Chapter 544 Chapter 544
Was this day five? He didn’t think he could handle many more in the cage, without air and being able to move around. “Am I going to be asked any questions?”
“That’s not my job.”
“What is your job?”
“Today? To keep you alive and safe.”
“Safe?” He scoffed. “You think I’m safe here? There is nowhere safe from Aiden. Trust me on that.”
“I’m not here to trust anyone or thing.”
He shrugged, “smart. Look, give me a pen and paper and I’ll write down everything I know.”
“Do I look like an office worker?”
“No. You do not.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes. As I said, I’m never going back—alive at least. I want to help—end what he does.” He inhaled slowly, trying to slow his heart rate, “a map, if you have one I can mark cities and towns that I know Aiden has people or houses in.”
With a skeptical look, she glanced around and then got up and went into the other room, he had no idea what ‘gear’ was in there, but if she came back with paper, he would write everything down that he could remember. He remembered a lot. Things that any rescued guard would never know.
She came back out with a notebook and a map. Stopping, she looked down at the sharpie in her hand and then at him. “If I give you a pen, you won’t do anything stupid, right?”
“With a pen?” Griffin smirked, “what am I going to do with a pen?” He actually could think of a few things, but knew saying them was not the right move.
“Why do this? You know your future isn’t looking great right now.”
“I want to help.” He backed away from the door, so she wouldn’t be spooked opening it. “I know things. I could talk until my voice is gone and no one would believe a word I say. I get it, I’m from the enemy camp, but I know things that will help your people stop him—them.” She still looked skeptical. He got it. “I learned the hard way that appearing oblivious is the best course of surviving this life I’ve been given. It took many painful occurrences to learn how not to react like I’ve heard something I shouldn’t hear. I have a good memory. Let me help.”
Tucking the paper and map under her arm, she pulled out her gun and opened the door. Keeping the gun aimed at him, she held out the other items.
He moved slowly, not wanting to set her off. “You know, I could take that out of your hand, right? Being a half-breed among full shifters growing up, I had to learn to defend myself.” He clicked his teeth together, no sure what possessed him to say that.
She smirked, “don’t underestimate me because I’m a girl.”
He held out his hand for the items. “I would never.”
She snorted and then backed out the door and closed it quickly.
Griffin was very intrigued. She was nothing like any female he’d been around. She was strong, but there were little slices of vulnerability there mixed in with all that strength. He didn’t know if she was aware of it, but considering the number of weapons she had on her, he decided not to find out how well she used them by provoking her.
Turning around he rolled his eyes, there was no chair or table. Floor it was. Kneeling he spread out the map and looked at it. It was only of North America, so he’d have to just make notes about the other locations he was aware of.
He flipped the page and continued writing. It wasn’t organized in any way, just point form with names, or an address, along with several codes and routines. The last twenty years of information was pouring from his mind, giving him a cramped hand.
Pausing, he straightened and stretched. Who knew kneeling on the floor, hunched over a notebook would be so painful. Rolling his head from side to side, he glanced over at Blaise. She was looking at him. Scowling, she got up and walked into the kitchen. Her moving past his cage caused him to pick up her sweet, spicy scent. A chill moved through him. Looking at the window, he wished for fresh air. The longer he knelt here, the more agitated he felt. Remembering everything was bringing up a lot of memories he didn’t want to relive. Not just the injustices he’d personally suffered, but things he’d seen. He’d remember them for the rest of his life, there was no forgetting. Being closed in wasn’t helping him at all.
Griffin looked down at the page in front of him. Next, he would share the companies they funneled money through, and then the transport systems they used. They’d changed over the years, but he still knew which ones were in operation and which had closed down because of technology. Even criminals knew when their methods had to be modernized or given up.
He was startled when the cage door opened. Blaise set a cup on the floor. He didn’t need to ask what was in it, he could smell the coffee from here. “Can we open a window or door for a minute? I feel like the walls are closing in.”
She closed the door. “It’s because your meds are almost out of your system. Shifters don’t do well inside or with confined spaces.”
Leaning back on his heels, he looked around. “I didn’t think of that.”
She shrugged, “you’ll get used to it. The anxiousness, when you’re inside too long.”
His chest tightened, “all of the others”. He stared at the floor but didn’t really see it. “The ones kept inside all the time…”
“Yup.” She turned on her heel. “Now you’re starting to understand. You’ll probably have a lot of body aches too. For the first time in your life, you’ll be the real you and not some medicated version.”
Griffin glared at her back until she sat down and then he looked back to the notebook. The real me? He didn’t know what the real him was, but helping end the tyranny of his sadistic brother was a good. Cleanse all the old part of his life. He took a sip and reread the last page, so he could pick up where he left off. The old part of his life kept scrolling through his head like a news ticker.
When he thought that, he’d been fantasizing about having some sort of life. There wasn’t going to be a nice home and new life. He glanced at the wire. His future didn’t look much different than his past.