“My dear Gabriella.” He gives a pitying shake of his head. “Nathan told me about the limp. I see it now. And the cane…” He gestures lightly toward it, feigning sadness in every syllable. “Please believe me. I never wished harm upon you. Never.”
She laughs. Bitter. Ugly. Beautiful.
“Yes,” she spits, “that’s why I spent years doped up on medication until I could barely function. Or locked instraitjackets when I didn’t behave. Or prodded like cattle. Or your revoltingcleansings. I don’t care about your goddamn rituals. I’d rather drown in an ocean of sewage and filth than so much as touch you again.”
His jaw clenches, but only for a moment. He schools his face into a practiced expression of hurt. Fucking narcissist. At least we assholes admit we’re assholes. Not this psychological fuckery. Not even Raphael and his god complex.
“It breaks my heart to hear that, Gabriella,” he murmurs. “I only ever wanted what was best for you. For you to stab my nephew…kill my nephew…and never onceconsiderspeaking to me about your troubles?—”
“You were going to take me as abed slave.Youwere my only trouble.”
His face displays a faux hurt. “I was prepared to take you as anhonoredbride in our community.”
“Your brides are prisoners,” she snaps. “Here? I’m a fucking Queen.” She clings more to me.
I want to drag her behind me, shield her, tell her not to waste her breath, but this is hers. This ishersto speak.
Alden breathes in slowly, like a man speaking to a child with a tantrum. “I can come to no other conclusion than that these men havebrainwashedyou. You’re delusional, Gabriella. After the incident with Reddick, I began preparations. And I will admit…” He observes me and the mine environment. “I did not expect such an impressive defense. But it will only result in your friends getting hurt.”
“They’renotmy friends,” she hisses. “They’re mine. And I am theirs. My chains. My kings. My gods.”
I feel it. Like lightning ripping through my spine.
“Briella, I beg of you.” Alden steps forward slightly. My spine locks up, hackles rising. It takes all my resolve not to attack him. “Please see reason. You are unwell. Murder is aseriouscrime.But I advocated for you. I convinced the authorities the best place for your mental and physical care…is Easthaven.”
My fists curl. My chest tightens.Weare responsible for her mental and physical care.
I brush my knuckles along her cheek, and she leans into it, just barely.
“I am a doctor,” I direct quietly. “With years of medical training. She doesn’t need you. She never did.”
Alden’s eyes gleam. “Ahh, yes. Jude…” His lips curl. “Jude Voss, isn’t it? Or do you prefer Former Captain Battalion SurgeonDr. Voss? I know your record and did my homework given the security feeds from the home improvement warehouse. You all have quite the histories. Wanted for many nefarious crimes.” He tilts his head, mock-concerned. “Another reason I have theutmostconcern for my Bri.”
Briella snorts. “Puhlease. I’m safer with a pack of rabid wolves than I ever was under your roof.”
I go rigid, preparing. If I can close the distance, if I can knock the gun aside…
But Alden lifts the weapon.
“With such crimes on your records, my contacts agreed these men cannot go unpunished. That’s why, even as we speak, a unit of National Guard waits beyond the ridge. Regrouping. Police. Reinforcements. All foryou. Especially yourleader…” He smirks. “RaphaelThorne, isn’t it?”
I shift my weight, ready to take him down.
The gun cracks.
I stagger, the impact slamming into my shoulder. The Kevlar holds, mostly. It grazes. Burns. But I stumble, and Briellascreams.
She lurches toward me, dragging her injured leg, falling on top of me. The cane rolls away as she grabs me—my face, my chest, frantic. I groan.
“I’m okay,” I rasp. “It’s nothing.”
But Alden trains the gun on me again, this time aiming for my fuckinghead?—
And Briellamoves.
She scrambles to the edge of the pit, desperate, wild.
“If you hurt him,” she growls, “if you so much asfucking touch him, I’ll jump.”
