Page 47 of Unveiled

My breath catches in my throat, sticking there and refusing to allow me to get more air. The walls of the car feel like they’re getting closer, ready to squish me inside if I so much as dare to move.

I never thought I would see this place again. The building should have been left in my nightmares with everything else that happened to me here, but here it is, rising like a phoenix from the ashes. I should have learned by now that my nightmares don’t stay in my imagination.

The car is parked, and next to us, a familiar man steps out of his own vehicle. John. Cain’s second in command and good friend, the one that was supposed to keep me safe at the ball.

That’s when it hits me. I’m here with Cain, coming back with the hope of getting some kind of revenge. Carlos isn’t sitting in the driver’s seat next to me. Nothing I’m feeling is real.

“I brought you here, but this is as far as you’re going. I swear to God, Ainsley, if you so much as step out of this car, I’ll lock you in your bedroom for the rest of spring break.”

Even with the anger aimed at me, his voice is like a life raft, pulling me back to reality and promising to keep me safe. “Cain?”

My voice is small, quieter than I would expect a mouse to be in this small space, but he can hear me. By the way he grips the steering wheel, turning his knuckles white, I know he hears me.

“I knew you weren’t fucking ready,” he spits, still refusing to look at me.

Stubbornness washes through me, reminding me why I insisted on this. I refuse to let him think I’m too weak to handle the events that may unfold tonight.

“Stop treating me like an insolent child,” I scold him, my voice much stronger this time. “I came here to get the revenge I denied myself when you rescued me. You may not understand that, but you don’t have to.”

He finally turns his full attention to me, and I almost wish he hadn’t. His eyes, normally so full of love for me, are completely devoid of emotion. They’re empty. Cold. A shiver races down my spine at the sight, threatening to give away just how frightened I am of him right now.

“You will not leave this vehicle unless I come for you. Me, and only me. If at any point you feel unsafe or get too frightened, you’ll take the car and drive as far away as you can. Is that understood?”

“I’m not going to leave you,” I tell him. How could he think I would just drive away, leaving him here? I would have no way of knowing what happens. He could be hurt, shot like the last time I saw him here, and I would be clueless.

“Do. You. Understand?” he grits out between his teeth. “If not, I’m turning around and we’re going back to the house.”

The house. Not home, just the house. “I understand,” I agree begrudgingly.

Without another word, he climbs out of the car. Just before he slams the door shut, I call for him, and he pauses. “Please be careful,” I beg him. “Come back to me.”

I watch his body relax, melting from my words. A few days ago, he probably thought he would never hear me say those words. A few days ago, I didn’t think I would ever say them again.

“Fuck.” With his curse, he swings back into the car and grabs my face in his hands. “Not a single foot outside of this vehicle. Understood?”

When I nod, he crushes his lips against me in a painful kiss. I can feel his anger in the way his lips take and give nothing in return, but I don’t fight him.

He pulls away too soon and makes a show of placing the car keys in the cupholder next to me. I’m not going to leave him. No matter what happens, I’m staying. Without another word, he climbs out of the car and closes the door, much gentler than he would have the first time.

John greets him as I watch, and soon, they’re surrounded by men. Cain takes over as the boss, telling each man where they’re going and what the plan is. I can’t hear a word he’s saying, but his hands move as he talks, and the men nod along.

Cain directs the group of men toward the building while I watch as they all fade into the shadows of the night. I know they’re out there, but I can’t see them anymore.

I’m alone.

The wind outside whistles past the car as the building looms in front of me, threatening to drag me back to the dark place I was lost in months ago. The panic from earlier has eased, but it’s replaced by a sense of doom.

Something is going to go wrong tonight.

I can’t shake the feeling that someone will be hurt, or may never make it out of that building. All because I was kidnapped, and their new boss wants revenge. I want revenge.

Cain threatened to lock me in my old bedroom if I leave this car, but all I want is to run to him and tell him to take me home. Tell him I made a mistake, and I don’t want to be here. If there’s a next time, I’ll stay home with Jonah’s protection, and Cain can come without me.

My hand is on the door handle, ready to pull it when the sound of the driver’s side door opening grabs my attention.

“Cain, I -”

My words die in my throat. Instead of the gorgeous, angry man I’m expecting to be sitting next to me, I find a man almost as tall as Cain, but not nearly as muscular. His balding head gives away his age while the calmness in his expression tries to deceive me into thinking I’m safe.

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