Chapter 37 Slade
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
SLADE
“I want his daughter held until I say!” I yell at my guard on the phone, then toss it down on the limo floor.
She’s already secure. Knox confirmed it.
The word held is doing more work than it deserves, but Graves doesn’t need to know that.
He only needs to believe she’s vulnerable.
I don’t want to have to make good on my threat, but I will not let anyone get in my way.
“Sir, is that really what you—”
“Shut up, Edmond.” He shrinks back in the seat beside me. We’re screaming down the road to EV, my plan to meet with Graves in the Sovereign Chamber still in effect.
“Did the transfer go through?”
He straightens, pulling out his phone. “Yes. Final amount is ten million.”
I sigh, feeling relief with the weight of the amount. It’s more than any Culling, and more than the entire group of girls combined. It’s sick putting a number on Thea, but I’ll do whatever it takes.
Henry DuPont thinks that by freezing access to my trust fund, he’s limiting me, but he’s wrong. I’m smarter than he gives me credit for, and I’d do anything for her.
Vignola seems to think the number is sufficient.
I texted him shortly after I finished on the phone with Graves.
I need the Eight’s support outside of my grandfather.
To him, this is his way of controlling me, reining me back in under his watchful eye.
Perhaps it’s even a grab for power within the Eight.
The idea he could potentially usurp Graves might live rent-free in the back of his mind.
Either way, most of the Eight care about two things: power and money.
To most of them, Thea isn’t worth it. Use her and move on.
They aren’t worried about Piper, not with Vaughan on the hunt, and when he goes on the hunt, he’s off-grid. Piper Reeves has been a pain in EV’s side for years now, digging into every crack and crevice she can find. Poor girl never stood a chance—I’m surprised she’s lasted as long as she has.
Thea will blame herself. In her attempt to rescue the Market girls, she pulled Piper in, and I hate she’s probably feeling responsible.
My driver pulls into the garage, and I don’t wait for the limo to stop. I dash out the door, running into Kenji as he exits the security booth. Edmond calls something out after me, but I ignore whatever it is. A firm hand grounds me as I rush to the elevator.
“What’s the plan, Slade?”
“I need to meet with Graves and secure Thea’s release. The other piece is already handled. Get out of my way.” I frantically reach for the biometric scanner.
“What do you need?”
I smack the scanner that’s unable to read my fingerprints.
“I don’t know what I need! I need her! I need her safe and away from him.
Damn it, what is happening to me?” I dam the wave of emotion choking me, and when the scanner turns red again, I grab Kenji’s hand and force it to the device.
“Disloyal bastard,” I mutter, hoping somewhere in the void of space and time my words find him because when I do …
The green light flickers, and the voice mutters her seductive “Welcome, Kenji—”
I tear into the elevator, mashing the button over and over, willing it to hurry.
This is because I took an interest in her, saved her from the Culling—put a target on her back.
He hated when I escaped into my room or a close corner with a book or comic instead of feeding into his need for social depravity with him.
Too soft. Not DuPont enough. He’s always hated me, just not enough to get rid of me.
I was his last chance at a legacy. His last chance at another term to, once again, feed his addiction to power and status.
The elevator clicks and opens into the foyer that leads to the club, but I divert, moving around the halls until I approach the Sovereign Chamber. Two Chamber guards stand outside. One palms the weapon at his side, and the other holds up a hand.
“Congressman DuPont. Graves is expecting you. You will need to be swept before you enter.”
I already have my arms out, glaring at them as they pat me down.
When they’re finished, I proceed into the Sovereign Chamber, curling my lip as soon as my eyes connect with Graves. He’s seated at the semicircular cherrywood table of the Echelon Vanguard leadership. The senator folds his arms across his chest, and he leans back in the plush leather chair.
“Slade DuPont. Who would’ve thought we’d be here? And threatening my daughter no less.”
“You know I don’t make empty threats,” I say mildly.
“She’s being looked after. For now.” I act bored, but my heart thumps as I pull out the chair across from him.
