Page 83 of Red Captive

“Are you sure we have to go?” I ask. “It’s the last thing I feel like right now.” I look down at my outfit: black, fitted pants and a silver sequined top with an open back. I’m in silver heels, and my hair is up.

“Roscoe wants us to attend this dinner, and right now, we are the puppets, and he is the one pulling the strings. He wants us at dinner, and so we’re going.”

“I can’t believe he’s still deciding whether or not to hand us in for the money.”

“I doubt he will,” Steel says. He’s wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He looks pretty good with all of his tattoos out in their full glory.

He hasn’t shaved, so his face is stubbled, giving him a rugged look that works for him, especially since he has taken his brooding status to new levels.

“Are you sure I can’t just go to the palace and set the record straight about what happened last night?”

Steel arches his brows, giving me a look.

“No, I don’t remember anything after I was injected. So, I don’t actually know what happened, not for sure, but Idoknow, Steel.” My voice is laced with frustration. “You didn’t kill anyone. You saved me. They’ll believe me.”

“We don’t know anything for sure right now. Besides, Roscoe might turn us in, then there’s nothing to debate.”

“You just said he wouldn’t do it.”

Steel shrugs. “You never know. Roscoe is ultimately a businessman and a shrewd one, at that.”

I sigh. “We may as well go and find out. The sooner we know our fate, the better. Then we can start to plan our next move.”

Steels nods; he grabs my elbow as I start to walk to the door. “You should be prepared. The Pit is brutal. It’s bloody, and although the males don’t fight to the death, it—”

“I’ll be okay,” I tell him.

“You sure? We’re shifters. Humans are different. Not bad different, just different. It—”

“I’m sure. I was selected as a Tribute out of tens of thousands of people. I was shipped to an island where I was made to do a whole array of shitty things. Just when I thought I might actually get to go home, I was abducted in the middle of the night and brought here.”

Steel’s whole frame goes hard; his eyes blaze. “I knew the amnesia story was bullshit. I knew it was bad, but this is worse than I could ever have imagined. I’m going to kill the general. I’m assuming it was him who took you.”

I nod. “Yep, they abducted the wrong woman and then decided to use me as a political pawn. Point being, I think I can handle dinner with Roscoe and a couple of bloody fights.”

Steel looks me in the eye until I can hardly get any oxygen to go into my lungs. “Okay, then,” he finally says. “Let’s go.”

We leave the tiny apartment and go down a dimly lit corridor. Steel seems to know exactly where we’re going. We gothrough a door and down another corridor; this one is a little lighter. Then through a door that leads to—

The noise is deafening. We’re in a large glass room that seems to be suspended above a huge crowd and a cage.

So, this is The Pit.

Music blares and the crowd is noisy. Spectators shout and scream. The stands are filled with people. Every seat. Every spare space is taken. Everything surrounds an elevated steel cage. It’s an actual cage.

Roscoe stands as we walk in. He is the only person at a large round table. Before him is a bottle of whiskey and a single crystal tumbler, half filled with amber liquid.

“Welcome.” Roscoe beams. He is in a different suit. This one is gray. His button-down shirt is a light gray. Once again, he isn’t wearing a tie, and he’s left the top few buttons open, exposing his hairless chest. He’s built – even bigger than Steel. It’s clear that the guy works out. “How wonderful to see you, Jen. You look ravishing. Silver is most definitely your color.” He takes my hand and kisses me, his vivid green eyes never leaving mine.

“Roscoe,” Steel says by way of greeting.

The two men shake hands.

“Before we start the evening,” Roscoe says, “I wanted to assure you that I have no plans to turn you in for that bounty. I am a wealthy male. I am enjoying helping you both and sticking one to those asshole royals. You have my word that no one will hear from me that you are staying here…or from any of my staff.” He rubs his hands together.

I look over at Steel, who seems to relax. “Thank you. It means a lot.”

Roscoe laughs. “You will owe me, my lad.”

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