really don’t think you do.”

“Look, you didn’t have to agree to let me stay here. I appreciate you not objecting.”

“I didn’t object because it was the right thing to do, Brielle. I’m beginning to see what you were up against, so I happen to think you’re brave to come here with this.”

That startled me. I didn’t expect him to have that opinion. I stared at the countertop, focusing on a scorch mark near the sink. “I just didn’t want to be any more trouble.”