Page 51 of Alex

“Oh, of course, let me just bend over backwards to help the child murdering scumbag.” Her tone was derisive, and she knew she had hit a direct blow when he stiffened.

The blow was swift, sudden, and caught her by complete surprise, and her head was thrown back from the force of it. Pain exploded in her right cheek, blood filled her mouth, and tears sprang to her eyes from the pain. Lifting her head, she blinked the tears away and smiled at him. “Now we see the truth,” she said through a mouthful of blood.

“Don’t make me do that again,” he said in a strangely calm tone she didn’t recognise.

This was the man that got the name Osiris. The dangerous drug lord, human trafficker, and killer. “There is something I need, and you’re going to help me get it.”

“How am I going to do that?” She was curious despite herself.

“Simon is nothing more than a front man. He stole the file because I told him to but setting you up was his idea. I allowed it because it played into my plans perfectly. I knew if they thought you were guilty, the British Monarchy would send the hit to their favourite little hit men,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Eidolon coming after you made you run, and you did exactly what I hoped. You ran to our place.” The way he spoke and the tone he used made her feel dirty.

“And how did it help you?” she asked keeping a close eye on the knife he was waving.

“Someone paid me a great deal of money to bring Eidolon and its team members out into the open. Someone who wants them all dead.” A smile of satisfaction crossed his face.

“That is fucked up.” She shook her head in denial.

“Yes, it is but, none the less, it is fact.”

“So, let me see if I have this straight. You had Simon steal the file for you in the hopes that it would expose Eidolon. Simon then had me set up for it which still helped you because you knew the hit would go to Eidolon. But Simon has double-crossed you and now you need me to get the file and expose Eidolon to save my ass and yours. Is that right?”

“Insolence is not pretty on you, Evelyn.” She saw Irish take a tiny step forward.

“So why do you need the file in the first place or is that just a perk?”

“The file is worth millions of pounds to the right people.” He shrugged.

So, it was money and power—the age-old desire for men like him.

“What is on the file?” She wanted to know why she was strung up like a plucked chicken.

“According to Simon the file proves that the current heir to the throne is adopted and is not rightfully fit to rule.”

“Wow, and he knows about this how?”

“I have no idea, nor do I want to. I’m a businessman and the how’s and why’s do not matter. Now, I need your word you will cooperate.”

“Again, what is it exactly that I’m supposed to do?”

“I need you to bring Eidolon out into the open.” His voice was filled with triumph.

She wanted to laugh at the thought that she would betray Alex and therefore Eidolon. “No.”

“You will, Evelyn, or I will make you wish you were dead.” He flipped the knife before stepping back and allowing Irish to step forward. Evelyn knew this would hurt but nothing—no money or threat—would convince her to expose or betray the man she loved and the team she now considered friends.

“Do your worst, Osiris.” Evelyn looked him dead in the eye, her voice cold.

Irish stepped up and landed the first blow to her stomach stealing her breath and making her gasp. She didn’t cry out or show her pain. The next two blows landed on her ribs but each one on a different spot. The blows rained down until she felt delirious with pain, but she still didn’t cry or scream.

When they stopped, Irish stepped back, and she let her head fall forward as pain began to radiate through her.

“I will leave you to consider my proposition. We will be back first thing in the morning to see if you are more amenable.” Arthur stroked her hair in a gentle, fatherly way that almost made her sob. He then nodded at Irish who left with him.

Evelyn let the tears come then, hidden by the darkness, allowing herself a very brief respite before she pulled herself together and thought on all she had learned.

One thing kept puzzling her. Who knew enough about Eidolon to want to expose them and which of them was a traitor? She knew Arthur didn’t know or he would have told her. He wasn’t shy about telling her information which also meant he had no plans to free her or let her live. Could she fake it and agree to help him and then get back to Alex? No. Arthur was far too clever for that and he would have a plan in place.

Her only hope was to stay alive long enough for Alex to come get her and he would. She had no doubt in her mind about that. When he did, Osiris would know what real pain felt like. Until then she would take whatever they dished out and pray she was strong enough to take it. Her mind went to Roz. She knew her story and what she had gone through and she had been barely a child. If she could survive so would Evelyn. Unfortunately, sometimes you weren’t the one that had to endure.