I’m not done yet.
I know I can’t beat him in a fight, not when I’m hurt and weakened like this, so I grab my phone.
There’s a call coming through and I swipe to answer as I stumble forward into the darkness. I mute it just in time.
Kane.
He must be worried sick, and he should be.
I want to cry with relief, but the second I hear his voice, Lee will know the cops are on their way.
Still, I press the screen against my chest so that square of light doesn’t give me away.
Lee has his own flashlight, and he slams the door behind him, shutting us both in the killing darkness. The storm’s roar dims.
There’s something glinting and metal in his other hand—a gun?
Not that surprising, really, even as my bruised stomach drops to my knees.
I don’t know why he didn’t use it before, but there’s no denying this could get really messy, really fast.
I regret answering Kane’s call now.
He can’t help me with this, and all I’m doing is luring a selfless single father to his death.
Fresh nausea flips my stomach over.
“Please.” I turn to face him again.
“Shut it,” he growls, walking toward me.
I disconnect the call a split second before my knees buckle and I’m dry heaving.
Miraculously, I don’t vomit.
God, I need air.
My breath comes too fast, too loud, echoing in the small space as he marches down the steps toward me. His gun points through me, aiming at my future grave down here.
“You finally get it out of your system?” We lock eyes. “Not another peep from you, princess. I don’t have the time or patience. You’ve made me very late.”
It’s the way he stares at me through the shadows, I think.
Those eyes, they aren’t human.
They’re so empty.
Seriously, how can this be the same guy who flirted with me? Who sold us his lovely plates and mugs we’ve used for meals?
Whyhas he gone total psycho?
“Please,” I whisper, my voice cracking pathetically. “Please, don’t—”
His gun comes up to my face and clicks.
I wince.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me when I said ‘shut it’ before?” He bares his teeth. “Since you’ve insisted on being part of this, Miss Blackthorn, I’ll let him see you alive again. But only if you’re silent.” He glances down to where I’m still clutching the phoneagainst my chest, and his expression hardens. “And you’ll hand that over. Right now.”
