“How did you plan on keeping us here if it hadn't flooded?” I asked, unsure who would answer, the puppeteer pulling the strings, or one of her lapdogs. No way would Lil get her hands dirty. Staff on the property were housed, so he probably took out Corbin easily because none of us knew he was here in the guest house. Every time I'd seen her outside, or coming in wet, it all made sense now where she'd been.
Goldie shrugged from the door, completely unphased. “It's easy to check the weather app. This hotel is on a floodplain. Why do you think we pushed Corbin to host the party here?”
Starling laughs again and I step back into Wren, cursing myself for showing my nerves. I didn't know what I expected to happen once I revealed everything, both detectives were big men and we were down two of the male guests.
“Where’s Phin?” I asked, unable to hide my sudden panic. They had Bran and Phin somewhere and she's already killed one of her brothers.
The three of them ignored me. “I just have to ask, how did you work out who I was?” Starling asked, stepping toward me, to which Wren dragged me back with a strong arm around my waist and a snarl practically rips from his chest.
“Come anywhere fucking near her and I'll kill you myself.” he snaps and I quickly answered to try to calm the situation unfolding. This part I hadn't planned.
“I saw you Friday morning when I got here. Not your face, just your hair. You were sorting out the herb garden.”
Sucking in air between his teeth, he pretended to give me a guilty look. “Blew that cover, I guess.” Loosening his tie, he runs a hand through the product in his hair, messing it a little. “I hate this fucking suit, but at least it's nicer than the gardener's uniform. You should really vet who I hire.” he looks over at Merle, who clearly is ready to bolt for the door.
“Where is Phin?” he asks too, to which Starling begins to beam and looks over to Lily.
“Want me to get your brother, Babe? They're all awfully worried about him.”
She clicked her tongue. “That's all everyone seems to do, worry about him. None of you are actually any good for him.” Finally rising from her chair, she kicks Mavis’s foot aside and she whimpers, flinching as the blonde walks past. Pointing at Merle, she joins Starling in the center of our circle. “It was far too easy for Jimmy to get on the staff, even Corb didn’t see that one coming.” She sweetly smiles, running a hand through his messy hair and placing the other on his chest. She marvels at him, and I want to gag at how insane they both seem.
“Brother dearest really didn’t approve of us, did he, Babe? He had to go. That way you can have your inheritance and we can get that place in Spain we love.”
I don't know who's dumber, Starling for thinking he's calling any of the shots between them, or Lily for allowing him to think she'll like living in fucking Spain. This girl bleeds London wealth.
“So this is what it's all about? Your inheritance?” I asked, dumbfounded. Her glare drips with disdain and it causes Wren’s hold to tighten.
Her eyes focus on where his fingers splay across my stomach. “Amongst other things.” Snapping her fingers toward Goldie, she looks over her shoulder. “Get my Brother.”
“What about the other guy?”
“Bring him in too. It's only fair that he knows what's going on before we kill everyone.” Starling is still smirking, creeping into a wide grin when he pulls a black object from under his shirt. My entire body starts to sweat, his hand on my stomach turning painful and I press myself further into Wren’s hard body.
I look down the barrel of the gun being pointed straight at my face, realising we we’re all completely fucked. Despite these people murdering three of the guests, I didn't account for weapons. Actual detectives might carry guns—I don't know, I live in England. These two idiots aren’t really detectives, so maybe at a push I would have assumed they’d be carrying knives.
The only person in the room now not either hyperventilating or having a freak out is Cardinal, who has Willow snugly tucked into his back but stares down Goldie with the couple of inches he has over him.
“Everyone stays where they fucking are whilst he goes and gets our other guests. If anyone moves, I’ll put a bullet in her clever, little head.” Starling warns us all.
Lil laughs, “Not that clever after all.” I searched her face for any sign of the girl I grew up with, but her blue eyes are cold. Empty. How had I never thought that before? I’d seen her treat others like nothing, enabling bad behaviors by simply not getting involved because she never turned on me. I was never a threat, so what had changed? When did I become a worthy player on her chessboard? I know she hates the way Wren and Icling on to each other, she has all week, but whatever grudge she holds seems to have started before we all arrived.
Goldie leaves the room and must have the guys somewhere on the ground floor, because only a couple of minutes passed before Phin is thrown through the door and lands hard on his knees. He tries to catch himself but his hands are tied behind his back.
I choke back tears and try to go to him, but Starling shakes the gun at me and Wren hauls me back.
“Roo, he's following you with a gun, please stay still.” Wren begs, unable to hide the shake in his voice. He starts to whisper in my ear that it will be ok, that he won’t let anyone hurt me. I desperately wish I could believe him, but it's hard with a gun pointed at my head.
“Jesus Christ, did you have to throw him like that?” Merle shouts, rushing to where Phin tries to pull himself up again but sort of flails like a turned-over turtle. He must be on something because he can’t figure out that his hands are behind his back and his pupils are like saucers.
Merle grabs his bruised and cut face, checking him over. “What have you done to him?”
Strolling around Starling, she taps her finger on her arm rhythmically. “Don’t pretend to care now, cheater. I always said you weren't good enough for my Brother, but no one saw the real you like I did. You never pulled the wool over my eyes.” Lily's voice is deadpan, and she grabs Phin by the arm and hauls him up with surprising strength. “Stop being weak for once in your life!” she snarls, pushing him down into one of the armchairs next to Mavis, who has to stop him from crashing over it.
Returning back to Starling, she adjusts herself and smiles. It’s fucking psychotic. “Right, Darling, where were I?”
The door swings open again and in falls Bran, who isn't tied up and frantically looks around the room until he finds Mavis. “Oh, thank god.” he pushes off the ground to get to her.
A little sob escapes her and he takes her seat, gripping onto her hips and forcing her into his lap. Cardinal’s grip tightens on pushing Willow backwards as Goldie slams the door shut again. There’s now a second gun in his hand that he brandishes in their direction.
