I’m going, whether he knows it or not.
“Zoe, are you listening?” Max’s voice draws me out of my train of thought, and I glare at him.
“No. I was thinking.” I roll my eyes trying to go back to the thought that’ now drifting away before I could get a grasp on it.
“Well, if you are wanting to go with us tomorrow, I need your undivided attention.” He scoffs and turns back to the projection on the wall.
We’re back in the conference room and they have been discussing this plan for over an hour, except there’s one hole in the plan.
“Wait.” I stand from my chair and round the table where Max is standing.
“Excuse me?” Max asks as if this is the most offensive thing I’ve ever done.
“No seriously, I need the floor, please sit.” I give him my best pleading eyes, hoping he will listen just this once and let me have my way.
Max’s hands fly up in surrender and he practically stomps to the chair at the opposite end. I point at the map they have projected on the wall, “There’s one problem.” I start and try to piece together my words so I can convey exactly what needs to happen. “This is supposedly where the drop is going to happen right?” I ask, looking to Brandon for confirmation. Brandon nods, so I continue, “This location makes no sense. There are a ton of legitimate businesses around, and not to mention there is a precinct a block away. The surveillance is way too prominent in this area, this has to be a false location.”
This seems to catch everyone’s attention, and all my men sit up in their chairs to listen in. “With the date and location change on such short notice, the entire drop sounds false. It’s like they panicked and are trying to throw us off their scent.” I continue, zooming out the projection to shrink the map and drag it just a little bit further. “Brandon, can you read back that new address you were given?”
Brandon pulls out his phone and taps a few times before saying, “Sure.” He clears his throat. “1014 Yesler Road.”
I stare at the map for a while, wracking my brain as to why this location looks so familiar. And as if struck by lightning I jolt towards the laptop and begin typing furiously.
“What is it, Little Devil?” Teddy’s comforting voice comes from my right.
“It’s not a false address, but it isn’t totally accurate.” I rush out the words when I find what I’m looking for. I take the second map I found and change the opacity as I lay it over the already projected map. “The drop is in the tunnels.”
“Holy shit.” Dean stands from his chair and his actions are mirrored by Brandon and Max. “They have been using the tunnels. That’s how they are nowhere but everywhere. How have we never thought of that?” The bewilderment on all their faces is honestly satisfying. I have finally been made useful; I have finally continued in a way that isn’t sex or bloodshed.
“I completely forgot about the tunnels, and I must have repressed the memories for years. I know these tunnels, because that is also how I escaped my father’s house undetected. I remember now.” I explain in a rush, now pacing with my hands on my hips. “You have to let me go with you tomorrow.” I say, speaking directly to Max. “You won't find your way out of that labyrinth without me.”
Without even considering it, Max says, “No. You’ll be staying here with increased security. We are leaving tonight to get ahead of this.” He starts to walk away but I remove the dagger from my hip and throw it as hard as I can towards the back of his shoulder.
As expected, Max whirls around and catches the dagger by the blade and he’s squeezing so hard that blood begins to trickle down his arm.
“Zoe. You willnotfight me on this.” His voice is dark, and cold. Sounding like he has now totally distanced himself from me.
Zoe,not Harpy.
“Max—.”
“NO!” He roars. “I will not be responsible for you going back down there, to that hell. You willnotbe going. You will be here where it’ssafe.I will chain you up in Teddy’s fucking basement if I have to. This is final, and I will not entertain any fucking arguments. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?” Max’s tone is different. I’ve never heard him so volatile. The dagger finally clatters to the hardwood floors and the sound echoes around the now silent room.
For a long beat, the only sound breaking the silence is the steady drip of blood tip tapping on the floor.
Tip tap. Tip tap. Tip tap.
“Yes. Sir.” My voice is shaken, and weaker than I’ve ever heard it. I’d be humiliated if I didn’t see the same fear reflecting back at me in the others’ eyes.
This is where I need to fold. I need to bend to his will, because the seriousness in his tone leaves no room for argument. And something tells me if I dare to be anything but pliant right now, it will be the last thing I’ll ever do.
Obsession is a crazy concept, isn’t it? To need to protect something so vigilantly, you’re willing to kill it.
Without another word, Max turns out of the room and the other three follow.
I am once again— alone.
It’s been three hours. I’ve been held up in my bedroom, not wanting to face any of the guys after showing such weakness.
