the hall, my steps rushed. I needed to give my body something to do—some other reason for my labored breathing.
Dana caught up to me as I reached the door to the anteroom. She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Eve. I never would’ve asked you to come if I knew it would be so . . .”
“Fucked up?” I supplied.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “She’s been so cooperative and pretty much OK. Honest about the shit she’s done but accepting responsibility, you know? Never even hinted at suicidal thoughts . . .”
“Is there anything in that room she can use to . . .”
“No. It’s strict policy. They’re not allowed much.”
“Good. Is she allowed other visitors? Like, maybe a psychiatrist? Maybe I should . . .” I looked back down the hallway. It was so long. Impossibly long.
“No.” Dana shook her head. “You didn’t even have to come see her. This is not your responsibility. She’s in Melior Group custody. I’ll make sure she gets some help.”
I nodded, taking a few deep breaths, and then Dana surprised the hell out of me by pulling me into a hug. “You’ve got enough on your plate, Eve. I got this.”
I held her tightly, not saying anything—partly because if I started talking about this clusterfuck again, I would start crying, but partly because I was a little speechless.
A year ago, even a few months ago, if someone had told me Dana would one day hug me, be there for me, share her burrito with me, I would’ve figured one or both of us was certifiably insane.
But there we were. Hugging. In a secret underground prison.
“Thank you, Dana,” I whispered as we pulled apart.
“Don’t mention it.” She smiled, swiping her pass to open the door. “Seriously. If you tell anyone I hugged you, I’ll kill you.”
I laughed—a loud, full-bellied laugh. It was exactly what I needed to lift the heavy weight sitting on my chest, threatening to suffocate me.
Dana was fast becoming one of my favorite people. Who would’ve thought?
Nineteen
Dana pulled the door shut just as the one on the opposite side of the anteroom beeped and opened. Alec stepped out, a deep frown pulling at his brows, his shoulders tense.
When he spotted us, he took a deep breath and blew it out of his nose. “What the fuck?”
“What?” Dana crossed her arms and bristled. “Evelyn asked to see her.”
“She’s not supposed to have visitors, and she”—he pointed at me but didn’t look—“is supposed to be upstairs with Gabe.”
“Zara can speak with anyone with level four clearance and above.” Dana lifted her chin. Considering how stubborn they both were, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if this ended in violence. I took a tentative step back.
Alec threw me an incredulous look before dropping his arms. He rubbed his closely cropped hair and dragged his palms down his face. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t look at either of us, but I knew his words were for me. Without waiting for a response, he walked down the corridor.
I looked at Dana and cringed. “Are you in trouble?”
“Nah.” She shrugged. “I followed the rules. He can’t do shit to me. You, on the other hand . . . ”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry. I can take it.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You’re not at all what I first thought you were, Evelyn Maynard.”
“Yeah, I’m a real mystery, wrapped in an enigma, dipped in a glow stick.” I waved my hand as I walked away from her, trying not to lose sight of Alec as he rounded the corner.
Behind me Dana laughed, and a door beeped as it unlocked.
I jogged to catch up, but Alec was leaning on the wall around the corner, waiting for me. He didn’t spare me a glance before swiping his security pass and opening a door next to the elevator. I followed him into the stairwell and groaned. Kane would be proud of all this extra exercise I was getting in.
Alec took the winding stairs two at a time. I had to jog to keep his tense back within view. His hands were in fists, but his butt looked amazing in the tight black uniform—it stretched over his defined glutes with every unnecessarily large step he took.
I was getting puffed and pissed, and I was done chasing him.
“Alec!” I yelled, but he kept walking.
“Alec, stop!” He reached a landing and froze. I was a little glad to see his shoulders were heaving too. Not as bad as mine, but still.