RONAN
I don’t take her to the clinic’s little dollhouse they stuck her in.
No. Caius manages that place, it's across the road from mine and Maddox’s place, and I’m not handing her back to the world that easily.
Maddox is still on patrol.
Good.
I don’t need his questions and his nosing around.
I make sure no one is watching as I carry her inside our house, down the stairs, and into the basement. My boots echo off concrete. The air’s colder here, heavier. She’s light in my arms, her head lolling against my shoulder, arms flailing.
When I reach the far end of the basement, I crouch and set her down on the floor — careful, like she’s breakable. She’s not. But I don’t want her waking up with a bruise that’ll make her think I meant harm.
I take her wrists and bind them. Not tight. Just e
