Whisper (Whisper #1)(23)

Her eyes brim with tears. “Please? It won’t take long. I p-promise.”

I think it’s the hiccup that does it, because the next thing I know, I’m being led into Abby’s glaringly pink room and pushed onto her bed as she settles snugly at my side.

Barely seconds pass before Ethan and Isaac creep through the door and climb up beside us.

These three children know nothing about me, yet they’re cuddled against me, just wanting to be held close. They seem to actually like me, as unfathomable as that is.

Abby has almost finished the story, when her words trail off, claimed by sleep. With the boys having dozed off earlier, I find myself trapped in a tangle of limbs.

As I consider how to extricate myself, I sense movement and see Ward step into the room. He takes in my predicament with soft eyes and an expression that causes my breath to catch.

“You look like you could use a hand,” he observes, his dimple showing.

He wades around a mess of toys until he’s beside the bed and moves first Isaac, then Ethan, resting them in positions that no longer have them clinging to me. He reaches for Abby, gliding his hands between the two of us — and causing my stomach to dip — as he gently shifts her away. She whimpers but quickly settles again.

Free now, I slide carefully off the bed, glancing at the children. My eyes well with tears as I feel the phantom touch of their affection still wrapped around me.

“It’s late, Chip,” Ward whispers. “Time for us to go.”

I quickly swipe at my eyes and turn away, hoping he doesn’t notice.

He takes my hand and gives it a squeeze, telling me that I didn’t turn fast enough. I don’t pull away from his touch, even knowing I should. Instead, I let him lead me from the room, our hands still linked.

“Let’s get you back to your suite,” he says.

I find it interesting that he says “suite” to describe my cell. Then I realize he’s not taking me toward my room — but instead, toward his.

My feet feel like lead, and I grind to a halt, yanking him to a stop beside me.

He turns to me and opens his mouth, then snaps it shut and studies my expression. His eyes light for a fraction of a second before he looks down at his feet.

“It’s not what you think.”

I can’t tell if he’s amused or embarrassed.

“I’m not taking you back to my room. Don’t look so worried.”

I press my lips together as I realize his amusement won.

“Trust me.”

He’s said that to me before. And just like last time, I don’t — I won’t.

I can’t.

But I do let him pull me forward again. I don’t really have a choice.

Ward stops in front of a doorway in another corridor I’ve never seen. He opens our joined hands, gently presses my palm against the touch screen bio-sensor mounted into the wall and waits until the door slides open. He then draws his arm behind my back and uses it to guide me into the room.

“Welcome to your new home, Chip.”

Six words.

Six words, and I’m left gaping at him.

Surely I must have heard wrong.

“I thought you’d never get here!”

My head jerks to the side, and I see Cami skipping up a short hallway toward us.

She’s wearing a pair of drawstring pajama pants with a tank top, her face scrubbed clean of makeup.

I can’t mask my confusion, and it grows even more when she spreads her arms out, twirls on the spot and gleefully cries, “This is going to be so much fun! I’ve always wanted a roomie!”

I dare not breathe. This can’t be true. I must have fallen asleep with Abby, Ethan and Isaac, because surely I am dreaming.

“Don’t look so happy, Jane,” Cami says with a dry laugh. “If you’re not careful, I’ll think you’re actually excited about staying here.”

I blink once, twice, three times, and then I reach across to pinch the sensitive skin of my inner elbow. I do it hard enough that I flinch at the pain — pain that makes me realize I’m not, in fact, dreaming.

“This is real, you know,” Cami says, grinning. “But if you want to pinch yourself again, go for it.”

“Cam,” Ward says. “Give us a moment.”

Cami looks at her brother for a beat before she turns back to me, her smile wider and brighter than before. “I’ll just go and, um … clean my teeth. Don’t mind me.”

She prances back down the hallway, leaving me alone with Ward. He turns me until I’m facing him.

“You should never have been in that cell — not when you first arrived, and definitely not for any amount of time after that.”

Anger flashes in his eyes before he takes a deep breath and changes the subject.

“Cami can be … enthusiastic … so if you find her too difficult to get along with, let me know somehow, and I’ll see if I can get you a new room allocation. It might take a while, but I’ll make it happen.”

My world is spinning. Every word out of his mouth is like a gift I never imagined I’d receive. I can’t — I don’t — I’m so —

Ward steps into my space, so close that I have to tilt my head up to look him in the eyes. His hand moves out, and his fingers trail whisper-soft against my cheekbone. I’m certain my eyes are as wide as oceans, but before I can decide whether to lean into his touch or jump away from it, he steps back again. He removes his hand and runs it restlessly through his hair, causing it to stick out like golden straw piled into a haystack.