He nodded and shut the seat over them again. Seriously, she’d much rather remain in the cramped space for another fifteen minutes than risk getting caught by strangers.
Ariel blew out a relieved breath as she adjusted herself so they weren’t crushing each other. She gripped Layla’s hand tightly. “We’re okay.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re okay,” she repeated, perhaps to convince herself more than anything.
Fifteen minutes was a long time in a cramped compartment. Layla was beyond relieved when the van came to a stop. She was equally glad that Ledger wasted no time popping that seat open again. He lifted Ariel out with his hands at her waist first and handed her out the side door to Stu.
Layla’s legs were shaking and she was on the verge of tears as Ledger lifted her out of the compartment next. She didn’t want to fall apart. There was no need. But she was overwhelmed from nearly getting caught, lack of sleep, and the unbelievable life changes happening all around her.
Ledger leaned her against the van and held her hips. “Take a breath, princess,” he encouraged. “It’s over. We’re here. You’re safe.”
She nodded, inhaling deeply, head tipped back, eyes closed.
Another hand landed on her shoulder a moment later and she lowered her gaze to find Nile at her side. “You okay?”
“Yep. I think I got claustrophobic at the end. It was kind of like sharing a coffin.”
“Understandable.”
Layla noticed Ariel was sitting sideways in the driver’s seat, elbows on her knees, face toward the ground, also catching her breath.
Stu hovered over her, one hand on the door, one hand on the frame, blocking her from anyone else. His brows were furrowed. Good. Let him be concerned. Layla had to hope he was also kind because though he might not have liked hearing that Ariel was only nineteen, he was also clearly feeling protective of her.
Nile cupped Layla’s face and drew her attention to him. He leaned in and set his lips on her ear. “Stu’s a good guy. I promise.”
She nodded, relieved. That was all she needed to hear.
Finally, Stu helped Ariel out of his seat. “Get them inside. I need to hide the van before anyone sees us.”
For the first time, Layla glanced around, seeing nothing but a field. Get us inside? Inside where?
Stu took off with the van, leaving the five of them standing in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere.
“Come on,” Gatlin said, nodding over his shoulder. He led them several yards off the dirt road they’d been on, seemingly toward nothing.
For a moment, Layla panicked, thinking they’d been completely duped by these men she’d entrusted with their lives. But then Gatlin leaned down and brushed some loose dirt and hay away to reveal a handle. He pulled hard, and a door opened up, much like a cellar. A door that led underground.
A door that led to the next phase of Layla’s life. Her future.