Book Two: Adaptation

•13•

•Nava•

•September 23, 2016•

Miserable with a head cold. I lay under the covers wishing this headache would go away. It doesn't help I don't have medicine not that I'd know what's safe to take right now.

Rubbing my nose, it's then I hear the basement door open telling me Callum has come back.

Great.

Moving the covers to sit up, I watch him clear the last few steps.

"Hey, you look sick"

"I have a head cold" I croak, my throat sore from the drainage.

"Really? How long have you had it?"

I sit up to criss cross my legs, "A couple days now"

"I can go get you some meds" he offers.

Are we close to a town for him to do that?

"No, it'll pass."

"You sure?"

"Yes. How's work?" I change the subject.

He crosses his arms leaning back against the wall, "Are you asking if they're wondering about you"

"Yes"

"Yes" he answers. "You're not fired though. I think your useless bodyguard filled Simone in. They're keeping your disappearance under the radar, not very sure why"

Because Abel doesn't need the authorities to help him find me. I do hope he hasn't told my mom. I don't want her to worry and I know she'd get the police involved.

"And... no one suspects you?"

"As far as I'm concerned, no"

My eyes cast down, I hesitate asking my next question. "How long do you plan to keep me here, Callum?"

There's a long pause, so long I have to look up to see if he heard me.

"I don't know. A few months maybe"

"Then what?" I almost don't want to know.

"Then... we disappear somewhere"

I feel tears brim my eyes so I look down into my lap when a tear slips down my face.

"I really am doing this for your own protection" he tells me after a few minutes of silence.

"From who?" I whisper.

"A very determined woman who wants you out the picture"

I feel my heart slam against my ribs and my palms become damp. Someone wants me gone? Like... dead gone?

"Why didn't you just tell Abel? He could have did something"

"He wouldn't have protected you from her. They're too close, he wouldn't have believed she has intentions to hurt you"

They're too close? What does that mean?

"You're underestimating him. He'd never let anyone hurt me"

"She's done it before." Callum pushes off the wall. "And she'll do it again until she gets what she wants"

"And what's that?" I frown.

"Abel" he answers simply. "It's always been about Abel"

My head throbbing now, I turn to lay down, "Do you mind."

"Sure... I'll go find something for dinner" I hear him start up the stairs. When the door closes, I take a pillow to hold close.

A determined woman wants me gone so she can have Abel to herself and they're close. The only person to come to mind is Bella, Abel did say her and Callum know each other. Would she really stoop so low that she wants to hurt me? They weren't even actually together.