Fractured by N.O Darling

Chapter 298

**

Once Harper’s initial shock of realising it’s me passes, a wide grin spreads over her face, and she steps towards me. A hand reaches out to grab her arm, stopping her.

“What’s going on he

Do you know him?” The woman with the wild eyes that announced breakfast asks as her fingers grip Harper’s upper atm.

I give Harper a subtle shake of my head, and she blinks before looking at the woman holding her back.

“No, Mandy, I just thought I saw nothing, it doesn’t matter,” Harper shakes her head, and it takes a gargantuan effort not to demand the woman release her.

“Don’t lie, little girl, I saw it too. Tell us who he is to you,” the gruff voice I recognise from last night says.

“How could she possibly know me? I’ve never seen this kid before in my life. I have probably been locked up longer than she has been alive,” I snort a laugh.

“Get Brent back here. I knew there was something off about these guys,” the guff man demands.

“No, wait. I’ll tell you,” Harper shakes her head.

“Go on then,” Mandy says.

“He’s your bond,” Harper blurts, and I almost choke on air

“Are you sure?” Mandy asks, her voice rising in delight

“Yes,” Harper nods, “I saw it as soon as I walked in here, it’s the clearest bond I have seen yet.

TH

A few people gasp and Gruff man grunts, curling his lip in disgust before snatching up a box of cereal and walking

away.

“Oh, this is wonderful. I knew those meditation sessions would pay off,” Mandy gushes, hugging Harper before turning her eyes to me.

She grins at me in what I think is supposed to be a seductive way, but it’s just terrifying. Her hand releases Harper and she reaches out to me. I scoot back in an attempt to stay out of her reach.

“Come on, Lucas, don’t be shy. I have waited a long time for you,” she smiles and attempts to flutter her eyelashes at me.

“I have to look after my friend, he needs to eat and get back to bed,” I say, gesturing to Robert, who is watching the whole scene unfold with wide eyes.

“Harper will help him, won’t you, Dear?” Mandy says.

“Yes, of course, but he doesn’t look like he can walk. Let me find Archie and Dillon, they can carry him,” Harper says, and Robert plays along, gripping his head and crying out in pain.

This is good. Harper is smart. She has just let me know that both Dillon and Archie are here with her, and she has worked out how to get her bonds and get back to my room with Robert. Now I just need to buy them enough time to port out.

“Thank you,” I say to Harper, before turning to Robert. “You should try to eat something and then this kid is going to have her friends take you back. Don’t wait for me, I’ll come and find you later, okay?” I say, hoping he

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understands my coded message.

“Yes, you go, I’ll be fine getting back,” he says.

I move towards Mandy, my feet feeling He lead. I squeeze Harper’s shoulder as I pass her. “Please stay with him until I return, he’s like a father to me,” 1 tell her, letting her know she can trust him.

“will,” she nods.

Mandy slips her hand into mine and pulls me away from the communal area. I go reluctantly, hating every part of this. I just found my daughter and I can’t even hug her or tell her how much I love her. Instead, I’m letting mande Mandy take me to god knows where

Mandy leads me down one of the tunnels and 1 spot a blue curtain.

the bathroom,” I tell her, trying to buy myself some time

like to be kept walking,” Mandy says, blinking up at me in that strange way again. I force a smile before

now that I

I demand into the

Theo responds quickly.

She is finding Archie and Dillon, and then Robert will be bringing them back soon,”

tears of happiness at the rush of

buying some time for them to find the boys and get to a safe place to port out. As soon as they’re back I need you to tell me, so I can escape before anyone

Josie says.

grounded for the rest of her life for this. I’ll explain later, but just know I love you, and I’m only doing this for Harper,” I tell her before shutting down

says, and I hear

pretending to fasten my pants.

she hums, pressing herself up against my back and her hands

retracts into my body, like a turtle going into its shell, at

in here,” I say, trying not to

I can’t wait to bond with you,” she says

the center and T can only assume she either has a bond already or she keeps company with the gruff guy.

yother bonds?” I ask, avoiding the bed.

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Chapter 298

all to yourself,” she smiles, laying back on the bed and patting the space beside her.

force a grin, that probably looks more like

be gentle with you, I

never thought I’d have a bond, and I want to savour the moment. There’s no reason for us to rush, is there? Let’s go to know each other a little first,” I tell her, and

before, have you?” she

prison since I was 18. I want this to

Chapter 298

**

of realising it’s me passes, a wide grin spreads over her face, and she steps towards me.

going on

with the wild eyes that announced breakfast asks as

subtle shake of my head, and she blinks before looking at the

matter,” Harper shakes her head, and it

who he is to you,” the gruff

this kid before in my life. I have probably

knew there was something off about these guys,” the guff

you,” Harper

on then,”

and I almost choke on

Mandy asks, her voice rising

I walked in here,

TH

few people gasp and Gruff man grunts, curling his lip in disgust before snatching up a

away.

this is wonderful. I knew those meditation sessions would pay off,” Mandy gushes, hugging Harper before turning her eyes

think is supposed to be a seductive way, but it’s just terrifying. Her hand releases Harper and she reaches out to me. I scoot back in an attempt to

time for you,” she smiles and attempts

get back to bed,” I say, gesturing to

won’t

can walk. Let me find Archie and Dillon, they can carry

both Dillon and Archie are here with her, and she has worked out how

say to Harper, before turning to Robert. “You should try to eat something and then this kid is going to have her friends take you back. Don’t

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Chapin 200

coded

you go, I’ll be fine getting back,” he

lead. I squeeze Harper’s shoulder as I pass her. “Please stay with him until I return, he’s like a

“will,” she nods.

hand into mine and pulls me away from the communal area. I go reluctantly, hating every part of this. I just found my daughter and I can’t even hug her or tell