Hayden closes the lighter again.
And then…an idea hits me.
It’s reckless, and it might not work, but it’s the only hope we have of getting out of here.
“Hayden,” I hiss, and the alpha looks at me with tortured eyes. “Come over here. But…don’t act suspicious.”
thirty-six
Kole
Red fills my vision as I watch the two cretins attack my omega. My fists…I struggle against my restraints, but nothing happens. It occurs to me in the back of my mind that I might be damaging myself—but I do not feel anything but rage.
It’s like I’m back at Thornfield, where they were torturing her to get me to talk. Only this time…nothing I say will stop the unfair treatment. The torture. I failed her, back at Thornfield.
I will not fail her again.
Minor satisfaction flits through my mind at the sight of my omega spitting a mouth full of blood at one of the guards—or Guard One as I’ve named him in my mind so I can exact appropriate punishmentwhen I escape. But then a roar leaves me, and I’m on my feet as the guard, with a mixture of blood and spit on his cheek, wipes it off and points his gun at my omega.
“I’m done fucking around!” he snarls. “Stay the fuck still, or you’re getting a bullet through the eyes!”
“You can’t shoot me,” she scoffs, and then I feelBratishkaat my back.
“Easy, big guy,” he mutters behind me. “Don’t move, okay? Just hold your wrists so the chain is taut.”
West sidles up next to me. “Don’t thrash—you’ll get burned. But stay angry, otherwise they might get suspicious.” When the lick of heat hits my wrists, I understand. They have a plan. “Sam is keeping them focused on him.”
Sam lets out another roar of fury, and even though it’s for our benefit, the anger is real. “Don’t fucking touch her!”
Hayden speaks quietly. “I’m heating up the chain that links your cuffs. When West gives the word, pull as hard as you can, okay? It’ll take a few minutes.”
Gritting my teeth, I nod.
“The fuck I can’t,” Guard One spits, pulling the hammer back with his thumb. “He can take your blood from your corpse just fine.”
Jo barks a laugh. “Yeah? You aren’t exactly the brightest bulb on the tree, are ya? Did ya know that blood starts to coagulate in the body mere minutes after death? You better hope he gets what he needs after the first blood draw, because I’ll be useless after that.”
My wrists tense as he looks at the scientist. “Is she right?”
The scientist has the nerve to look surprised. MyLisichkamay not think she is book smart, but she is the most intelligent person I’ve ever met.
“She is,” the sniveling rat admits, looking between the two of them. “If you kill her…well, she’s not wrong about any of it.”
Guard One curses, sticking his gun back in his holster. “Well, then, maybe we just need to knock you out.”
“Bratishka…” I mutter, my fingers curling.
“Just one more minute…” He’s tense behind me, focusing on the flame so he isn’t distracted by Jo.
“Hey!” West calls, rattling the bars with his cuffed hands. The guards and the scientist look at him with surprise. “I know how to get her to behave.”
“West!” Jo chokes, looking betrayed. “They can’t! If they get anythin’ from my blood—”
“I can’t stand to see you hurt, Siren, please.” His voice is pleading.
Guard Two shrugs, coming over to our side as Guard One one turns back to Jo, taunting her.
“What?” Guard Two sneers, looking at us with disdain.
