Page 124 of Deadfall

“If he touches you, I swear to all that’s fucking holy, I will—”

The comms cut out and this time I failed to stop the half-smile that bloomed across my face. I could just picture Griffin freaking out and wrestling Seven for control over the communications. The fact that I could envision their reactions wiped the smile from my face as quickly as it came.

Was I really going to trust them?

Even though all of their actions pointed to them telling the truth, trust was still hard. But, despite my misgivings that probably stemmed from years of trauma anyway, I was going to try.

Brooks led me through the estate until we stopped outside of a door that was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and shoved me across the threshold before he followed with the other two guards. Mahoney stood near his bar cart, a glass in hand as he stared out the window. I was tempted to take out my knife and go to town, but I knew I had to pick my battles. I wanted Octavius more than I wanted any of these people, even Mahoney, although his time would come, and so would Brooks’.

Mahoney turned as we entered, but he was all business. “There’s a dress on the couch. Get her changed into it and deliver her to the ballroom. Guests start arriving in an hour, and I want her in the cages with the others.”

His attention shifted to me. He didn’t like the sweatshirt, that much was obvious when his jaw tightened. He set his glass down and walked closer.

“At least she’s clean,” he muttered. “Sedate her, but don’t make her a zombie. Octavius likes a little edge.”

Seven scoffed in my ear. I was once again reminded that they were along for the ride.

“I wish we had more time together, my dear,” Mahoney said with a thin smile. “But, alas, I have bigger aspirations than just harassing your father. You, and by extension him, are simply a means to an end.”

He gave me one more once over before he headed to the door.

“Call me with any issues, Brooks.”

Once he was gone, Brooks shoved me toward the couch.

“You heard him,” he barked. “Dress on.”

Fucking caveman.

I stared down at the dress on the couch. To call it a dress was being generous. It was really nothing more than a piece of slinky, blood red fabric. Where the fuck was I going to hide the knife? I sighed heavily.

“That bad huh?” Seven said in my ear.

He had no idea. Conscious of Brooks and the other guards leering at my back, I pulled the sweatshirt over my head. I dropped the knife between the cushions, I’d have to think of something else. There was no way I could conceal a knife with this dress. I pulled it on and sure enough, it left nothing to the imagination—honestly, I might as well have been naked. The dress was low cut in the front, and dropped even lower in the back where it rested just above my ass. The fabric whispered on the ground around my bare feet, and there was a slit that ran up my right thigh.

“Had to abort the knife,” I whispered.

“Damn,” Seven muttered. “Okay, we’ll figure it out.”

I turned to see hungry stares that slid over my body. I ignored them as best I could. Brooks walked over with a syringe in hand. He wrapped his fingers around my neck and it took everything to not retrieve the knife and gut him. But, I could be patient. I was hunting, and he was not my prey.

“I’m going to be sad to see you go, Hurricane,” he sneered. “You’ve been a nice change from all Mahoney’s usual zombies.”

He injected the sedative, but his hand lingered on my neck. I could tell he wanted to squeeze harder, but with all this skin showing, I’m sure he knew Mahoney would be pissed if he left a mark. With one last frustrated growl, he released me and jerked his head at the two other guards who grabbed my arms and escorted me out.

The drug flowed through my bloodstream. It made me sluggish, like how I’d felt in the maze. Movement dragged and glitched, like my brain and body functions weren’t syncing. Everything was too loud and too bright. But, unlike those times before, I knew I wasn’t alone.

Brooks led the way to the Great Hall which had been transformed overnight into a glimmering landscape of gold and black decor. Staff raced around the room as they put last minute touches on everything. Along the edges of the hall, giant birdcages were suspended in the air. Each one contained a woman slouched against the bars. They were all in various shades of red dresses, with silver masquerade masks over their eyes.

My cage was set over what was obviously designated as the gift table. There was also a giant, gold bow on the top of mine. While Brooks lowered it to the ground, a guard settled a gold mask over my eyes to complete my look. Once I was settled in the cage, Brooks hoisted it back into the air. At least the view was expansive. I pretended I had my rifle with me, but the drugs flowed so strongly through my blood, even I knew I’d be a shit shot in my current state.

“If you’re a bird, I’m a bird,” I muttered sarcastically.

“Where’d you end up, gorgeous?” Seven asked.

I sighed. “Great Hall. You can’t miss me.”

“Alright, well, Mahoney has us on shift as far from there as he could put us,” Seven said. “But, once it’s time to move, we’ll be there.”