Chapter 29
Denver
When I woke in Kitrick’s bed, he told me Eli had been called away by Spider for a few days at least, so I don’t move the entire time he’s gone. I feel safer in a bed that Eli has never slept in, and it means I can obsessively watch the news, which I do.
I’m mentioned a few times a day, but there are never any leads. I thought maybe visiting the doctors meant I might have been spotted, but no recent photos of me appear, and the reports are always the same—I’m gone, and Ranger is looking for me.
Still, I watch. I obsess over every word, every report from outside my home in San Francisco and the hotel I was staying at with Colt before I was taken. I’m watching another reworded report when Kitrick returns.
“He’s on his way home,” Kitrick says as he hands me a plate with chips and sandwiches. “Eat.”
I nod, eyes fixed on the screen as I nibble at the food.
“I … heard something from the other men.”
My gaze cuts to his. He’s sitting in the chair in the corner, his forearms resting on his thighs.
“What did you hear?”
“Spider might be selling you on again.”
I pause, a sandwich at my lips, my hand lowering to the plate. It’s beyond strange to hear someone talk about me the way he is—like I’m a commodity, an item to be shipped to whoever has the most money.
Kitrick doesn’t look at me. “The man who is thinking of buying you … few have ever even seen his face. He keeps quiet, but his reputation …” He closes his eyes. “If you’re going to who I think you are—”
“Just say it,” I whisper.
He laces his fingers together, his knuckles whitening. “You’ll be dead by the end of the week.”
My head swims. Tears tickle my lashes, and the plate slips from my lap and to the floor. It thuds against the carpet, the sandwich and chips scattering.
Dead.
I’m going to die.
He’s going to kill me.
Warm hands grip mine, Kitrick sitting in front of me.
A teardrop lands on our joined hands, my cheeks wet.
Almost seven weeks. I’ve been here close to two months, and I’ve cried, I’ve begged, I’ve been locked away, I’ve broken down.
Self-preservation took the lead, because I thought if I behaved, I’d survive.
Now I know it’s over.
And the tears feel so fucking pointless.
“—has never been pictured until today. The leader of the Harland family, who goes by the nickname ‘Ghost’ due to his unique tattoos, was seen today out with Ranger Luxe.”
My gaze snaps to the TV.
Colt is on the screen.
It’s just photographs, but he’s right fucking there.
At Rockefeller Center.
He’s leaning against the wooden boards around the ice rink, arms folded, sunglasses on. Ranger is beside him, looking equally frightening, and they appear to be in deep conversation.
“Well, this is a sight to see,” the anchor says. “Both men have been linked allegedly to a number of crimes, particularly over the last few weeks, but I don’t think anyone expected to see anyone of this stature to be standing together.”
The co-anchor speaks, and the photo shifts to one that’s slightly closer. “We were lucky enough to be sent these photos today by an anonymous source—”
I step closer to the TV. In this photo, Colt has taken his sunglasses off, his dark blue eyes looking right at the camera, his hand gripping his jaw.
A smile spreads across my face. “He’s found me.”
Kitrick says, “How do you know?”
I reach out and touch Colt’s hand—where his wedding ring is on his middle finger. I laugh, tears in my eyes, but this time it isn’t from defeat.
“I might leave it there. It can be our own little message, a way of telling you I love you even if I can’t say it.”
For the first time in weeks, I can breathe easily. “He’s coming for me.”
I pace the room, shaking out my hands, my face aching from how much I’m smiling.
“He sent those photos in today hoping I’d see. He’ll be coming tonight. Or soon.”
Kitrick watches me from the bed. “Tonight would be better. If Spider sells you on, even I won’t know where you are.”
I nod quickly, twisting my fingers together.
Colt will launch a full-scale assault. He won’t hold back, and, neither will Ranger. This entire place could be rubble by morning, and Eli Eddards will be dead.
“You need to be careful,” I say to Kitrick. “Colt won’t know you’ve helped me. He could hurt you.”
“That’s touching, but I’ll be fine,” he says, arching an unamused brow. He pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Eli is here.” He stands, and the breath I let out shudders. “Hold it together.”
“I am.”
“You’re smiling.”
I drop my face into a neutral expression. “Better?”
“Better.”
Kitrick temporarily shuts off the cameras as we make quick steps from his room to mine.
