"I’m not going to touch you. Not like that. You're far too tainted." He curled his lip in disgust.
One step toward me and the front of his left shoe would be right there, in front of my nose.
"In fact," he continued, oblivious to the peril the expensive leather was in, "before you die, you should be cleansed." He leaned over, grabbed me by the ankle and started to drag me across the floor, leaving a smear of Getzoff's blood behind me.
The concrete scraped my skin as I went, scrabbling for something to hold onto.
There was nothing.
All I could do was let myself be dragged over to the ladder that led up to the top of the enormous vat.
"It might be a little cold at first, but don't worry, it heats up quickly," he said.
I tried to wriggle away, but he grabbed me, hauling me up onto his shoulder.
I felt him grab hold of the ladder and start to climb. I kicked, struggling to throw myself out of his arms and back onto the hard floor.
He put an arm over me, holding me in place on his broad shoulders. His grip tight until we reached the top of the ladder.
"Say goodbye," he said.
He leaned over the vat and shoved me off him.
I let out a cry as I landed in the water with a splash.
CHAPTER 22
ARCHER
"I'm going to fucking kill whoever did this to us," I said.
“No, you're not." Boner was still shaking out his own arms and legs. "I'm going to kill them before you get there."
"Get in line," I told him.
"I am in line," he said, pushing himself to his feet. "I’m in line in front of you."
He squinted around. "She might be in the kitchen."
"She's not in there," Cass said, stepping out of the kitchen. "I’ll check the storeroom."
He disappeared again, only to return half a minute later, shaking his head angrily.
"She's not there either."
I'd already come to that conclusion, but he had to check, just in case. She could have been lying somewhere hurt, just within reach.
"Our old mate Getzoff isn't here either," Boner said, straightening his hair.
"Do you think he took her?" Cass asked. He tangled his fingers in his fringe, tugging at it like it was the enemy.
"Someone fucking did," Jules snapped.
"Did you see who?" Boner asked. "You were outside."
No one missed the accusing tone in his voice, especially Jules, who took a step toward him.
"I was keeping a close eye on the place. The only people who came out were customers. Do you think I wouldn't notice someone carrying Harlow away? Assuming they carried her away." Now his expression was accusing.
