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Xavier shrugs. “He’s fucked in the head. He probably doesn’t even know what he means at this point.”

I sit forward. “Something doesn’t add up, though. He might be a fucking weirdo, but he’s smart, and he sounded sure about what he knew.”

“Zayden won’t have done anything to Silence that’ll warrant her hating him. And if he had, don’t you think he’d have told us?”

That’s true, but what else could Ryker mean? Unless Xavier’s right and he’s just deep in a delusion, but that makes me worry for Silence even more.

The distant door opens again, and Xavier groans. “Speak of the fucking devil.”

Ryker appears, looking much more put together than he did earlier. He’s holding a pair of handcuffs, his thumb running over the pristine metal as he faces me. “Turn around. Hands between the bars.”

I glance at Xavier. My brother says, “Or, new plan—you go fuck yourself.”

Ryker ignores him. “Yale, I want to talk to you alone, that’s all. His commentary is more than a little grating. Arms through the bars, and I’ll take you upstairs.”

Standing, I stare at the handcuffs. “Only if I can see Silence.”

“She’s sleeping.”

“I just want to check she’s okay. Promise me that, and I’ll come without argument.”

He sighs. “Fine.”

Xavier’s jaw is tight, and I don’t know if this is even close to smart, but I turn and do as Ryker asks. He snaps the cuffs on, and unlocks my cell. For the first time in weeks, I step outside of it.

He leads me upstairs. I don’t remember the layout of the property, because I was unconscious when I was brought here. His men attacked me on the roof, and next thing I knew I was in this hell hole.

The top of the stairs opens into a kitchen, and I immediately look for a weapon—not that I can do much with my hands behind my back. It doesn’t matter, though, because the counters are clear of anything useful.

The house is enormous, and instantly recognizable. We looked at the same place when we were scoping out potential safe houses, but this one’s size worked against us.

“This is the old prisoner place, right?” I ask. “It belonged to some French family before that?”

Ryker keeps stride with me. “Yes. You’ve been here before?”

“Just the once. We almost bought it. Does it still have the greenhouse?”

He glances at me. “Yes.”

“Fucking weird addition.”

“Not when you know why it’s there.”

He leads me upstairs and down a hallway. After opening a door, he ushers me inside. It’s a large bedroom, dark and quiet.

“I’m going to uncuff you, and I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Silence. This house is equipped with a security⁠—”

“The twelve-hour code, I know. I won’t try anything.”

He pauses. “You agreed far too quickly.”

“I have no idea where the woman I love is. I’m not gonna kill the man who holds the key to her.”

A few seconds pass, and he takes off the handcuffs. “Go into the en suite.”

I do as I’m told, and the bright lights of the bathroom make me squint. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I can’t even believe it’s me. My beard is overgrown, my hair a mess, face filthy.

“Shower. Clean clothes are here.” He gestures at a small table, and then he sits on the closed toilet. “You’ve got ten minutes, Yale. Then my kindness runs out.”