Chapter 31
Denver
Sebastian watches me with a distant expression, his gaze traveling down me with total indifference.
His blond hair is swept back and he’s clean shaven, cool blue eyes lacking his usual warmth.
He isn’t the loving, kind Sebastian I met on that island.
Not Ethan’s friend. Not my friend. He’s someone else entirely.
“Well, Sal?” Spider asks from the doorway. “Is she what you hoped?”
Sebastian arches a brow. “That’s like asking if I enjoy driving a car when I haven’t even kicked the tire yet.”
Even his voice is different. It’s detached, deeper.
Spider chuckles. “We have these taster meetings for a reason. Denver, be polite and greet Mr. Sinclair.”
Greet him? How?
What the fuck is going on?
My lips part as I look at Spider, and the sound of chair legs scraping against the floor has my eyes darting back to Sebastian. He’s pushed his chair away from the table and pats his thigh.
I rise on trembling legs and round the table, wetting my lips before sitting on Sebastian’s lap. He tugs me close, draping my legs over him, one arm around my hip.
“How far along is she?” Sebastian asks.
“Thirteen weeks,” Spider says. “Is that a problem?”
Sebastian shrugs. “No.” He runs the tip of his finger down my neck. “But I’d like to test her out before I pay.”
“Anything from the neck up is fine, but we’ve kept her untouched for a reason,” Spider says. “Any more than that and you pay extra.”
“Well then.” Sebastian’s fingers wrap around my neck, and he gently squeezes. “Point me to her bedroom.” He jerks his chin at the door, and I stand.
Sebastian slides his arm around my waist, and Kitrick is waiting in the lobby.
“Show them to Denver’s room,” Spider says. “Then give them privacy.”
Kitrick looks between us but nods.
We walk in silence. Kitrick leads the way, rolling his shoulders as if trying to work out the kinks. Sebastian’s grip on my hip is tight, but he releases me once Kitrick stops at my room and pushes the door open.
“Gentlemen first,” Kitrick says to Sebastian, disdain burning in his eyes. Sebastian goes into the room, and I lock eyes with Kitrick and shake my head.
“Don’t,” I mouth. His brows pull together. “Trust. Me.”
Kitrick looks like he’s battling confusion and desperation as I go into my bedroom and shut the door.
Almost immediately, I’m in Sebastian’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers as I wrap my arms around his neck. “I had to pretend, I …” He pulls back and cups my face. “Are you okay?”
I nod, but I’m close to numb. “This is Colt’s plan?”
His smile is weak. “Yeah. I needed to check you were actually here. Colt is on the other side of the gates, waiting for my signal.”
He’s here. He’s so close to me. So close to freedom.
The wave of relief almost has my knees buckling.
“He’s really outside?”
Sebastian nods. “Everyone is. Lewis, Ronan, Alistair, Taf, JJ, Sandy—”
“Sandy?” I let out a small laugh. “How?”
He grins. “Apparently, it’s a very short, very boring story.” He brushes my hair back. “How are you feeling? How was your scan?”
I place my hand on my stomach. “The doctor said it went well. The baby is a little small, but I … I haven’t always been allowed to eat.” I look down at the tiny bump. “But he’s part of Colt and me. He’s strong. I can feel it.”
Sebastian nods, brow furrowed gently. “Any nausea, excessive tiredness—”
I laugh again. “You can check the both of us when we’re home. What’s the signal?”
“Excessive noise,” he says.
“Or we can do one better.” I unlock the door and open it. Kitrick is pacing and darts close when he sees me. I grab his hand and pull him inside.
Sebastian’s face immediately drops into one of rage.
“It’s okay, he’s a cop,” I whisper. “Kitrick, this isn’t Sal Sinclair. It’s a friend. Colt sent him.” Kitrick doesn’t seem convinced, light eyes filled with suspicion as he weighs Sebastian up with a look. “Colt is outside.”
“Denver,” Sebastian says. “You’re sure we can trust this guy?”
“Yes,” I say. “He’s kept me safe.”
Sebastian frowns. “You just said they starved you.”
“And where have you been?” Kitrick asks. “Why not play this Scooby Doo trick seven fucking weeks ago?”
Sebastian flexes his fingers. “You have no idea what we’ve been going through.”
“And you have no idea what it’s been like watching her go through this, knowing there wasn’t much I could fucking do,” Kitrick hits back, dragging his battle-filled gaze to me. “What do you need me to do?”
“We need—” My thoughts stall, and panic prickles my skin. “We need to get Marnie.”
Sebastian tilts his head. “Denver, Colt said we have an hour at most from me coming into the house before he storms the place. We need to go now.”
“It’s Holly’s mom—” I glance at the door.
