Page 6 of Healer’s Reckoning (The Healer’s #3)
Ava
“What are you doing?” Rose asks softly next to me.
I wink at Josh and turn to my friend. “Just reminding people that I’m my own person.” I glance over at Hunter, who’s camped against the wall again, scowling. I know he can hear me.
Rose looks over at Hunter and then back at me. “Just be careful, Ava.”
“I will.” I turn back to the counter behind the grill. I’m not really interested in the grill guy, obviously. But it’s been a long time since I did something as innocent as flirt with a good-looking guy. It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything that makes me feel like the old Ava. I’ve been living in a shell, scared of everything and anything; and life has passed me by. I’ve missed out on so much life. This simple pleasure—being in a restaurant with friends, eating good food, flirting with a good-looking guy—I can’t remember the last time I did any of it. I decide right then and there that I’m going to get my life back. I’m going to stop being afraid of my own shadow. I have to let go of my past and the pain that nearly has torn me apart and somehow start living again. I don’t really know how, but I know I want to try. Two large hands suddenly appear on the bar top on either side of me. I panic for an instant before I recognize the scent of fresh rain and spice. I stiffen inside Bryce’s arms. He’s careful not to touch my back with his chest, but he’s close. Really, really close. Josh chooses that exact moment to turn around. His face pales, and he nearly drops my plate. He recovers quickly and walks over to me.
“Thanks for making my girl’s food; it smells delicious.” Bryce says the words right next to the shell of my ear. I can’t catch my breath, let alone say anything. He nuzzles my neck and takes a deep breath as if pulling my scent into his lungs. Then without another word, he leaves. I grab the counter to hold myself up. Josh doesn’t say a word, and I pick up my plate and on shaky legs begin the walk back to our room. As soon as I walk inside, Raechel bursts out laughing.
“You should see your face!”
I put my plate down and settle into my chair. “That was one hundred percent your fault.”
“Guilty as charged,” she says with a grin. “You’re welcome.” I scowl at her. “Oh come on, you can’t tell me you weren’t at least a tiny bit turned on by him going all possessive over you.”
I spear a piece of broccoli with my fork and look around the table at this group of women who have become my friends. Emma, Talya, Sage, Madison, Samantha, Rose, and Raechel. They all seem to be collectively holding their breath, and since I don’t want to do anything to ruin this night, I shrug. “Maybe.”
They hoot and holler, and Rose leans in to hug me. I do my best to forget about the accident and trying to avoid Bryce and just focus on enjoying myself. I find myself actually laughing; I don’t think I’ve done that in a really long time. Rose reaches over and squeezes my hand
“It’s really good to see you happy,” she says so only I can hear.
I can’t help but smile at her. “You too. Mating looks good on you.”
She beams at me and goes back to eating. After the main course, we let our food settle for a little while before we make our way to this infamous dessert bar Raechel keeps telling us about. I notice as I study the desserts that the guys are all at the grill. Shockingly, there’s no laughing or flirting going on with the grill guys now. I settle on a piece of cheesecake and laugh at Raechel trying to balance three desserts. As I walk past the grill, Bryce looks up. Our eyes meet for a moment, and he just watches me. I find myself doing something I haven’t had a lot of practice with lately. I smile. He stares at me for a moment; I think I might have shocked him. And then he gives me the most gorgeous smile and a wink. I think I float back to the table. For the first time in a really long time, I actually have hope as I look forward to the future. My phone dings, and I pick it up, shaking my head at something Talya just said. I’m preparing to just silence it when I notice the text from an unrecognized number.
If you want to know what happened to your brother that night, head to the bathroom. Alone. Do not tell the girls at your table what you are doing.
I go still. The spit dries up in my mouth, and I suddenly feel like I’m going to throw up. “Ava, you okay?” Rose asks from next to me.
I swallow and try to form words. My heart is racing as I glance around the room. I don’t see anything out of place, but— My phone dings again.
The clock is ticking, Ava. You won’t get this chance again. And please, don’t do something stupid like involve anybody. It would be a shame for anything to happen to any of your friends. Emma has a little one at home doesn’t she? Actually, several of your friends do, don’t they?
I shove my chair back as my heart races. Rose looks up at me in concern. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I manage to squeeze out.
“Oh, I’ll go with you,” she says, starting to rise.
“No,” I say sharply and then immediately soften my tone. “I’ll, uh, be a few minutes and want privacy, if you know what I mean.” I force a smile, knowing her life depends on me being convincing.
She smiles at me gently. “I get it. Go ahead; I’ll go when you get back.”
Before I can stand, another text pings.
Erase these messages and leave the phone on the table.
