“Real men don’t have fun breaking women.”
Mr. Skinny was looking at his feet, like he wanted to be anywhere but here, while Meathead watched warily from his position by the iron bars.
Todd scowled. “Is that what you and your feminist friends tell each other over cocktails?”
“Nope, just something anyone with even a little bit of emotional intelligence already knows.”
“You’re pretty mouthy for someone who’s locked up in a literal dungeon half a world away from home.”
Well, now that he put it that way. Jesus.
Be quiet, June. I need to think.
I tried to calm the fresh wave of panic brought on by Todd’s words, because he was right: I guess Iwaslocked up in a literal dungeon half a world away from home.
“What can I say, it’s a gift.”
“We’ll see how much of a smart-ass you are in a couple hours,” he said. “If you even last that long. Now get up.”
I didn’t obey. My brain was too busy telling my body to stay put, that the safety of the wall at my back was better than no safety at all.
“Get up or I’ll have Anton here get you up,” Todd said.
Meathead shifted on his feet. Anton. That was his name.
The revelation made me feel sick with dread. No one was worried about keeping their identities a secret here. I knew Ethan Todd had kidnapped me, and now I knew the first name of his bodyguard.
They didn’t care because they didn’t intend to let me go.
Ever.
I stood, motivated by the possibility of an escape during Todd’s hunt.
“How does this work?” I asked. “What are the rules?”
“Rules?” Todd laughed. “You’re not playing with the fucking Blackwell Butchers. There are no rules here, just consequences. You run until we catch you.”
There was something in his voice when he talked about the Butchers, a note of resentment that felt… personal?
My mind turned, trying to think of a way to play his game. “What do I get if you don’t?”
“What do you get?” He smirked. “You don’t get anything.”
I was playing with fire, risking another blow to the face — or worse. But at least I was killing some time. Every second I kept Todd talking was another second to think through my options, another second for the Butchers to find me.
“The Hunt in Blackwell Falls works because there’s something in it for everyone.” I tried to sound calm, bored even. “This is just an excuse for you to feel like a big man, but you have nothing to lose, so how big does that make you really?”
His gaze hardened. “You don’t make the rules.”
“I know. You do, except you haven’t, which just proves my point.”
Behind Todd, Mr. Skinny looked uncertain, like he wasn’t sure what to make of the exchange.
“Stop talking, bitch.” Todd took a step toward me. “Unless you want to feel my fist in your face again.”
His voice had risen, his eyes gone wild. He was losing control, which was either good for me or bad for me depending on how it all played out.
I held up my hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m just saying.”
