You’re too late. Run.
40
THE VILLAIN
An hour later,I was kicking in Whisper’s door. I got back to the cottage to find it empty. Well, not empty. There were twelve dead guys scattered throughout the basement and main floor, plus two on the driveway.
But Violet was gone.
The only person that knew where we were was sitting at the kitchen table in his apartment having lunch with Hemlock. Isent Hem into the wall with an ice cocoon and went right for Whisper.
“Where is she!” I screamed and slammed my fist into his face. He tumbled out of his chair and I didn’t give him a second to recover before I hit him again. “Where the fuck is she!”
“Av? What the fuck? You’re dead.”
Hemlock was talking, but I barely registered his words. I picked up Whisper and slammed him into the nearest wall.
“Where is my fucking wife!”
His eyes went wide. “What? What happened to Violet?”
“Violet? Wife? What the fuck is happening?”
Hemlock was trying to break free of his cocoon, but I didn’t give a shit.
“Shut up,” I snapped at him before turning back to Whisper. “You’re the only person who knew where we were. How much did they pay you? Huh? Was it worth it? She fucking trusted you! Where is she?”
I slammed him into the wall again, so hard it knocked off a few the picture frames hanging in the living room.
“I didn’t tell anyone! I swear to god Av, I’d never sell her out.”
“Why should I believe you? You’re the only person who could have told them where we were.”
“Why would I help you with the list? The labs? Why didn’t I grab her a couple months ago when it was just the two of us? Why would I ask Weave to look into the text messages and tell you the second he answered?”
“So I’d let my guard down. So she would trust you.”
“I didn’t tell anyone. I swear to fucking god, Av, I would never hurt V. But I will help you get her back. Let me help you get her back.”
I loosened my grip on his shirt and looked to Hemlock. “Has he been with you all day?”
“Yes. What the fuck is going on?”
“He hasn’t been out of your sight? Made any weird calls?”
“Like forty-five seconds all day to use the bathroom. Avalanche, what the fuck is going on? What happened to Violet? How are you alive? Since when is she your wife? How long have you known he’s not dead?” His last question was for Whisper.
“Come on, Av, fill us in here.”
“They took her.”
“The Culling? Or the other ones?”
“Can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on!”
I sighed, letting go of Whisper and stepping back. “We have a lot to get through.” I released Hemlock from the cocoon. “Make yourself comfortable.”
An hour later,they were both fully up to speed. Hemlock did in fact blow a gasket when he found out about my relationship with V. He was also incredibly dramatic about Whisper’s “betrayal.” According to him, best friends don’t have secrets blah, blah, blah.
