Cora picks up the third call and I narrow my eyes at her even though she can’t see me. I can tell she was screening my calls and only picked up because I’d never, ever triple-call her unless something had happened.

“Ella?” I hear her worried voice say, “what’s wrong?”

“Where are you, Cora,” I demand, letting my tone tell her not to fight me.

“What -”

“Where. Are. You.”

“I’m I’m at the clinic -” she says. “What’s happening?”

“We’re sending a car for you at the clinic, now,” I say, glancing at Sinclair, who nods to me to let me know he’s on it. “Get in it immediately, Cora. Don’t speak to anyone else. Don’t ask any questions.”

“Ella,” she hesitates, her voice wavering. “I can’t-

“This is not a request, Cora,” I growl. “They came for him. They tried to take Rafe. We are sending, a car for you, and you are getting in it.”

I hear a sharp intake of breath from her side of the line, and then a moment of hesitation, and then she agrees. “All right,” she says, and I can almost see her nodding anxiously. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

I exhale a deep breath of relief and nod. “Okay. I love you, Cora,” I say, my voice wavering a little.

“I love you too,” she replies, with I don’t know what regret? In her voice?

But before I can ask more, she hangs up.

“The car is five minutes from her,” Sinclair murmurs, squeezing my hand again. “We’ll get her. It

will be fine.”

I say, closing my eyes and resting my head back against the leather of

for the rest of the hour-long ride away from the city

deep into

when the car slows down and Sinclair sits up in his seat, looking around in

we’ve arrived because really, it

anywhere.

honestly, the past five minutes have been a very uncomfortable ride and Rafe let us all

it…where?” I ask, looking around at

And then my mouth drops open as, in front of us, the earth just…opens, sliding upwards like the jaws of some great creature

I murmur, my eyes going wide as I stare into it. “That

Sinclair corrects, shooting me a little

impressive,” I continue as we drive into the entrance and start to drive down a steep incline into the earth.

to hide his smirk, “who ripped someone’s

and putting a hand on Rafe, who stops screeching and looks around in wonder at

passage opens out into a wide space, like a large underground

that I was waiting for that but, perhaps a little bit of me was expecting another

free space and Sinclair and I quickly unbuckle our seatbelts and prepare to get out of the car. The other car pulls up

the move.

all underground?” I

replies, “for safety. Though there are some

forest, if we deem

with me as I back out of the

and our two guards through the entry that

the entire structure is very military As we walk

and note that the walls, floor, and ceiling

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255