gestured around the apartment. “…to being with Patrick. I gave up on that dream a long time ago. Ruby has been my whole life, but she’s getting older. I imagined disappearing once she was grown and safe, but now I’m afraid we’ll never be safe.”
“That’s what I was saying about here,” Laurel said. “Without getting into a lot of it, I did and am doing some research that a certain entity doesn’t want done. I could live every day in fear or I could believe Mason, Araneae, and the others that by being here, I’m under this invisible Sparrow umbrella that keeps me and the ones I love safe.”
“That’s good for here, but what about Ruby?” I asked. “She wants and deserves a life with the freedom to be outside of this building.”
“My answer would be to trust our men. It’s the one lesson Lorna has taught us all, Araneae, me, and now you. She says the men will disappear. We will be placed on lockdown, and they will fight their battles. When it’s over and clear, we’ll be able to come and go, with protection. It’s a weird thing, but I think Araneae explained it best. She said it took her time, but finally she realized that defying the men’s wishes not only put her in danger, but it also put them in danger because there is no limit to what they will do to protect us. Once I understood her wisdom, I knew that I’d comply if for no other reason than to keep Mason safe.”
I took a deep breath and leaned back against the stool’s back. “I don’t want Patrick doing anything for me that would put him in danger.” It was a simple statement but not one I could apply to my life with Andros. For some reason, I never felt Andros would risk himself for me or anyone else. With him, my sense of compliance was self-benefiting. I complied to avoid Andros’s wrath, not because I cared about him.
“As for our secret,” Laurel said, “I hope Sterling decides to share soon.”
“And what difference will it make?”
“Maybe none. Maybe everything. All of us here are a family regardless of the blood in our veins. I just know that when Araneae learns Ruby is her niece…” Laurel’s smile grew as her blue eyes glistened. “…she is going to be beyond happy.”
“Ruby has no idea,” I said. “I mean she just learned who her father is.”
“I understand.”
“I’m not confident that Mr. Sparrow has come to terms with the revelation.”
“Give him time,” Laurel said. “He’s the toughest nut around here to crack, but his shell isn’t as hard as he lets on. Take him and Mason. From what I’ve been told, when they first met they hated one another.”
“Really?”
“That’s what they say. And look at them now. All of these men would lay down their own life for one of the others. It’s a strange dynamic. They all have their own leadership qualities and abilities, yet they’re confident enough in themselves and their role in this hierarchy to support Sterling at the top. He’s tougher to crack because he assumes responsibility for everyone who matters. He just found out that you and Ruby matter, not only to Patrick, but he has to come to terms with the fact that you matter to him.”
“I’m not sure we—”
“You do,” Laurel interrupted.
Both of our plates were empty as were our bottles of water. “There’s coffee,” I offered. “Patrick said we need to shop so we have food.”
“He said that?” She giggled. “He means you need to give Lorna a list.”
“I hate to be a burden.”
“Self-appointed, remember? It’s what we all are. You’ll figure out your spot in that.”
I wasn’t certain there was a spot for me. What had I ever done to contribute to…well, anything other than what I was told to do and Ruby? “Would you like a cup? Maybe you could tell me about your research.”
Laurel nodded
A few minutes later we were seated out on the sofa. Beyond the windows, fluffy large snowflakes were falling, glistening in the darkness.
“The goal of my research is to repress traumatic memories while allowing people to function in their everyday lives.”
Wow. That wasn’t what I was expecting. “And you’re doing that, working on it…where?”
“Araneae began the Sparrow Institute a few years ago. It’s just getting up and running, but she has done a great job of delegating to very qualified people. The main vision of the institute is to help victims of trafficking and