Hunted (A Sinners Series Book 2) (46 page)

You can overcome anything, short of death. You can overcome anything, short of death.
I repeat it over and over in my head.
Dad
…
now what should I do, because I’m not sure I’ve got anything left
…

I curl into Cole’s lap, and he holds me so close, I can barely breathe. His heart beats against my cheek, and I’m grateful we both survived, for that one small miracle. He attempts to soothe me by stroking my hair, but I hear his broken breaths. I feel shattered, severed in every way possible. If a heart could stop beating simply by breaking, mine would be silent now.

“Say something,” Cole says.

“What’s there to say? Except that I feel completely dead inside. We failed everyone today; there’s no hope anymore for any of us.” I press my face into his chest. “We lost Grace, Bill, and Roméo in a matter of hours today, and for what?”

“For something we all believed in, for something we all wanted to see succeed.”

“But it didn’t.”

“Not today, but another day we will.”

“How? The files are gone, the United Powers will never come, and eventually we’re all going to die in here.”

“Look at me.”

“I can’t.”

“Look at me, please,” he says. I shift my body around, and my eyes meet his. “Why did we come back to the Hole in the first place?”

“You know why.”

“No, I want to hear you say it.”

“To rescue Sutton. I know that, but how?”

“We will run, hide, and do everything we can to survive. And we’ll figure out a way to get to Sutton, I promise you that. It might take time, but we’re going to save him. And like you said before … you’d rather be here with Sutton than outside the Hole knowing he’s stuck in here. Am I right?”

“Yes,” I say. “But we’re short on time. God only knows what Wilson’s going to put him through now. We can’t wait, Cole; he needs us now.”

“We’ll go back for him, I promise. But not right now. We need to regroup first.”

“Do you think just the two of us can do this?”

“Give Bruno his space … He’ll come around, and when he does, we’ll be able to figure out what our next move’s going to be. But for now, we have to do whatever it takes to stay under the radar.”

I lower my face to his. We kiss, and it’s the only thing that reminds me I’m still alive.

He pulls his mouth away but rests his forehead on mine. “Every single day, I’ll do everything within my power to keep you safe,” he says.

“I know, and I love you for that.”

“Lexi?” someone whispers.

I pull away from Cole. “Did you hear that?

“Hear what?”

“My stupid mind is messing with me.”

But then I hear it again. “Lexi?” A female voice echoes through my ears. My body stiffens, and I grab Cole’s arm.

“That,” I say to Cole. “You didn’t hear that?”

“No.”

“I swear I heard someone calling out my name.”

“Nobody said your name.”

“Lexi.” This time I know Cole hears it because his eyes widen, and he turns his head in the direction of the voice.

“Give me your flashlight,” I say.

Cole hands it to me, and I slowly rise to my feet. My hands shake as I inch my way toward her.

Cole grabs my arm, stopping me. “Let me go first,” he says in a whisper. He steps in front of me, holding me back with one hand while searching with the other. He opens the flap of the tent and crosses into an adjacent area shrouded in darkness. On the far side, a lump of blankets rests in the corner.

“Lexi,” the voice creaks.

My heart pounds in my ears as anger begins to strangle my chest.
I know that voice.
Something about it sends shivers up my spine.

Cole stops in his tracks, facing the blankets. He lifts his gun.

Slowly, I raise the flashlight, flicking it toward the voice. Movement from under the blanket startles me, and I drop the flashlight. A gasp escapes me when I see her unmistakable curly hair.

There’s no way.

“What’s wrong? Who is it?” Cole asks.

“It’s no one; let’s get out of here,” I whisper in a shaky voice.

“Lexi, please,” the woman says.

“Then why does that woman keep saying your name?”

“Oh, it is you.” Her voice is so soft and weak. “I knew it.”

“Because everyone here knows my name,” I say to Cole. “Now put the gun down, and let’s get out of here, now.”

“My name is Katherine,” the woman says to Cole.

I draw in a sharp breath.

“I’m Lexi’s mother.”

“Wait, what?” Cole asks, taking his eyes off the sights and partially lowering his gun.

“I’m serious, Cole, now,” I say, attempting to pull him away. But he doesn’t budge. “What are you doing?”

