Page 30 of Drowning in Darkness

“It happens more often when I’m anxious.”

“And what should we do?” the other woman asks. “Should we wake you?”

“The best thing would be to install a lock on my bedroom door. My sleepwalking brain probably won’t be able to work it out in a new environment.”

“Too risky,” Camryn says.

“Then try to coax me back to bed, or even onto the sofa. I rarely remember anything from the exchange, but I believe I can talk total garbage.”

Camryn frowns. “There’s no truth in your words?”

“I wouldn’t say that, but they aren’t always clear.”

Camryn points at her laptop, drawing the other agent’s attention. “All the cameras are up and working. Motion detectors are alarmed, and they’ll track heat too.”

“Fancy,” I mutter. “Which reminds me, I need to check in with my brother before he ignites a fire under the MC and there’s a gang of burly bikers searching the country for me.”

Camryn pulls out a phone and hands it to me. I take it and shift to go upstairs. “His number is already in there. James’s too, if you need him for any reason.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t tell him where you are,” she calls out.

“That would be a feat, given I don’t know where I am.”

She chuckles as I slip inside my bedroom and close the door. I roll my shoulders and swipe to connect the call.

“Where are you?” Hunter snaps.

“Well, hello to you too, brother.”

“Stephanie.”

“How do you put so much weight into my name? Seriously? It’s like you’re chastising, judging, and coaxing me at the same time.”

“Location.”

“Safe house.”

“State?”

“Not a clue. But I ate some fruit which must be local because it was fan-freaking-tastic.”

“I don’t care about the fruit. Eleanor, can you trace the call?”

“Yes,” she sighs. “But I won’t.”

“Why the hell not?”

“The fewer people who know where she is, the better.”

“But I’m her brother.”

“Meaning if Christopher can’t track her down, he’ll be watching you. Think with your brain cells, not your heart.”

Hunter grumbles something incoherent in the background that sounds a lot like, “When did you get new piercings?”

“That’s my cue to go. Just wanted to reassure you I’m fine.”