Something flashed in Jersey’s eyes, but then she turned away and stared out the window. ‘It’s okay.’

Sophie moved into her cousin’s line of vision. ‘I’m so sorry, Jersey. I should’ve been more understanding about what you were going through,’ she choked.

‘It’s nothing.’ Jersey’s voice was flat. ‘Trust me.’

‘Do you want to talk about what happened yet?’ Nerves jumbled into a tight ball in Holly’s stomach the second the question fell out, but she reminded herself they had to be strong for their friend, and so she steeled herself for whatever came next.

Despite her emotionless, monotone voice, it was clear by the way Jersey’s fingers curled into fists as she tightened her grip on the blanket, shifting it further up her body and securing it beneath her chin – as if the blanket alone could keep her safe as long as she was cocooned within its embrace – that her mind was replaying the horror she’d lived for the past week. ‘No, not really.’ She lifted her head from the pillow and peered behind them. ‘Where’s Leigh Ann? Didn’t she come?’ It was clear she was hurt that one of her best friends hadn’t come by to visit her.

Holly fought to keep her eyes steady on Jersey’s. ‘She was… she said she’d be by later after you’d had a chance to rest more.’ Even to her own ears, the lie was weak.

‘Of course.’ Jersey pursed her lips and nodded before turning to her cousin. ‘Mom said Dad was doing his best to get back to the States as soon as he could. She’s lying, isn’t she? He’s with his bimbo and can’t be bothered to make sure his own daughter is okay, right?’ Hurt clouded her eyes, only to be replaced by anger seconds later.

Sophie averted her eyes, taking a sudden interest in her torn cuticles. ‘Aunt Natalia knows you need to concentrate on healing, and she doesn’t want anything or anyone to get in the way of that.’

‘You know your non-answer was an answer, right?’ Jersey’s eyes drifted closed. ‘Could you just sit with me until I fall asleep? I’m so tired, and I don’t want to be alone.’

‘Of course.’

Nearly an hour later, Jersey’s eyes flitted nervously behind her closed lids even as her chest lifted and fell in a steady rhythm. Quietly, so as not to disturb her, Holly and Sophie tiptoed to the door, turning back to check she was still asleep before they headed out into the corridor. When they were far enough away from Jersey’s room, Sophie stopped and leaned her head back against the wall, hand against her throat.

‘That was even worse than I thought it was going to be,’ she choked.

The image of seeing Isaac that first time after his escape flashed into Holly’s mind. As if she were there all over again, she could feel the crippling fear of seeing his body covered in bruises. When would the people she loved stop being kidnapped? Trailing that thought was the sensation of being the common denominator, like she was bad luck to be around.