I open it and download the attachment, a zipped file full of photos. I look through them, finding the images of the papers she took from the art room, as well as testimonies from former residents, and internal emails from Stoke’s inbox. There’s also a report of a missing person who had been a resident of The Heath with some handwritten notes on stories she must have heard of unmarked graves on-site.
‘Jesus,’ Mav breathes. ‘They fucking killed people.’
I find a photo of a drawing made in crayon of a stick figure on the Board being shocked.
‘Yes,’ I say before they can ask, and potentially start another intervention. ‘That was a real thing, and it was done to me.’
Blake’s hand lands on my shoulder and squeezes. ‘Time to take them down.’
I nod as I read Sauvage’s email message:
Enough to destroy them a hundred times over, ma petite fleur. I will have copies sent to the Metropolitan Police as well as all reputable news outlets as soon as you wish.
I message back:
Now. Thank you for this. I won’t forget everything you’ve done.
I close the laptop and my eyes, leaning back and letting out a long sigh.
‘The Heath is done. There’s no way Stoke is getting out of this.’
Shade
When I open my eyes, I smile in the low light. It’s the reopening of the club tonight, and it’s also our girl’s birthday. I missed so many of them, and, knowing that none were celebrated in The Heath, I want today to be extra special for her. I was going to plan a ton of things, but, in the end, she told us that allshe wanted was to spend some time with all three of us in the safety of what we’re now calling the bunker.
So, I wake up early and go out to grab her a breakfast burrito with bacon and eggs from down the street.
Outside, it’s still cold, but there’s a definite springtime vibe in the air. The snow that’s been in piles around the city for weeks is finally starting to melt away. The changing of the season brings me hope I haven’t felt in a while. The club is opening, our girl is safe and sound with us, the cops haven’t bothered us, and that horrible clinic and Stoke are going to be nothing but smoking craters in the ground. Metaphorically, of course.
I order enough burritos for all of us and take the bag back to Wrath, using my keycard to open the bunker. When I get to the bedroom, the bed is empty and I frown as I hear a moan from the Dark Lounge.
Clearly, they’ve started without me.
I slide the door open a little and peer inside. Daisy is on the table, strapped down with her legs tied apart while Mav eats her out. While I watch, she comes with a cry, and he begins to fuck her.
‘Breakfast,’ I call from the door, and Mav gives me a nod, his eyes not moving away from Daisy’s writhing body.
I’d love to join them, but I don’t want her birthday breakfast getting cold because of me.
A minute later, they both emerge from the next room. Daisy’s eyes are a little glazed as she flops onto the bed, naked and sated.
‘Happy Birthday,’ I murmur, bending over her and drawing one of her nipples into my mouth.
‘Thanks,’ she grins.
I let the peak go with a pop and smile down at her.
‘Breakfast?’
She perks up immediately, and I hand her the burrito which she opens with gusto.
While she eats, Blake draws her a bubble bath, putting in all the scents he knows she likes. He takes her into the bathroom when she’s done eating and, a few minutes later, we hear her making the most delicious moans.
I frown, wanting my turn with her now, too, but there’s still a whole day, I reason. Plenty of time.
When she comes out wrapped in a fluffy white towel not too much later, looking refreshed and yet even more dazed than before, I pull her over to the bed and sit with her on my lap.
‘Ready for presents?’
