Page 107 of Unmask
My knees nearly gave out.
She was bound and blindfolded, her steps stumbling as she was led into the clearing, the little black dress she wore leaving her defenseless against the cold night. My eyes did a quick scan of her body, searching for any evidence that she’d been abused. I couldn’t find any outward marks, no cuts or bruises, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t suffered. I knew all too well that trauma couldn’t always be seen with the eye. At least, she was alive.
“Let her go,” I said, heart in my throat. “Take the restraints off. I said I’d come willingly. No hassle, but not until she’s free.” I wasn’t a complete moron.
The leader glanced at me again, weighing the situation. I nearly told him to just get Rusty if he was having a difficult timemaking decisions because, after hearing Carson’s confession, I was fully convinced now that he was the traitor. Then the leader nodded once more, and the second guy grumbled but moved to untie her hands.
The moment the blindfold came off, Kenny’s tear-streaked face found me. Her eyes, puffy and wild, locked on mine. “Kaylor?” Her voice was thick with disbelief and fear. “What—what are you?—”
Before she could finish, the guy gave her a rough shove in my direction. She stumbled forward, her bare feet digging into gravel, and I moved on instinct, catching her before she hit the ground.
“Oh my god,” she breathed, shaking in my arms. “You shouldn’t be here. You don’t know what they’re planning?—”
“I know,” I whispered in her ear as I leaned in, tears blurring my vision. “But you need to listen to me. Carson’s waiting in the car down the road. Go. Run. Don’t stop. He’ll take you to Kreed.”
She pulled back just enough to look into my face, eyes wide. “What? No—no, I’m not leaving you?—”
“You have to,” I said, my voice firm now. “It’s the only way we both make it out of this. You have to tell Kreed everything you know. He’ll find me.”
Her chin trembled. “Kaylor?—”
“Go,” I said again, urgent now, my hands shaking her shoulders as if I could snap her into reality. “Before they change their minds.”
The man behind us gave a bark through his mask. “Time’s up, dolls.”
I turned and pushed Kenny gently in the direction of the road. “Run,” I whispered.
She hesitated. Just a breath. Just a heartbeat. Then she turned and did what I asked. Ran.
“Go after her,” the masked leader roared.
“No!” I screamed, but the other was already moving. Before I thought about what I was doing, I took off, launching myself onto his back, my arms wrapping around his neck. I squeezed with everything I had, praying it would slow him down as I did my best to make a nuisance of myself.
It didn’t work for long. He was bigger and stronger, and with minimal effort, he had me flipped off him. The asshole tossed me to the ground, hard, and I landed with a jarring thump on my back, a jolt of pain lancing through me, but I rolled, lifting my head to see Kenny disappear into the night. Only when I couldn’t see her anymore did I push myself to my feet, glaring at the masked douchebags. “You got what you wanted,” I said, raising my chin a fraction. “Let’s finish this.”
The leader motioned toward the tower. “Pull a stunt like that again, and you won’t be as lucky as your friend.” His furious eyes shifted to his partner. “Go after her.” He grabbed me under my arm. “You. Inside. And move your ass.”
I hesitated for a breath, and then I commanded my feet to go. As I climbed, splinters caught my palms where the railing had long since rotted. My legs felt like lead, like I was dragging fear up each step with me. I walked slowly.
When I reached the top, the door to the tower groaned open, and as I crossed the threshold, the air changed. He followed behind. Inside was empty… Except for a chair bolted to the floor and a camera set up on a tripod facing it.
A horrible thought sowed terror into my mind, and before I could run, before I could scream, the prick came, a piercing sting in the side of my neck. My hand flew up, but it was too late. The world tilted, and my legs buckled.
As I crumpled to the ground, my captor’s voice echoed distantly, as if it were already behind glass. “You’ve given me quite the run for my money, kiddo.”
It was no fucking surprise that I recognized Rusty’s voice, and the last thing I saw before darkness consumed me was the lens of the camera blinking red.
Recording.
Then nothing.
Just dark.
When I came to,it was like surfacing through tar. My head throbbed with every heartbeat, my limbs were heavy, and my thoughts were slower than they should have been. The smell hit me first, lilies and fresh linens. So out of place I was sure it was a trick.
I sat up with effort, blinking against the warm amber lighting overhead, and realized I wasn’t in a cell. I was in a room. No, a suite. My head fucking spun, and my hand immediately flew to my temple, the other stabilizing myself on the bed. Whatever drugs they gave me, they were potent, the side effects lingering in a nasty, unpleasant way, much like a hangover. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I’d drugged the Raven Crew to get here, only to be drugged myself.
Talk about karma being a motherfucker.
