22 Damien
Per my father’s request, we followed Drake to this secret entrance he told us about.
My eyes were attentive, keeping watch just in case I noticed her from any direction.
I couldn’t openly protect her, so I had to hope and pray my warning was enough.
The day started dreary, resembling my soul.
Not that I ever experienced much happiness, but Kit was my light in my darkest hour.
Having to be part of this witch hunt unraveled the remaining strand of joy I felt.
My father’s men took in the shambles remaining of the warehouse buildings around the river, and it was hard for us to believe there was some type of empire below.
A few drunken homeless people were passed out near the corners of the buildings to stay dry from the rain, but nothing screamed actual people lived below.
“The entrance is this way.” He pointed to a small shed that sat near the buildings but was distant enough to not fit in.
Going inside, we made our way down a set of stairs within the dingy room.
Though, the little space had nothing in it to capture our attention other than rusty tools on the floor.
This place looked homeless and abandoned for a good reason.
No one wanted to be near the docks because of all the bad things that happened over here.
There was a metal door at the bottom that my father’s men tried to open, but the door wouldn’t budge. Not a single shift came from it, so my father’s men set up devices all around that would explode the locks and joints without causing an actual explosion to take place.
Once they were all set up, we waited for the sound as it reacted with the door and pushed the hinges completely out.
Three men helped guide the door to the floor, but we were only met with a pile of rocks on the other side.
The rock formation had mold and moss growing on it as though it had been there longer than two weeks.
There was no way this could be the place Kit was hiding, and my father noticed the same thing.
“This has aged with time, so there was never a door here that went to something else.”
Drake lifted his hands in surrender as he panicked for what my father might do to him.
“I swear, this is the spot. They were always really good about keeping everything a secret, so maybe they blew up the exit they led the Sellers out for them not to come back in. If you don’t believe me, ask them. This was the spot.”
My father quite liked that idea because he and the Sellers had been in cahoots for years. It was why they treated him like royalty when we went to the auctions. “I’ll do just that, but that will have to be a task for tomorrow. I have to go collect a certain guest for our home.”
A new wave of apprehension befell me because I knew exactly who he meant. I had tried to warn Kit, but I felt like my attempt had been futile if he was talking so highly about it right now. “You were able to find her?”
“Indeed, I was, and she left me with what would motivate her to come. Kit Andrews has a friend in our community that makes a perfect target to draw her out. You might not have heard of Amanda Woods, but you’re about to meet her.
” Cackling, my father knew he had won some type of vicious game no one else knew he played.
I just hated the knowledge that he would hurt Kit through a friend.
It meant I wasn’t the only one at the party watching her a few nights ago, so his new companion must’ve been there.
I just had to hope and pray this new buddy of his didn’t see me there, or what I left behind on that table.
If Kit was coming back to my father’s chokehold, I’d have to try getting her out once again.
It wouldn’t be easy because I knew my father was keenly aware of what happened last time.
He couldn’t blame me for her escape, but that didn’t mean he trusted me now.