Page 144 of Inside the Wicked

“He will stick to his word, but it’s no fun to just hand them over.”

My blood chills at the way she says that.

“Allie is being watched by Micah.”

Rhett arms himself that instant, and it’s me who has to stop him from storming out of here in his rage and erupting through his fists and his gun until he finds her. The idea of Micah with Allie turns me nauseous and ice-cold.He’s alive.I thought the pencil in his neck surely must have killed him, but I guess my mistake was snapping them all as it can’t have sunk in deep enough.

“You should go to her while we have our time here,” Kenna says to him.

“What happened to you?” Rhett snaps.

I squeeze his arm in warning. He doesn’t mean to lash out at Kenna—she’s not responsible for any of this.

“I survived,” she says, devoid of any emotion.

Rhett vibrates beneath me. “Go find Allie. I’ll be okay here,” I say.

Conflict wars in his eyes, but he nods tightly, cupping my face for a lingering second before he follows one of Alistair’s men waiting to escort him.

“It’s not too late to let us help you,” I say gently.

Kenna doesn’t take well to it. Her smile is cruel and beautiful. “It’s not me who needs any help, Ana. Not from you or him or fucking Silas.”

“I understand why you didn’t come to Lumina. It would have felt like being passed from one possession to another,” I say.

“You don’t know anything.”

“He came for you anyway. Except this way, he betrayed us for it instead.”

I shiver at the new voice that interrupts.

“Only seems fair, don’t you think?” Alistair circles around like a vulture from behind me. “After all, you betrayed me.”

“You had Rhett captured and tortured all this time,” I seethe.

“I did. And had you been good, and he cooperative, I would have allowed you to reunite. It’s all I wanted. I see how strong you are together.”

“We had a deal. Forthson for Allie and Liam.”

“We had no such thing. Don’t twist my words, dear.”

“You said?—”

“I know what I said.”

Shadow growls at him, and I’m tempted to get him to bite.

“Watch that dog before I put him down without a second thought.”

It’s the only reason I keep Shadow glued to me. We brought him only to aid us if things went to shit, which is looking pretty fucking likely right now.

“This place will erupt into a war zone if you kill me or Rhett.”

“I have no desire to kill either of you.”

“Then let us all go.”

Alistair walks deeper into the office before he turns back to me. His eyes dip to my hand. “Congratulations,” he says. “From the moment you came to me, I knew you would be part of this family one way or another. My niece. I don’t wish you harm.”

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