Page 79 of Guarded from Danger

“Good.” Lucy’s voice is hard. “I’m glad I ruined it.”

“You won’t be glad for long, little Lucy.” He takes another step back. “You’re going to be my last game. When they eventually find your bodies, they’ll think it’s something that idiotGarrett set up. And I’ll take the money and go on to another… venture. Maybe something with trafficking this time. I’ve heard it’s very profitable.”

“Why me?” Lucy asks quietly. “We never even met?—”

“Whynotyou? Like you’re something special?” A beat, and then, “Honestly, I didn’t care who you were. Not until you fucked with my business.” His eyes narrow. “Now I can’t wait to see you die.”

Thisfucker.

He’s going to regret this.

“Well,” he adds brightly. “I guess it’s time for me to get out of here. Leave you to your… demise. That’s an apt term. But I’ll be watching”—his gaze slides to a camera mounted on the wall—“to see how it all turns out.”

And with a little over the shoulder wave, Amberson heads towards the barn door, adding brightly, “I’m betting he goes first. I’m putting the odds at two to one.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LUCY

It’s going to be okay.

Xavier promised.

The logical part of my brain believes him.

That awful Peter is leaving, taking that horrible gun along with him.

God. When he pointed it at Xavier, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. It was the most terrifying moment of my life.

But he’s leaving. I don’t think he’ll be back.

Why would he? As soon as Peter goes outside, he’s locking us in. He thinks there’s no way we can escape.

He doesn’t know about the earrings or the ring. Or the trackers that will lead Xavier’s team right to us.

Peter believes he’s won.

“Well, I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure.” Just steps to the barn door, Peter turns around again. It’s too dark to see his face clearly with the windows boarded over, but I can faintly make out his grin. “But that’ll come when the game is over.” He pauses. “I will say, I’m rooting for you to outlast your boyfriend. It won’t matter in the end, but I think the audience will love to see you wasting away, brokenhearted.”

Xavier growls beside me.

Anger floods through me, more intense than anything I’ve felt before.

“I hate you,” I hiss.

“Oh, Lucy.” Peter chuckles. “Do you think I care?”

Then he grabs the barn door and starts to slide it open, the wood creaking and metal screeching as it moves. He grunts with the effort of pushing the heavy door, muttering, “Fucking old buildings. This is why I hire other people for this shit.”

As he wrestles the door open, I hold my breath.

Desperate pleas whir through my head.

Don’t come back in.

Just go.

Let our trackers work.

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