Chapter 32
EDEN
The day Eden went missing…
“ I f you can’t get out of that hold, then I should put a bullet through you now, Milo!” I bark at the newest trainee. Till isn’t even breaking a sweat as the kid fights against him.
Behind me, I hear the crunch of footsteps.
I turn my head enough to see Larkin speaking with Jude.
My stomach twists, knowing that there have been more and more problems lately.
If Larkin is here, it’s likely to pass on more information from Caius.
Which probably isn’t good. The rebels are pushing too hard, and sometimes I fear Kieran is seconds away from setting the entire city on fire out of frustration—if only to keep them from doing it first.
“Let him go.” I don’t even look back as I instruct Till, but a thud and a cough tell me he did as he was told. Rising to my feet, I tell them, “Go get water and hit the weights. We’ll pick this up later.”
Then I’m stalking toward Jude as I watch Larkin walk back to his car. Jude doesn’t even turn his head as I come to a stop next to him, though I know he heard me. Instead, he watches the car take the winding path back to the road that leads down the mountain.
The training compound is built on a somewhat flat plain further up the mountain than the city itself. It is still nowhere near the compound, but it gives us enough space and privacy while staying at a higher elevation.
“Did something happen?”
Finally, Jude’s icy eyes meet mine. “Of sorts.” I lift my brows, and I can tell Jude is weighing his options. Ultimately, he must decide that I can learn the news before Kieran because he says, “They caught a rebel.”
“ They ?”
“Caius. Or his guards.” His jaw works. “I guess their latest attempt got sloppy. They tripped a silent alarm in the system that told Caius that someone was messing with his wiring again.”
It wouldn’t be the first time. The rebels have been targeting the cages a lot as of late. Interrupting broadcasts. Cutting the lights. Whatever it takes to keep us all off the mats.
“And where is the rebel?”
“Larkin says they’ve got him tied up and under heavy security in the underground rooms.”
I nod. The underground rooms aren’t used for challenges or betting. They are where someone is beaten, threatened, or tortured if they aren’t brought here. It’s a neutral location that keeps everyone away from the compound but allows the guys a secret place to work. Few even know they exist.
“Are you going to get Kieran?”
Jude nods. “But the three of them are with Miles right now. It could be a while.”
I know he doesn’t want to interrupt and raise Miles’s suspicions. Jude will want Kieran to decide what Miles learns, which means we can’t tip him off.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t get to work early.
“Send Till to wait for Kieran.” Jude arches a brow. “I want to go to the cages now.”
He stiffens. “Eden…”
“We don’t know how long we have before they realize someone is missing. Come on, Jude.”
“No. There’s no way. Kieran would?—“
“Kieran trusts my judgement and knows that I can handle myself.” I give him a knowing look. “He’ll have no problem with me going to bloody up a bastard who has been causing far too much trouble.”
Jude huffs. “I’m not so certain. He doesn’t like you in the city without him.”
“And yet I survived twenty-eight years there just fine.” I cross my arms, more than ready to go toe-to-toe with Jude. “You’ll be with me, and the rebel is tied up. I won’t be in any danger.”
He tips his head back, and I hear the soft groan he tries to suppress. I know that I’m no good for Jude’s health. None of us make his job easy.
Straightening, he shoots me a glare. “Fine. But you will do whatever I say while we are there.”
“Deal.” I stride for the car, knowing damn well I never follow anyone’s instructions.
Jude knows that, too, but he still follows me to the vehicle. He’s not happy about it—I can tell—but it’s worth the risks to get to this rebel sooner rather than later.
We’re both silent during the short drive to the cages. I check over the knives at my thighs and tucked in my boots, my guns holstered at my ribs. My hands are already taped since I was training, so I’ll easily be able to fight if necessary.
Jude parks at the back entrance and steps out of the car, scanning the area before he lets me out.
My skin prickles as I slip down the alleyway where Kieran first cornered me, Jude at my back, but I ignore it.
Adrenaline is already pumping through my body, and I’m sure that the reaction is from that.
Inside, the main floor is empty. During the day, no one is out near the mats. But once I wrench open one of the doors that lead to the back rooms, I find bustling activity.
I know most of the guards, so I ignore their glances as Jude and I wind our way toward the center of the building. I’m not surprised when Larkin falls into step beside me, probably having seen us on the cameras.
