Page 39 of The Catalyst

“Where are we?” I ask.

“This is Warehouse Five.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I wonder why it's called Warehouse Five. There isn’t a number on it.

“It’s the warehouse that belongs to The Five Families. This is where all the magic happens.”

Magic? What kind of magic, or is he being sarcastic? I swear, sometimes I can’t tell with Nigel. Whatever they do to make people leave Grove Hill can’t be pretty.

“This is the moment of no return, butterfly. Once you’re involved in this, you’re in for life.”

My heart races with anxiety, but his words snap my confidence into place. “I’m in. I’m not changing my mind.”

Ego doesn’t eradicate fear. I know I’m not backing down, but not knowing what I’m agreeing to doesn’t help anything.

Nigel pulls me into his arms, straddling his waist, as he smirks at me with pride. “That’s my fucking girl,” he growls before stealing a searing kiss.

Out of nowhere, a loud rap sounds against the window.

“Fuck,” he groans as we pull apart. “Come on, babe. Let’s get this show on the road,” he says with a big smile, and we get out of his truck.

I’m unsure what to make of the pedo-van parked beside the truck. It isn’t one of the vehicles from Nigel’s house. No, this is a van I’ve never seen with blacked-out windows, including the windshield. Whoever owns this van doesn’t want anyone to know who they are or what they’re doing.

Red flag.

“Can you focus now that you got your dick wet, Ni?” Charlie asks as he rounds the van, tossing a pair of keys in the air. They nearly hit me in the face, but Oliver’s hand snatches them from mid-air as they are about to make contact.

“Watch it, Kennedy.” His tone and the seriousness in it leave no room for argument. The warning is clear, but I don't know what it is about. Is he pissed that Charlie almost hit me with the keys? One thing I can't deny is that my body relaxes just seeing that he's here. And, that is the stupidest shit I've ever heard. Why him? Other than the few minutes he was kind and gentle, Oliver has been nothing but a beast. A mainly silent beast, but a beast nonetheless.

“Sorry. Slight miscalculation.”

That’s an understatement, but it might not be slight for him since his eyes are bloodshot, and he’s swaying a bit. The man is blazed out of his mind. I hope they’re not planning for him to drive.

“That’s enough. Saddle up, buttercup,” Nigel growls the words viciously as Ronan rips open the sliding door of the van and red light floods the space.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but the space is bare except for the black hard rubber lining on the van floor, two small pieces of rope, and a stack of what looks like masks.

Halloween masks.

What the hell do they need Halloween masks for? Are we playing Ding Dong Ditch or something?

“Come on, babe,” Nigel whispers to me before turning his attention to Oisin. “You’re on driver duty tonight.”

“Ni, seriously? Why can’t Ronan do it this time? I’m always the driver.”

Wow. I guess being the driver is a bad thing. Poor guy might as well have stayed at the house with Arely.

“Because I gave you the fucking task.” Nigel tosses the keys at Oisin, who flinches when he catches them. “Plus, your girl pissed me off.”

I climb into the back of the van and sit on the bench with the same thick rubber covering it. As a matter of fact, every single surface in the back of this van is covered in that stuff, but the front seat is a different story. It’s upholstered like a regular car.

What the fuck am I involved in here?

Nigel climbs into the van, followed by Ronan, then Charlie and Oliver, before the final man slams the door closed. I force my breathing to stay calm despite my heart slamming against my ribcage.

I’m afraid of what I might be involved in, but not of the man sitting across from me no matter how much I should be. Even with him staring at me in a way I've never seen before.

What are you thinking, Oliver?

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