Page 195 of Glutton for Punishment

“We know,” Cleo says. Her voice is tight but controlled. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t help from here.”

Tabby reaches into her bag and starts pulling out vials, setting them on the table with careful precision. The glasses clink softly as she distributes them between us.

“Healing potions,” she adds. “I’ve been preparing them since she went missing.”

Cleo follows, already pulling out her phone. “And I can help hack into the security system. If you have a way for us to communicate, I can warn you of any hidden threats in real time.”

I study her. Everything is a risk right now.

“I won’t leave a trail,” she says, like she can read the hesitation in my face.

I pull out my phone without responding and send a message to one of my men for comm equipment. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. No blind spots.

Then I look up again.

“Get everything you need and meet me out front in twenty minutes,” I say. “If you’re not there, we leave without you.”

Nobody argues. Everyone ready to get Arwen home.

“I’m assembling a team that will fly with us. Another group will meet us on the ground in the Crumbs—Vex’s territory. My brother Duval and sister Valentine are our allies. They will approach from the North. We will attack from the South. Let’s get moving.”

Around the table, everyone is already shifting into motion. Packing. Strapping weapons. Checking gear.

I look down at the map one last time, fingers curling at the edge of the table.

We’re coming for you, Arwen.

Chapter 63

Arwen

By the time the knock comes, my mental shields feel a foot thick.

I put on a fake smile and open the door before I can second-guess myself. Vex is leaning against the doorframe with the most arrogant look on his face.

His smirk flickers as his eyes drop over me—leggings, T-shirt, nothing like what he wanted. It vanishes into a hard line. Arrogance replaced by something cold and hard.

“I told you to put on something silky,” he growls.

“Did you?” I tilt my head, forcing confusion and concern into my tone the way I practiced, letting my brows knit just enough. “I’m so sorry, my love. Maybe I’m tired.”

“It doesn’t make a difference,” he mutters, more to himself than to me. “They’re all just going to end up on the floor anyway.”

Gross. My stomach revolts, but I don’t let it show on my face.

He steps forward, reaching for me, and I decide the performance is over.

My fist snaps up and connects with his nose before I process the decision. There’s a satisfying crunch as he stumbles back with a strangled sound of shock, hands flying to his face.

Before he can recover, my knee comes up hard into his groin, and whatever he was about to say dies instantly as he doubles over.

Then I run.

That’s my big plan.

The corridor blurs into a series of turns and identical walls. My footsteps echo too loudly in the space, giving away every move I make. I don’t know this house well enough to navigate it, but I know I only need distance from Vex and then to find a way out.

I take a sharp corner too fast and barely register the movement in front of me before I collide with solid weight.