I rotate my shoulders, trying to loosen the knots as I watch Bree remove a cloak from one of the guys. “Here, put this on.” She thrusts it at me. “It doesn’t have any blood spatter. It’ll keep you warm and disguise you until we get off the compound.”
“Where are we?” I ask, finally finding my voice. “And how did you know where to find me?” I add as I place the cloak around my shoulders with trembling hands.
Jase takes over, buttoning it under my chin before tucking my hair behind my ears. He pulls the cloak up over my head before kissing me quickly. “We’re at Luminary HQ. It’s in a valley deep in the forest in a remote part of California. It’s spread over hundreds of acres. It’s all private land and heavily guarded with maximum security systems.”
Bree pockets the shells before gesturing at the four dead men littering the floor. “We can’t leave them here.”
“We have no choice.” Jase drills her with a look, and she curses under her breath.
“We should have brought Baz.”
“No fucking way. He’s not on our side, Bree. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, little brother.”
“How did you get in?” I ask, remembering the guys outside.
“We entered via a secret tunnel,” Jase supplies. “Not many know about it.”
“There’s a bunch of other guys outside the main entrance. My kidnapper told them to wait for his instruction.” I point at the man in question.
“Did they hurt you?” Jase asks in a clipped tone as Bree hunches over the dead leader.
“Not really. They drugged me when they took me, and my head’s a little groggy, but I’m okay.”
Jase snarls, glaring at the dead men like he wishes he could resurrect them and kill them all over again. “I should have tortured the fuckers.”
“They’re not the ones who requested this,” Bree says, shoving the dead guy’s cloak up to his waist. She digs through his pockets and retrieves his cell. Lifting his finger, Bree swipes it across the screen, activating it. Her fingers fly across the keypad as she taps out a message. “The other grunts are dealt with.”
“What’s a grunt?” I ask before remembering how badly I need to pee. “And please tell me there’s a bathroom. My bladder might explode if I don’t go soon.”
Flashing me a grin, she walks to the corner of the room, returning with a bucket I hadn’t noticed. “Knock yourself out, babe.”
I stare at it for a few seconds before realization dawns. Jase chuckles at whatever expression is on my face. Fuck it. Beggars can’t be choosers, I think as I set it on the ground, away from the dead guys, and unbuckle my jeans. I’m so desperate to go I don’t honestly care. Jase has seen everything anyway and the cloak acts as an effective shield. A blissful sigh slips from my lips as I relieve myself and the pressure in my bladder slowly dissipates.
“A grunt is a low-ranking worker in our society. They follow instructions and are tasked with duties as part of missions and assignments,” Jase explains though I’m not any clearer.
“Your society? You mean the…luminaries? Who are they?” I ask, wanting to know and needing to disguise the sound of my peeing.
Jase turns his back to me, granting an illusion of privacy.
“A secret society of powerful families that has existed for generations and thousands of years,” Bree explains, tossing the dead dude’s cell away.
I finish my business and secure my jeans, leaving the piss bucket where it is.
“We’ll explain more when we’re free of this place. We can’t linger. Nothing gets past The Luminaries, and it won’t take them long to figure out what’s happened here.” She narrows her eyes at her brother as he ushers me forward.
“Don’t look at me like that!” he snaps. “Whether they were found drugged or dead doesn’t matter. They’re only grunts. The board won’t care.”
“They were just doing their job, Jase, and they were innocent! They didn’t deserve to die.”
Jase tugs me out of the room behind his sister, and we take off running after Bree. “I don’t give a fuck about some dead grunts, so quit busting my balls. Saving Ash is my sole priority. I don’t care how many assholes I have to kill to protect her.”
That declaration shouldn’t turn me on, but it does. I have an irrational urge to slam him against the wall and kiss the shit out of him, but it’ll have to wait.
I squeeze his hand. “Thank you for coming for me.”
“I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
