Page 17 of Unholy

“Did you not understand the words that came out of my mouth, Mr. Sinclair? Or shall I repeat them for you?”

Swallowing my pride, for reasons of curiosity and the need to please her, I reply, “I understand, Ms. Vandenberg.”

She walks past me, but I can feel her presence behind me. “I could kill you right here, right now, if I wanted to.” The venomous threat echoes in my ear.

“But you won’t, or you already would have.”

Rylee is quick to respond. “Perhaps I’m playing the long game, Duke.”

Smirking, I say, “Good, that’s exactly how I would do it too, Ms. Vandenberg.”

She doesn’t move from behind me, pondering my final words to her empty threat. Rylee already has me on my knees, at her mercy, while she has complete control. This is a reaction to something. But what?

I’ll need to follow up with Rogers on her background check. I need to know everything.

My cell phone rings in my pocket, breaking the tension. Immediately, I am on my feet, reaching for it. The caller ID says things are not fucking good. “What?” I shout as I answer.

“He took her. She’s gone!” is screamed at me, and my hard-on and desire to tongue fuck Rylee has evaporated for now.

“Send me the pin. I’m on my way.”

Spinning around, I find Rylee is standing before me as Rogers comes running in.

Looking at him, I say, “I know. Rylee, do not fucking leave here. Do you understand?” My voice is stern.

She laughs. “The fuck I’m not.”

I don’t have time for this shit.

“Rylee. Greta said it herself. You’re not to leave here. It’s not fucking safe. Rogers, take her to one of the guest suites. No one in or out unless it’s Elijah or me. Rain will be okay; he will have her in their panic room. I’m the fucking boss now. Do as you're told.”

The laughter has stopped, confusion and concern has replaced it, and I don’t have time to address either. Grabbing my glasses off the couch, I dial Elijah next. “Two minutes, be ready.” As I hang up, I’m already down the hall with the front door in sight.

My fingers comb through my hair.

Here we fucking go.

8

NATHANIEL

I’ve called Delicroux a handful of times on the way to the abandoned warehouse.

D took off without me, fury and rage filling his eyes because they have his wife. We found out her location after my best friend took it upon himself to kidnap and torture former allies until someone finally revealed where she was.

His head isn’t clear; we need a fucking plan. My hands bang against the dark leather steering wheel of his Bugatti in frustration.

I took his car. It’s fast, and I like it.

We’ve officially drawn the line in the sand. Sides picked, and I feel no regret or remorse over it. I’ve spent my entire life devoted to an organization because that’s what was expected of me. We are more powerful together than alone, my father would say. So, my blinders went on. I accepted my fate and gave myself to The Exiled. I went to law school for them so I was equipped for my role, which my father held prior, his father and his father’s father. A role I was prepared to have die with me.

Elijah doesn’t conform to others’ ideologies. He kills. He will do it for anyone at any time if they allow him complete freedom to play. And I never fought it.

Never did I expect it to go down like this.

A war.

The King has done terrible things to Delacroix and Cecilia. Things all out of spite because he married what was promised to the King’s son, Dalton.

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