I squeeze my left hand into a fist repeatedly as I erase the messages and then leave my phone on the table and slip from the room quietly. I look around the room, desperately trying to find Bryce or even Hunter or anybody really. If I could at least make eye contact...the threat to the girls plays in my mind again and I focus on heading straight to the bathroom. When I get there, there’s a closed for service sign on the door. My heart is thundering in my chest, and I’m terrified to go in there. But I can’t not go in there when this person is threatening everyone I love. I try to take oxygen into my deprived lungs and push the door open and step inside. “Good evening, Ava,” a male voice sounds from one of the stalls. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.” My voice is little more than a whisper.
“Good. Then lock the door behind you.”
I turn back to the bathroom door and slide the deadbolt. When I turn back around, the stall door opens, and a man walks out. He looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t place who he is. I can, however, place the gun he holds in his hands. My eyes zero in on it, and I forget how to breathe. “Ava, it’s good to see you.” He steps towards me, keeping the gun trained on me. “Now, I’m going to tell you exactly how this is going to go down. You are going to go with me quietly. Not a sound, not even a whimper. We are going to head out that window.” He nods towards a window above the sink. “To my waiting car.”
I finally find my voice. “And why would I do that?” It’s kind of a dumb question when he’s got a gun pointed at my chest. “One scream from me, and you will have a bunch of wolves descending on you.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid, but I know you won’t do that.” I’m getting ready to do just that when he says the next words. “Because if you do, you’ll never see your brother again.”
The scream freezes in my lungs along with my breath. I think I actually stop breathing. “What are you talking about? My brother is dead.” My voice is shaky.
“Is he?” he asks, cocking his head to the side. He opens his phone and turns it towards me. I stare at the picture and feel the blood drain from my face. I take a step backwards.
“That’s not possible. He...” I lift my eyes to the man holding the phone. “How do I know that’s not just a doctored picture?” The picture looks like my brother but also not. I mean it’s been two years. Of course, he would look different, but...
The guy shoves the phone in my face again. “Look at the date on the paper.” I lean forward and scan the newspaper my brother or supposed brother is holding.
“That’s today’s date.”
“Yes, it is,” he says impatiently. “Now, you have two choices. You can come with me and be reunited with brother dearest, or you can go back out there.” I stare at him as his cold words run over me. I have a feeling he wouldn’t let me have the option of going back to my friends anyway. “Of course, if you do go back to your friends, I can’t say your brother will survive.”
And there it is. Of course, if that really is my brother, and he’s actually alive, there is no question.
“I’ll go.”
“Good choice.” He eyes my forehead. “Have to say; you’re sure making this a lot more difficult than this was supposed to be.”
My eyes narrow as I take in his words. “You were the one that hit us tonight.”
“It was supposed to be easy. Grab the girl and go, but that wolf wouldn’t let you out of his sight for a moment.” He shrugs. “I didn’t feel like taking on two wolves tonight.” Before I can process his words, he continues. “I need to warn you. If anything happens on the way, and you don’t make it there, the boy dies. So, I’d go quickly and quietly.” He motions towards the window. I eye it, knowing I can’t reach it. Before I can say anything, he grabs me roughly and hoists me up. I reach up and grab the window frame and start to pull myself through. He pushes harder than necessary, and I climb through. It’s not a far jump to the ground. I shiver in the dark and wait for him to land next to me. “Not a sound,” he says. “Don’t move.” Before I realize what’s happening, I feel a sharp prick in my arm.
“What was that?” I demand.
“A scent blocker. Let’s go.” He grabs my arm and jerks me forward. “Remember, if you don’t make a clear getaway, your brother pays the price. He shoves me towards a waiting black SUV. The back door opens, and he shoves me inside before jumping into the front passenger seat. “Go!” he orders, and the car shoots away from the curb. I get one last glance at the restaurant where all my friends are. A wave of guilt shoots through me. Rose will be terrified, and Bryce... A knot settles in my stomach, and I hope someday he’ll forgive me. Actually, I hope he knows that I didn’t run away from him. I was actually thinking about giving things a chance between us. I wish I’d had a chance to tell him that.
Somebody grabs my arm and jerks me to the side. “Hey,” I start. Before I know it, another needle is being shoved into my other arm. “What are you doing?” I jerk my arm back. I can’t see the man’s face in the dark.
“Time to go to sleep, Ava,” the guy from the bathroom says. “When you wake up, you’ll see your brother.”
The world around me begins to spin and then fade, and I lose total grip on my consciousness. My last thought is that I really hope my brother is actually alive, and I didn’t just sacrifice myself in vain.