I’d been warned and threatened and...unlike others who had a body that didn’t blackout when stressed, I had no intention, nor the capacity, to fight this war.
Whatever was happening here. Whoever Lucien Ashfall was. I wanted nothing to do with it.
Hoisting up my backpack and glowering at the gravel rash on my palm, I arrowed toward the awaiting buses.
At least this time the sprinkler system didn’t activate, and I could leave with the seventy other women who’d been given the grace of escape.
But then, he called my name.
Chapter Four
“DIDN’T YOU HEAR MR. WARD CALLING you?” Two men appeared, cutting me off from my beeline to the bus.
My heart hammered. My headache grew worse. I used every trick in the book to keep my stress levels from crippling me.
Darting around them, I coughed. “I’m suddenly not feeling well. Someone else can have my spot—”
“Rook Snowden.” Marcus Ward’s voice boomed through the speakers. “Congratulations! You’re our lucky last.”
The two men grinned, each taking one of my arms. “The moment you’re settled into your private pavilion, the sooner you’ll feel better.” Guiding me kindly—even though we all knew it was straight-up coercion—they herded me to the left and deposited me with the group of chosen women.
Evelyn and Lydia glowered at me before shooting daggers at each other with whatever secrets they shared.
A wash of cold sweat coated my back.
Whatever was in this blasted estate might be bad, but these girls were probably worse.
I didn’t want to be here, yet they acted as if I’d come to steal their thunder. And if they were happy to threaten my life in plain view, then...what the hell would happen once we were inside?
“It’s come to the unhappy part of the day where I have to bid you farewell, ladies.” Marcus slouched dramatically as he grinned at the unchosen. “Ember Health thanks you all for your time and we hope you enjoy your evening at the Waldorf. Your gift bags will be delivered to your rooms once you’ve checked in.”
A few women raised their hands to ask questions, but Marcus pretended he didn’t notice. “Thank you again and have a pleasant afternoon.” Turning off the microphone, he placed it on the trestle table, snapped his fingers at the men, and marched toward the gatehouse.
With the quietest groan of iron-fortified wood, the double doors opened, swinging wide and offering a glimpse of yet another immaculate gravel driveway meandering around cone-shaped trees leading toward a speck in the distance. The barely-visible estate wobbled like a mirage in the late afternoon sunshine.
“Please follow us.” Four men surrounded the group of thirty women, while the other staff helped guide the reluctant losers back to the buses.
In the shuffle of feet and frustrated whispers, I spied my opportunity.
Ducking into the mass moving toward freedom, I kept my head down and—
“Miss Snowden.” The man who’d taken my factsheet form stepped in front of me. “You’re going the wrong way.”
“Oh, I...” I floundered, my headache pounding, pounding. “I...eh, I lost something.” I narrowed my eyes on the grass, hoping my acting skills had improved since the last time I’d tried to lie. “I might have left it on the bus—”
He crossed his arms, his tone patient but his eyes shrewd. “If you tell me what you’ve lost, I can call the coach company and see if they’ve found anything.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” My vision went a little grey at the edges.
Don’t you dare.
Don’t you freaking dare.
Swallowing hard, I shoved back the stress and tried to inch around him. “Thanks, though.”
He chuckled as I rejoined the herd marching toward the splashing peacock fountain. He let me think I might stand a chance as my flip-flops crunched on the gravel driveway and the glint of sunlight off the bus windscreens sent my heart racing with hope.
But then, he cut in front of me again.
