Page 87 of Unmasked

Home.

I’d get home, and then I’d… I’d fucking… think. I’d get to the bottom of all of this. The sickness. The bleeding. The murder of my men.

Think.

Home.

I lifted, laying my head back as I closed my lids. It was so hard to keep my eyes open. My stomach felt like it was boiling with acid.

Minutes passed. Darkness blanketed me. Sleep beckoned.

The door being opened pulled me from all of it.

“Got ‘em, My Lady. They were in their rooms. They’re already heading to the plane.”

I followed his finger, seeing the two men. I didn’t wait. I moved to the edge of the seat, letting the boy help me stand. By the time we were getting to the plane, the door was already down. He helped me up the stairs, and I spun right into him at the large blood stains…

It was a truth I couldn’t take in my moment.

Arms came around me, and I sobbed, turning back to face what I had caused. I saw my purse, and I reached for it, taking out my wallet.

I took out all the cash, handing it to him, watching as his eyes widened and his head shook. “Take it. All of it. You have no idea how much you have helped me. I will make sure more gets to you soon. You have to go. Tell no one what you’ve seen. Not a soul.”

He nodded, swallowing hard.

“Never, Your Grace.”

He turned, leaving the plane, and I saw a pilot come out and secure the door behind him.

“Get us the fuck out of here as fast as you can.”

“Immediately, Intended. Buckle up.”

And I did. Opening my purse, I reached in, pulling out my phone. I called Vaughn’s number, feeling sick as he didn’t answer. The plane moved, and I placed the phone inside my purse, reaching for my ginger chews.

Tears burned my eyes as I stared at the blood on the floor. I pulled one out, breaking my gaze to look down at the plastic wrapper that had been twisted closed. The one I held was… looser. Barely even on the candy. I opened the bag wider, seeing how a few were almost exactly the same way.

My eyes shot up at remembering how the candies had been spread over my bed by the physician. At how I’d eaten one on the way to the airport.

I dropped the candy back in the bag like the poison I suspected that it was. The plane increased speed, and I gripped tightly to the arms of the chair as we began to lift into the air. My stomach tightened, and I kept my gaze on the large blood stain not two feet from where I was sitting. The Reeve—Rowan? I turned to take in the other large stain.

I couldn’t continue to sit. They died here. Right here, probably trying to protect me.

The plane leveled out, and I headed for the bathroom, pausing as I could see myself lying on the floor from how sick I’d been. I grabbed towels, running one under water as I went back to the blood.

They deserved better.

They deserved everything.

The thought looped.

Time passed as I scrubbed.

And scrubbed.

And scrubbed.

Until I was sick from the activity and smell. Only then, did I force myself to sit.