Page 90 of The Devil We Know

Matt helps Jessica for a moment and then comes back to me, grabbing a gun and a knife that someone dropped as he says, “Get Darius.”

I nod, immediately turning and rushing to where he’s still caged further back in the room. He looks rather bored, and I can’t help but laugh as I kneel, yanking on the lock.

“One of these fucking yahoos has the key,” he replies calmly.

I pull out my gun, pointing it at the lock as I say, “Turn away.”

He does as I ask, and I shoot the lock once, twice, three times, but it doesn’t give.

Darius laughs as he says, “This newfangled shit is tough.”

A bitter laugh falls from my lips as I glare at him and reply, “It might not be a good time for jokes, Dare.”

“Always a good time for jokes.” He shrugs.

I laugh hollowly this time, yanking on the lock, looking around for something I can smash it with while also knowing that it will be no use. I stop what I’m doing, my hands gripping the bar as I lean in and say, “This place is wired. The whole fucking place is going to go up.”

He blinks at me for a moment and then laughs, and a small shriek of frustration comes out of me. He sighs and then asks, “How much time we got?”

I shake my head, my hands gripping the bars tightly. I attempt to shake it, but it doesn’t even rattle. “I have no fucking idea. But I always assume we’re on borrowed time.”

“That’s an accurate assumption.”

He’s silent for a moment and looks around, and then he asks, “I assume that Antoinette isn’t actually Antoinette?”

I nod, glancing over at Camilla and then further over where I see the real Antoinette, happy in her murderous glory. I turn back to Dare and say, “Yeah, she’s over to the right. She’s really enjoying being a blonde.”

He smiles fondly, and his complete lack of concern infuriates me.

I glance back over at Antoinette, hoping I can get her attention, but she’s too caught up in her mission. I turn backto Dare, immediately startled to find that he’s right there at the bars in front of me.

His hands cover mine where they grip the bars of the metal cage, squeezing tightly as he leans forward, forcing me to meet his eyes as he says, “You’re gonna have to leave me here.”

I blink at him in horror, shaking my head with such vigor I feel my brain rattle in my skull. “No. I can’t. I won’t.”

The smile he gives me is calm, his eyes reassuring as he presses his face into the bars and whispers, “Yes, you can. And you will.”

“No. No. I can’t do it.”

He laughs humorlessly, inclining his head as he says, “You will. You have no choice.”

I glance back at Antoinette and shout, “Antoinette. I need you.”

My shouts fall on deaf ears. She’s too focused, and the room is too loud. I glance around for help elsewhere, just to find everyone focused on the people in front of them and the people coming up behind them.

I turn back to Darius, who’s staring at me quietly. A sob catches in my throat, and then I whisper, “No. Please.”

His hands tighten on mine again, and the smile he gives me is genuine. There’s not even a glimmer of sadness as he says, “Promise me.”

I grimace, my voice shaky as I say, “Promise you what?”

“Promise me you won’t let her come back. You won’t let any of them come back.”

I know who he’s referring to. I look over at Antoinette one more time to see she’s moved even further away, everyone methodically moving closer to the exit plan, and I shake my head as I whisper, “I promise.”

I look down at the ground, and one of his hands moves through the bars. He touches my chin, lifting his gaze to mine as he says, “And make sure you name that baby after me.”

I laugh tearfully, shaking my head as I say, “Fuck you.”

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