“I didn’t expect you to get here so fast.” A smirk plays on his lips. “Or that you’d be here without your husband , Eden.”
Larkin isn’t the only one who finds it amusing that I married Kieran.
I’ve been well known as blunt, brutal, and liable to slit anyone’s throat for looking at me too long.
The concept that someone as wild as me and as vicious as the mafia leader would choose to settle down—if you could call our marriage that—was a shock for most people.
“He’ll be here soon,” I answer as I turn a corner and find the open central space where all the halls lead.
No spectator ever comes back here. This is where the medics stitch people up, where fighters can purchase food from vendors, and matches are assigned. It’s the true hub of the cages, though Caius does a good job of making the betting tables seem like it.
Against the far wall is a door that I know is locked and leads to a set of stairs. Hidden in plain sight and well monitored, no one goes through that door without Caius—and probably Larkin—knowing.
“Are you hoping to join us?” Jude’s flat tone tells Larkin how little he wants to play games today.
Larkin smirks. “Wanted to make sure you don’t get lost. It has been a while since you graced us with your presence.”
Jude scoffs but doesn’t answer.
Larkin pauses in front of the door, pressing the card against the panel that is flush with the wall. It’s nearly impossible to see. A soft beep sounds and Larkin pushes down on the handle.
There’s a small landing so the stairs aren’t visible even with the door open. Jude steps through first, and I follow. Larkin, however, stays in the doorway.
“There’s a button here.” He points to a small, silver circle above another scanner next to the door. “Buzz it when you’re done, and I’ll come let you out.”
He shuts the door behind him, and soft lights flicker along the stairs, guiding our path down. Despite knowing about the underground rooms, I’ve never been here before, so I follow Jude as he takes the lead.
They end at another hallway lined with doors, and Jude pauses, scanning them. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but something must tell him which room is occupied because he starts walking again to the second door on the right.
Jude pulls out a keycard identical to Larkin’s, pressing it to another near-invisible panel on the wall and unlocking the door.
He pushes the door open, revealing a small, concrete room.
There’s not much to it besides a metal table against the back wall, a shelving unit with different supplies, and a drain in the center of the floor.
And a man tied to a chair.
My hands twitch, eager to pull my knives out as we enter the room, but I don’t yet. I force myself to stay calm, my face blank, as I stalk toward my newfound prey, Jude taking up his post in front of the closed door.
It’s been far too long since I’ve really gotten my hands bloody, and this asshole has been causing my man problems. Which means he’s been causing me problems.
And I love solving said problems. Permanently.
The rebel hasn’t even stirred since we entered the room. His head sags forward, arms and legs tied to the chair’s.
Gripping his hair, I yank his head back and smack him on the cheek. Not lightly.
It startles him, but I don’t let go of him as he jerks, eyes flying open. For a moment, I watch as they adjust to the light. And then they narrow on me.
It seems he knows who I am.
“Let’s have a chat.” My lips twitch, but I fight it. I like my target bloody and terrified before I fully unleash. “I’m going to ask a question. You are going to give me an honest answer. And this will stay pleasant. Understood?”
He just glares at me, which sends a thrill through my body. I never want to do it the easy way.
“Let’s start simple. I even know the answer to this one, but I’ll give you a freebie. Are you with the rebel cause?”
He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t so much as blink.
I cluck my tongue. “You’d rather I make you talk?” Silence. I shrug. “Your choice.”
I move so fast that the man can’t track it. Hand still fisted in his hair, my other slams into the side of his face. My knuckles make solid contact, and he groans.
“Do you want to answer now?”
“Yes,” he snaps, his cheek already swelling.
“Good job.” I pat the spot I just hit like I’m praising the asshole. “Next question, what were you trying to accomplish when you got caught?”
He just glares at me, and I’m getting tired of that response.
I shake his head with the grip I still have on his hair. “Come on. It’s a simple question. Were you cutting wires? Setting the fuse for another fire? I’m not asking anything hard here.”
His jaw ticks as he clenches, and I sigh like I’m annoyed. Really, I’m eager to hit him again.
I release my grip on his hair so I can land two quick punches, a combo that whips his head side to side. This time, I’ve managed to cut his cheek, and I try not to let the need to go further, to spill more blood, overtake me before I can ask more questions.