I slip into the most comfortable dress I have—it’s long, the black material touching mid-calf, but it’s relatively loose.
Once I’m in the shoes that are easiest to kick off, I rejoin Kitrick in the hall, and we descend the stairs. But I pause midway down.
Eli is in the foyer, but he isn’t alone.
His uncle is with him.
Spider’s lanky limbs are stuffed into an expensive suit. He smiles toothily as I approach, and I want to throw up.
He killed Axel.
He killed Alison.
He took me and put me into this hell.
“Hello Denver,” he croons as I reach the foyer. Eli stands by my side, his arm around my waist. Spider’s gaze drops to my belly. “Congratulations.”
I say nothing, wondering if my nails are sharp enough to tear out his throat, or at the very least remove his eyes. But footsteps pull me from the bloodlust creating bile in my throat to the woman who is with him.
She’s a little taller than me, dark hair and blue eyes. She’s my age, wearing a designer dress and heels, her cheeks flushed, her expression neutral.
Spider extends his hand to her, and she goes to him, letting him kiss her temple.
“Denver, I brought you some company.”
The woman’s eyes dart to mine, and every emotion is conveyed between us in seconds. Fear. Desperation.
Spider chuckles. “Don’t be shy. Introduce yourself.”
The woman extends her hand. Her nails are painted blue, and her wrist is bruised.
“Hello Denver,” she says quietly. “My name is Marnie.”
Chills spread across my body, and I can’t move. I can’t speak or think or breathe. The shine in her eyes is a silent request to not react. To not do what I want to do.
To hug Holly’s mother.
The woman who has been missing for years.
The woman Wilder searched for desperately.
My hand trembles as I shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you, Marnie.”
She squeezes my fingers gently, her smile shaky. She knows who I am. She must do, from the way she’s looking at me.
“Well, this is lovely, isn’t it? Two Harlands together again,” Spider says, his grin positively feral. “Let’s have lunch, shall we?”
I let go of Marnie’s hand despite the urge to hold onto her forever. To keep her close to me—as if I could ever do anything to keep her safe when I can’t even protect myself.
But Colt can save us both.
My mind races as Eli guides me into the dining room. Colt is coming, possibly tonight, and he could take both of us home. The thought has me fighting the temptation to smie.
We sit at the table. Spider is at the head, Marnie to his left. I’m to his right, and Eli is beside me. Spider talks about business, and I stare at Marnie. She keeps her eyes on her plate, sometimes adjusting her cutlery or her napkin.
She suddenly touches her finger to her lips, and Spider waves his hand as if agreeing to something.
“You’re pregnant,” Marnie says softly. “Congratulations.”
I swallow. “Thank you.”
She wets her lips, glancing anxiously at Spider. He tuts. “Yes, keep going.”
She’s asking for permission to talk.
“Is it your first?”
I shake my head. “I had a little boy a few years ago, but he … he died shortly after being born.”
Marnie’s shoulders soften. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Lunch is served, and Spider and Eli continue their conversation. There’s so much I want to ask Marnie. Where has she been? Has Spider kept her this entire time, or did anybody else … have her?
“Children are hard work,” Marnie says, eating some fries slowly. “Do you have any experience with them?”
She’s asking about Holly.
“Yes. I’m lucky to have met some lovely kids.” Marnie meets my eye, her smile small. “Beautiful. Happy. Smart. Safe.”
Marnie’s lips tremble. “That’s nice.”
She jumps when Spider snatches her wrist. “I know what you’re doing, Marnie. Don’t think me foolish.” She stares at him with wide eyes, her chest rising and falling quickly.
“I’m sorry,” Marnie whispers. “I just wanted to know—”
“I was going to allow you to stay here tonight,” he says, still holding her wrist. “I was going to be gracious and allow you that freedom. Now—”
“Please,” Marnie says. “I’m sorry.”
My eyes dart between the two of them, wondering how far this could go, but Spider soon releases her, and he continues his conversation with Eli as if nothing confrontational has happened.
The rest of the meal is quiet but for Spider and Eli discussing work and sports teams. I eat slowly, as does Marnie, but we both look up when Spider speaks again.
“Marnie, you can stay here.”
She smiles brightly. “I can?”
He touches her chin. “You’ll keep Eli happy.” She nods enthusiastically, and there’s genuine joy in her eyes.
