“You mentioned that already, but I’m still not sure what you mean.” Always so cool, her lips turned down a little even though she didn’t act at all concerned.
“It might seem a little extreme to some people,” Heath’s gaze darted my way to emphasize who he was referring to, “but it’s for the good of the group. Plus, assuming this friend of yours is willing to play ball, it shouldn’t last long.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes for things to run smoothly,” she responded.
“Good.” Heath’s gaze locked with hers as his expression grew thoughtful. “It’s refreshing to have someone act so reasonable.”
Kiaya continued to hold his gaze but said nothing. I ground my teeth and balled my hands into fists. I hoped I got to punch this guy in the face before all this was over.
His lips twitching slightly, Heath tore his gaze from hers so he could scan the people standing around, focusing on a man I recognized from the farm. “You got a few minutes, Nate?”
The guy crossed to us, nodding. “Whatever you need, boss.”
This was probably the tenth time since arriving that I heard someone call Heath boss. It was disturbing.
Heath returned his focus to Kiaya. “Can you get this one set up on probation?”
“Not a problem.” The guy’s gaze moved over Kiaya, his expression curious and nothing else. “Like I said, whatever you need.”
That made Heath smile again. “Good.” He turned back to us. “I’ll check on your little tip and get back to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it seems I have somewhere to be.”
Then he was walking off, leaving Kiaya and me alone with Nate.
The guy didn’t waste any time getting down to business.
“Follow me,” he said, jerking his head toward the door.
Kiaya and I exchanged a look but obeyed, following Nate into the building.
“I take it I’ll be getting my own special little collar,” she said after a few minutes of silence.
Nate looked her way. “It’s not a big deal as long as you follow the rules.”
“Which are?”
“Stay in the designated area and don’t try anything.” He gave an unconcerned shrug. “You do that, and your probation will pass quickly. No problem.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
Nate’s gaze turned to me. “It is for most people.”
“Most people don’t have their father dangled in front of them like a carrot,” I snapped.
“Most people are also willing to pitch in,” Nate shot back.
I bit my tongue, afraid I’d say something stupid and get both Kiaya and myself in trouble. That didn’t stop me from glaring at the asshole, though.
Kiaya moved between us. “We’ll do what we can as long as our friends don’t get hurt.”
“Heath isn’t going to hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it,” Nate assured her. “He isn’t like that.”
Kiaya’s expression didn’t change, but I didn’t miss the flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I hope that’s true.”
We walked a few more seconds in silence, weaving our way through the hospital, before Kiaya said, “It’s amazing how much you’ve accomplished here.”
“We’ve worked hard,” Nate replied. “We only have part of the hospital under our control—the whole thing would have been too much ground to cover—but what we have is secure and sustainable.”
“Impressive,” Kiaya said.
We went back to walking in silence.
The halls were crowded with people, which made conversation between Kiaya and myself too risky even if Nate hadn’t been paying close attention to us, but staying silent was killing me. I was positive Devon had sent me a message of some kind—probably telling me how stupid I was—and I was dying to hear it. I also wanted to know exactly what had happened with Lane, and what the whole plan was. Did Kiaya really come here hoping Heath would negotiate? Was that the only plan? I hoped not.
People waved and said hello as we passed, no one seeming the least bit concerned by Kiaya’s sudden appearance. I watched her eye them, confused at first and then uncertain, and I could tell she was coming to the same conclusion I had. These people were being duped by Heath. Big time.
When we reached the courtyard that held the animals, Kiaya paused, forcing Nate and me to stop as well. “So, this is what you did with them.”
“It’s the safest place they could be,” Nate said. “Both for them, and for us.”
“Smart,” Kiaya replied, sounding genuinely impressed. I didn’t blame her. Despite how much I disliked Heath, I couldn’t deny that he’d done a good job here.
“Apparently,” I said, choosing my words carefully since Nate was listening, “Heath gathered these animals himself before Gabe kicked him out, which was why everyone had no problem helping him get them back. He was just recovering stolen merchandise.”
Kiaya’s eyebrows rose in silent surprise. “Is that so?”
“Gabe’s a heartless asshole,” Nate said, nodding.
“We don’t really know him,” Kiaya replied. “We met up with the group the day before your people found us at the farm, so I can’t speak to his character. I can tell you that we never would have done something like that.”
“Bad luck running into those guys, then.” Nate waved to the hallway. “I have some things to do, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course,” Kiaya said.
We started walking again, moving farther away from the general population until not even the murmur of voices was detectable, and soon the thud of our footsteps against the floor was the only sound.
Kiaya stayed quiet, but she was studying everything, taking in the halls we walked down and the rooms we passed, as well as every move Nate made. There wasn’t much to see, but she didn’t stop studying her surroundings for even a moment.
Even though I wouldn’t be alone this time and I was less worried than before, my stomach still dropped when the area designated for probation came into view. It was the combination of the memory of the shock I’d received and the knowledge that I had no idea how much longer I’d be here.
