“There, uh—There were men. With him in Dallas,” Andre stammers. “I thought you knew.”
Gabriel slowly shakes his head. “And how would I know that if you didn’t tell me?”
“On the plane—You were on the phone with Kris—” Andre slices a glare at me, like it’s my fault he didn’t do his job.
I wink at him.
“Who?” Gabriel snaps.
Andre visibly swallows. “Um, I think the guy next to him might’ve been Dominic Gonzalez.”
Gabriel’s head rears back. “The head of the Chicago mafia? What the fuck would he be doing with Hans?”
“Maybe it wasn’t him,” Andre backpedals. “I don’t know. I just saw the tattoos and hair…”
Both men turn toward me.
I don’t have to fake my smile this time. “Oh, didn’t you know? Hans is a part of The Alliance now.”
“You’re lying,” Gabriel hisses at me.
I lift a shoulder. “Am I?”
I might be lying; I don’t actually know the details. But the idea of it seems to be rattling this asshole’s confidence, so I’m sticking with it.
Gabriel steps closer into my space. “I was going to let you sit up here, nice and comfortable, until we lured Hans out of whatever hole he lives in and killed him. Then I would have killed you with a bullet to the head. Made it quick. But I think I’ll keep you instead. Put you to work.” He steps back. “Radio Henrik. Tell him we have product for him to transport to the cells. And let him know he can be as rough as he wants.” Gabriel’s voice is filled with a terrible-sounding glee that fills my stomach with dread.
I stand still while they leave, but as soon as the lock clicks behind them, I rush back into the bathroom.
I cannot just stand here and wait for Henrik.
I pull open the top drawer of the vanity.
Nothing new has appeared, and still nothing hard enough to break a mirror.
Then I pause.
Fucking duh.
I yank the drawer all the way out and shimmy it loose.
I tip the contents into the sink and find the best way to hold it two handed, like a square baseball bat.
Then I look down at my bare feet.
If I put my socks back on and the bad guy comes to get me, I won’t be able to run. I’ll just have to be careful and accept the risk of cutting my feet.
Squeezing my eyes shut and turning my head away, I swing the drawer.
The mirror shatters on impact, but I keep my eyes clenched shut for another second before opening them.
Shards are all over the counter, but there’s a perfectly pointy triangle of glass still sitting in the corner of the frame.
Using a washcloth I found earlier, I pry it out, then wrap the bottom half of the mirror chunk in the little towel so I can hold it without slicing my palm open.
I have a weapon. Now I need a plan.
I look around the small bathroom.
I could lock myself in here, but I have no doubt the man they’re sending up would be able to break the door down in moments. And then I’d be stuck in the narrow bathroom with no way out.
But is standing in the main room, facing off, glass chunk to gun, really a better idea?
CHAPTER 113
Hans
The beeping dot on my phone is still in the northwestern corner of the estate.
As we traversed the desert, I watched the dot. I haven’t stopped watching the dot, watching Cassandra’s location, since her plane disappeared out of my sight. But for the first time since getting to the house, she’s not moving.
I can’t tell what floor she’s on, but over the past several minutes, it’s looked like she’s in one room. Pacing, moving a little bit here and there. But for the last forty-five seconds, she hasn’t moved at all.
And I can’t let myself think of all the reasons why that could be bad.
Ten yards to my left, Nero holds up his hand, letting everyone know it’s time.
All at once, from every direction, forty men and women close in on Marcoux’s estate.
Be brave, Butterfly. I’m coming for you.
CHAPTER 114
Cassie
Less than a minute after I get into position, the main door flings open.
I can’t see it; I can only hear it bang against the wall. What I don’t hear is the sound of it closing again.
Heavy footsteps enter the office, and I hold my breath.
Please don’t let this be a mistake.
The man stomps to the bathroom door.
It rattles in the frame.
“You think a little door will stop me?” He chuckles. “This is just foreplay.”
There’s a loud thud as he slams into the door.
I have to slap my empty hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.
Fear courses through my veins.
I’ve never been more scared in my whole life.
I don’t want to be alone with this man.
There’s a second hit, and the man grunts.
I lower my hand and pull in a deep breath.
A third hit is accompanied by the sound of wood splintering.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he taunts, stepping past the wreckage of the bathroom door.
And that’s when I climb out from under the desk and run as fast as I can for the open door.
My bare feet slap against the floor as adrenaline spikes through my body.
The man shouts something, having seen me, but I don’t look back.
I want to close the office door behind me. I want to lock him inside. But I can’t risk slowing down.
The piece of mirror shines in my hand as my arms pump, and I rush through the doorway into the hall.
And that’s when all hell breaks loose.
Somewhere below me, gunfire erupts.
A lot of gunfire erupts.
It’s so much. So loud.
I can also hear glass shattering and men screaming, and it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
Because it means Hans is here.
CHAPTER 115
Hans
When we hit the house, we go loud.
We enter through every door and first-floor window.
We show no mercy.
We don’t have any.
We don’t need any.
Every man and woman fighting with me has hands covered in blood.
And that’s okay.
Because vengeance is rarely clean.
CHAPTER 116
Cassie
The elation of knowing Hans is close is overshadowed by the terror of knowing the man behind me is closer.
My lungs burn as I run as fast as I can down the hall.
The elevator is out of the question, not enough time, but there has to be stairs somewhere.
“Keep running, bitch!” the man shouts from not too far behind me. “This is my favorite part!”
A whimper catches in my throat.
I haven’t even seen the man’s face, but his voice is going to be burned into my memory.
Rooms blur by.
I just have to get to Hans.
I just have to find Hans.
He’ll destroy this man for me. I know he will.
The man laughs behind me.
I feel like he’s toying with me. Like he could have caught me by now.
I push my legs faster.
Just ahead, the wall on my left falls away.
Stairs.
I reach out with my left hand and, just as I pass, grab the railing that climbs up the wall.
My momentum whips me around until I’m looking down the stairs, straight at a woman with bright red hair, holding a gun pointed right at me.