Page 101 of Obsessed in Blood

Until now.

Lucas tapped lightly on the door, not wanting to scare him. He’d only met Hamilton once in a construct, and though he’d been helpful and appeared strong, that was only a dream.

“Hamilton. It’s me, Lucas. You remember meeting me?” He waited, seconds they probably didn’t have ticking away. He was ready to ask again when Hamilton finally spoke.

“Of course. It was only yesterday, wasn’t it?” His voice was scratchy from disuse but sounded strong.

“I have a friend with me. Her name is Raquel, and she’s here with me to help get you out.”

He turned his head, and even in the low light, Lucas’s excellent vision could make out the question in his gaze. The man might think he’s still dreaming all of this.

“This is real, Hamilton. I’m going to open the door.”

Without waiting for another word, Lucas removed the bar over the door. He glanced at Raquel. “Stay by the door unless I call you over.”

She nodded then turned back to face the hall, the dagger still in her hand.

Lucas opened the door and stepped inside, pausing for a moment to scan the chamber. The construct Colantha had created was almost a complete replica. The bed was against the wall to his right. A table with a single chair next to an overstuffed bookcase and a screen in a far corner that hid the chamber pot completed the scene. Except for the chair where Hamilton sat.

The room smelled of mold, earth, and human waste. They probably only cleaned out the buckets once a day, if he was lucky. The room was chilled with no fireplace.

Hamilton kept a wary eye on him as he approached.

Lucas kept his hands out, palms open to show he carried no weapon and meant no harm.

“I don’t mean to push, but we have a bit of a time crunch in order to make it to the boat.”

Then Hamilton’s expression partially crumbled. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

“Are you dressed and ready?”

Hamilton stood, and though he was thin, he appeared strong, or strong enough not to require assistance. He held a bag that appeared stuffed. What the man could be bringing with him, Lucas didn’t know and wasn’t going to question. As long as it wasn’t a pile of suitcases, the man could take whatever he could hold.

Lucas waited for Hamilton to come to him, then he held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

Hamilton’s reach was tentative, but he took Lucas’s hand, his grip firm, and another tear escaped.

“I can’t begin to know what you’re feeling, but you need to hold it together until we get to the boat. Can you do that?”

Hamilton nodded.

“I hate to break up the meet and greet,” Raquel’s voice filtered from the hallway. “But we need to get moving.”

Hamilton wasted no time heading for the open door with Lucas sticking close behind. Hamilton slowed when he peeked out the door, and only seeing Raquel, stepped out, glancing back to Lucas, possibly for assurance.

“Raquel, this is Hamilton.”

She gave the long-term prisoner a nod with a bit of a smile before it turned into a grim line. “Nice to meet you. I’ll take the lead. You need to stick close to me. Can you do that?”

Hamilton gave her a long look. “You’re a shifter.” His voice was scratchy and raw.

A touch of surprise lit Raquel’s gaze, and she nodded. “Is that a problem?”

“Of course not. Just a surprise.”

Lucas thought she grinned before she hurried down the hall. He shut the door behind him and placed the bar over it. It might slow down whoever followed them if they bothered to check the cell.

He rushed to catch up with the two who were already at the top of the stairs leading to the lower floor. Raquel had grabbed an oil lamp from a table and was lighting it with a match from a nearby box. She stuck a few more matches in her pocket and moved quickly down the stairs.