Alex’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“I was scared you’d find it and not understand. I kept it on me most days.”
“On you?” Alex asked as the trust I’d been working so hard on was diminishing from his face.
“Yes. In my bra,” I muttered.
Why the hell did I say that? There was half a chance he was going to search me and find my key. The one saving grace of getting me out of here if I needed it. I purposely didn’t look at Niko as Alex stayed silent and stared at me. Why was I protecting Niko? I should be doing everything for myself. To survive this. I guess, in a way, I was. I’d rather have Niko here than Geo. If Alex didn’t trust Niko, then I’d be stuck with someone else every day. That was the only reason I’d lied.
“Sage, this isn’t going to work if you’re not honest.” Suspicion still lit up his eyes as he spoke. “Do you have anything else?”
“No. That was it. I swear,” I promised, stepping closer to the couch.
Niko spared me a small glance, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Was he surprised I’d lied for him? Because I was still reeling from it. Alex tossed my phone onto the couch, shaking his head.
“Were you searching through my stuff?” I tried not to sound defensive. One night in the same room and this happened. It would only get worse.
“No. I was moving your clothes to make room for mine.”
“Oh,” was all I could think to say. I should have realized he’d do that.
“Sage, I know these last few months have been hard on you. But if you’re thinking of running again—”
“I’m not.”
“The group wants to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Alex said with a cold calmness.
I didn’t like the sound of where this was heading. Dread claimed my already growing nerves as I waited for him to continue.
“They wanted me to give you a message. And I’ve waited this long because I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t want you to think it’s me that’s saying this, because it’s not.”
Alex paused, and I glanced at Niko, who was trying to cover a confused look. Even he didn’t know what Alex was going to say.
“They don’t want you running. They want assurance that you won’t—”
“I’ve been here for months, and I haven’t,” I cut him off, terrified of what he was going to say. They couldn’t do much more to me.
“I know, baby. And like I said, this isn’t me. But they want me to tell you.”
“Just spit it out, Alex,” I yelled, tired of tiptoeing around him.
“Sage—”
“I’m so sick of being scared of what might happen. Just tell me so I can deal with it,” I said more softly, unable to believe I had just snapped like that. Months of being careful and making sure he trusted me could have just been wiped away.
“They threatened your dad—if you run away again,” Alex answered sharply.
All I could do was stare.