“He’s lying,”Jethro states as I look at Vinny.He is. Of course he is.The lie is there in the stillness around his mouth. In theway he won’t say too much. In the way his hand curls slightly at his side, like he’s holding something invisible, but there are lies meant to trap and lies meant to buy time.
“What aren’t you telling me, Ghostboy?” I ask, tilting my head. His eyes darken as Jagger turns fully towards him.
“Answer her!” he commands, but Vinny says nothing.That’s an answer in itself.Jagger moves and I grab his arm, stopping him.
“Don’t,” I whisper, and he looks down at me.
“He’s hiding something,”
“I know,” I say, and Vinny’s gaze sharpens. I smile at him but it doesn’t feel like a Lolli smile. It feels tired and sad with a bit of bite around the edges. “Everyone hides things here,” I say, and Jagger raises a brow.
“No,” he says, and I press my hand against his rapidly beating heart.
“Yes—even you,” I say, and I see the flicker behind his eyes. The boy behind the monster, but he looks away as Vinny steps closer to the door.
“We’re running out of time,” he states in a panicked tone. The hallway outside shifts as the voices get closer—boots pounding and a radio crackling. Jagger hears it too. He hates it. I can feel it radiating off his skin, but I think he hates the plan more. Needless to say… he hates Vinny the most right now, but when Jagger looks at me, all the rage pulls inward and turns into focus.
“You don’t leave my sight,” he grits, and I smile.
“So bossy,” I giggle, but he doesn’t move.
“Alive,” he says, reminding me of everything that’s happened since I’ve met him with one single fucking word.
“Same thing.” I shrug, then look at Vinny. “If I go with you, and this is a trick…”
“It’s a trick,” he says, and Jagger growls. “Just not mine,” he adds, which is the closest thing to the truth I’ve heard all day.
I step out from behind Jagger and something animalistic leaves his throat, but he lets me as I walk to Vinny.
“You’re scared,” I say, and his jaw tightens. I can read the guilt all over him. It’s new—that’s how I know it’s there.
“No,” he grits, and I smile.
“Liar.” I giggle, and for the first time, his mouth almost curves… almost.
The door opens behind him and the three of us turn as a man steps inside, like the room invited him. Not an orderly. Not a guard, but Master D. His suit is too clean for this place and his shoes definitely don’t belong on this floor, but his smile… it’s not human. It’s terrifying.
Jagger immediately shifts in front of me, and Vinny goes still. Master D looks at Vinny first. “Running late,” he says ,but Vinny doesn’t respond, which only makes Master D’s smile widen, then his gaze slides to me. “There she is,” he says, making my skin crawl.
“Don’t go near him,” Jethro hisses, and for once, I agree with him. Master D steps further into the room and closes the door. The click sounds final, and I reach behind me, grabbing the knife from the shelf and slide it into Jagger’s waiting hand. His grip tightens around it.
“Move,” Master D commands. “I’m not here for you,” he states as his eyes flick to Jagger’s. “You must be the one who keeps breaking doors.”
“You must be the next one.” Jagger grins, making Master D chuckle. Then, he reaches into his jacket, causing Vinny to move before Jagger does.
“Calm down,” Master D states, and the room freezes, making him smile. “Good. You remember the rules,” he says, and my stomach sinks. I look at Vinny with narrowed eyes.
“What rules?” I ask, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, Master D does.
“The ones that keep your friends breathing.”
The room goes quiet again. Not empty but loaded. Jagger’s body shakes with rage—ready to explode at any given moment. Vinny looks like he already has, but in a place deep, somewhere no one can see. Master D’s gaze returns to me.
“Room seven is no longer optional,” he states, holding a small black device, causing my chest to tighten.
“What’s that?” I ask, and his smile turns razor thin.
“Leverage.” A muffled scream crackles from the device. Lucifer. My blood turns cold as another sound plays. Killian, broken under too much noise, then a third. Axel. My whole body locks as my hands shake.