Nate stopped outside an office and flipped on the light, and I caught sight of several other collars on the desk. My gut clenched, but Kiaya didn’t even blink when Nate grabbed one and turned to face her.
“This won’t be comfortable, but it won’t hurt as long as you don’t cross the line.”
“Which is?” Kiaya glanced around.
“There are four rooms in the probation area, and you’re free to go from room to room.” Nate waved to four nearby open doors, then gestured to the section of the hall that had been taped off. “You can move within this area and nowhere else.”
Kiaya looked around, not an ounce of concern on her face, then focused on Nate. “And if there’s a breach? Will someone come release us?”
“If there’s a breach, the collars will be deactivated.” Nate slid his hand into his pocket, pulling out a remote. “We’re not heartless. We wouldn’t leave you to die.”
I bristled at that. “Would have been nice if Heath had let me in on that little fact.”
“He probably didn’t think it was a big deal.” Nate shrugged as if to show me how unimportant he thought it was. “It’s not like we’ve ever had a breach.”
I snorted but said nothing else.
Kiaya took a step toward Nate and lifted her hair. “Sounds reasonable.”
Watching him fit the collar around her neck made me ill, but I told myself it would be over soon. Heath would come back with the radio and make contact with Devon, who would find a way to get us out of this.
Once he’d secured the collar, Nate waved to the cordoned off area. “This way, please, ladies.”
At least he was nice about it.
Kiaya and I complied, stepping over the tape that indicated the probation area, and a second later, Nate pushed first one, then a second button on the remote. Two beeps followed, and my body immediately broke out into a cold sweat.
“Heath wil
l come see you when he gets back.” Nate turned to leave.
“Wait,” Kiaya said, forcing him to pause and look back. “Our friend. Someone will come tell us how she is once she’s out of surgery?”
“Dr. Shelton or Dr. Summers will, I’m sure.”
“Okay.” Kiaya forced out a smile. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Nate paused before turning away again. “In the meantime, get some rest. Take a shower. Relax. You’re safe here.”
“Thank you,” Kiaya said again.
This time, Nate returned her smile before heading off.
Once he was out of sight, her smile melted away and she turned to me. “Now we can talk.”
“In my room.” I waved to the nearest room.
She followed me in, shutting the door just in case someone did wander down the hall. I wanted to make sure we weren’t overheard.
With that done, I took a seat on the very uncomfortable couch, but Kiaya remained standing.
“What’s the deal with this place?” Her arms were crossed, her stance tense despite her usual expression of calm. “I have to be honest. This isn’t exactly how I thought things would go. Heath met my expectations, but everyone else has been—” She hesitated, her gaze going to the door. “Nice.”
“Honestly, most of the people here are nice.” I shrugged when she gave me a doubtful look. “I know it sounds nuts, but it’s true. Heath is lying to them about what happened with Gabe and Lane, making them out to be the villains. He claims Lane and Gabe were the ones who had an affair.”
Kiaya’s eyebrows jumped in surprise. “They hate each other.”
“We know that, but no one else here does.” I shook my head. “I haven’t heard Gabe’s side of the story, but something suspicious is definitely going on, and Heath isn’t the good guy everyone thinks he is. He’s even somehow convinced my dad that killing Gabe would be justified. My dad doesn’t even like guns, but now he’s willing to stand by and let Heath kill someone? I just don’t get it.”
“It seems a little extreme,” she agreed.
“Yeah.” I sighed and reached up to twist my braid around my hand. “I’m glad you’re here. It’s been killing me not knowing what’s going on. How is everyone back at the school?”
Kiaya’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “You mean how’s Devon doing?”
“Yeah.” I sighed and slumped back. “How pissed is he?”
“He’s worried sick, Rowan.”
“I know. God, I know. I feel so awful about putting him through this, but it seemed like the only thing to do at the time.” I gnawed on my lip, dying to ask the next question but also not wanting to. I was terrified Devon would never forgive me. “What did he tell you to say to me?”
Kiaya exhaled and finally sank into the other chair. “He said he’s pissed as hell, but he misses you.”
My shoulders slumped. It was better than I’d expected. Better than I deserved, really.
“I feel like such a moron for running off like that. I should have waited. Should have listened.”
“You’re too impulsive,” Kiaya replied, repeating what Heath had said and cementing the decision I’d already come to in my mind. “You can’t react based on your emotions like this. Not in this world. It’s going to get you killed.”
“I know.” I nodded to emphasize how serious I was. “It won’t happen again. I swear.”
Kiaya focused on me, her gaze searching mine. “You promise?”
“I swear,” I assured her.
“Good.” Some of the tension left her shoulders. “Now, tell me what’s been going on.”
I told her about getting here, about Heath trying to get me to tell him where Gabe was, about how he held me down and forced the collar on me. Then I moved on to his determination to kill not only his former friend, but his ex-wife as well.
“I know you didn’t have a choice, but I’m not sure bringing Lane here was the best idea,” I said.
“That’s not something I wanted to hear.” Kiaya pressed her lips together, her frown thinning them out. “We’re going to have to make sure we keep tabs on Lane once she’s out of surgery. Assuming we can from all the way over here.”
