Page 136 of Villainous Rise

“The Aegis will take care of it,” she said, her voice clipped and professional. “You are to proceed as planned with tonight’s event.”

“But—”

Agent Daniels’ face hardened. “You signed a contract, Keeper Bishop. Section 12, paragraph 4 clearly states that Keepers will assist with Alliance-approved publicity efforts.”

I stared at the woman on my screen. The cold, corporate reality of the Alliance stared right back. My consent didn’t factor into their equation at all. I was just a prop they could pose next to Valor to boost his approval ratings.

Cipher stepped over my boundaries all the time. He manipulated situations, backed me into corners, and ruthlessly orchestrated my life so I would have no choice but to fall into his hands. But he did it because he was terrifyingly obsessed with me. He owned his darkness. He never pretended to be a saint while he was taking my choices away.

The supposed good guys were stripping away my agency with a sterile employment contract and a fake smile, all for a PR stunt.

Siding with a Villain suddenly made perfect sense.

“Playing fake fiancée wasn’t in the job description. You’re forcing me into a non-consensual relationship with a man I despise.”

“The Aegis has their reasons.” Agent Daniels gave me a pointed look. “This discussion is over.”

The call disconnected, leaving me staring at my reflection in the blank screen.

I was trapped between rage and a very deep, very dangerous resentment toward the people I worked for. This was an actual nightmare.

I bolted from my office. The elevator took forever, each second ticking by like a countdown to disaster. I jabbed the button repeatedly, as if that would somehow make it arrive faster.

As the elevator descended, I pulled out my phone and called Havoc. My hands had finally stopped shaking but the shaking had been replaced by a cold dread in the pit of my stomach instead.

“Annie,” Havoc answered. “What’s wrong?”

“Valor told the press we are engaged,” I said in a rush. “Alliance PR is backing the story. They are forcing me to play his fiancée. Cipher is going to kill him. As soon as he sees the article, he will hunt Valor down and murder him.”

“Fuck,” Havoc said.

Just that. One word that perfectly encapsulated the situation. He knew exactly what kind of monster we were dealing with.

“I have to go find him,” I told him, watching the floor numbers tick down. “I have to break the news before he reads it online.”

“Go,” Havoc said. “I’ll handle Valor.”

I clutched my phone, checking news feeds to see how far the story had spread. It was everywhere. #ValorEngaged was trending. Fan accounts were already posting mockups of what our wedding might look like.

I was going to be sick.

CHAPTER 24

ANNIE

I commandeered one of Havoc’s cars in the garage. I didn’t want to chance one of Cipher’s men being my driver and alerting Cipher to my distress.

The normally thirty-minute drive felt like hours. Every red light was an eternity. Every slow car in front of me, a personal attack.

By the time I reached the entrance to the Labyrinth, I felt like I was going to hyperventilate. Number Sixteen directed me to Cipher’s lab with a curious look.

I nodded my thanks and hurried down the corridor, trying to compose myself. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. What was I going to say?

Deep breath. In. Out.

I smoothed my hair, straightened my blouse, and tried to look less like someone who’d just run a marathon in heels.

The doors to the lab slid open with a soft hiss. Cipher stood at his workbench, back to me, his shoulders hunched in concentration. Two drones hovered above him, their mechanical arms extending to hand him tools or hold components in place.