CHAPTER 1
I wake slowly to bright light and soft piano music. The kind of light one finds in hospitals and forces you to squint, the kind of music one finds in elevators that forces you to forget.
My head is throbbing and feels… too full. Like it’s stuffed with cotton. The nasty taste in my mouth has me craving water. I try to move my hand to my face, but I can’t.
I'm tied down.
The panic is immediate. My eyes fly open. The ceiling swims into focus—knotty pine beams. A chandelier made from antlers. Hunting cabin.
An Ashby hunting cabin.
I pull against whatever's holding my wrists.. Hard and unyielding. Not rope. Zip ties.
I can move my legs a little and I feel air on my thighs. I’m still wearing my dress, but it's hiked up and this is when I remember.
I’m not wearing underwear.
Legion.
The silo.
Oh God.
"Legion," I whisper, my voice cracking. The memory slams back—flashlights cutting through darkness. Cash's voice. Men dragging Legion away. His body hitting the ground. Blood.
"He can't hear you, darling." Marcus's voice makes my skin crawl. I turn my head and there he is, sitting in an armchair by the fireplace. Watching me. Smiling.
"Where is he?" My throat feels raw. From screaming. I was screaming for Legion.
"Don't worry about him." Marcus rises, straightens his slacks. Still dressed like we're at a country club. "Are you thirsty? You must be parched."
Wrong. This is wrong. All wrong.
"Untie me." I try to sound firm, but my voice trembles.
"In time." He moves to a small table, pours water into a glass. "You need to rest first. You've had quite the shock."
Shock?
I test the restraints again. Tight. Professional. "Marcus, this isn't funny. Untie me now."
He approaches with the glass, a bendy straw poking out the top. Like I'm in a hospital. Like he's helping.
"Careful now," he says, holding the straw to my lips. "Small sips."
I'm so thirsty I drink despite myself. The water tastes clean, at least.
"Where am I?" I ask, when he pulls the glass away.
"Somewhere safe." He smiles. That campaign smile. Perfect teeth. Dead eyes. "The north ridge cabin. No one will bother us here."
North ridge. Miles from the main house. Miles from anyone.
"My brothers?—"
"—know you're with me." He sets the glass down, then brushes hair from my forehead with cool fingers. I flinch. "Everyone's very concerned about your... episode."
"Episode?"
