Page 97 of Matrix

“You know how kids can be,” Blackstone says to him.“Little liars. They do it for the attention.”

“I didn’t lie!” Angie hurls herself across the room at him, but Vale catches her around the waist and drags her away from Blackstone. She’s kicking and screaming, completely losing it, but I don’t blame her one bit. I’d be doing exactly the same thing if I were her.

“She was telling the truth.” I narrow my gaze at Blackstone.

“You should take her to a good counselor. She’s clearly mentally disturbed.” His smirk churns my stomach. As soon as Vale leaves the house with Angie, Blackstone takes a step closer.“Did you actually think you’d find a dungeon in my basement?”

“It was there.”

The two remaining agents in the room roll their eyes before heading for the door.

“You’d better watch your step, Agent Banner. Little girls like you shouldn’t make accusations against men like me.”

“Are you threatening me?” I demand. The urge to get in his face is nearly overwhelming, but my body refuses to move. It’s almost as if it knows I’m facing off with pure evil.

“I’d never do something so crass.”

“No. You’d just traffic and torture kids.”

“Torture?” He laughs.“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I know what you did to Matrix. He told me everything, including what happened to all the other kids you tried to destroy.”

Blackstone glances toward the agents, but they’re not paying any attention to him. They’re halfway out the front door and aren’t even looking our way. We may as well be alone.

“Tell Matrix I said hi. I do miss the little brat. Does he still like to fight back? Do you play games with whips and nipple clamps when you’re together? Assuming you’re fucking him, of course. He might not be into women.”

“Fuck you!” I swing my fist, but he’s surprisingly fast, grabbing my hand mid-air and crushing it between his fingers.

“You’d better start looking over your shoulder, little girl. If you think you can ruin my life, then you’ve got another thing coming. If they haven’t fired you already, consider it done. I know people who can make your life a living hell. You won’t even be able to get a job at a fast-food restaurant by the time I’m done ruining your reputation. And your sister? That little bitch is going to end up exactly where I want her, on her knees, begging me to stop.”

“You’ll never touch her ever again.” I yank my fist from his grasp and step back.

“Oh, I will. And my hands will be the only ones ever to touch her young, not-so-innocent anymore, body. Her buyer wanted her intact. Otherwise, I would have had her already. But I’ll get what I want, eventually. I always do.”

“Banner!” Vale calls from the door.“Get your ass out here.”

“Goodbye, Daisy. I hope we see each other again. Soon.” A shadow of sinister delight spreads across his face.

Icy fingers of dread slither down my spine, and my blood runs cold. This isn’t the first time I’ve been confronted by a malicious criminal, but I’ve never witnessed anyone so gleefully depraved. His sadistic enjoyment of my anger and frustration is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s inhuman. Predatory to the point of being demonic. I never used to believe in Hell, but I’m starting to rethink that stance because I’m sure I just met the Devil.

I turn my back on him and try not to run toward the door. Every fiber of my being vibrates with fear, not because he threatened me. I expected that. But because he’s truly evil incarnate. I can’t believe Matrix and the other men from Underground Vengeance survived years with this man. I couldn’t even stand to be in his presence for a few minutes. I hope I never have to see him again. If I do, it’s because we’re in the morgue, identifying his lifeless body.

Outside, sunlight blankets the landscape in a warm glow. Birds chirp in the trees, oblivious to the human drama playing out below. The day would be gorgeous if Blackstone hadn’t ruined it with his treachery. He outsmarted us, and now, we’ve got no recourse but to leave empty-handed. It’s a complete and total disaster.

“I’ll take you back to the office.” Vale yanks open the rear door of his SUV. My sister’s sitting in the back seat, so I get in beside her. He slams it behind me before taking the driver’s seat.“I don’t want to hear one fucking word from either of you. What you did today was an absolute shit show. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from Blackstone’s lawyer. I wouldn’t blame him if he sued you for making slanderous accusations against him.”

“He’s evil, and you can’t even see it,” I mutter.

“The man’s a brilliant innovator making Montana better with his sweeping new policies. I can’t believe you thought he could be a part of a child trafficking ring. He does so much for kids. He even funded the new pediatric cancer ward at the hospital. There’s nothing malicious about him.”

“You’re so blind. That’s what he wants you to think. It’s his cover.”

“It’s a pity you’re allowing yourself to be so delusional.” He shakes his head and glances at me in the rearview mirror.“If you’d just stayed in the office, none of this would have happened. You’d still be digging through computers, and you’d still have a job. You’re going to be the laughingstock of the agency. Your failure is the only thing anyonewill talk about for months, if not years.”

“You’re wrong. I don’t know how I’m going to prove it, but I’m going to show everyone who he really is.”

“Stay away from Blackstone. You’ve done enough already.”

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