Page 81 of Edge of Desperation
April leads us out of the hospital and puts the brakes on the chair so Lace can get up safely. I slip my phone into the waistband of my leggings since I don’t have any pockets, that way I don’t have to keep searching for it in my purse. Vera’s SUV pulls up, and I open the door to help Lace get in before scrambling beside her.
“Thanks for coming to get us,” I say as Vera’s driver edges away from the curb and turns out of the hospital parking lot. “Vera, this is Lace.”
Vera turns around slowly, a dark sinister smile on her face. “Yes,Laceand I are very well acquainted. Aren’t we Lace?”
My eyes bulge, and my mouth drops open in shock.
Lace screams at me. “No… no… no… I’m not going back.”
“How the hell do you know, Lace?” I ask Vera. My head swings to Lace. “How do you know my stepmother?”
“I didn’t know this was your stepmom. No one ever said who she married.” The color drains from Lace’s face. Her voice is quiet and shaky when she confesses, “She’s my aunt.”
“It’s true, my niece has lived quite ashelteredlife,” Vera taunts.
Wait, what? Her niece? How the fuck is that possible?
My mind spins out of control, and my thoughts jumble as I try to put the pieces together. After what feels like forever but is actually only a few seconds, things start to fall into place.
Fucking Vera?
I flinch as if I’ve been slapped. “How could you do this to me?”
Piece after piece clicks as my mind continues to spiral. It all makes sense now. How Lace was able to find my email and contact me, and then how quickly the Russians were able to find us when I was trying to help her get somewhere safe.
This morning in the shower, did Lace have the Krukov tattoo on her arm? How did I not pay attention to that? Because you thought she was your friend. You had no reason to doubt her.
I raise my hand instinctively and rub the back of my neck, Lace’s eyes following my movement.
Her traitorous orbs brim with tears. “I swear I didn’t want to, Aurora. Please believe me,” she begs. “I was forced into this. I had no choice.”
I continue to stare at her in disbelief, unable to form any words.
“Quiet, you little whore,” Vera spews and points a gun at us. “Give me your purse, Aurora.” I toss my purse at her head and smirk when it smacks against her face. “You won’t be smiling for long.” She fumbles through my bag before tossing it onto the floorboard. “Where’s your cell?”
“It should be in there.”
“You have three seconds to give me your cell, or I put a bullet in your new friend’s head,” she threatens.
I snort. “You could. At this point, I really don’t fucking care either way. To be honest, I don’t think you’re that fucking stupid. We’re not off the base yet, psycho. Besides, I don’t have pockets… Where the fuck am I going to put it?”
Vera reaches over the seat and pistol-whips me. Stars dance in my vision, and blood trickles out of my nose. “Don’t fucking play with me. Lift up your shirt.”
I bite back a retort, as I lift my shirt. Watching me in the rearview mirror, her driver licks his lips.
Lace speaks up. “Y-y-you left it on my hospital bed.”
Why is she trying to help now after all she did? Don’t question it. Go with it.
I snap my fingers. “That’s right, I set it down after I sent my dad the text and helped Lace get ready.”
Vera seems appeased and turns around as we drive through the military base gates. I yank my cell out, thankful it's on silent, send an SOS, and then shove the device deep between the seat cushions.
I blow out a breath and glare at Lace, daring her to reveal my secret. She discretely shakes her head. Once we’re a mile from the base, Vera trains her weapon back on us.
“I see the wheels in your head spinning, Aurora,” she taunts.
“Vera, what’s going on?”
