Page 46 of Hunted

“A couple days, at most,” Reece answers.

“Then we’re going back to… San Francisco?” It feels weird calling it home after all this time.

They all exchange glances before all eyes turn to Reece.

He runs his hand through his hair and leans back in his chair. “We were thinking of taking a detour first.”

“To where?” I ask in confusion.

“Kenya. I think it’s about time we all find out what’s actually going on at the charity warehouse.” He turns to me as he adds, “Yourcharity warehouse.”

“Mine?”

“It belonged to your dad, so you should have inherited it. It only went to my dad because you were presumed dead, and my dad was named nextin his will. We need to wait at least a few days, though. Until you can move more easily.”

“The doctor said you should stay lying down for two weeks to make sure you don’t pull your stitches,” Kingsley adds, making my eyes bulge.

“Two weeks? In here?” I ask, looking around the cold sterile room.I’ll go insane in here.As much as the plants Bower brought in help a bit, it’s still a drastic change to my jungle.

“No,” Reece shakes his head. “Hopefully later today, if the doctor clears you, we’ll leave the hospital and go to a rental house until your stitches are healed. Then we head to Kenya.”

“Then home,” Bower adds with a tight smile.

I try to imagine what a rental house will look like, but I have no idea. More walls and more civilization, that was for sure.

I glance around at the guys as I consider the fact that we’ve all been rescued, we’re finally off the island, and yet… “You’re all still here,” I whisper with a bit of confusion and surprise in my voice.

“Where else would we be, Tink?” Bower asks, giving my hand a squeeze.

“I—” I swallow the lump in my throat, unsure of how to answer that without upsetting him.

“Did you think we’d leave you once we got off the island?” King asks in confusion.

Dropping my eyes, I give him a small shrug. “I mean, I hoped you wouldn’t.”

“Awe, Tink, you’re stuck with us now,” Bower says, leaning forward to hug me again.

I stick my nose in the crook of his neck and inhale deeply. “You smell good.”

He pulls back with a laugh. “Yeah? A shower will do that to a guy.”

My eyes go wide for what feels like the hundredth time since I woke up as I turn to the bathroom. “A shower? A real one?”

“Uh-huh,” he says with a grin.

“When do I get one?”

Reece sighs before telling me, “Sorry, Darla. We have to keep your stitches completely dry for another day. When we get to the rental house you can shower. I made sure it has a nice one. Way better than the tiny one in there.”

“The water pressure was terrible anyway,” Bower adds, trying to make me feel better.

But I just narrow my eyes at him. “I’m so sorry your shower was inadequate, Bower.”

“Apology accepted, now why don’t you get some sleep. It’s late.” I roll my eyes at his dismissal of my sarcasm as he stands up.

He moves to the door and flicks off the light, leaving the room dimly lit by the lights on the machinery, then he and Kingsley move to the bench seat in front of the window to get comfy, as Weston and Reece lean back in the chairs, watching me with those intense gazes of theirs.

I am tired, but I also feel wired. There’s a lot of new information for me to process right now.I’m out.I’m never going to have to mark another notch on the hut wall before crying myself to sleep, alone and scared.