Cornered (The Corded Saga #2) Read online

“May I ask your name?”

  “You just did.” She adjusted the pillows again and sat up more.

  “What is your name?”

  “Kayla.” She stared right through me again.

  “Kayla. Pretty name.”

  “Prettier than patient # 261. Isn’t that what my file describes me as?”

  “Of course. Those numbers are only to make things easier.”

  “Then why did you ask my name?”

  “They make things easier, but that doesn’t mean I want to call you by a number.” Maybe it was useless to try to explain my position, but I always tried with the patients.

  “Oh. I assumed by easier you meant it was easier to torture me if I I was just a number to you.”

  “That’s true too, but I don’t want it to be easier. And it isn’t supposed to be torture. You said yourself, you are here because you want to help save human kind.”

  “We all say things we don’t mean.” She slumped down further in the bed.

  “Yes, we do.” I headed toward the door. “Rest well, Kayla.” I closed the door behind me.

  I was at a loss. There was no question she was closely related to Quinn. My first thought should have been about what a miracle it was that one family could have two girls, but it wasn’t. My mind was on whether this would change anything. Would this help me get through to Quinn? Convince her I cared about her?

  I still didn’t know why I needed Quinn to view me different than everyone else, but I did. And it wasn’t just for the hope she’d choose me as an active donor, even if the thought of such intimacy—though only for the purpose of procreation—thrilled me like nothing else in the world. It had been my superiors’ idea. Quinn had conceived naturally, but had that been an anomaly? There was only one way to find out.

  It wouldn’t be forced on her. Her other option was the test tubes, but I wanted her to choose the first option—with me. More than that, I wanted her to open up to me. Tell me what really happened to her. She’d been traumatized in ways I could never hope to understand, and I needed to help her.

  Five

  Quinn

  Something had changed. Dr. Morton was looking at me differently. Studying me in a new way. He always watched me, but this time was different.

  "Good evening, Quinn." He always used my name even when it was completely unnecessary.

  The change in his appraisal was odd, and a horrible thought occurred to me. "Is Bailey okay?"

  "Yes,” he reassured. “But she's sleeping."

  "Sleeping? Already?" His words gave me no comfort. Something was off.

  "It's after ten."

  "Oh." My windowless room also lacked a clock. It was easy to lose track of time.

  "I'm sorry I couldn't come in with her earlier. We had a new admission."

  "Oh?" I feigned indifference, but I always wondered about the new admits. I wanted to know who they were. I felt for whatever new girl was forced into this life.

  "Yes." He studied me again.

  "Is she, all right? Where did you find her?" He never told me anything about the other women, but I still asked each time.

  "There was a fire at a club. Sray club."

  I knew that name. That was where Ethan was. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I feared I'd already let on that I was familiar with the name of the club.

  "Have you heard of it?" He walked further into my room.

  "I think an old friend is a member." It was too late to come up with a better explanation or reaction.

  "An old friend?" He raised an eyebrow and inclined his head in a way that said it all.

  "Not Bailey's father." Ethan and I had never been anything but friends. It was a Kayla who grabbed his attention. Or she did until he got tired of waiting and left. Kayla never admitted it, but his decision to leave hurt her in a way very few things could. Kayla was such a strong person, but his decision to leave hurt her deep enough that she responded by building walls.

  “I didn’t—” He started to protest.

  “Yes you did. Don’t lie. That’s exactly what you were asking.”

  “Quinn.”

  “Yes.” I crossed my arms.

  He said nothing.

  “Was there something you wanted to say?” My nerves were frayed.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?”

  “A walk?” I startled. The only walking I’d been doing was around my room. “Now?”

  “Yes. You might feel better if you weren’t cooped up.”

  “You mean I can go outside?” I hadn’t seen the sun, or even moonlight, since I arrived. Fresh air sounded good—but only if I could bring Bailey. I didn’t deserve the outdoors if she didn’t get it too.

  “I suppose I should have been more specific. I meant if you weren’t cooped up in your room. We can walk around this floor, or I can take you down to the atrium. There are some lovely trees and plants down there.”

  “Can you take me to see where Bailey sleeps?”

  He shook his head. “She’s sleeping.”

  “You already told me that. Why can’t I see her? Watch from the doorway?”

  He paled.

  “What aren’t you telling me? What’s wrong? What’s the real reason I can’t see her?” fear surged through me. I wanted to see my daughter.

  “She is fine. Absolutely fine.” He put his hands up as if in defense.

  “Then why can’t I see her?” Fear gripped me, and I could barely get the words out.

  “It’s not her you can’t see…” he trailed off.

  “Then what do you mean? The room? You told me she has a nice room.”

  “She does. But we can’t go there now.”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer.” I wasn’t going to back down.

  “Tomorrow. We can go tomorrow.”

  “Why not now?”

  He put his head in his hand.

  “Dr. Morton. I need an answer.” If something was wrong with my daughter, I needed to know about it. I wasn’t in the mood for theatrics or lies.

  He looked up. “My name is Maverick.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I want you to know my name.”

