44. Summer
The humid airclung to my face and underarms. My new beautiful gown was now ruined by sweat, and my hair was a frizzy mess. I”d lost my heels.
The sounds of chanting made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Gold demon horns led the way, with two men on both sides of me, holding me tight, forcing me forward at a quickened pace.
A splinter in the wood at my feet made me wince and stumble, but the two men kept me upright.
There was a low pounding noise, and I couldn’t tell if it was my frightened heart, or something else.
”What”s going on?” My words sounded weak and frightened. All sense of confidence I”d felt from earlier had vanished in a second.
I”d been laughing at Tucker only minutes earlier, trying to keep my jealousy stifled while watching Rook talk to that woman.
Now, I was being dragged over the marsh on a thin and rickety dock. The moon was full overhead, and dread filled my chest at the sight ahead: a group of men at the end of the dock.
They were all wearing dark suits and matching black masks, hiding their eyes. The mood was serious, somber, dangerous.
I struggled to breathe, my airway blocked by the panic rising inside me.
When we”d reached the men, I was forcefully dumped, falling at the feet of these men.
The pounding sound grew louder, and I realized it wasn’t my heart, but drums and chanting. The sound grew louder, casting an eerie sound over the swamp. I gulped, feeling lightheaded.
Two polished shoes approached, and I looked up to stare at the man: a bald head and a trimmed, black and grey beard. He didn’t wear a mask.
”Summer Duvall,” Emerson Forten said. ”You have been called to council.”
There was the stomping of feet from the men on the dock. Combined with the pounding of drums in the background, it matched the pounding of my heart.
”Y-yes?” I tried to be brave. I climbed to my feet and looked at the men. Most of them were still wearing masks, fucking cowards. I stared them in the eyes defiantly. At this, a few of them seemed to grow uncomfortable, some of them glancing away.
”Saul Vanderhorst has informed me that you were assigned a specific task.” Emerson said, nodding at the man in the gold, demon-horned mask: Saul.
He was flanked by another man, and I stared in shock, suddenly realizing who he was: Harrison. The red-haired boy who’d tried to hurt me the night of mom’s wake.
He was Saul’s son.
I’d forgotten that until this moment, seeing them standing next to each other. Even though they each had a different hair color, everything else about them was the same, including the coldness in their eyes.
”Despite my many warnings,” Saul said, “it doesn”t seem that you”ve gotten any useful information on Mr. Craven,” he said, a cold sneer to his words, ”except for maybe a good fuck or two, which does nothing for the Magnolia.” He looked at Emerson, “The man is clearly infatuated with her, but she”s been unable to gather any advantageous secrets we can use against the man. At least, none that she”s shared with me.”
“The slut’s probably not even trying,” Harrison jeered. “Giving away that pussy for free.”
“Shut up,” Saul barked at him, making Harrison’s jaw snap shut, his angry eyes flashing at me.
”Is this true, Miss Duvall?” Emerson asked. There was disappointment in his tone.
Undergrove, Undergrove, Undergrove, the word repeated itself over and over in my head. Rook”s real last name, the information he”d given me to use for this exact moment. It sat on the tip of my tongue like a weight.
But my throat was tight, and I was choking, drowning, unable to speak.
How could I possibly reveal Rook’s secret? After everything he’d done for me?
And hadn’t I promised mom I would protect the ones I loved?
Did I love Rook?
”Do you understand the consequences if you cannot fulfill your obligations?” Emerson asked.
I shook my head, a low and rusty sound emerging from my throat. ”No.”
He sighed, shaking his head. The gesture was condescending—as if frustrated he was dealing with either an obstinate or stubborn child. “Saul will have ultimate authority on how to punish you, since your agreement was made with him specifically.”
”It wasn”t an agreement,” I stared him down, finding my voice, growing angry that he was being so damn condescending. ”I was forced into it.”
