Chapter Twenty-Three
Sabrina.
I groan as I put my semi-dry soiled clothes back on, wincing, definitely wishing I would have packed an extra set of clothes to change into.
But I'll be honest—I didn’t think this was going to work.
I also didn’t think I was going to kill three men and stack their bodies on top of each other like a game of Corpse Tetris.
But then there’s a knock on the door. Panicked, I glance back at Maksim and around the room.
There’s no closet. Just the bathroom. I dive in there, then leave the door open a crack and hide behind it.
“Fuck, Alice, what are you doing here?”
“I went to check on your wife, and she’s gone.”
I step out.
Alice looks as agitated as I feel. She sighs and throws me a maid’s uniform.
“I thought you’d be in here. The next shift change is happening.
It’s almost six in the morning. Put that on.
Do something with your hair. You are so lucky most of the guards today are barely starting their week shift and have no idea who you are.
Maksim, they'll be taking you soon.” She snaps her gaze to me. “Hurry. We need to go.”
I do as I’m told, giving Maksim one last kiss. I tap on the collar around his neck and hold back a shiver. He’s told me its vulgar purpose—to track my husband like he’s a goddamn animal. “Survive.”
He nods curtly, but he doesn’t reply, staring at Alice, but that gaze slides right back to me. “Don’t break.”
This time I don't reply because I’m definitely going to break.
It’s just a matter of when. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.
I’ll never tell a soul, but last night didn’t soothe me enough to keep me satiated.
I feel like a bottle of Cola that’s been shaken with a Mentos tab and fit to fucking burst.
On our way back to my bedchambers, I peer over at Alice. “Does your phone work here?”
“Barely. There are loads of dead zones in this area.”
“Is there a phone around here I can use? One that isn’t being monitored?”
She shrugs. “I doubt it. Then again, I wouldn't know—most of my work is done in the facility.”
I keep my head down as I follow her back down the corridor, making sure my hair covers my face.
I watch her feet, mirroring her every movement, making sure I pause when she does and match every step until I’m back in my bedchambers.
Once we’re inside the ostentatious room, I have no idea why I feel the need to explain myself to her, but I do.
I clear my throat once to grab her attention.
“I have no idea if you’re keeping up these pretenses for my husband or for yourself, Alice, but I want you to understand, no matter what you see or hear me do, it’s all for him.
My goal is to get my husband out alive, my soul be damned. ”
She pauses, hand on the knob ready to leave me be when she tilts her head to glance back at me, her chin to her shoulder.
I take notice of the slight slump of her shoulders and the way her chin wobbles just a bit.
“It’s for both, Duchess. Mr. Ainsworth… he was a good man a long time ago.
I grew up in this house. My mother was his maid. ”
I blink, not remembering a time where I’ve seen her.
“I owe Mr. Ainsworth a debt… that may never be paid off. Long story short, we’ve all had to do things we’re not proud of in order to save those we love.
Some of us sell our souls for the treatment one cannot afford to just be with the only person who has ever loved us unconditionally…
no matter if it were only an extra year before they were taken from you.
” She squares her shoulders back and slips out.
But I fixate on the word she used. Was. Her mother was a maid here.
I change quickly, not wanting to wash off Maksim’s lingering scent off my body. Fuck. I miss him so fucking much already.
Don’t break.
I find my phone and begin to search for any type of signal, climbing the fucking furniture to get to the highest peaks I can.
Then I do it again in the closet. Then the bathroom.
I finally have one bar inside of the fucking shower.
I leave my phone on the bench attached and go to the door to lock it in case Kane gets any ideas and tries to come inside like he did yesterday morning.
I turn on the faucet to the bearclaw bathtub and go to the shower.
I growl in frustration when notifications and an onslaught of messages have it blowing the fuck up. I scroll through them until I find Parker’s thread and open it.
Me: He’s being held in the east wing. There are no windows. He’s chipped. Can you see him?
I almost break when he replies immediately.
Savage: We got it, and we have his location. R U OK?
Me: I’m fine. I killed a few guards. They’re going to find them, aren’t they?
Savage: Don’t worry about that. We’re on standby. Waiting on nightfall but ready to go at any moment, baby. I’m so proud of you.
Me: I gave him the microphone thingy. And your switchblade.