“Is that woman your mother?”

“No. She’s not. Please come with me, or I’ll go without you.”

“Now hold up, if she’s messing with you … ”

“Shine the light my way,” the woman says. “Let her see my face.”

“Don’t,” I say to Cole in a demanding tone as I bend to pick up the flashlight. “I’ve been through enough today; I don’t need to see her. I just want to leave.”

Cole’s eyes narrow at me, and I can tell he’s not going to let this go. But I don’t want to do this, not now; there’s nothing but bitterness in my mouth when I think about her. And as much as I thought I’d forgiven her … there’s a part of me that wants to tell her how I really feel. Because being betrayed by your own flesh and blood is a wound that might scar over, but the damaged tissue still remains. I was sent here because of her. All of this is her fault.

Every muscle in my body tightens, and my free hand clenches into a fist of rage.

“Give me the flashlight,” Cole says.

“I’d rather not.”

In a low voice, he says, “I’m not asking anymore.” He snatches the flashlight from me and shines the light toward her face. She blinks away from it.

My nostrils flare as I raise my gun toward her head. My hands shake, and my blood rushes through my ears, as the realization dawns on me. She’s really here, lying underneath blankets, in front of me. Her curly hair’s matted and gray down the middle. She pulls herself up onto her elbows and faces me. I gasp when I see the black brand snaking around her neck.
Sloth
…
how ironic.

“Is that her?” Cole asks.

I swallow hard, and my body stiffens.

“Lexi?” Cole asks.

My breathing increases. I try to calm myself, but with one glance, Cole knows the answer to his question.

“Lower your gun,” Cole says to me. “She’s no threat to you now.”

“I never was,” my mother says.

“Shut up,” I say to her.

“Lexi, it’s not what you think,” she says. “Can we talk … alone?”

“No we cannot. I have nothing nice to say to you, and I’m not going to waste my breath or my time.”

“You need to hear this.”

“I don’t need to hear, nor do I want to listen, to anything you have to say.”

“I understand why you’re angry with me, but—”

“No. There are not buts,” I say, raising my voice. “You turned on me, your own daughter … and instead of protecting me, you accused me, of something you knew for a fact never happened. You sent me to the most dangerous place in the country. And for what? What did I ever do to you? What did I do that was so wrong?”

“I love you,” she says.

“Don’t you dare say that to me.” All my muscles tighten, and I clench my jaw so hard it sends pain to my ears.

In the back of my mind, I hear Keegan’s words.
“I don’t think she accused you for the reason you think she did
.” But I’m exhausted and can’t think straight. Seeing her in the flesh takes everything I have left.

I lower my gun and shake my head, too confounded to speak for a moment.

“Lexi, I’m begging you,” she says.

“I don’t owe you anything.” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Your stepfather figured out what was going on,” she says.

“Stop. That’s enough.”

“He broke into the study and found everything.”

“I don’t care.”

“He figured it out; he realized what was going on.”

“What was going on? Are you kidding me? That man was torturing me, and you just stood there and did nothing to stop him. Nothing!”

I spin on my heels and swallow the bile in my throat, pulling a shocked Cole with me. I need to get out of here before I shoot her.

“He never did those things to you,” she says. I turn back toward her.

“You’re insane.”

“No, Lexi, I’m not.”

“What? You don’t think I remember? I know exactly what he did to me. I lived it. And he drugged you. So go right ahead and believe whatever you want to believe. I don’t care anymore; I’m no longer your daughter … You know nothing about me. I’m with the people who love and care about me, and I want nothing to do with you. Stay away from me, I don’t ever want to see or hear from you again.”

I’m practically running away from her when she says one last thing.

“He didn’t torture you,” she says loudly. “I did.”

THE END

Abi Ketner

Abi Ketner Is a registered nurse with a passion for novels, the beaches of St. John, and her Philadelphia Phillies. A talented singer, Abi loves to go running and spend lots of time with her family. She currently resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, triplet daughters and two very spoiled dogs.

Melissa Kalicicki

Melissa Kalicicki received her bachelor's degree from Millersville University in 2003. She married, had two boys and currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Aside from reading and writing, her interests include running and mixed martial arts. She also remains an avid Cleveland sports fan.

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