Page 78 of Come Fill Me

Carreon wouldn’t.

Liz gritted her teeth, hatred surging through her at the sight of his stronghold, the building and outside lights dirtying the rest of the area. He’d appropriated their clan’s future, their people’s happiness and safety so he could live like a fucking king.

Not anymore.

She pulled up to the front entrance and waited for Carreon’s remaining men to rush out, not having much of a plan if they did.

On a noisy sigh, she realized all of them must have gone to Zeke’s stronghold, risking their lives for their leader who hidhere like a frightened child. Carreon was good at jeopardizing everyone’s future except his own.

At the entrance, Liz tried one of the knobs on the off chance of the door opening. The damn thing wouldn’t budge. She went to the control panel hidden behind the shrubbery. Unlike Zeke’s stronghold, there was no need for palm or fingerprints here. There’d always been armed men around, ready to kill.

Not now.

Liz punched in a code she’d used many times when she and Carreon had been lovers.

Nothing happened. Shit.

She tried his birthday, hers… Neither released the lock. Next, she tried her father’s date of birth. The freaking thing remained locked. Perspiration ran into her eyes. With the back of her hand, she wiped it away.Come on, think.Carreon would use a code few would be able to guess, while also being one that held some significance to him. His way of giving the finger to the world, showing everyone how clever he was, how much smarter he could—

Her thoughts paused as a date popped in her mind. She punched in the month, day, and year he’d had his father murdered.

This time, the door opened.

Inside, Liz knew cameras would record every step she took. She didn’t bother trying to hide from the lenses hidden within the ceiling and walls. She wanted Carreon to know she was here, to see her bloodstained clothing. She wanted him to welcome her, so she could get close enough to kill him.

The lights were off, the structure seemingly deserted. Liz knew better. Rather than feeling fear at what she faced, rage pumped through her, making her movements jerky. With all the will she owned, Liz forced herself to recall her mother’s death so tears would fill her eyes. To Carreon, she wanted to appear lost,frantic, desperate to see him after her struggle to escape Zeke.

She hurried through the foyer. Moonlight streamed through the Tiffany glass dome, brightening the gloom, leaving patches of yellow, green, and red on the leaves of numerous plants. Some of the vegetation bobbed with the chilled air pouring from the ceiling. The fountain splashed noisily, making everything else too damn quiet.

Moving deeper into the structure, Liz hesitated between searching for her father to see if he was all right and finding Carreon first so she could murder him.

Her desire to see him dead led her to the series of halls that would end at his safe room. Unlike the other times she’d been here, tonight there were no lights on in this area.

Carreon must have been more afraid than he’d been in times past, hiding in the shadows like the coward he was. Poor baby. He hadn’t a clue what she had in store for him.

Now Liz ran, her feet slapping the pavers. She hoped the sounds would further convince him of her distress.

“Carreon!” she cried, stopping at the metal detector and full-body scanner immediately in front of the reinforced steel door. “Are you in there?”

She moved through the detector. No alarm sounded, proving she had no gun. The body scanner was next. With her arms above her head, she turned a slow circle to show him there was nothing beneath her jeans and tee. No sharp piece of plastic or a makeshift weapon that might harm him.

She’d get that once she was inside. She’d take his gun, pumping every last round into him.

“Let me in, please,” she shouted, pounding on the door. “Your men are dying at Neekoma’s. I tried to heal them, but it was too late.” She touched the bloodstains on her tee from helping Samuel. She forced herself to weep. “The moment I was able to escape Neekoma, I came here. Please, I need to see thatyou’re all right. I need to see my father. Is he in there with you?”

She swallowed and waited for his response. A moment passed. Then another. Nothing happened.

A thread of doubt then unease worked its way through Liz. Carreon and her father had to be inside. If they’d left, she might never be able to find her father again.

“Please,”she shouted, banging on the door. “You can’t be gone. You can’t be dead. Our people need you. I need you. I know that now.”

Her shoulders rose and fell with her strained breathing. She cried in earnest this time, ragged sobs shaking her body.

Beneath the sounds she made, there was a faint whoosh.

The door swung inward. Carreon stood across the room, holding a Glock.

Liz stared at the muzzle trained on her heart. Zeke’s voice filled her mind.

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