Savage: Good. We can hear him. R U safe?
A knock on the bathroom door makes me jump, almost dropping my only lifeline out of this hellhole.
Me: For now. G2G. Love You.
“Yes?” I call out.
“Sabrina, darling, we’re just about to begin the second game. Are you bathing?”
I swallow my groan and I feel it settle in my stomach that’s already roiling just at the sound of Kane’s fucking voice. “Yes! I’ll be right out! Finishing up now!”
“Be sure to wear something… proper, will you? Not the… comfortable leisure wear.”
I almost throw my phone at the door but settle for throwing my middle finger instead. “Of course! See you in about… ten minutes?”
“That will be fine, darling. I need my good luck kiss.” He raps softly twice on the door, and I hear the bedroom close just in time for me to retch.
God, I've got to get a grip on myself. I’ve vomited so much I don’t think I have any more lining in my esophagus.
I need to be able to deep-throat my men.
My very sore pink parts tingle.
Get it together, you slut.
Fuck. Okay. With a shaky breath I wash down the bile, then go to the sink and brush my teeth, mentally choosing what ‘proper’ outfit I can wear that will allow me to hide my gun and my phone. If they’re coming at nightfall, I need to be good and ready.
For now I choose black, high-waisted pleated pants that flare enough; a loose, white button-up shirt and ankle boots I can run in if needed.
The entire wardrobe I've chosen is easy access. As in, easily accessible to commit murder. Murder-chic. Could be a new thing, right? I’ll speak to Raven about possibly creating a new line.
Oh my god. The line could be called Murder & Co.
Oh my God, Sabrina, focus. I throw on the light coat Kane purchased for me.
Immediately upon opening my bedroom door, Kane is already dressed in his hunting gear.
He gives me his elbow and I take it. “You look ravishing as always.”
I plaster on The Smile. The one my husband hates and makes Parker frown and the one Kane seems to love.
“I have a gift for you.” Kane nudges.
“Oh?”
He stops us in our tracks and pulls out a maroon velvet box from his pocket and opens it.
I let my jaw drop as if the fucking pearl earrings he got me are wondrous.
And they would be… but they’re not… Well, they aren’t pink.
They’re… white. “Oh, Kane, how lovely.” I take them and make a show of putting them on instantly.
“More where that came from, princess.”
I think about my gun for a second before leaning in to kiss his cheek, but he grabs my face and forces a kiss on my lips. Kane tastes of disappointment, early-onset erectile dysfunction, and a bit like lemonade. I break away. “You are too good to me, Kane.”
“I told you, nothing but the best for my future wife. Those are an heirloom, you know? The great Prince Arnelson Ainsworth IV, thirteenth in line, gave those to my great, great grandmother on the day of their wedding.”
I pause at Arnelson and inwardly shake my head at the curious name of his… whatever Arnelson was and smile demurely—“I love them, thank you.” I’m going to thrust them into his eyes later. Hmm. The thought makes me miss Sasha.
We resume walking with my hand tucked into the crease of his elbow, and soon we’re in the dining room to rub elbows with the elite of the elite. There’s so many of them. Knowing they’ll all be dead soon helps me keep my appetite. I eat as much as I can knowing I’ll need the energy for later.
Kane nudges me with his knee. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but could you… slow down? You’re eating like a piglet.”
I peer up to see they’re all staring at me. “Of course.” I put my fork down and grace them with a smile. Was I eating like a pig?
Mr. Ainsworth chuckles from the left of me, where he’s sitting at the head of the table, reaching over to shake Kane’s shoulder.
“Ah, you’re training her well to be an Ainsworth, son.
Although little happy humming sounds wouldn’t constitute as swine, but it is rather.
.. distracting, isn’t it? Right, so, where were we?
Ah yes. The traps have been removed. It is now kill or be killed.
We’ll give them a twenty-minute headstart.
As you all know, this is the portion of the games where it is to each their own.
" He stands up like he’s about to give a presentation to a board room.
“There are now forty-nine of you. Miles Davies’ corpse was found in a tree.
All of his belongings are on him and none in his room.
Seems someone was very smart, as their footprints showed they must’ve used the trees to hide.
So, please be wary of that once the sun goes down.
They always become the animals they are after the first hunt. It’s quite entertaining to watch. Now—”