Page 29 of Judgment Day

Chandler walked inside the library. He stood over me, looking down at me like I was gum on his shoe—a nuisance. “Tell me how to find the vans.”

If I told him that, he’d find the stable. I didn’t know where it was, and I liked to keep it that way. But the drivers of those vans knew. That was their job. They were nothing more than a shuttle service, men who were paid well for their silence. I made a call, they showed up to bring the girls to whatever location Winston gave them.

It was the only bargaining chip I had.

“If I tell you, will you let me go?”

What else did I have to lose? I was on my knees. A gaping hole where my heart used to be, bleeding out—a slow bleed, the kind you wished would hurry up and kill you, but the relief of death never came.

He contemplated it for several moments before scrubbing a hand over his face. “Yeah. I’ll let you go.”

I knew he would. The alternative meant he’d be choosing to leave dozens of girls to be raped and tortured. He was an asshole, but he wouldn’t do that. They’d made it their mission to save them.

I stood up and dusted off.

He gripped my elbow, bruising my skin.

“If you want the number, I need to get my phone.”

Chandler let go of my arm, shoving me away from him.

I smiled to myself as I walked back to the sofa. Once again, I’d played to win. Grey Van Doren had taken everything from me. It was time to take everything from him.

EIGHTEEN

The solesof my shoes echoed against the floor. My steps were hurried and heavy. I reached up and loosened my tie, eventually sayingfuck itand untying the damn thing. It hung loosely around my neck, but I still couldn’t breathe. I was choking on air, suffocating, couldn’t get outside fast enough. And then when the palace doors flew open and I stepped out into the courtyard, I closed my eyes and sucked in all the air I could. Blew it out.

Sucked it in.

Out.

In.

Slowly.

Steadily.

For over half of my life, Sadie had been my obsession. Now, she felt like an enemy.

Liam was dead because of her.

Innocent girls—girls like the Sadie I fell in love with, girls like Lyric—suffered because of her.

For twelve goddamn years, she was the only thing that kept me sane. She was the prize I was fighting for. She was the light in my darkness. She was every-fucking-thing. All I’d thought about for years was holding her again, touching her, kissing her, fucking her. Loving her. I’d been to hell and back, and any ounce of hope that it all might have been worth it had just been ripped to shreds.

I thought the day I found out she’d been chosen by the king and sentenced to a fate she didn’t deserve was the worst day of my life. I thought nothing could hurt worse than knowing I didn’t save her.

I was wrong.

* * *

“Back so soon?” Maddox asked when I showed up outside the door of the one man who could make some of this make sense.

“Did you do as I asked?”

He nodded.

I handed him two hundred pounds, then pushed the door open and went inside.

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