“It’s done,” I mutter, exhaling.
But Bryn shoves the barrel harder into my skull.
“If this is a trick,” she snarls, “I’ll make sure Aspen survives… just so I can give her to the men. And I’ll make you all watch.”
Her eyes burn with fury. But underneath it, I see the crack.
The desperation.
I laugh coldly. “Oh, Bryn…” I murmur, rising to my full height, and she stumbles back.
“You’re already planning that. You want to use Aspen, the only other woman here, to control the men. You said it yourself; men only want one thing.” I snarl. “Pussy.”
She presses the gun against my forehead, and I smirk as I raise my hands. My muscles flex, neck cracking as I tilt my head, eyes locked on hers.
“She either accepts that her life will be better here with me… or she’ll be something to trade. Just like I was!” Bryn spits the words out; venom and fury laced with somethingoff. Something cracked.
Fuck.
I don’t even recognize her anymore. She’s lost her damn mind. Finally broke under the pressure Ethan and Roman shoved down her throat. Or maybe… maybe she was always like this. Just real fucking good at hiding it.
She storms out, leaving me and Sean alone in the room. I hear her shouting names down the hall, probably the ones already wrapped around her fingers.
I roll my shoulder. Pain stabs up my arm, white-hot, but I don’t fucking care. I need to be ready.
Sean’s watching me. Calm. I grab my shirt and pull it on.
“I’ll either leave this place,” I murmur, “or die trying. But if it’s the latter, I’ll make damn sure Bryn goes down with me.”
Sean cracks a smile and claps a hand on my back.
“I heard Roman earlier,” he says. “He doesn’t trust her. The only reason you’re alive is so she thinks she’s in control. Roman already planned to kill Ethan even before she asked. But once she did, he pretended it was her idea.”
Exactly what I suspected.
Roman’s loyal to no one. Not his country. Not his team. Sure as hell not a woman he met weeks ago.
I scan the room. Map my next move. When Knox arrives, I’ll need to move fast; I can’t afford to be locked in. He’ll send the signal, and I’ll have to make it to the back fence in seconds. One of the guys will make a distraction.
“I’ll need a gun,” I say, turning to Sean.
He nods, a grin playing on his lips.
“I can manage that.” There’s pride in his tone, humor too, like he’s finally getting a taste of rebellion.
He turns and walks out, leaving me in silence.
I move to the small window. The sky’s going orange.
Knox should be arriving.
He knows either Bryn or Ethan are alive. He knows Roman’s not here. And he knows I’ll meet him outside. I just hope that’s enough to get us the hell out of here.
But something gnaws at me.
The meeting point was the farm. No way a radio signal would reach that far. Which means… they’re close.
Too close.
