“I don’t know.”
We stopped in front of two large wooden doors. I was sure that whatever awaited on the other side would determine everything, and I didn’t feel ready for the upcoming war.
Samuel opened both doors, the bright light blinding. I rubbed my eyes and soaked in my surroundings. We were in a conservatory, the desert sun shining through the glass walls and ceiling. The scent of soil was strong in the air because of the rich vegetation all around.
And in the center of it all sat two bound men, wearing the same gray clothes as I. Hayden had a gag deep in his mouth, stretching his lips. His eyes seemed sharper than the last time I saw him, but seeing him so helpless and weak churned my stomach.
“Jonah?”
I shifted my gaze to the young man sitting in the other chair. “Hey, Nick.”
“Jonah! What the fuck? Did they get you too? And why are you in a wheelchair?” I didn’t get a chance to answer before he broke into sobs. “It’s horrible here! The Director’s a monster, and some of the others, but Samuel’s okay.”
“Nick, enough,” Samuel said from behind me, a subtle fondness in his voice.
Nick took hold of himself, paler and skinnier than when I’d last seen him, but he had clearly been treated better than Hayden.
The doors opened behind me, then closed again with a loud thud. I held my breath as Bo entered my line of sight, movingto stand between Hayden and Nick. While Hayden sent daggers with his eyes, Nick looked away, trying to make himself smaller.
Bo wore dark clothes, his hair neatly combed and his beard groomed.
As if he was going out to an event.
“Bring him closer.”
Samuel wheeled me forward, and it took all my self-control not to reach out to touch Hayden. He seemed petrified, making me even more determined to keep myself composed. Bo stood behind Hayden and placed his hands on his shoulders. “I’m not an expert in rescue missions, but this has got to be one of the shittiest ones in history.”
“Wait.” Nick watched me with wide eyes. “You came here to rescue me?”
Bo burst into laughter. “You think he’s here for you? Nah, Jonah likes them manlier.” He grabbed Hayden’s hair and turned him to look at Nick. “He came all this way to help his detective boyfriend; not you, Nicky boy.”
Nick looked away. “Oh.”
“Don’t worry; he’ll get a chance to be your friend in a bit.”
I watched Bo closely. Something about his last words sent a shiver down my spine.
“Have I told you how I lost my eye?” Bo asked Nick.
“No.”
“Jonah did it with a needle.”
Nick gasped at me. “What?”
“You heard me. He stuck it deep inside, then wriggled it until my eye leaked all over him. He held me by the beard until hewas sure he got everything. When I screamed on the floor, he stepped over me and left me to bleed.”
Hayden sat very still, looking at me with wariness in his eyes, but also pride. By now, he knew the monster I had to deal with.
“Jonah was here before?” Nick stared at me in disbelief.
“Not in this exact place, but yeah, a long time ago. He got The Director before me wrapped around his little finger.”
“Bo, why are we here?” I asked, sounding calmer than I felt.
“Why?” He looked around him. “Seems like as good a place as any to celebrate karma, doesn’t it?”
I remained quiet, anxiety spreading in my chest as my blood grew colder.
