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“Thank you. I owe you one.”

Silence.

“I’m sending the address now.”

He ends the call, and once again, my phone pings.

I open the screen between Mason and me.

“Change of plan. We need to go to…” I tell him the address.

Samuel looks at me but says nothing as Mason drives us to our destination.

CHAPTER 23

APRIL

Aknock on the door brings me back to consciousness. I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep, but I’m still exhausted.

“April?” a voice sounds through the barrier.

“Yes,” I call out, pulling myself into sitting, catching my head on the upper bunk. “Ow,” I rub at the sharp sting. Something I’ll have to remember.

I stand up and make my way across to the door.

I scrub a hand over my face before opening it. I must look a fright, hair unkept from allowing it to free dry, tear-stained cheeks. The tightness of my skin gives that part away.

“Hi, April,” Abigail says. “Sorry to wake you. There are two men downstairs asking after you. Dawn is talking to them. I wanted to give you a heads-up. I know you didn’t say there was an issue with anyone, but we can never be too sure.”

I smile at their thoughtfulness.

“Do you know who they are?”

Who would think of looking for me here? I haven’tspoken to Samuel or my foster mum. I doubt Daniel even told him I called by.

“One is Caleb Frazer,” she says, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a giggle. “The other, I think he said his name was Samuel. That he’s your best friend. Normally, we send people away, however, as you’re here because your home burned down.”

My heart constricts at the memory. I nod. What on earth is Caleb Frazer doing here? Does he want to accuse me of sabotaging his building now? Going to claim I burned it to the ground?

“I know them both,” I sigh. “Let me just…”

“April? Are you here?” I hear Samuel’s voice, and he sounds frantic.

“It’s okay, I’m coming,” I call, glad it’s only early evening, and I’m not waking up any other residents. I can’t believe I’ve slept the whole day.

I hear the hammering of feet on the stairs as Samuel’s towering frame appears from around the corner.

“You can’t go up there,” Dawn’s voice shouts after him.

“Hey, Baby Girl,” he says, scooping me into his arms and squeezing me so tight it forces the air from my already bruised lungs in a whoosh.

“Samuel,” I say, tapping his shoulder, sucking in a deep breath as he releases me, sending me into a coughing fit.

“Sorry,” he rubs my back as I try to gasp for breath. Abigail reappears with a glass of water.

“Here,” she says, placing it in my hand. “Sip it.”

I do as I’m told. The dry feeling in my throat eases, along with the cough.