Page 19 of Deadmen's Queen

He whimpered, and I stood up, glancing at Bast who was watching from the doorway.

“Time to leave,” Bast said, his eyes cold as he watched Alan writhing on the floor.

I nodded, following him out of the kitchen and into the living room. I retrieved a black bag from the couch containing our unmarked clothes and gear. We stripped out of the bloody outfits, quickly changing into clean clothes. I stashed the bloody ones in the bag, zipping it shut. I picked up our bag and followed Bast outside. We didn't bother looking back.

We’d brought a burner car, a reliable looking beat up family car no one would glance at twice. Not that anyone in this neighbourhood would snitch to the police. People kept themselves to themselves around here. I climbed in the passenger seat. Bast didn’t like anyone driving except him if he was in the car. It meant he wasn’t in control. I could understand that.

He started the car up and pulled away, heading back towards the university and home. Neither of us spoke, lost in our own thoughts. Three streets across, we pulled over to let an ambulance with flashing lights and sirens blaring past.

Chapter Seven

UNKNOWN

Ok I’ll admit, I was angry and I overreacted. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing Paige. How you debased yourself for those men, surrendering to their perverse desires, letting them control you like a puppet on strings. It was sickening.

I won't let them get away with it. I'll make sure they pay for their sins, just like they made the night watchman pay for his incompetence. These people are no joke, Paige. They thrive on chaos and bloodshed, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you from these monsters, even if it means getting my hands dirty. Because in this cruel reality, it's kill or be killed. And I refuse to be the one who gets taken down first.

They manipulated you into living with them, and I bear the guilt of that. I've played right into their twisted game. But don't worry, I have a twisted plan of my own. You won't be trapped there for long. They won't keep you for long. Because I'm coming for you, my dear. And when I do, they'll regret ever crossing me. Their punishment will be swift and merciless. Just wait and see, my love. They'll pay for taking you away from me.

Chapter Eight

PAIGE

Iblinked away the prickly feeling in my eyes as I chopped the onions Tristan had given me. The kitchen was warm and fragrant with the scent of sizzling garlic and herbs, and right now it felt like an insulated bubble away from the world outside. I liked it here, liked the sense of domesticity that had been missing in my life for so long, even though I knew it was only temporary. I snuck glances at Tristan as he sailed smoothly around the kitchen, checking different pots and pans and chopping other vegetables at a truly terrifying speed. He seemed totally at ease in the kitchen, and completely in his element.

“Smells amazing,” Bast's voice had me glancing up at the doorway, my heart jumping at the sight of him and Nate standing there. Bast was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black shirt, Nate in sandy combats and a black t-shirt that hugged him in all the right places.

“Tapas. Thought you'd be hungry,” Tristan said, not looking up from where he was carefully spooning something into a terracotta dish.

“Starved,” Bast confirmed, his gaze sweeping across the countertops filled with Tristan's creations before settling on me. “Paige, you doing ok?” His tone was casual, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes that made me feel warm.

I nodded, placing the knife down on the chopping board.

“Yeah, I called my mum, just to fill her in on where I was in case she… suddenly decided to visit. She's actually happy about me living here.” There was a bitter twist to my words. My mother's idea of happiness always came with strings attached.

“Good to hear.” Bast leaned against the counter.

“Onions, sunshine,” said Tristan, and I pushed the board towards him with a smile, before looking back over at the other guys.

“Did you have a good afternoon?” I asked, suddenly feeling shy now we were all in the same room.

Bast shrugged. “Not wonderful, but we hit the gym on the way back. Nate got a good go at the punching bag, so at least we got to work out some tensions.” His eyes flicked past me to Tristan, as something passed between the two of them that I didn’t quite understand.

I glanced over at Nate, suddenly noticing the dark stain of blood on the back of his hand. A knot formed in my stomach as I set the knife down, moving towards him.

“Your hand...” I started, reaching out to take his hand. He flinched before I made contact, stepping back with a guarded look in his eyes.

“It's nothing,” he muttered.

“Let me see,” I insisted, heart pounding at the thought of him hurt. Nate shook his head.

“It's not mine,” he said, his voice low and laced with a warning I couldn't ignore.

“Oh.” My stomach did a somersault. “Who…”

“It turns out your night watchman was taking bribes to let a certain person into the building in the early hours,” said Bast.

My mouth fell open. “He did? Is that what you…” my eyes dropped back to Nate’s knuckles, and the blood stains. “You hurt him?”

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