Page 180 of Unmasked

He reached up, cupping both sides of my face.

“I’m only patient for so long. I am nice right now, but you saw the other side of me. The moment I feel I can’t change your mind, I stop being nice… and I start breaking you apart.” His fingers pressed harder into my skin. “I will be the one you choose. Or I won’t stop torturing you until I am.”

CHAPTER 60

King Lawrence

Was that fear leaking through my words? Anger?

I hated that with the thrill of Penelope’s kill came a deep-seated hesitation.

I knew the killer was somewhere inside her. To see it had me going crazy with lust. But evenly… it sparked worry.

What if I couldn’t overpower Vaughn’s control of her?

What if I never could make her love me?

That put me in harm’s way.

I caught glimpses that gave me hope, but nothing she said right now was truth. Maybe the last day had left her questioning things, but it was too soon to make any real impact. Now that she was off the drugs, it wouldn’t be easier, it’d be harder. Riskier. I could bring in another physician but… that would set back all progression I might have made.

Torn. Yes…

What the hell did I do now? Had I been deluding myself by thinking I made progress with Penelope?

She could have killed me instead. I had been the closest. But she’d taken out the true threat to her… and that was the doctor. That meant something. That gave me hope.

“Sire, please. Before you go back to her. Let me gather the guards. We’ll do one car at a time. We have to move.”

“With her like that?” I hissed, lowering my voice. “Did you just fucking see that?” I laughed in amazement despite there was a tinge of fear. “If we move her, we risk making a mistake.”

“I’ll bring in someone new to drug⁠—”

“No. I told her I wouldn’t do that again. If I do, I’m a liar. I won’t lose her trust. We will stay put.”

“Your Maj⁠—”

“No, George. I’ve made my decision.” I took a step towards the bedroom door. “Do your job. Make sure we’re not found. I’m going back to break her down even more. Do not interrupt me unless it’s an emergency. … And there better not be one.”

CHAPTER 61

Vaughn

“Teams are waiting instruction. What would you like them to do, Sire?”

I took in the Reeve who was dressed and eating lunch with his second, Wallace, who was sitting on the opposite side of us. Able’s arm was still in a sling, but he hadn’t suffered any major damage from the two shots. I kept my voice low as my glare narrowed even more.

“It’s been almost twenty-four hours. We’re done waiting for a response. Burn it down. All of it.”

“The entire palace?”

My eyes lowered, and the fury only grew. “The palace, every property Lawrence owns. We’ll eventually find where he’s held up with Penelope. He can’t run if he has nowhere to go.”

“Done.” Able nodded.

The anger was there in his agreement. We were all bullets, ready to target and kill anyone who got in our path. The Order was moving in the shadows as Council Members came and went. With the king’s bed burning, they knew we were behind it. But even though they ran this place, they were quickly seeing they didn’t rule us. I did. And I wasn’t budging with where I stood.

I.