They didn’t understand. It wasn’t her that she was worried about.
It was them.
10
Vivi knew she didn’t have much time.
Caleb had gone to talk to the doctor about getting her discharged. Wolfe had just disappeared without a word. She’d asked Aleki to order them pizza while Wolfe was gone. He’d just left to collect it since no one was allowed up on this floor. She shuffled out of bed, thankful that the IV line had been disconnected earlier. Although the port was still in. But she wasn’t going to remove that and risk having it bleed everywhere.
And she’d never been good with blood.
She climbed from the bed, holding the frame as a wave of dizziness assaulted her. Shit. Fuck. She didn’t have time for this.
As soon as the dizziness disappeared, she limped painfully over to the wardrobe. Her ankle was bandaged tightly, which was the only reason she figured she could tolerate any weight on it. Reaching in, she pulled out her bag. She’d gotten the nurse to help her into her sweats and a T-shirt earlier, claiming her nightie needed washing.
She grabbed her flip-flops, slipping them on. They weren’t the best shoes to move around in quickly but her swollen foot wasn’t getting back in those sneakers. She wasn’t even sure where her sneakers were.
Putting her backpack on, she moved to the door and took a deep breath. If any of the guys were on the other side, or the doctor or nurse, she was done for.
They thought she’d agreed to come to Escana because she hadn’t put up a big fight. But she couldn’t.
Opening the door slightly, she ducked her head out. Coast was clear. She wasn’t sure which way to go so she took a gamble and went right, creeping down the hallway as fast as she could.
Already, her ankle was screaming in pain.
God, she didn’t want to go.
Tears filled her eyes and she forced herself to blink them back. They were going to hate her now. She’d left once and they’d still come for her.
They wouldn’t come a second time.
She reached a bank of elevators. It would probably be safer to take the stairs, but she’d never make it. She pressed the down button then looked for somewhere to hide in case someone was in the elevator when it arrived.
There was a door across the passage. She moved over and opened it cautiously. Storage closet. Perfect. Slipping inside, she kept the door slightly ajar and peered out. The elevator door opened and Aleki strode out, carrying a pizza.
Instead of feeling relief at not getting caught, she just felt this deep sorrow.
None of them would ever trust her again. She was just putting the nail in her own coffin.
But better hers than theirs.
Stubbornness filling her, she moved from the closet as soon as he was out of sight and quickly hit the elevator button. The doors opened immediately and she sighed with relief. Limping in, she leaned against the wall and pressed the ground floor button.
Exhaustion had her sagging. Was this really the best move she could make? But what choice did she have?
Where was she going to go, though? She limped out of the building, wiping the tears from her eyes. It was starting to grow dark. She wasn’t sure where exactly she was, but the streets were still busy. She kept her gaze down, not wanting anyone to look at her too closely. Shoot. She should put her hoodie on.
Someone jostled her and she cried out as her ankle gave way beneath her and she tumbled to the ground. She caught herself on her good hand, but it scraped nastily against the pavement and her ankle felt like red-hot pokers were being pressed into the bone.
“Lady, you okay? Sorry.”
A hand reached out to help her, and she took it, worried she wouldn’t get up on her own. The world spun and she thought she might vomit. “I’m fine.”
She shuffled away, her hand now throbbing along with her arm and ankle. Shoot. Maybe she should have waited until she’d had her evening meds. Crossing the street, she saw a park ahead of her. Not the safest place to be when it was getting dark, but at least she might be able to sit for a minute and think.
A playground drew her attention and she managed to make it to the swing before collapsing on it. This was hopeless. She could barely walk. Her entire body ached. She’d thought she would be stronger than this after a few night’s sleep, but she realized now that she was a long way away from recovery.
She wiped at her tears. She was so tired. She didn’t want to make any more decisions.
Not when she thought she’d just made the worst one possible.
“She’s gone,” Aleki said frantically, stepping into the room and throwing a pizza box on the coffee table.
“I knew it,” Wolfe said calmly from where he sat on the sofa. “I knew she’d run.”
“Well, you could have let the rest of us know.”
“She’s got a shit poker face.”
He continued to do something on his phone. “Well, don’t just sit there playing Candy Crush, fucker. Come help me find her! She can’t be out there on her own. She’s not well enough. She has no money. It’s getting dark.”
“I’m not playing Candy Crush.”
“Wolfe, stop fucking around. We need to find her. Can you track her using her locket?”
“Of course I can. I’m doing it right now.”
Caleb raced into the room, phone in hand. “What the fuck? She’s missing? How?”
“No time. Wolfe is tracking her. Let’s go.”
They swiftly moved towards the stairs
“If you knew she’d run, why didn’t you tell us?” Aleki asked as they took the stairs down.
“I wanted to see what she’d do. Don’t worry, she’s perfectly safe. I have eyes on her,” Wolfe told them as they reached the lobby.
“What? Who?” Caleb asked.
“Micah is following her.”
“Fuck, why didn’t you tell us?” Aleki snapped.
“You should trust me to take care of her,” Wolfe stated.
Aleki gaped at him.
Caleb cleared his throat. “Wolfe, you haven’t always had the best track record for caring for others.”
“I know that she’s important to you both. Wait,” Wolfe said as they headed towards the door.
“What?” Aleki snapped.
“Are you sure you both want to get her back?” Wolfe asked them.
“Of course we do,” Caleb said.
“Why?” Wolfe asked. “We still can’t trust her. She left again and it’s unacceptable.”
“We have to find her, Wolfe,” Aleki told him.
Aleki didn’t want to feel anything for her. Didn’t want to be hurt by her again. But he also couldn’t leave her out there, alone and in pain.
“Fine,” Wolfe replied. “But I just hope the two of you know what you’re doing.”
Nope. He had no fucking clue.
They stood in the park, watching her. Wolfe moved his gaze around their surroundings, keeping watch for any danger.
“Poor thing looks freaking miserable and it’s not exactly safe out here,” Aleki said.
Wolfe bristled with indignation. “She was never at risk.”
“Where is Micah?” Aleki asked, glancing around.