Page 121 of Sinful Palace

“What’s wrong?”

“What if you get caught sneaking into my aunt’s place?”

He frowned and rubbed his jaw. “Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.”

“But it could, right?”

“I suppose so,” he replied. “If your brother and I aren’t at the meeting point when you arrive, wait until midnight. If we still aren’t there by then, you can assume the worst has happened.”

“What should I do then?”

Jamie’s frown deepened. “You’ll have to save yourself,” he said. “Go home, make up an excuse to explain where you’ve been, and hope for the best.”

“Shit,” I muttered, wondering how the hell I’d ever be able to explain the missing necklace and the phone in the toilet. “Don’t get caught, okay?”

He smiled thinly. “Same to you.”

“I’ll do my best.” I gritted my teeth, turned back around and trudged down the steps, using the flashlight to guide my way.

The tunnels were freezing and damp, and the floor was littered with crunchy leaves. I tried to ignore the cold and headed through the passages as fast as I could, only stopping to check the map to ensure I was heading the right way.

As I hurried along in the darkness, I couldn’t help but remember the night Logan chased me through these exact tunnels in that horrible skull mask. That incident marked the beginning of his campaign of terror against me.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I thought about everything that had happened since then. Despite it all, I couldn’t stop feeling guilty for leaving Logan behind. Couldn’t stop picturing what his face would look like when he realized I’d betrayed him yet again.

My throat started to ache, and the tears finally spilled out and slid down my cheeks. I stopped and crouched on the ground, wrapping my arms around myself as my chest heaved with sobs.

Why couldn’t Logan just say sorry for everything he’d done to me?If he did, I might’ve had some hope for us. I might’ve decided to stay and see if we could work something out after all.

He’s not sorry,a little voice in the back of my mind whispered. If he was, he would’ve said it by now.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts out of my mind. Then I wiped my face and continued on my journey.

A minute later, I switched off the flashlight and clamped my hand over my mouth, thinking I heard footsteps up ahead. When it turned out to be several rats skittering down the tunnel instead, I couldn’t help but let out a tiny giggle. I never thought I’d be so grateful to see rodents instead of people.

With a sharp right turn and a few more yards of chilling darkness, I finally arrived at the steps Jamie had marked out on the map.

Because I no longer had my phone and I wasn’t wearing a watch, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed since I left the White House. I estimated that it had probably taken me around twenty minutes to make it to this spot, and it felt like another twenty passed as I crouched on the cold concrete in the alcove behind the steps, waiting for the signal that would mark my safe exit.

It came a moment later, three bright flashes in quick succession. Then a deep male voice muttered from somewhere above the grate. “Ms. Rhoades? Are you there?”

I stayed silent, remembering Jamie’s warning. Don’t leave unless you hear the codeword.

The voice came again. “Uh… ambrosia.”

I crept out of my hiding spot and peered through the grate. “I’m here.”

“Good. Sorry. Nearly forgot the damn word.” The man pulled the grate back and extended an arm. I took his hand and let him help me out.

Once I was safely standing in the dim alley, the man knelt to pick something up. “Jamie told me to bring you something warm, because it’ll be freezing out on the water,” he said, handing me a black coat and woolen scarf. “I’m Alex, by the way.”

“Thank you, Alex,” I murmured, wrapping the coat around me.

He ushered me over to a black car and helped me into the back. We rode in silence, stopping when we reached West Potomac Park on the river foreshore.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, eyes widening. “I thought we were meeting Jamie at a marina.”

Alex nodded. “We are, but it’s best for us to avoid the roads as much as possible right now,” he said. “We’re going to take a smaller boat from here to the marina. Is that okay?”

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