“We’re not leaving without her.” She’s come this far; she’s finally within reach.
There’s no way I’m going home knowing Holly’s family was right here.
“Kitrick, you’ll need to call Colt. Tell him I’m here.
When you call him, tell him Finn called his robin tattoo fate.
Can you say that to him?” Then, he’ll know it’s me, and Kitrick is trying to help.
Kitrick nods. “I will. But we need to get you—”
“No, I’m going for Marnie.”
Sebastian says, “Why don’t I get Marnie, and you go with Kitrick?”
“She won’t go with you,” I say. “She has no idea who you are. I’ll find her. I’ll meet you back here. Ten minutes, tops.” I’m already at the door.
“No good plan starts with splitting up,” Sebastian interjects, stalling my hand on the doorknob. “I promised Colt I wouldn’t let you leave my sight, Denver. I’m coming with you.”
He’s right. Splitting up now would be reckless. If Kitrick can’t get the message to Colt or he’s too late, I need to be with Sebastian to get out of here together.
Kitrick says, “I’ll turn off the cameras.
You remember the way to my room?” I nod quickly, opening the door, already half over the threshold.
“Head the same way but turn left instead of right at the end of the hall. She’s in the third door on the left.
It’s locked, and she should be alone. Spider and Eli are in the library, drinking. ”
The hall is deathly quiet when we step into it. The grandfather clock ticks softly, and the carpet muffles our footsteps.
We reach the clock and go left, just as it chimes on eleven. I pause when I see Marnie in the hallway.
“Denver,” she whispers, but freezes in place when she sees Sebastian. “Is … is everything okay?”
I nod quickly and approach her. “This is Sebastian. He isn’t who we thought he was.” Laughter reaches us from downstairs, and I take her hand, going into her room.
“Hurry, Denver,” Sebastian says. “I’ll wait out here.”
My heart is racing as I close the door behind Marnie and me. She stares at me, eyes wide. “What is it?”
“Colt is here.”
Marnie stares at me, her mouth opening and closing before she finally speaks again. “Really?”
“Yes, he’s outside. Taf, Alistair, JJ, everyone is here.” I grip her shoulders. “We’re getting out.”
Tears fill her eyes, and she looks close to dropping to her knees. “How? How will we warn them?”
“Kitrick,” I whisper, getting closer. “He’s getting a message to Colt now. He’s going to help.” I smile, cupping her face. “We’re going home to Holly.”
She lets out a disbelieving laugh and pulls me into a hug. I squeeze her, holding her as tightly as I can, because this was worth it. To get her home, to reunite her with her daughter, was worth it. The pain, the fear, the exhaustion. It’s all worth it as long as she comes back with us.
Marnie pulls from the hug and brushes my hair back, a tear falling free from her bottom lash and over her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Denver.”
“Sorry? For what?”
Her lips tremble and she rubs a lock of my hair between her index finger and thumb. “I’m not Marnie.”
My lungs feel like they collapse. My heart becomes a useless organ in my chest, no longer doing what it should.
“You really are my good girl, Jenna.” The voice climbs over my skin like poisoned fog.
I spin, my heart free-falling as Spider watches me from the corner.
“I had a feeling something was happening when Colt and Ranger were pictured together. But Kitrick?” He tsks, a wild smile spreading across his face. “That’s just a bonus.”
I’ve barely screamed Sebastian’s name before Spider lunges for me. His knuckles meet my jaw and pain blasts across my face, up my cheek, and into my head. I stumble, hitting the floor, trying to blink through the quick throbbing. Blood and saliva fill my mouth, and I heave breaths into the floor.
Spider crouches in front of me. “This is the problem with men like Colt.” He sighs, his tobacco breath turning my stomach. “They grow too attached to the women they should be controlling.” He stands.
Sebastian starts bellowing my name, and something crashes. He’s fighting to get to me. To save me. To do what he promised Colt he would.
“This isn’t going to be a happily-ever-after, Denver,” Spider whispers. “That’s not how life works.”
He hits me again, and everything goes black.
Roars of pain pull me from a deep, painful slumber. My face aches, my lips taste of iron, and judging from the ache in my shoulder, I’ve been lying on the dining room floor for a while.
And the sounds that woke me are coming from Kitrick.
He’s on his knees, hands behind his back, shirtless. He’s coated in sweat, and thick rivers of blood flow down his front, unusual patches of red scattered across his chest.
Oh, God.
Spider is cutting pieces of his skin off.
“Stop,” I mumble, trying to push myself up. My head spins, but I try to keep a firm grasp on reality.
Spider pulls off another piece of flesh and tosses it onto the ground. Kitrick lets out a pained exhale, panting fast, eyes wide.