“I am here because I made it that way,” he says coldly. “I am in his world because I shaped his existence. And when the time comes, I’ll be the one to end it.”
Irritation burns through me and I step forward, getting in his face. “Who. Are. You?” I hiss.
He merely clicks his tongue. “You have a temper. You’ll need to learn to collar it if you wish to survive and get back to your woman.”
I stumble backward at the mention of Ella, and his brows lift in victory.
“Ah, there it is,” he mutters, jerking a nod. “Remember what you’re fighting for, because soon enough, you’ll be begging me to reap your soul.”
I choke back the words that desperately want to escape, focusing on the tidbit of information he just dropped.
“Is she okay? Is she alive?” I swallow roughly. “Is she here?” And where the hell ishere?I hold that question back. For now.
He gives me a sympathetic look that almost seems genuine. “I don’t know where your girl is, but she’s not here.” Relief has my shoulders dropping, but his next words make me rigid all over again. “Augustus is looking for her. He’s desperate. Nothing more than a madman who’s lost his senses. He will stop at nothing to get to her. It doesn’t matter where she is, she’s not safe.”
“What does he want with her?” I run a shaking hand through my hair and start to pace. “Is it to get back at us for fucking him over? Does he intend to kill her?”
My stomach revolts at the thought. Did we do this?
“Unfortunately, that is something I do not know,” he murmurs. I spin to face him but the room tilts on its axis. I fall, catching myself on the wall. Everything is blurry, and I suck in a labored breath as my knees go weak.
What the fuck?
My head lolls to the side as I slide down the wall. I watch as the man slides a syringe into his pocket. He gives me a pitying look and crouches before me.
“I can’t tell you much, but you need to know that this conversation never happened,” he says sharply. “In just a moment, you’re going to pass out. My men are going to retrieve you, and we’re going to go back to following Augustus’ orders before he grows suspicious.”
He reaches out and runs his thumb over one of my cuff-links.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing, Alec Hendrix, because in the days that come, you’re going to be tested beyond your wildest imagination.”
“W-what do y-you….” I slur, but the words won’t come out.
“Your brothers are here,” he whispers. “They’re alive, but they’re fighting their own battles, and I worry your demons might win.” His palm collides with my cheek as my head falls and I jolt awake. “They’re coming for you, Stone. Hold it together.”
The last thing I hear before slipping into unconsciousness is a thought I won’t soon forget.
“She’s going to need all of you whole if you wish for her to survive this war.”
Chapter 31
Idon’t know howmany days I’ve been here, but I’m fucking over it.
If Gus’ goal was to make me feel like a caged beast, he’s succeeded. I pace the length of the cell, which isn’t much—just a few steps from one wall to the other. The concrete floor is coldagainst my bare feet, and the walls seem to close in on me with every second that passes.
I’m losing my mind.
I’ve been trying to keep track of how long I’ve been here, but I’ve repeatedly fallen into a restless sleep. My brain is pounding, my gut is twisting. I’ve already thrown up more times than I can count, and the acidic taste still lingers at the back of my throat.
At first, I thought it was just the tranquilizers they pumped into me. Whatever they used knocked me out cold, leaving my first day a blur of angry voices and flashing memories. But when the pounding in my skull started and didn’t let up, I knew it was more than that. Somewhere between getting taken and ending up here, I got a head injury. Whether it was from being tossed around like a sack of potatoes while I was out, or someone deciding to take a few kicks at me while I was down, I have no idea. All I know is a concussion is the last thing I need right now.
I stop pacing for a moment, leaning against the rough cinder block wall as another wave of dizziness hits me. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will it away, but it doesn’t help.
My eyes flick open, almost against my will, and I find myself staring at the tiny gap between two blocks across the room. It’s barely noticeable, just a small crack where the mortar didn’t quite fill in, but it’s big enough for what I’ve hidden there: one of my cufflinks.
My heart skips a beat just thinking about it. It’s a lifeline, or at least it could be. I can’t afford to lose it, can’t afford to have it discovered. My eyes dart away from the gap, moving to the tiny divot in the concrete ceiling where I’ve wedged the second transmitter. There’s a little lip there, barely enough to hold it, but it’s out of sight.
At least I hope so.
