Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“He confirmed that Abel is my father and demanded I stay in headquarters. He doesn’t want me to help rescue Holly.”
Alec wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Maybe you should listen. Major has fought against Abel’s Army for many years. He knows what he’s doing. You can’t help Holly by putting yourself in danger.” It was almost exactly what Major had said.
He and Major, they always acted like they had my best interest at heart, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that they had lied to me twice. And they weren’t just small lies. They were huge, earth-shattering lies. How could I be sure that they’d told me everything? How could I trust them to tell the truth this time?
“I’m tired,” I said. It wasn’t true. I was physically exhausted, but my mind was wide awake. I wanted to get away from Alec’s piercing eyes. From the way my body yearned to be close to him, despite my mind’s warnings.
Alec’s brows dipped. “Are you sure you don’t want some company? Maybe you shouldn’t be alone right now.” His face was so full of concern, it made me want to acquiesce.
I shook my head and slipped out of his embrace. “No, really, I need some time to myself.”
The weak part of me wanted to snuggle against his chest and let him whisper soothing lies into my ears, but I was tired of being lied to—even if it was to protect me. I needed to know the truth about Abel’s Army and more importantly, about me. And from the look in Alec’s eyes, I was pretty sure he knew. If I asked him to go against Major’s order to help me save Holly, maybe he’d do it. But first I needed to find out what was really going on.
Alec took a hesitant step toward me until our chests were almost touching. I gave him a small smile, and he took it as permission to plant a soft kiss on my lips. I relaxed into his embrace and allowed myself to forget everything for just a moment—the lies, the hurt, Holly. Alec was there for me—he had always been and would always be.
“I meant what I said yesterday, you know? I love you.”
I touched his cheek briefly. “I know.”
Disappointment flickered across his face. Before the conversation could go any further, I turned around and walked away. Maybe he’d expected me to say it back. But I couldn’t do it. I did love him, there was no doubt about it. I’d loved him for a long time, but in the last few days, in the last few hours even, so much had happened that had shaken me and made me doubt the world I thought I knew. I needed time. And I needed to reveal the real dimension of secrets because I had an inkling that Major hadn’t told me the truth, not even half of it. He was probably the only one who knew the full extent. And there was only one way to find out. I would become him.
I waited for nightfall before I headed down to the laundry. I took the stairs down to the ground floor and then walked all the way to the back of the complex to the swimming hall. The laundry room was right next to it, where the wet towels didn’t have to travel a long way.
The black letters on the white door were chipped and faded. I looked around before I pressed down the handle and slipped inside. I stared into the darkness and carefully slid the door shut before I felt the wall for a switch. The stench of bleach, detergent, and starch crept into my nose. After a few seconds, the room was bathed in bright light from the halogen lamp on the ceiling. My eyes stung. After the time in the dark on my way here, they had to get used to the sudden intrusion of light.
It was only the second time that I was in the laundry. The last time had been almost three years ago, a few months after my arrival. I’d forgotten a photo in the pocket of my jeans—the only remaining photo I’d had left of my mother and me from my childhood. The woman who worked in the laundry had watched me with wide eyes while I’d searched everywhere for the photo, but I hadn’t found it. Of course, the woman wasn’t there now. Heaps of dirty clothes stood piled in front of the five huge washing machines on the naked concrete floor. In the corner with the ironing boards—Major thought a mechanical press didn’t do a good job—I spotted a batch of freshly pressed white shirts, and beside those was a row of suits and uniforms on hangers. I grabbed one that I recognized as Major’s, along with a white shirt. Then I spotted Holly’s pink shirt with Ernie and Bert as a gay couple emblazoned on the front on top of a pile of clothes. I picked it up and pressed it to my nose—as if it would smell of her perfume. But all I could smell was the freshness of detergent. I considered putting it back down, but then added it to the stash of Major’s clothes over my arm and headed for the door. I turned the light off before I peeked out into the corridor. Everything was dark and silent. I crept out and gently clicked the door shut behind me.