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I pressed my lips together in a desperate attempt to stifle an empty laugh. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to suppress the urge, one still managed to escape anyway. When his brown eyes narrowed into thin slits, I simply studied the barred walls separating each cuffed couple. It was surreal how the entire van had been divided up into sections, keeping the problem as contained as it could get. All it took was a quick glance in both directions to realize that half of the group was missing.
Which could only mean that they’d been shoved into a separate van or the demons had simply killed them.
Only two of them were from the bottom ranks — mere grunts of the APL — while the rest of us were higher up. I could still hear Tate grumbling under his breath while his twin brother remained silent. Fear haunted their auras with the underlying disappointment that we had essentially failed at our own end game.
“We took so many precautions…” Tate scowled and glared at the rest of us. “How in the hell did this happen?”
Theo kept his gaze low. “Does it really matter at this point? We’re done for, brother. Our lives are forfeit.”
“Because someone didn’t do their job.” Tate ignored his brother’s soft remark. He straightened his back and surveyed the rest of us with flashing brown eyes. “Someone let this happen. Whoever did this betrayed us!”
Beau flinched. His shoulders sank as the older man succumbed into an enraged rant. As soon as Tate’s gaze swung our way, his own dropped.
The shame wasn’t his alone to bear. It took two to tango and I was the one that had tempted him into the supply closet. Although it pained me to realize that I had a part in the APL’s downfall, the emotion wasn’t strong enough to take over. I was still pissed and I was just itching for the chance to punch him.
The anger dissipated slightly when the brakes squealed, followed by a sharp turn from the van. I allowed my body to lean against the left wall. Between a slip-up in judgment and how the events played out, I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. Attempting such a thing in a van owned by demons was even more of a reckless idea. Which left me a ragged mess that was not prepared for a damn thing that was coming my way.
If the demons had torture in mind, I was screwed.
A tense silence fell upon us as the vehicle finally slowed to a stop. My stomach twisted in agony when I heard both of the front doors opening. A quick peek at the others revealed that I was the only one that could hear all the movement outside. Damn my fucking hearing. It was just another thing to remind me that I wasn’t entirely human.
Both of the back doors were yanked open, revealing two men in sleek black suits that seemed more fitting as bodyguard material for a club. The taller brunette smirked at us while his bald companion scowled. It was obvious by the annoyed expression on his face that he’d wanted no part with our transportation. He was only here because that had been the order he’d been given. The sooner we were out of his hair — or lack thereof — the better.
“Ladies and gentlemen…” The grin grew on the brunette’s face. “Welcome to hell. The name’s Gavin. I will be one of your concierges for the evening. Why don’t you all follow me to the lobby?”
The other demon rolled his eyes and lifted the thick chain in his hand. “Will you start pulling them out so we can get them attached and sent on their way? I have things to do.”
Gavin released a weary sigh, pulling a set of keys from his pocket. “You mean you have a pussy that you want to get back to.”
“Not my fault you get off on this shit.”
My stomach churned as the two carried out a friendly banter while the brunette started locking the cuffs from the chain link connecting us all to the floor. I couldn’t look away as he traded the thinner chain for the thick one. For every APL member that was connected to it, he pulled until the prisoner stumbled out of the van.
Both Oliver and Colby crumbled down onto their knees, squeezing a cackle from Gavin and a smirk from his bald companion. The amusement didn’t linger long when Gavin had to ease into the van to unlock the first set of metal doors, granting him access to the next set of APL members. He moved quickly to attach each set to the same chain and prompt them out into the garage with the others.
It didn’t take him long to finally reach Beau and I.
Beau’s brown eyes flickered toward me. “I’m sorry,” he breathed.
“Go fuck yourself,” I muttered. I hadn’t intended to say anything at all, especially with demons within earshot. The way Gavin’s lips curled into a pleased smirk only confirmed that I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
He released a whistle, reaching out for my cuffs first. “Sounds like trouble in paradise for you lovebirds, eh?”
I kept my eyes averted while he pulled on the chain, prompting me off the bench. “You’re assuming there’s any feelings between us.”
“Hot damn!” Gavin cackled. “She’s got quite the mouth on her, that one!” His green eyes flickered toward a cowering Beau. “What are you going to do if the boss takes an interest in her, lover boy? Are you willing to risk your life to save her ass like the knight in shining armor that you are?”
“Today, Gavin.” His companion snapped.
My cheeks grew hot as I marched into the garage to join the others. There was a part of me that encouraged my eyes to wander just so I could take in my new surroundings. Hell, I would need to find my way back outside once I managed to break free from these damn chains. Yet I couldn’t find the will within me to observe. I could feel the questioning gazes from the other members, including heated glares from the brothers.
The shame only grew worse when Beau joined me on the chain line.
By the time Tate and Theo were connected to the line, the entire garage was heavy with mixed emotions and I felt like I was suffocating under it all.
Gavin released a delighted whistle while he slammed the van doors shut. “Can you feel all that in the air, Marcus? Fear…confusion…rage.” He wagged a finger at the brothers with a smirk. “Perhaps it’s a tie with rage and betrayal for you two. You really believed in your cause, huh?”
Tate flung a thick ball of spit at the demon, managing to catch him on the front of his suit before he could pull back in time. “Go to hell, filth,” he snarled.
