Chapter 37
LANDON
My head is a lead weight, throbbing in time with a slow, steady drip I can’t place.
The first thing I’m aware of is the cold, unforgiving bite of metal against my wrists.
The second is the scent of lavender and antiseptic.
I blink my eyes open, the world swimming into focus in nauseating waves.
I’m in a small, sterile-looking room, tied to a heavy wooden chair.
And Jane is crying.
She’s kneeling in front of me, her shoulders shaking, her pretty face streaked with tears. “Landon, oh my god, Landon,” she sobs, reaching out to touch my knee. “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop them, I really did.”
My mind is foggy, but my training kicks in.
Assess the threat.
De-escalate.
“Jane,” I say, my voice rough. “Hey, look at me. It’s okay. We’re going to be okay. Just untie me, and we can get out of here.”
She looks up, her eyes wide and glistening, and for a second, I see genuine fear. But something shifts. The tears stop. A slow, terrifying smile spreads across her face, twisting her features into a mask of pure, gleeful malice. The sobbing in her throat morphs into a low, bubbly laugh.
“You’re so sweet, Landon,” she says, her voice now smooth as silk, devoid of any trace of the hysterical girl from a moment ago.
“Always the hero. I was so shocked when I first saw you at the hotel with Ryker. I really believed you were dead. My sister thought you were too. But she appreciated the insight your little ‘death’ gave us into Ellie’s state of mind. ”
My blood runs cold. The connection clicks into place with the sickening finality of a cell door slamming shut.
Jane acted like she barely spoke to Aria, that the two were estranged. She feigned surprise, but this entire time…
She was on Aria’s side.
Probably feeding her information.
Telling her what we knew.
Jane led us straight to Aria’s apartment, knowing we would find jack shit there.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I knew I shouldn’t have trusted her—life has taught me the only people I can rely on are Mania and Ellie—but I thought she was Ellie’s friend.
Fuck.
“You,” I breathe, the word tasting like ash.
“Me,” she purrs, rising to her feet. She begins to unbutton her blouse, her movements slow, deliberate.
“You know, I always had a massive crush on you. All that broody intensity. All that loyalty.” She lets the shirt fall open, revealing a simple lace bra.
Her hand trails down her stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of her skirt.
“I thought about you a lot, especially at night. It’s a shame we have to kill you. We could have had so much fun.”
I strain against the ropes, the fibers digging into my skin, but it’s useless. I’m trapped.
A wave of disgust and fury so potent it makes me dizzy washes over me. This is what she is. This is what she’s always been. A monster in a pretty package.
New rule—Beckett will be required to do an extensive background check on all of Ellie’s potential friends.
Were Victoria and Piper a part of this too? I refuse to believe they all betrayed me, betrayed Ellie, betrayed us.
“Maybe I don’t have to kill you.” Jane takes on an edge that she probably thinks is seductive.
Her lips push out in a pout that seems…genuine.
“I never understood what was so special about Ellie. Why you five flocked around her like she has some sort of magical pussy.” Her features distort in disgust. “I thought, maybe, you just needed someone to save, a damsel in distress.” Her eyes glimmer, and she holds up her wrists, where I can see ragged scars marring the skin there.
“I needed help, too, you know. But nobody ever saw me. Nobody cared. Everything revolved around Ellie.” She spits the name like it’s poison.
“Jane.” I try to use my softest voice, hoping she can’t hear the rage underlying each word. “I’m sorry, I truly am. But this isn’t the way.”
Anger flares in her eyes, almost incandescent in intensity. “Why couldn’t you notice me? Why? Why is it always about her? Even my own sister chose her over me.” She reaches for her bra strap, and I immediately avert my eyes.
What the fuck does she plan to do to me? Rape me? I don’t like killing women, but I’m not morally against it, like some of the others. If she lays a finger on me, I won’t hesitate to cut it off and stab her in the eye with it.
“The Paragons of Prosperity gave me a purpose, a family. Aria finally paid attention to me.” Out of my periphery, I notice her cup her tiny breasts, thumbs circling the stiff peaks, pulling and tugging, as if putting on a damn show.
Disgust curdles in my gut.
Fuck. This. Bitch.
“But even Aria wasn’t happy with just me. She wanted Ellie, her…daughter.” Once again, she practically spits the word, rage reverberating through her. “But Ellie can have Aria. All I want is you.”
She takes a step closer, her other hand reaching for my face. I recoil, turning my head away, my jaw clenched so tight, I think my teeth will crack. This is it. This is how it ends. Not in a firefight, not in a blaze of glory, but at the hands of a psychotic, backstabbing traitor.
I’ll die before I let her touch me.
Then there’s a dull, heavy thud.
I whip my gaze back toward Jane.
Jane’s eyes go wide with surprise. A trickle of blood runs from her temple. She sways on her feet for a moment, an expression of profound confusion on her face, then she collapses to the floor in a heap.
I glance up, my heart hammering against my ribs. Standing over Jane’s unconscious form is Piper. She’s holding a small, heavy-looking steel dumbbell, her chest heaving, her hair a wild mess around her face. She looks like she’s been through hell.
“Need a rescue?” she asks, a little breathlessly.
I can only stare, my mind struggling to catch up. “Piper? How…?”
“Victoria and I were in a room down the hall,” she says quickly, setting the weight down and moving to work on my ropes.
“Jane told the guards we were just scared little girls, not a threat, so they left us alone. We managed to knock out the two guys watching us. Vic’s on the phone with the police now.
I came to find you and Ryker.” Her hands fumble with the knots.
“I heard some guards talking. They said Raymond got away, that he’s somewhere in the building, but I couldn’t find him. ”
The ropes finally give way, and I surge to my feet, rubbing my raw wrists. I look down at Jane’s still form. A fresh wave of anger, cold and sharp, cuts through me.
“I just… I can’t believe she could do that,” Piper whispers as she follows the direction of my gaze, her voice shaking. “She was Ellie’s friend.”
I glance at Piper, at the shock and betrayal in her eyes.
“Some people will do anything for validation,” I say, my voice flat.
“Especially from a sister like Aria.” Sometimes, there’s no reason for someone’s behavior.
I don’t think that’s the case for Jane, though.
She had a reason—jealousy. She was so insanely jealous of Ellie, she would do anything to destroy her.
Which makes me want to kill her.
Instead of giving in to that dark thought. I turn toward Piper. “Thank you. For the rescue. But you need to leave. Now.”
She shakes her head, her jaw setting with a familiar stubbornness. “No. I’m not leaving you guys.”
“Piper,” I say, my tone brooking no room for argument.
“It’s not safe. This is about to get very, very bloody.
You can’t help me here.” I grab her shoulders, forcing her to meet my gaze.
“But you can help us. There are two people you need to contact. The FBI agents assigned to our case. Their names are Agent Larissa Marsha and Agent Timon Jeffries. If you can get to them, tell them what’s happening.
Tell them we’re inside. That’s how you can help. ”
I rattle off the number Raymond had us memorize, watching as her expression shifts from defiance to stunned understanding. I think she has finally realized how deep of shit we’re in.
“Go,” I say softly. “Get to safety. Call them.”
With one last look at me, and then at Jane, she turns and flees down the hallway. I watch her go before turning my attention to the dark corridor ahead. The anger is back, a focused, burning point in my gut. Jane’s betrayal, Ryker’s capture, Ellie and the others in Aria’s hands.
It all funnels into one single, driving purpose.
They have my family. I’m going to get them back.