  “Fine. I know it, now please answer me.”

  “I’m not allowed. A guard comes in after 9:30 PM. I’m not allowed in there because she isn’t my patient.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why not what?”

  “Why isn’t she your patient?” I wasn’t sure how things really worked in Central. I had met a handful of doctors the first few days, but after that Dr. Morton was the main one I dealt with.

  “She’s a child. I only take care of adults.”

  “Yet you bring her to see me every night?” The one bright spot of my otherwise dark existence.

  “I do before the guard comes. That’s why I always keep the visits short.”

  “Yet you couldn’t tonight because of a new admission. I see.” I felt undeserved anger toward the new girl. It wasn’t her fault, I knew that, but anger isn’t always rational. More often than not it’s the exact opposite.

  “Don’t be angry.”

  “Of course I’m angry. She’s my daughter. I’m her mother.” I put my hands over my heart. “I need her.” Bailey was my only reason for breathing anymore.

  “I may have some information for you.” He pulled up a chair and sat down.

  “Information?”

  “And you might not be so angry with me for being late.”

  “Why do you even care if I’m angry?” I struggled to compose myself. I was tired, angry, and fed up.

  “Because I care about you, Quinn.”

  “Oh yes, you care about the patients you torture. We’ve been over this, that’s impossible.”

  “Quinn, I am going to go out on a limb here.”

  “Yes?” I waited.

  He opened his mouth and then closed it as if torn about whether to say anything at all. He opened it again. “Do you have a sister?”

  Tim
e, the room, and everything else in the world stood still. It was several moments before I could compose myself enough to respond. “Why do you ask?”

  He didn’t hesitate this time. “Because she might be here.”

  “Might?” My hands shook as I tried to take in the new information.

  “Yes. Otherwise she’s a cousin. The resemblance to you is clear as day.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “So is that a yes? You do have a sister?” He scooted his chair closer to the bed.

  I hesitated. What if this was some trick? What if they were trying to figure out if Kayla was out there hiding?

  “I promise no one is going to hurt her.” His reassurances weren’t helpful.

  “You make a lot of promises.” I struggled to calm my rapidly beating heart. Kayla? In Central? I was hit by conflicting emotions. Relief she was nearby, worry for her well-being, and guilt that my relief was stronger than my worry.

  “And I keep them.”

  “Where is she?” Now that the possibility was there, I had to know.

  “Answer me, Quinn. Is she your sister?”

  “How do I know if I can’t see her?” I could barely sit still. I wanted to jump from my bed, run from my room, and find her. I was already building a fantasy in my mind of us running off with Bailey and starting a new life.

  “Do you, or do you not, have a sister?”

  I nodded, letting the day dream fade away.

  “And she looks like you?”

  “Kind of.” I needed to be careful. This could all be a trick.

  He smiled. “I will find a way for you to see her.”

  “Now?” A mix of emotions once again bubbled inside me. I needed to try to keep my hopes in check.

  “I can’t take you in to see her now. She’s new. She will be under close surveillance for at least 24 hours.”

  “Only twenty-four hours? I’m not constantly under surveillance?” I highly doubted that.

  He looked away.

  “What?” I groaned. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I am the one who controls the surveillance once you’ve been here longer than a day.”

  “Oh.” I thought about the way he watched me. Was that his excuse? Did he do that with all the women?

  “I know you don’t trust me, but I am trying to help you.”

  “The only way to help me is to get my family out of here.” I pushed back my covers and tugged down on my nightgown.

  “Your family? Not you?”

  “Kayla is stronger than I am. Bailey will be safer with her.” I let her name slip out, but there was nothing I could do once it was done.

  “But she’s your daughter.”

  “Which is why emotion can’t be the ruling decision maker. If we can’t all get out, I want Bailey with Kayla.” Bailey came first, and that would never change.

  “Why wouldn’t you all get out?” He turned his head to the side.

  “Because there’s no way you’re going to do that.” I could day dream all I wanted, but the three of us getting out wasn’t going to be the outcome.

  “Why would I let any of you leave? There is important work being done.”

  I let out a long deep breath, hoping I was right. “Dr. Tardale came by to ask whether I would like to participate in a new study, one that didn’t involve test tubes.”

  He loosened his tie.

  I continued. “He mentioned you as one of the options since your family has a history of producing children.”

  “Yes?” He rubbed the back of his neck.

  “You get Kayla and Bailey out, and I will agree on the condition that it’s only you for as long as it takes.”

  “Quinn, I don’t know what to say. To think you believe...” he trailed off.

  “Am I wrong? Are those thoughts not going through your head every time you come in here?”

  “Of course they do. But I would never act on them.”

  “Not without permission.” Everything in Central involved rules. The question was how hard would it be to convince him to break some.

  “And you wouldn’t agree to that if Bailey were still here?” Maverick asked.

  “No.” I made direct eye contact so he’d understand how serious I was. “No. I will agree to nothing until I know for sure my daughter is safe.”

