“No.” I release the handle and stumble back. “You’re not with him. You’re with them.”
“I said get in the fucking car!”
The driver’s door flies open. A heavy boot hits the asphalt. The man steps out, rising to his full height. He’s huge, a wall of black tactical gear blocking the rain.
I scream and turn to run, but I’m too slow.
He closes the distance and grabs my arm. His grip is a vise, crushing the skin that Cassian already bruised. He yanks me back, swinging me around.
His other hand raises, holding a pistol. It has a long, cylindrical suppressor screwed onto the barrel. He jams the muzzle hard into my ribs.
“Scream again,” he hisses, “and I’ll spill your guts on the pavement.”
I freeze. The cold metal burns through the thin shirt.
“Please,” I whisper.
“Get in,” he snarls, shoving me toward the open rear door.
I stumble, looking back toward the house. Toward the tower.
Shit. I thought I was running toward freedom. Instead, I ran straight into the slaughter. My father didn’t send these men.
Then who did?
The soldier shoves me into the backseat. I fall against the leather. He yanks the seatbelt across me, clicking it tight, strapping me down like cargo.
He slams the door shut. The lock engages.Click.
I look out the window as the car begins to turn around. The estate sits high on the cliff, the dark silhouette of the Tower cutting into the night sky.
I left the only safe place in the world.
And now, I’m going to die.
13
CASSIAN
I step out of the elevator into the tower.
The silence hits me first. It’s dead. The storm is raging outside, vibrating the glass walls, but inside, the air is stagnant. It feels like a tomb.
“Iris?”
She doesn’t answer.
I walk into the living room. My footsteps echo on the dark slate.
“Iris!”
The room is empty.
I check the bathroom. Empty. The closet. Empty.
I turn back to the main room, alarm growing. She isn’t hiding. She isn’t here.
The balcony door catches my eye. The latch isn’t seated.