“We can talk to Ryan about it,” I said, wishing I could say the same about my dad but not knowing if I could count on him to muster up enough emotion to care about anything, let alone a stranger. “I’ve already talked to him about the things Heath said. Maybe now that you’re here to back me up, Ryan will believe me. Either way, I don’t think anyone here will let Heath get away with murder. At least not without provocation. They’re not a bad group, they’ve just been duped.”
“Still,” she said, “I’m not willing to take any risks.”
“Me neither.” I sighed. “That doesn’t mean people aren’t willing to let Heath murder someone if they think he’s justified. Even my dad and Ryan think it’s okay.”
When Kiaya gave me a questioning look, I repeated my conversations with my dad and Ryan.
“They’re not totally wrong.” Kiaya lifted her hand when I opened my mouth to protest. “About having to change our way of thinking, I mean. Still, we can’t just go around killing people.”
“I know. Hearing those things out of my dad’s mouth made me sick. It was like talking to a stranger.”
“Not that I wasn’t thinking about killing Heath before I got here, mind you,” Kiaya added.
“I doubt your opinion of him is going to change much now that you’re here.”
“No,” she said, “I don’t think so.”
“What’s Gabe’s side of the story?”
“He says Heath lost it when Lane showed up. Said he wouldn’t be in the same room with her. He wanted Gabe to toss Lane out, but Gabe thought they should all be able to work together. Heath refused, and he left.” Kiaya shrugged as if it all sounded pretty straightforward and added, “The others backed up his story. Heath has no one to back up his version of events.”
“Did they say anything about sending Heath away empty handed?”
“The opposite,” Kiaya said. “Gabe and the others claim they gave him supplies. Food and weapons.”
I played with my braid, twisting it between my fingers. “Heath is telling his people a whole different story, which is why they’re going along with his insanity.”
“The problem is, who do we believe?”
I studied her, confused because I’d thought for sure Kiaya believed Gabe. But if she wasn’t sure, I didn’t know what to think.
“You don’t think Gabe was telling the truth?”
“When you and Devon first talked to Gabe about the hospital, did he mention he knew the guy in charge?”
“No,” I said, thinking back then shaking my head. “He said they opened fire right away and refused to work with them. He never mentioned he knew Heath.”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s more than a little suspicious that he kept part of the story to himself. And he didn’t tell Lane her ex-husband was here. Why not? He must have had a reason, which makes me think we can’t completely trust Gabe either.”
I exhaled and tugged on my braid harder. “Great. So how do we figure out whose side to take?”
“Simple,” Kiaya replied. “We ask Heath about it. I don’t have a problem telling him Gabe’s version of events. We’ll see how he reacts and what he says.”
“It’s worth a shot,” I said. “Please don’t tell me that’s your whole plan, though.”
“I’m not the one who runs off without taking the time to think it through,” Kiaya pointed out, but there was no accusation in her tone. “We have a plan. It’s rough, but it was the best we could do under the circumstances.”
“I know,” I said, letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I really am. I should have never put you in this position.”
“It’s okay, Rowan.” She gave me a comforting smile. “We’re going to be okay. I promise.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Kiaya said nothing, her gaze moving around the
room. She had a streak of dirt on the side of her neck, and it reminded me of one very important perk of being a prisoner here.
“Want to take a shower?”
She looked back at me, for once unable to hide her emotions. “Are you serious?”
“Of course.” I waved toward the bathroom. “Hot water. A pair of comfy and stylish scrubs to wear after.” At that, I stood and turned in a circle like I was a model on a runway. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m very happy I came here.”
I laughed and waved to the bathroom. “Go for it. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
Apparently, Kiaya didn’t need to be told twice, because she didn’t look back before heading into the bathroom. I sat back down to wait for whatever would happen next.
11
Kiaya
The soft ping of raindrops against the window was a comfort even though the silence in the hospital had me tense with worry. At least there was a chance the fire would finally be put out, and now we could collect some water, too. We needed it.
After I’d taken a shower, Rowan and I had settled in to wait for word about what was going on with Lane. Both of us were beyond anxious as we waited to find out what would happen next. If Lane was okay, if Heath would be willing to negotiate for something other than the lives of Lane and Gabe. If he would discover where our friends were and attack.
We’d been expecting lunch, but the afternoon had slipped away, and no one had come, not even Rowan’s dad. Heath, too, hadn’t returned, which had shocked me. I’d thought he’d rush to get the radio now that he was aware of its existence, but hours had passed, and it was now evening.
By the time the thud of footsteps finally echoed from the hall, it was late. Dinnertime, probably.
My gaze was trained on the door when I asked, “You think it’s Heath?”
It wasn’t like I thought Rowan could tell the future, it was just that she’d been here longer and was bound to have more insight into how things worked.
“Or someone bringing food since we didn’t get lunch,” she replied, like me, her focus on the door. “Or maybe even someone coming to tell us how Lane is. Ryan or my dad.”
Far Series | Book 3 | Far From Lost Page 20