”You willingly signed the contract with me. In that contract, it states that we can change the requirements of the contract. Saul may have,” he glanced at Saul, almost disapprovingly, ”used a little unnecessary force when he informed you of the changes, but that is allowed. Did you not receive several offers from the men of the Magnolia?”
”Ye-”
“And did you not receive payment for your sister”s living expenses. Your phone and utility bills were paid. Among other things?”
”Yes, but that was Rook--”
”As was his duty, when he applied to become your custodian. I heard he also paid for the repairs to your house after the fire. Which I’m sure was a substantial expense.”
I grit my teeth, anger filling me, burning through the fear inside me.
The fire that they started.
“There are rules, Miss Duvall. Rules that you agreed to when you signed the contract,” he continued. “As far as I’m concerned, our part of the contract has been fulfilled, beyond what was required of us. And when you break your end of the contract, there are consequences. Do you understand, Miss Duvall?”
I swallowed down the knot in my throat and stared into his eyes. “Yes.”
“Now,” he took a step closer, his face unemotional, ”Do you have the information Saul has required of you, or not?”
I didn”t answer. I couldn’t. My throat was locked up, the word, Undergrove unable to spill out.
Emerson sighed impatiently, ”It”s a simple question. Yes. Or no.”
”No,” the word burst from me, the defiance in me finding its voice.
”No?” He crooked an eyebrow upward. For the first time tonight, he seemed to actually be interested in what was going on. Saul”s breath quickened, his lips pinching, holding off a smile.
”No.” My answer was simple. I wouldn”t give up Rook. Instead, I would suffer the consequences, whatever they would be.
I took in a low breath, feeling at peace with my answer.
Rook taught me to make my own way in life, and this was what I was choosing.
”I see.” Emerson glanced towards the bay. He didn”t speak for a long moment, and I suddenly realized that the chanting had stopped.
The whole world seemed to be on edge, waiting for Emerson to answer. The men surrounding me were quiet, with Saul’s dark gaze on me expectantly. Even the marshes were still.
He finally turned back towards me. He nodded. ”I understand.” Then he turned his back, and walked off.
I stared at him, wide eyed and dumb. Half of the crowd of men moved, following behind him, while the other half stayed behind, watching what Saul would do next.
”Maxon.” Saul snapped an order, and the large bodyguard went to the corner of the dock. He picked up a canvas bag and dropped it at Saul’s feet.
”I’m not surprised that you defied me. You are your father’s daughter, after all.” Saul said, with Harrison leering over his shoulder.
I stared Harrison down. I was no longer the little kid he could fuck around with. If he touched me, I would claw his eyes out.
“He didn”t want to follow instructions either. But, no matter, he learned his lesson, just like you are about to.” Saul said. ”Don”t worry, I may have given up on you, but there”s always your sister.”
“You motherfucker!” I tried to launch myself at him, but the bodyguard was too fast. In an instant, Maxon had captured me in a steel hold, keeping me from clawing Saul”s eyes out. ”Be quiet,” Maxon grunted, low enough that I knew it was for my ears only, ”and maybe you”ll get out of this alive.”
Was he... was he going to help me?
”Fucker,” I growled at Saul before suddenly stilling as Saul pulled something from the canvas bag and held it up for me to see.
Blood drained from my face and the remnants of the champagne I was drinking earlier lurched up my throat. I was going to vomit.
Saul”s eyes tracked my face, taking it all in, and a small smile edged the corner of his lips.
It looked like a—a—a?—
I gulped.
He held up the head and torso of a small alligator, like a trophy for me to see. There was a leather strap around its small snout. A plaid bow tie hanging from its neck.
”I thought this might calm you. Though, the woman I disposed of last night might be more motivating,” his gaze burned into me. “She looked a lot like Callie.”
Panic clawed up my throat but I knew it was only a threat. I’d spoken to her just before we’d left, and I was trusting Rook. He had someone watching her—someone who would immediately take her away if there was any sign of danger.
