Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,42

friend do you believe deserves to be saved? The sun is setting on one of them.” Her smile grew. “And as their mutual friend, I’m asking for your advice.”

I tried to make sense of this. “So, Araneae is safe?”

“She could be.”

“Her baby?” I asked as the door opened and the man from before entered.

He was carrying a tray that looked like one that would be delivered to a hospital room. There was a water bottle and a decanter that could possibly contain coffee. Even just seeing it made my body cry out for caffeine—my temples throbbed and dark spots danced across my vision. A little over a year ago I’d tried to decrease the amount of caffeine in the tower. That didn’t last long. My intentions were good, but even I was in withdrawal. I’ve heard I could have pushed through.

I didn’t.

There was also a covered dish.

I wasn’t sure what it contained or how it would taste, but its mere presence had my stomach grumbling with hunger pains.

The woman stood and nodded to the man. He moved her chair to the table and set it before the tray. She walked toward me. “I tell you what. I’ll give you some time to think—not that she has much.” She lifted her chin toward the dark-haired man. “After I leave, Jet will untie you.” She shrugged. “You can eat or not eat. Your choice. But while you’re spending your time, think about which friend should be saved, which one deserves another day. Hurry, before it’s too late for Araneae.”

I looked up at her. “Why are you doing this?”

“Besides the obvious?”

My head tilted.

“Because I can.”

“Why do you want Laurel?”

Her nose scrunched again. “I could tell you, but then you’d know too much. If you choose wisely, maybe your days are without a near end.” She turned and nodded to Jet before she started walking toward the door. At the last moment she turned. “There’s nothing—no drugs—in the food or water. I have no reason to drug you at this moment. Of course, you don’t have to believe me.” With that she turned and left the room.

I closed my eyes as Jet came nearer. I listened to his boots on the floor and inhaled as he came closer. There was a tug at my ankle. When I opened my eyes, he was holding a large knife and slicing through what appeared to be duct tape holding me to the chair.

“Who do you work for?” I asked softly.

His light brown eyes peered my way and then he silently went back to his work. I had no reason to assume this man would tell me anything or even be kind. After all he was the one who had awakened me to his slaps. Nonetheless, I was limited on options.

“If you help me escape, I can pay you more than you make from her or whoever she works for. I can protect you too.”

He didn’t respond, but his chin lifted ever so slightly.

The woman may have been out of the room, but Jet’s minimal movement reminded me of the large one-way mirror I’d forgotten about. She was gone, but she was connected.

“The offer stands,” I whispered even more quietly.

“Don’t move until I leave,” he said as he stood, folded the blade back into the knife’s handle, and pushed it down into the pocket of his blue jeans.

I gripped the armrests, willing myself to stay put.

Once he was gone, I assessed the door. It didn’t make the multitude of clicks that the door on the cell had made.

Did that mean it wasn’t locked?

What would I find on the other side?

Well, one possibility was Jet with his six-inch blade.

I waited another thirty seconds before I stood. My muscles ached as I took a step and then another. I flexed my fingers and arms, celebrating my small slice of freedom.

The first thing I reached for once I made it to the table was the bottle of water. Such as the ones in the cell, the seal clicked. I couldn’t be sure if the contents were safe; however, I knew that without the water, I wouldn’t last. The human body needed water to survive. Food was secondary, but lifting the cover on the plate, I knew I would eat whatever was there. This time it was what appeared to be too-orange macaroni and cheese, a slice of ham, and a pile of soft, overcooked green beans.

“Boxed macaroni and cheese,” I said, thinking of Araneae. She’d joked about cooking that for Sparrow