Page 89 of The House Guest

‘I want you to understand something,’ he said, jabbing a finger at me as he walked around me. The angrier he got, the faster he paced. Behind him, I saw the eyes of the security guy widen, like he was shocked by Gabriel’s behaviour.

‘Even if one day someone betrays us, if I have an accident, if this building burns to the ground with me inside, it won’t matter. WhenIdie, I will live on in the hearts and the heads of the people who follow me. I’ll live forever, in them. I am immortal.’ His voice had reached a hysterical pitch. ‘We’re everywhere, Adam.Everywhere.’

His eyes were almost popping out of his head with rage. I could tell there was a lot more he wanted to say. But he caught himself, took a deep breath. The vein still throbbed on his forehead, but apart from that he appeared calm.

He turned to the security guy. ‘I’m going to send Brittany in. Get Wanda Brooks’s address out of him. Do whatever you have to do.’

I don’t like to think about the thirty minutes that followed.

Brittany came into the room, and she and the security guy – whose name, I soon learned, was Nick – dragged me into a bathroom and filled the tub with cold water. Then they pushed my face beneath the surface, holding me under until my lungs burned and I was convinced this was it. It’s hard to describe the feeling of panic, of desperation – the need for it not to happen again.

They demanded Wanda’s address. Everything I knew about her. They yelled at me, they screamed threats. They pushed my face into the water. They spoke kindly, soothingly, said this would all stop if I just told them everything. Then they yelled at me again. Held my face beneath the water for so long I was sure I would die.

I tried to hold out. I really did. But in the end, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I gave up everything I knew. I had to persuade them that I didn’t know her actual address; was only able to describe the route to her cabin and what it looked like. I told them about the diner where we’d met.

Then they dumped me on the bed, shivering and ashamed, and left me alone in the room.

I lay there, wet and cold, wondering how long it would be before they found Wanda’s cabin. Wondering if Callum was already dead; and where Ruth was and what was happening to her. Gabriel had mentioned getting ready for something. Did that involve Ruth?

And how long would it be before they killed me?

Chapter 39

Eden picked out a short white dress for Ruth.

‘Put this on,’ she said.

They were still in the penthouse. People kept coming and going; Eden’s phone beeped every few minutes. They kept talking about preparations, but no one would tell her what they were preparing for. Eden had a bottle of champagne and she offered Ruth some, tried to persuade her to drink it. Ruth refused, even though her nerves were shot and she craved something to take the edge off her feelings. When Eden ordered her to do her make-up, she found her hand was shaking too much to apply it, so Eden sat her down and did it for her. Then another woman came in and styled her hair, teasing it into curls.

‘Beautiful,’ Eden said when the woman left, and she stood behind Ruth and told her to look in the mirror. ‘Don’t you think you look beautiful?’

‘I feel sick.’

Eden spun the chair around and grabbed Ruth’s chin, crouching before her.

‘You need to stay calm,’ she said.

‘I need to get out of here.’ She grabbed Eden’s wrists. ‘Please, Eden. Help me. You can’t let this happen.’

Eden broke away. ‘Shut up. Stop being so pathetic.’

Ruth couldn’t help it. She started to cry.

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, you’re ruining your make-up. Now I’m going to have to start all over again.’

Emilio came into the room.

‘We’re ready,’ he said.

Eden snapped at him. ‘Give us five minutes.’

‘But Gabriel—’

‘I said, give us five minutes.’

Emilio looked Ruth up and down. ‘What’s the matter with her?’

‘She’s scared. Wouldn’t you be?’

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