Page 118 of With Spite

I closed my eyes again, my head spinning.

Why was I in the hosp…

Flashes hit me in a rapid succession.

Torture.

Pain.

Kidnapping.

On and on and on, the memories hit me like a battering ram. Each new memory made me flinch.

The snow.

The cold.

The wind.

Not being able to breathe.

The hands holding me down while the other set of hands…

A sick feeling started to take root inside of me, and I wondered if they’d found Randel. I knew they’d found Chan pretty quickly. I’d heard them yelling his name as someone had gathered me into his arms.

I remembered the deep voice telling me that I would be okay. That they’d gotten me.

Then I remembered Hux’s desperate voice ordering, “Give her to me.”

I remembered snuggling deep, so bone-deep cold that I couldn’t breathe, and then…nothing.

“Birdee.”

As I said Birdee, my eyes opened and focused on her.

Birdee flinched and sat up, her eyes terrified and hopeful all at once.

“You’re awake!”

“I’m awake.” I nodded. “What’s going on? Where’s Creed and Hux?”

Mabel cleared her throat. “They’re…”

I swiveled to see her, ignoring the pull in my neck.

“At Hux’s.”

I tilted my head at my sister-in-law’s words. “What are they doing there?”

Birdee looked away guiltily.

“Are they there with someone?”

No comment.

But the longer that I stared, the more guilty she looked.

“Are they there with two someones?” I pushed.