Grimacing, I take a seat. Negotiations for Thea will happen at a table.
His daughter for Thea’s release. Then I’ll offer payment.
I’ll bribe him with millions for a woman who’s not even mine to bargain for.
When really, I want to negotiate for her heart and bribe her with Frosted Flakes.
I shudder, thinking how this can’t be her life.
How selfish would I be if I secured her freedom only to expect her to remain with me.
Graves attempts a lazy smile, but when he tilts forward, placing his hands beside his phone on the table, his fingers twitch. I shove my hands into my pockets and manage an indifferent smile.
“Henry seems to think you don’t have the money. What can you offer for her, Slade? That’s why you’re here, right. For her.”
“Say her name.”
He smirks. “Does it make a difference? She’s one of many. The other Market girls have been moved to other EV chapters. She’s the only one left, and she is strung up in your grandfather’s basement.”
My eyes bulge, and I focus past him toward the tinted glass rippling away to reveal the Market girls’ quarters. Workers, dressed in white hazmat suits, move around. Their oversized gloves scrub each inch of the room, their attention to every detail meant to remove any trace of the girls.
“Moved? What do you mean moved?”
Graves checks his phone. “It was too much of a risk with Piper still out on the streets.” Then he types something out, rushed and in a hurry. “I want my daughter.”
“I want Thea released. From EV, from your scrutiny, and with zero risk from the Cleaner.”
“How do we know she’ll keep quiet when she so blatantly ran to Piper?”
“Her concern was for the other girls, and they are no longer a concern. She’s one girl. I’m willing to pay for her severance.” I push out the words as I think of Thea under lock and key with my grandfather.
Graves pretends as if he’s contemplating my appeal, but there’s the all-too-familiar gleam swirling around in his expression. “Henry cut you off. I doubt without his money you’ll have—”
“Ten million.”
Graves freezes. Not because of the number. He finally understands I didn’t come here bluffing.
“Surely that’s enough for one girl you’d most likely only sell for a couple hundred thousand abroad. Let her go, Senator. For your daughter’s sake.” I yank my phone out of my pocket, ready to text Edmond for the transfer.
Graves nods slowly, concern breaking his indifference as he reaches for his phone once more. This time he picks it up and dials a number. He places the call on speaker, and the chilling voice that answers with the screams on the other end makes my heart stop.
“Graves.” Henry DuPont pants between sloppy breaths, but in the background …
Shrill shrieks echo off the walls, elevated above the classical music blaring.
“What are you doing to her?” I spit, face hovering closer to the phone. Evidence of my ire drops across the smooth glass screen. He’s hurting her, messing with her. Stop!
“Slade?”
Chains rattle in the background.
“Henry, Slade has the money. You need to release the girl.”
“He doesn’t have the money. She’s nothing. Property of the Echelon Vanguard for me to do as I please.” He chuckles. “And God, do I please …”
More chains rattle, and it’s followed by a bloodcurdling scream that turns my stomach. My nostrils flare, and I slam my fist on the table. “Don’t touch her!”
Graves swipes invisible dust from the table. “That’s an order. Have a good evening, Henry.” Then he hangs up the phone. I gape at him. “Now, about that ten million. Oh, and my daughter.”
I fumble with my phone, typing out a message to Edmond and instructing him to wire the ten million. Then Knox with the go-ahead. In a matter of seconds, Graves’s phone dings, and he nods. “Always a pleasure, Slade.”
I scramble out of the room, running out the door and back to the elevator.
My mind tricks me into thinking I see her in the reflection of the doors in front of me. I conjure her voice, which evolves into the wails of hysteria. I hate myself for not being stronger, for moving quicker, or fighting harder.
I’ve read about heroes saving the day all my life, while my grandfather made it his mission to turn me into the villain. Well, it’s time I gave him what he’s wanted.
Kenji paces the parking garage as I offload from the elevator. “And? How’d it go?”
“I need a gun,” I say.
He grins. “Yes. Yes, you do.”