She relaxes in her seat and gives me a wide smile. It’s frightening how happy she is over such a small offer of kindness, but she’s been living this for years. I imagine she’s had few moments of joy at all.
“Good,” he says. “Once Sal arrives, you can go to the library and read.”
In the far corner, where Kitrick has been standing, he raises his head, his gaze darting between Spider and me. Even Eli tenses.
I’ve never once seen Eli tense.
“Tonight?” Eli asks.
Spider rolls his eyes. “Don’t pout. You’ve had seven weeks with her.”
“You’ve never even met this guy. He could be—”
“He’s paying enough to do whatever he wants.”
My grip on my cutlery tightens as I stare at Kitrick. He meets my eye, and I can read his expression.
Fear.
“Will Denver be leaving tonight?” Kitrick asks smoothly.
Leaving. With Sal.
Is this the same man Kitrick said would kill me?
I’m trembling, my knuckles white, my palms aching as I hold onto my knife and fork as if they can save me from this fate. Eli reaches over and prizes the items out of my hands.
Spider shrugs and finishes his wine. “It depends if she’s to his liking or not.”
The doorbell rings.
I can’t move. I can’t think.
Colt might not have a chance to save me. I could be gone before he even gets close to this place. Kitrick said it’s guarded, heavily. Maybe Colt isn’t even coming tonight. Maybe he needs time to plan—days or even weeks.
I’ll be gone by then.
… Dead by then.
Marnie stares at me, her eyes wide.
“Everyone out,” Spider says, wiping his mouth with his napkin. He drops it on his now empty plate. “Denver, you stay here and be polite to our guest.”
Marnie is half dragged out of her seat, staring at me desperately. Kitrick’s jaw is tight as he remains on the far side of the room.
“You heard him,” Eli says.
Kitrick lifts his chin. “Would it not be better if—”
“Leave.” Eli’s tone is sharp, but sounds are starting to muffle quickly.
Marnie’s heels clicking against the marble foyer are fading.
I hardly see Kitrick’s concerned glance as he reluctantly leaves, too.
Eli’s breath tickles my ear as he says, “Head down. You don’t speak unless spoken to.
You don’t look him in the eye until he gives you permission.
You do as you’re told, do you understand? ”
I entwine my fingers in my lap to try and calm the trembling. “Please, Eli. Can’t I stay with you?”
He sighs softly, nuzzling my cheek. “I wish you could. Maybe when the baby is born, he’ll get bored of you.” He kisses my temple. “I hope he doesn’t ruin you too much. I really do like you, Robin.”
For the first time in nearly two months, I want to beg Eli to stay by my side, if only to try and protect me from the horrors of the man about to buy me. But my pleas are lost as he gets out of his seat and leaves me alone.
The air in the room seems to thicken. A penetrating, suffocating thickness invades my lungs with every small breath I take, and it’s a miracle I’m breathing at all when I hear his approaching footsteps.
You’ll be dead before the end of the week.
A man who lives in the shadows just like Colt did. A man without a face, but with a reputation so terrifying that even Kitrick had seemed afraid of him. Or at the very least, afraid of what he might do to me.
And now he’s here. In the same room as me. Closing the space between us, step by torturous step.
I keep my head down.
My eyes closed.
I ignore the smell of his cologne, the feel of his fingertips across my shoulders, leaving marks that only burns should. He plays with my hair and I squeeze my eyes closed, praying for the strength to fight if I have to.
Because I will fight.
Until the bitter, twisted end, I’ll fight.
It feels as though I’m in a room with a beast. Nothing graceful or beautiful, just an animal that’s never been starved, so he doesn’t kill to feed, or feed to survive.
He kills because he wants to.
Because he can.
The chair across from me is pulled out, and he sighs softly as he sits.
Do I raise my eyes?
Do I dare look at the monster?
I can’t help myself.
I need to know who I’m facing.
What I’m facing.
I lift my gaze. One hand is resting on the dinner table, his index finger rising and falling in rhythm. An expensive watch is wrapped around a thick, powerful wrist. He’s wearing a navy suit, the shirt a soft blue, no tie. He’s in good shape, broad shoulders.
Like ripping off a Band-Aid, I snap my eyes to meet his.
I freeze, unable to blink, maybe even forgetting to breathe.
They’re eyes I know.
Neither beast nor monster sits across from me.
Sebastian does.