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“You don’t have to answer Jade.”

Neri shook her head. “No, it’s fine.” She knew it would be without knowing how.

“For the first couple of weeks, I observed people in town at a distance. I learned about money and stores, cars, homes, well, everything. I have to admit, I stole food and a change of clothes during that time. About a month after I escaped, I found an abandoned farmhouse and barn. I wanted to make sure no one was coming back for the property, so I checked to see anyone had a claim. It was a foreclosure, and the bank thought it a lost cause, so they didn’t even have the land on its books, so I found out the city owned it.”

Neri glanced around and she had their attention. She continued, even though she tried not to panic around so many at one time.

“The barn contained tools and woodworking equipment. I needed to keep busy and make money, so I checked out several books on how to use the machines and I found I had a talent for it and fixing things around the place. Whatever I didn’t know, like plumbing in the old place or electrical issues, I went to the library. But there were never many people around.”

“What did you fix?” Jade asked.

“Well, I didn’t have the money to do anything, so I figured I would create furniture from the wood surrounding the property and sold the pieces online. There is a market for original designs, so after I sold a table and two rocking chairs, I had enough money to put into the farmhouse and the barn.

“I purchased the plot of land with little fuss and I paid back everyone I stole from, without telling them it was me. The first thing I fixed was the plumbing throughout the entire farmhouse. I figured that I would need to reinforce the structure, so I moved onto the outside. I have to admit I put a lot of windows surrounding the house and the barn before I fixed up the rotting boards on both buildings.”

She didn’t know if the way she had got the land and the buildings stunned or disgusted them. To shake the dread settling in her stomach, she continued.

“I took about a year to learn everything I needed to start a successful online business, to set up a supplier for the materials, and purchase a used truck to take the shipments into town. Other than the occasional run into town to mail out the pieces, I stay to myself.”

Liv cleared her throat.

“Oh, and I searched for Dr. Stevens and even went back to Standard to see if there was anyone else, but they abandoned that division and destroyed the records. I don’t think Stevens is even his last name.”

Jade’s brows drew down. She glanced at the bright red haired man at the corner of the group, the one who had been with Hunter when she ran into them, before looking back at her.

“Have you tried to find out about your past? Before Standard?”

“I did, at the library. When that was fruitless, I hired a two PI’s on each coast and they found no one missing in the States or the world matching my description.”

“It could be the same asshole that cleared evidence of Ara’s past? But he’s dead, and I never found out how he made that happen,” Xander said.

A huge honey blond man sauntered toward her and Hunter and for a reason she couldn’t contemplate, set her teeth on edge.

“He could have hired himself a hacker that isn’t dead.”

The man winked at her and she snarled at the outright flirting coming from the man. It didn’t make him pause, so she spoke.

“If you come any closer, I’ll rip your fucking balls off.”

Neri, used to being alone, was becoming overwhelmed by the bodies pressing in on her. The words came out harsher than they otherwise would have. But if she had one more person come closer, she would run. The only reason she hadn’t fled was Hunter’s hold on her.

“It’s been a long day. I’ll take Neri home so we can talk.” Hunter stated.

Liv bit her lip at Hunter’s statement and Neri, sensing she wanted to ask something, reached for her arm. “What is it?”

“I hate to ask?”

“It’s fine. The worst thing that could happen is I say no.” Neri smiled at the woman she realized she liked after their short acquaintance.

“Can I draw your blood to study sometime?”

“Oh, yeah. I don’t have to do it down in your glass prison, do I?”

Liv laughed and the tinkling sound had Neri smiling. “Wherever you’re most comfortable. Hunter will let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come see you.”

“Okay.”

Although she should have expected it, Liv pulled her in for another hug.