Page 50 of Inside the Wicked

I head out of his office, but Alistair speaks at my back. “What a disappointment it will be to have to punish you for failing your first job.”

My steps slow, but I don’t stop. I’m barely present as I change into high-waisted black tailored shorts, a black tank top, and over-the-knee boots. Everything feels like it’s crumbling around me. All I’ve tried to hold together to see through this madness that I stepped into for Rhett.

I can’t fall apart now.

Outside Lumina, I can already anticipate what’s going to happen. Silas doesn’t dwell on things that didn’t work out for him; he’s likely moved on, forgotten about both Kenna and me if he’s discovered she’s content with Alistair.

I texted Rix on the way here, telling him not to panic, but if something happened to me for a while and he didn’t hear from me, he couldn’t lose focus as we’re so close to finding Rhett. Perhaps they’ll find him without me—then, when my nightmare is over, we’ll find each other, and perhaps our broken pieces will fit just perfectly for us to mend each other together.

I get out of the car, numb as I approach the familiar security out front. They pull out the scanner as usual, and I count each second it takes for them to read the screen.

“Apologies, Miss Kinsley. Silas won’t be seeing you tonight.”

I’m not surprised by his announcement. I anticipated it. Silas said he revoked my membership, and we have no common goal anymore.

“Can you ask him again?” I say anyway.

One of them speaks into a small, concealed device, and we wait. I assume he hears the response through his earpiece as he tells me the same thing. Silas won’t come. Won’t allow me inside to see him.

I’m angry now. He’s a fuckingcoward.A pretentious, arrogant asshole like the rest of them.

“Then you can tell him this for me ...” I say coldly, hoping he can hear me through whatever they’re wearing. “Taking her now may be another powerful man doing something against her will, but leaving her shouldn’t be an option. Tell him if he didn’t just see a possession like everyone else, it would be worth the patience and the challenge. But I guess he’s just like them.”

I storm away, tears hot behind my eyes, but I force them to stay put. Taking a route around the club, I try to avoid Tony. I can’t go back—I fear Alistair now more than ever, even though I knew this day could come. He wants to punish me, and I don’t know what it’ll entail. I hurry down the sidewalk, typing to Rix. If they can reach me first, perhaps I can hide. They’ll have a safe house or something to make me disappear until we get Rhett back.

I need him right now.

I thought I could do this, be strong and brave and resilient, but I’m just one fucking person. One person who hasn’t stopped grieving and has pushed past her reserves of adrenaline and anger to see this through.

My pace is brisk, but Rix isn’t responding. My frantic messages disappear one by one, and I try not to break down in my fear, feeling like it’s too late anyway.

My instinct was right about that at least.

A hand covers my mouth, smothering my scream. My vision blurs as I inhale a sharp scent that lures my conscious to sleep, but they tie a blindfold over my eyes anyway. Two people, I think as I’m drifting. One picks me up while the other makes quick work of tying my hands and the blindfold.

It’s over in seconds.

That’s the pity of being the little bird. Freedom is high and endless, but all it takes is one swoop too low to become trapped between the palms of cruel hands once again.

CHAPTER 22

Rhett

I’m directly across the table from the kid, trying to disassociate from the terrified, blubbering mess of him. He pleads with me, and it’s soul-tarnishing.

I’m not holding a gun yet, and the fact I’m seated this time tells me Micah has a different plan.

“I’ve decided you can join the game for your little stunt last time.”

He spins a revolver on the table, then he produces another.

“One has a bullet. The other is entirely empty. Take your pick, Kaiser.”

This sadistic motherfucker.

My hand reaches for one, my eyes on him like a hawk. He smiles to throw me off, and I reach for the other. His head cants, eyes turning wild. He’s truly the most vile creature on the planet.

It’s a fifty-fifty guess. I try hovering my hand over each again to get a read on him. Then again. All his face speaks is pure sardonic pleasure, and I think he’ll delight in this no matter the outcome.

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