Page 111 of Darkness of Mine


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Long enough that I eventually have to accept that River and the guys aren’t coming.

Zach must be blocking the tracker signal somehow, which would explain why he never searched me for bugs.

Harley’s fallen asleep in my arms and I let her stay there as I figure out a plan. I go over all my options, trying so damn hard to find a way to get out of here that doesn’t involve Harley, but it’s no use and eventually I have to wake her.

“Hey, kid.”

She scrunches up her face, her eyes unfocused until she fully wakes on a jolt, scrambling away from me. Her breaths come fast.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. It’s just me. Freya, remember?”

Her nails dig into the concrete, but she nods.

“You remember me saying I’m going to get us out of here? I’m going to need you to keep being brave for a little bit longer okay, because I need your help. Can you do that for me?”

My heart thunders.

In my mind, Harley’s face flicks between hers and mine and Allie’s.

I know exactly how scared she is, but she keeps her green eyes on me and nods.

You and me, Harley girl, we’re gonna be alright.

We have to be.

47

FREYA

The key twisting in the padlock interrupts the soft chatter I’ve been murmuring to keep Harley calm. Her wide eyes dart to the stairs and I tap a finger against her knee. “You remember what to do?”

She nods. “I don’t want to though.”

“I know. I know you’re scared but I promise I won’t let him hurt you again,” I rush the words out on a whisper as the door opens then I stand up and back away from Harley.

I wince, pulling the sleeve of my shirt over my hand as I go back to pretending to be Allie. What I’m about to do is going to terrify Harley. Nausea swirls in my stomach but I don’t have a choice.

Zach’s boots hit the steps and come to a stop at the bottom. He dumps a tray of food on the floor. “Eat.”

He skids the tray across the room, but I kick it away.

“I don’t want to be here,” I say, channeling one of Allie’s tantrums.

Zach’s piercing eyes narrow.

I point at Harley. “She keeps saying she’s Annie but she’s not. She’s not Annie.”

Zach tilts his head, a smile that makes me sick to my stomach gracing his face as he looks down at Harley. “Are you ready to be my Little Star, sweetheart?”

Harley hugs her knees but she plays her role perfectly, looking at me warily before nodding at Zach.

Every muscle in my body tenses when he holds out his hand, but Harley is a fucking brave kid and she slides her smaller hand into his.

“Where are you taking her?”

“My Little Star and I are going to play a game.” He leads her up the stairs.

“She’s lying. She’s not Annie!” I shout after them.