I looked towards the bag and now saw the dark red stain.
Oh god.
“Did you know that alligators can hold their breath for almost an hour?” He peered over the edge of the dock. “They could be right there, under the surface of the water, and you wouldn’t know until it was too late. And they’ll eat almost anything.” There was a splash in the water below before I realized what had happened---he”d thrown the torso into the water below. “Including each other. And even their own mates.”
Pulling his hand from the bag, he held up the long tail.
I clasped my hand to my mouth, trying to keep the vomit down.
“They’re similar to humans that way,” he shrugged, “If we’re desperate enough. Though I’m not desperate. Just…” he tossed it into the water. “Annoyed when things are no longer useful.”
There was a sudden lump in my throat. I couldn’t breathe. My chest was tight. Heart pounding—like it was going to burst out of my chest. I was going to die of a heart attack, if Saul didn’t carve me up first.
“Have you ever heard of the Luminara?”
I stared at him, wide-eyed and surprised at the change in subject. Remembering the tale Benson had told me about my favorite albino alligator.
His eyes flashed, pain exploding through my face as he backhanded me. ”I asked you a question.”
I flew back into Maxon’s chest and he gripped me, holding me up. Harrison sniggered, his cold laugh stark in the empty night. I could feel a wetness on my cheek—blood and body parts from Saul’s hand.
“That’s a myth,” I growled, watching in disgust as another body part came out of the bag, a chunk of skin and meat and bone. I wasn’t entirely sure they were alligator parts this time.
It sailed over the side of the dock.
“Not a myth,” Saul shook his head, ”I”ve seen it with my own eyes. It follows me everywhere I go, like my own personal guardian. Just as my destiny has chosen me to be your executioner, Destiny has given me my own protector.” Saul pulled out a large chunk of torso. This time, I was sure it wasn’t alligator, but human—a white collared shirt still attached.
Slipping from the bodyguard”s hold like an eel, I landed on my hands and knees and vomited.
When I was done, I stayed there, heaving, fear making my whole body tremble.
I didn”t know where Rook was, but I knew I was going to die tonight.
Saul”s shoes came into my vision, and suddenly he was kneeling next to me. Fingers clenching my chin, he forced me to look upwards. His demon mask made him look so much more evil.
”Are you sure you don”t want to tell me Rook”s secrets?” his voice curled around my insides, squeezing, squeezing. ”I”m sure he”s told you...something.”
I didn”t pull away, and so my next round of vomit splashed all over him, his fancy suit, his squeaky clean shoes.
I cowered, expecting him to hit me like he had before. When it didn”t happen, I glanced upwards.
He was smiling.
His eyes glued to me, vomit sprayed all over his collar, a little on his face.
He didn’t wipe it away.
Just stared at me with that crazy smile on his face.
He tilted his head, “No?”
Where even was Rook?
Maybe he was still inside, dancing with the beautiful woman in white.
Maybe he”d left me to fend for myself. Or ran away—assuming I was going to give him up.
I had no clue.
But it didn”t matter.
He”d taught me one thing that had stuck.
I wasn”t a pawn in someone else”s game.
I was my own fucking person.
And, despite how many things in my life that I couldn”t control, I could control one thing.
My-fucking-self.
My eyes went to Harrison. I remembered that night, how he’d tried to rape me. How Blake held back a kicking and screaming Callie. Rook saved me that night.
And he’d been taking care of me ever since, even when I didn’t realize it.
He’d given up everything for me—his truth. The one thing keeping him protected.
And he’d given that up—for me.
Even when he shouldn’t have, because I’d been so naive and stupid, despite his warnings. When my own father had betrayed him. When no one had been able to save him.
I suddenly realized that Rook had one of the biggest hearts in the world. Sacrificing himself for me with only the promise of betrayal in return.
No one protected him. Not in the way he needed.
Would I be the next one in line to hurt him?
