Page 88 of The Devil We Know

And then all hell breaks loose.

37

A Promise

Carolina

I admit, being backin this type of shitty facility has been a shock to my system.

But having my appearance changed to look like a stranger has been helpful. It’s almost as if Carolina isn’t here, and it’s just some new person looking in with a new perspective and new memories.

I had one instance where the flight option was coursing through my veins when all those men were looking at us andthen that douchebag, Enzo, was telling them to secure us. It’s the first time in a long time that it occurred to me that maybe I should turn on my heel and flee.

But then I remembered who I was with and who I am now, and I had to repress my urge to find my gun and shoot every fucking one of them.

Because I know what would happen if they attempted to secure us.

Luckily, Kaian was able to diffuse the situation and back us out of there so we could regroup. That left Jessica in a precarious situation, but she knew when she insisted she come along that would likely happen.

Kaian leads us to a small room that appears to be made for security. He flips some switches, and screens turn on, then he clicks through like he’s flipping through channels until he reaches the one he wants.

I lean in closely and see Matt hanging from the ceiling, and upon closer look, I notice Tony sprawled at his feet.

I press my lips together and shake my head. Antoinette looks as well, and turns to me and says, “Do you think he’s actually hurt?”

I shrug, my hand coming up and wiggling from side to side as I say, “Fifty-fifty.”

Lilith comes up between us, shoving us away. She leans super close to the screen, pulls back, and says, “He’s fine.”

I reach out and give her a little shove, and then I turn to Kaian and ask, “Where’s Darius?”

He points to the top of the screen, indicating further back in the room, and says, “There are some cages back there, so I assume he’s in one of them.”

“There’s no way they’re going to let the Beast out of the cage with the other two free,” Lilith murmurs.

Kaian nods. “Yeah, usually they like to beat the crap out of the first two and incapacitate them a bit. But if they’re smart, they’ll put them back in the cage before taking Darius out.”

Lilith smiles as she responds, “And we’re always counting on them not being smart.”

Kaian motions back to the screen and says, “There’s Jessica.”

Even knowing full well from half a lifetime of experience, I’m still shocked when Enzo puts his hands on her.

I flinch slightly, and then Lilith and Antoinette’s crows of laughter draw my attention back to the screen. I see Enzo bent over with his hands covering his face, and Antoinette says, “That’s right. Fucking give it to him.”

I sigh and say, “Fighting back seems a little premature.”

Lilith smiles at me, her hand going to my arm as she replies, “Sometimes we get in whatever shot we can. Oftentimes, it bites us in the ass, but it still feels good in the moment.”

I roll my eyes a bit and then nod in agreement. The few times I managed to get a shot in in my younger years, it was usually worth the punishment.

And by the time I got out, I’d become so numb to the entire thing, it didn’t fucking matter.

We stand there watching the screen, the people we care about appearing like actors in a movie.

Kaian says, “Did you see that?”

“See what?” Lilith asks.

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