“You thought I didn’t know?”
“I think you both had history, and you didn’t have the best relationship for some time.”
I snort. “That’s an understatement.”
Finn approaches, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “This must be a nice chat, but we have somewhere to be.”
“Don’t be impatient,” Lachlan says, raising his voice from across the room. “Impatience makes you sloppy. Sloppy—”
“—gets you killed,” Finn finishes. “I know.”
“It’s not that I’m not impatient,” I remind Finn. “I just won’t have her hurt. So watch your fire.”
Lachlan nods, snapping a clip into his gun. “Look before you shoot. We don’t know where she’ll be or what we’ll face. Be careful, be smart.”
“Let’s go,” I say. “I’m done waiting. It’s time to watch Dmitri burn.”
CHAPTER35
Rose
I can’t remember waking up. It happens slowly. I’m aware that my head hurts, an ache that won’t go away. My wrists feel sore for some reason. My entire body feels heavy, tired, and overused. It’s like I’ve run miles and I’m still standing upright, still aching.
I try to open my eyes. Pain spikes between them and I hiss, trying to go slow. Something is shining toward my face.
When I manage to peel my eyes open, I can’t see much. There are blurry, dark shapes forming before me. I try to stare hard and focus on them, but they escape me. They’re all amorphous and dark. I can’t see what anything is.
Nausea rises in my gut and I have to hold it back, breathing deeply and slowly as I try to stay quiet. I don’t know where I am, and I don’t know if someone will come if they hear me.
When I realize my hands are tied, panic shoots through me. The gut reaction makes me jerk, nausea overwhelming me. I retch, unable to control myself, my stomach cramping.
Fear thrums through me. Has it been a day? Longer? How long have I been out?
I can hear something quiet. I try to peer through the darkness, fear gripping my chest. When I manage to focus, I can see a face barely illuminated by the single lightbulb above me.
“Willow?” I breathe, shocked.
She’s tied up too, her hands behind her back, her head drooping. She’s crying softly.
“Willow? Willow, it’s Rose. Look at me,” I plead, straining against my bonds. I try to pull away from the chair I’m sitting on, but it doesn’t work. My hands are held behind me, my arms sore.
When she finally looks up, her eyes are glassy. Her head rolls a little, and I realize with a sinking feeling that she’s heavily drugged.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she whimpers. She can’t find me, her eyes wandering the darkness. “God. Rose, I’m sorry—”
“Sorry? What do you mean? Willow, I’m here. Over here.”
She’s delirious. I can see bruises on the skin that isn’t covered by her sweater. Red and purple marks mar her neck. I wonder if Dmitri choked her. Did he throw her down here when he found out she went to Aiden? How long has she been here?
I’m suddenly terrified for her. I knew she could be hurt, but it looks like he nearly killed her. Like he still might.
And if we’re trapped in here together, that means I must be at Dmitri’s house. He’s the one who took me, the one who must’ve drugged me—him or his men.
What will he do to me?
“Willow, look at me,” I try again, leaning forward as far as I can. “Follow my voice. Listen. It’s Rose.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “He made me. He was going to kill me.”
