39. Ember
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
EMBER
T his seemed like such a good idea.
Until right now.
There’s something about the plan that feels a lot like a lamb walking to its own slaughter, and as much confidence as I managed to muster when I was talking to Orion, it all falls away the second I get out of the car.
It’s because it feels too easy.
Like all the pieces fell into place with a little too much ease, and I can’t shake that feeling.
I make a point to keep my eyes down, not keeping an eye on my surroundings the way I have been my whole life, because that’s the point.
I’m the bait.
I’ll walk into the bar to meet Lucas and walk out, expecting to be taken.
They’ll try to shove me in a car, van, truck, whatever, and Orion and his team will swoop in to save the day. It’s as foolproof as terrible plans get, but that doesn’t help the anxious feeling rolling around in my chest.
I cross the street, my hands shoved in the pockets of the sweater I’m wearing, and shake off the nerves.
I’ve got this.
I do this, and it’s all over.
I do this, and I’m finally free.
I do this, and I’ll finally be able to start over, without debt and my brother’s promises hanging over my head.
My heart pangs at the thought of Travis and the idea that he’s responsible for this mess. If he hadn’t told Lucas I would marry him, perhaps none of this would have happened.
I could have just kept working for him, paying down my debt one job at a time, and when I finally reached zero, I could have walked away with my head held high.
The bar comes into view, and I force the tension from my shoulders.
This is going to work.
It has to work.
“You’ve got this, Ember,” Killian says into my earpiece, startling me. “And Orion says a bunch of shit I’m not repeating.”
I huff out a laugh, keeping my eyes focused on the sidewalk so no one watching sees my sudden amusement.
Orion can hear everything on my end, but I can’t hear him. We thought it was better that if things don’t go to plan, I won’t have him in my ear, losing his mind.
And it really didn’t take that much convincing to get him to agree to it. To the point that Killian told me I’ll be the one to deliver all bad news from now on.
He was joking…I think.
I only allow myself a moment to steel myself before pushing through the heavy wooden doors to the bar.
It’s a run-down place that would probably be condemned if the health inspector saw the condition, but I’ve been here a couple of times to meet with Lucas before Travis died. I don’t know why it took me so long to remember it existed.
“Ah, the prodigal thief returns.” His voice sends a shiver of hatred through me, but I keep my mask of indifference firmly in place.
“Lucas,” I say, my tone bored as I take in the other people in the room.
Cain sits behind Lucas, his frame far too large for the wooden chair he’s perched on.
Another of Lucas’s lackeys stands by the back door, ensuring no one can come in that way, and the owner of the place is behind the bar, his eyes glued to the glass he’s been drying since I walked in.
“I knew you’d come crawling back.” Lucas leans back in his seat with his legs spread wide. He tries too hard to look like he’s the most important person in the room, and I barely catch myself before I roll my eyes.
“Your eyes must be deceiving you, because I’m certainly not getting on my knees for you,” I snap back with my usual snark. “You demanded my attendance, and here I am.”
His eyes harden as I step further into the room, taking the seat across from him and crossing one leg over the other, pulling the jeans I’m wearing tight.
“Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?”
I sigh and tug the check Orion helped me write before we left the penthouse from my pocket, dropping it onto the table between us. “Here’s what’s remaining of my debt, plus some interest.”
He glares between me and the folded piece of paper between us before snatching it up. His eyes move over the figure, and his face turns a color of red I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.
Bingo.
“Where the fuck did you get this kind of money?”
I shrug. “Found a boss that actually pays me properly.”
“You don’t want the Hunter as a boss.”
“Good thing I’m not talking about him.” I smirk. “I’m not sure if work in Las Vegas pays significantly better than in Los Angeles or if you were ripping Travis and me off all these years, but it only took two months to get that together.”
It’s only partially a lie. The money on that check didn’t come from any jobs I did for Max, but I did make more than enough to cover the remainder of my debt in that time.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growls.
“Don’t I?” I raise a brow.
“This isn’t enough.”
“It’s more than enough, especially because I did some digging, ran some numbers, and found the jobs I did for you should have paid off everything we owed you in the first year, and that was before I even got good at it.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is,” I say, my body the picture of calm as my heart riots in my chest. “It wasn’t hard to work out. Especially once I got access to your books.” I laugh softly.
His face turns a deeper shade of red, telling me he’s seconds away from snapping. Exactly as I expected.
The man is so predictable. It’s almost laughable.
“Careful, Ember,” Killian says softly into the earpiece, and I keep my face neutral. “Don’t goad him too much or he might hurt you before we can get to you.”
“Anyway.” I push my chair back. “I just wanted to pop past with that and to let you know that I hope I never hear from you again.”
I turn to leave, my heart beating erratically in my chest, and I can’t quite tell if I’m enjoying this game, or if I’m fucking terrified. But I only get a few steps before someone wraps their hand around my waist and face.
I realize too late that there’s a cloth in their hand, and the chemical smell catches me off guard. I take a deep breath of it and within seconds, the darkness beckons me toward it.
The last thing I hear is Killian’s voice barking orders before the world falls away, and I’m left with nothing but the black.