“Oh shit.” My hand flies up to cover my mouth. She’s standing in front of the burned-down remains of Richard Pierce’s home.
“What the fuck?” Sam mutters, leaning forward.
The anchor’s voice echoes throughout the room. “I am standing here in front of the remains of the home of—if you can believe this—Senator Richard Pierce. The home seems to have been burned-down for quite some time, so the question is: Why are we just now hearing about it? Well, as it turns out, ABO TV has an inside source that can tell us just that.”
“I thought you asked if we could hold off?” I frown, turning to West.
“He did.” Declan’s eyes don’t leave the screen. “I had a better idea.”
I open my mouth to retaliate, but then the news anchor keeps talking. “In a shocking twist of events, this reporter has been hand-delivered evidence that connects Senator Pierce to the disappearance of at least fifty omegas over the last three years.” My heart drops into my stomach. This isnotwhat we talked about. “We have turned the information over to the FBI,who have assured us that they will be taking this investigation and treating it with the utmost importance. The whereabouts of Senator Pierce are currently unknown, though the authorities have recovered three bodies from an underground prison of sorts. Is he in hiding? Is his disappearance at all related to the sudden absence of Senator Erik Kinsley? Or has our previously beloved senator met an equallygravefate? Only time will tell. This is Kirsten Graves, six o’clock news.”
The room is silent as Declan turns the TV off.
“What the fuck did you do, Dec?” I whip around to face my brother.
He gives me a ‘what the fuck’ look. “I put pressure on Xavier Bowen. We gave the authorities the information they need to start digging.”
“Xavier still has Adela!” My heart is racing with panic. I need to find a way to check on her. I need to make sure she’s okay.
My phone rings.
The phone that nobody but the members of this compound have the number to.
The caller ID reads “Unknown Number”.
There’s no logical explanation for it, but I know deep in my chest—it’s Xavier.
I stare at the phone.
It continues to ring.
Sam tries to take it from me, but I shake my head, taking a deep breath before hitting the “accept call” button.
“Hello?”
“You did a bad thing, Josephine Harding.” Xavier’s cold voice echoes in my ear.
“I can’t say I rightly know what you’re talkin’ about.” I try to keep my voice calm, but my hand starts to shake.
Kole motions for me to put it on speakerphone, so I do, setting it on the coffee table.
“I tried to be nice, but you couldn’t let that happen, could you?” He sighs. “I offered you a deal, and not only did you double-cross me, you actively chose to try to take me down.”
“Did you really think I was ever on your side? They’ll find out all about you.” I’m suddenly feeling very, very drained. “You’re gonna go down for all you’ve done.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Josephine.” He lets out a small laugh, making my skin crawl. “You don’t know how many men I have in the FBI that can squash any evidence before I become a blip on their radar. No, I’m not worried about me.”
“Then we’ll tell them about Thornfield.” My chin juts out. “You’re at the very top of that chain, and there’s no hidin’ that fact, Xavier.”
“It would be most unfortunate if you told anyone about what happens at Thornfield, considering its newest resident.”
My blood turns cold. “Newest resident?”
“I suppose she’s not really new, considering she had been inside for six months before being released. Unfortunately, it seems that dear Adela is having a hard time adjusting to life on the outside. My psychologists thought she might benefit from more time at Thornfield.”
I’m gonna throw up.
“You monster,” I grind out, my fists clenching tight. “How could you put your daughter-in-law and future grandchild back in that place?”