I shook my head, determination filling me—I wouldn”t be the person who betrayed Rook.
Fuck the Magnolia, and especially fuck Saul.
”No.” I stared into that mother-fucker”s eyes. ”I don”t know anything.”
Saul”s face grew red, his eyes filled with rage, and he jerked to his feet. He heaved a chunk of flesh over the dock. ”You want to be alligator meat? That”s fine with me.” Grabbing the bag, he emptied the rest of the fresh corpses over the side.
There was the thrashing of sound below: alligators.
”Take her,” he commanded, and hand heaved me from the wooden dock, pulling me to my feet.
”Tell him,” Maxon said low in my ear, ”Rook told me you knew what to do.”
I shook my head, though panic was beginning to set in. My breathing heaved.
”Summer,” he growled low. “Don’t turn your back on your sister.”
”No!” I struggled to get out of his arms, but his hold was too tight.
”Stupid girl. Your mother would hate to see you so pathetic.”
I lost all meaning of time and space, wishing I could have done more for Callie, but I trusted Rook or Amara to get her to safety.
She would get away from these men.
That was all I could do.
I wouldn’t betray Rook. I had to keep him safe.
My mother would want me to protect the ones I loved.
Because I fucking loved the man.
“No!” I screamed. “I won’t help you!”
The world tilted on its axis. Time became disjointed. I was suffocating. Panicked. Heart pounding so loud.
Opening another bag, Saul pulled out a chainsaw. Harrison’s eyes gleamed with glee. The chanting in the background had begun again, except now it was a higher fever-pitch. Frenetic.
I was about to die.
I was going to die.
I couldn’t breathe.
”Callie,” I choked out, wishing I had done more for her. I closed my eyes. There was a new man’s voice. Arguing. I couldn”t tell who. The panic was too strong.
I was suddenly let go.
Once more, I fell to the ground.
There was a new set of shoes.
My heart leapt. Rook! He”d come to save me.
Blinking, I looked up at my savior.
There was something wrong. It wasn”t Rook, but....
... “Terrance?”
I could hear his voice, and it took a moment for my jumbled mind to understand what he was saying. ”A substantial portion of her inheritance has been recovered, and the fee will come from that.”
”How do I know you”re not lying?” Saul asked him.
”Summer, get up,” Maxon pulled me upwards. “Be strong. Stand on your feet.
”Where”s Rook?” I had a sudden fear that they”d taken him too. That he was in just as much danger as me.
Maxon pursed his lips, his expression unreadable. ”He”s safe, for now. Thanks to you.” He said this like it wasn”t a good thing.
”I have the right to decide the consequences,” Saul yelled, his emotions finally unraveling.
”The fee has already been paid,” Terrance chimed in, pulling out his phone and showing it to him.
In a fit of rage, Saul snatched the phone and hurled it into the water. ”I don”t give a damn!”
”She has fulfilled her contract. You must release her immediately,” Terrance stated firmly. ”Even you are bound by rules.”
Saul”s expression twisted darkly and a sudden calm overtook him. He took a step closer until they were practically nose-to-nose. ”We added a special clause just for her.”
”Where?” Terrance spluttered.
”Page eight.”
There was a tense silence as Terrance pulled out another phone from his pocket. For the first time, I noticed how worn and exhausted he looked. There were deep circles under his eyes and his entire body appeared thin and sunken. He was leaning on one foot uncomfortably. He looked terrible.
”This isn”t a standard contract. You snuck this in,” he seethed with anger, but Saul just had that slimy grin on his face.
”You should have been there when she signed it to go over it with her.”
Terrance”s mouth clamped shut, and there was an unspoken exchange between them.
”Fine,” Terrance shoved his phone back in his pocket and turned to me. ”They won”t kill you tonight.”
“Oh, God,” I sobbed, sagging in Maxon’s arms.
“But,” he continued ominously, “you will have to join the Magnolia indefinitely. They own you now.”