  “She will never be completely safe.” He spoke softly, but the words had their intended effect.

  “Please leave.” I pulled the blankets back over my legs. Any desire to go for a walk was gone.

  “Quinn, I…” he started.

  “You heard me. Get out.”

  He nodded. “As you wish.”

  As soon as the door closed behind him the tears started to fall.

  Six

  Mason

  I was about to put someone else at risk. And not just anyone—an innocent, a girl I’d sworn to protect when she was brought into Sray. Yet here I was ready to lead her into guaranteed danger? No. I couldn’t do it.

  “You’re overthinking this. Don’t.” Addison pointed a finger at me.

  “How would you know what I’m thinking?” It was odd seeing her being so open with me. She had always been timid, almost afraid of me. Now that the walls of the club had fallen, it was as if she no longer saw me as a threat.

  Addison leaned back against the couch. “You ran the club. It was in my interest to learn how to read you.”

  “I can’t subject you to this. It’s not right.” And I’d made enough mistakes in my life already. I didn’t need to make more of them.

  “I appreciate that you view my life as something worth protecting, but it’s not any more important than Kayla’s, or her sister’s, and especially not that little girl’s.”

  “You view the child’s life higher than yours?” Denver rested his chin on his hand. “You are barely over your youth yourself.”

  “But I’m not a child. I never was.” Addison crossed her legs at the ankles. “That’s even more of a reason to protect this little girl.”

  I looked at her. Addison seemed to truly mean her words, but was that enough?

  “I won’t let anyone hurt her. Remember I’m going to be with her.” Denver didn’t take his gaze from Addison, but I knew he was talking to me.

  “How are you going to manage that?”

  “I’m a man of many talents.”

  “So I’ve heard, but convincing Central to do something like this…” I didn’t need to finish the thought.

  “You were in the system too, Mason. You understand.”

  “Understand what?” I wasn’t sure what he was getting at.

  “You aren’t the only one with extraordinary night vision.”

  I was stunned. I had never spoken that out loud. Not even to Jarret who had become my closest friend and confidant.

  Denver smiled. “You thought you were the only one, huh?”

  “Are you saying you can do special things?” I spoke carefully, not sure how serious Denver was.

  “I’m saying we are evidence of what’s really going on in Central. That’s leverage.”

  “Not when they can just kill you on the spot.”

  “I won’t be going in unprepared. I have other tricks up my sleeves.”

  I thought I caught his drift. “They’ll search you for weapons.”

  “And my weapons won’t be on me.”

  “What’s really going on in Central?” Addison sat forward.

  “Bad things.” Denver stood up.

  “I know that. But what did you mean about the eyesight thing?” She studied me and then turned back to Denver.

  “Experimentation.”

  “Experimentation to solve the reproductive problem…” Addison looked between us.

  “Or so they want you to think.” Denver headed back into the foyer, pausing in the doorway.

  “Tell me.” Addison walked toward him.

  “We’ll know more soon enough. You really want in on this?” He leaned against the door frame.

&
nbsp; “Yes. I already told you guys. How many times do I have to say it?” She wrung her arms. “This is getting tiresome.”

  “Enough times that we know you aren’t doing this because you think you have to. You don’t. We’ll find another way in.” I touched her arm gently, making sure she really understood.

  “Is there really another way in?” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I am not seeing it.”

  “There is. There’s always a way. It might take some creativity, but we’d figure it out.” I wouldn’t let her make this decision based on desperation.

  “We don’t have time to just figure it out. We need to do this.” Addison’s eyes blazed.

  “Do you really know what you are about to face?” I met her eyes. It was time to get real. “They are going to hurt you.”

  “Which means they are already hurting others. I’m not going to sit back if there’s a chance I can help. I will make sure we get all the kids out of there.”

  Denver and I exchanged looks. “That may be impossible.”

  Addison shrugged. “Well, we won’t know until we try.”

  “If you really want to do this…” It was hard to believe she’d be so willing to step into danger.

  “Yes. I do. Please stop asking. I need to do this. I need to do something that’s bigger than me. I’ve never had choices in my life. I’ve never had a chance to do the right thing, and now that I have that chance I refuse to give it up.”

  That seemed to be exactly what Denver needed to hear. He nodded. “We leave tonight.”

  “Why wait?” Addison put a hand on her hip.

  “Because you are a female. Do you want to get caught before we even reach Central?” Denver frowned.

  “No.” Addison shook her head. “I’m just anxious.”

  “Try to rest. I don’t know how well you will sleep in the coming days.” Denver’s expression softened.

  “Is that just an excuse to talk to Mason alone?” Addison’s brow furrowed.

  “Not specifically.” Denver made no apology.

  “I must say, your honesty is refreshing.” Addison smiled.

  “Life is too short to be anything else.”

  “Is it?” Addison tilted her head to the side. “Too short?”

  There was such sadness in her voice, it cut through me. I’d known life was bad for most women, but I’d convinced myself I had given the girls a decent life at the club. Considering Addison was signing up on a potential suicide mission, I was starting to doubt that.