24. VANYA

I thrashed beneath the man leaning over me.

He was trying to blindfold me, but the movement of the car and my thrashing body were making it hard for him.

A cry of pain cut off my screaming when the man lost his balance and fell on top of me. His elbow dug into my ribs for a few seconds until he managed to push himself up. The pain left me motionless, and it gave him just enough time to slip the blindfold on and to cover my mouth with a piece of duct tape.

It had been easy to escape from the car the first time because the men had been fighting, but I didn’t know if escape was an option for me again.

Ezra… He was coming for me, right?

I had caught a glimpse of him running towards the car before I had been thrown into it again.

All I wanted to do was get some fresh air after the video Chief Curry had shown me. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I had soon realized my mistake when the car had parked. I had turned, ready to enter the building again, but I was grabbed from behind.

“That fucking animal is following us, Dad.”

I focused on slowing my panicked breathing to listen to what they were saying.

“Shoot it!” the voice came from the front of the car.

“No! Are you crazy?” the man yelled from above me.

“Do it!”  

The man whimpered, followed by a few seconds of fumbling and then some more curses.

A gasp fell from my lips when the car swerved, making me slide along the backseat and hit my head on the door handle.

“Shoot it!”

I screamed when the gun went off. Two more shots were fired, but it suddenly stopped. The car swerved again and then came to a sudden stop.

“Get to the safe house!” the man hissed.

“I—”

“Get moving!”

Doors opened and slammed shut. Seconds later, a hand gripped my ankles and pulled me down from the seat until my feet hit the ground. I screamed, and the moment he pulled me to my feet, I started thrashing again. A fist to my stomach had me doubling over in pain.

“I should’ve fucking killed you when I had the chance,” he hissed in my ear as he gripped my arm and jerked me up.

“What are you going to do to her?”

“I’m going to do what I should’ve done from the start.”

The air got caught in my throat when I felt the press of the cold blade against my skin.

“Wait! Take the car and take them on a wild goose chase, son, while I get rid of this bitch.”

There were a few seconds of silence and then the sound of a door opening and slamming closed, followed by the car starting and then driving off.

Something inside me was urging me to fight. Ezra wasn’t so stupid. He’d find me any minute now and kill the son of a bitch.

“He’s going to kill you,” I rasped.

“Shut up.”

“He’s here and he’s going to kill you for taking me. He’s—”

My voice trailed off when the man did something I never expected: He injected me with something that knocked me out within seconds.

***

“Vanya? Can you hear me, sweets?”

I know that voice. Where have I heard it before? Why can’t I remember?

Panic threatened to overwhelm me, but fingers brushed my neck, instantly calming me. “Come on, rosebud.”

Another hand brushed strands of hair from my forehead.

“Here. This is where the bastard injected her.”

“Orion!”

My body jerked in fright.

“Devrim?”

“Search for a syringe.”

Twigs snapped as someone moved. I felt the bodies that were pressed to my sides tense.

“Better get her to the hospital.”

Someone growled. “No. You’re not taking her.”

“She needs to be questioned!”

“She needs—”

“Enough!”

I moaned when hands slipped underneath my body and pulled me against a warm chest. Opening my eyes was a struggle, but I managed, even if they wouldn’t open all the way. I opened them just enough to catch a glimpse of a man’s face hovering inches above my own.

“I’ve got you.”

***

“Easy.”

Firm hands pressed me back against the bed.

I licked my parched lips and swallowed. My tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth.

“Here.”

Something wet and cold was pressed to my lips. I reached up and wrapped my hands over his as my lips parted. Cold water slowly slipped down my throat.

“Not too much, or you might get sick.”

When I opened my eyes, it was to a spinning room which thankfully stilled, but not before upsetting my stomach.

“You might still feel some dizziness and drowsiness, but it will fade within a few days.”

I sighed. “D-did you catch t-them?”

Devrim hesitated and then shook his head. “They got away. We’re still trying to figure out how they managed to disappear.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “You t-told me not to go anywhere alone.”

“We are all mad at you, Vanya.”

“E-even Ezra?”

“Even him.” Devrim reached out to wipe the tear away with his thumb. “Get some more rest.”

“Stay,” I whispered when he stood.

He pursed his lips. When our eyes locked, I could see the urge to run which confused me. I swallowed as his rejection made pain flash through me.

Closing my eyes, I bit my lip and turned onto my side with my back to him. If he didn’t want to stay, then I wasn’t going to force him. Devrim had rejected me once before, maybe he just wasn’t interested in me.

The bed suddenly dipped at my back, and a second later, a hard body was pressed along the length of mine.

“Our females don’t like cuddling,” he said softly. “I’m unsure if you’re the same.”

“Your females suck.” I smiled. “I like cuddling, but can’t say the same for other humans.”

“Good.” Devrim wrapped an arm around my waist and gently pulled me closer. “I like cuddling, too.”

I reached down to grip his wrist. A sigh fell from my lips when he pressed his face against the back of my neck and started purring.

“I love when you do that.”

“Yeah?” His purring increased. My body jerked in fright when the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open. Surprisingly, Devrim didn’t react like I expected him to. He only sighed.

“Dev.”

“What?”

There were a few minutes of silence. “Is she okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answered before Devrim could.

I only managed to turn my head a bit, but it was enough to make out Ezra hovering near the door.

His eyes locked with mine for a few seconds before trailing down my body and up again. When our eyes locked again, his were filled with questions and… guilt?

I took a leap of faith and hoped that I wouldn’t be rejected.

Reaching out, I patted the empty spot in front of me. Ezra didn’t hesitate. He moved closer and climbed onto the bed. Gripping his shirt, I tugged until he moved closer and then wrapped my arm around his waist.

All that was missing now was Obsidian.