Page 168 of Unmasked

I wanted Lawrence.

I wanted him screaming in pain.

I wanted him begging and pleading for death.

“Do we know that it’s King Lawrence?”

I gave Bram a look.

“He’s not the king anymore. This crossed the line. That man that took her, Penelope calls him George. She’s positive she heard Lawrence talking to him one night at Rosemoor. That is the same man who tried to kill Theodore before he found out about me. I’m pretty damn positive Lawrence is behind this.” I paused, taking in the men. “Where the hell is he? I said I wanted him brought here. Who’s bringing him?”

The men looked confused, turning to Mr. Prescott. My handler shifted, his face tightening as he took us in.

“The Sultan says King—Lawrence is gone. He left shortly after you did. We don’t know where he went. We’re searching the system, but so far there’s no trace. The cameras have been wiped.”

A growl tore from me.

“Is it any more obvious? Son of a bitch. If he gets to her before we do, he may put her somewhere we can never find her.”

“We’ll find her.” Bram’s hand lifted. “I have some connections. I’ve already reached out to Luke⁠—”

My head shook in confusion. “The Main Master from Red Island?”

“He’s a computer genius. He can get into places you wouldn’t believe.”

“Penelope liked him,” I said, lowly. “She said he was a good man.”

“He is,” Bram assured. “And he’s already looking into it. We’ll see what he can find.”

I pushed my fingers through my hair, fisting the dampened strands. Elec stepped in, meeting my gaze.

“If we find him, I can get him to tell us where she is. I can make his pain so unbearable, he’ll spill every secret he’s ever had. You torture, and I’ll unlock the true pain. One brush over his arm, and to him it’ll feel like you’re peeling back his skin. Imagine if you were to cut. Break bones.” A sadistic smile tugged back his lips. “All you have to do is say yes, and I will unlock his mind for you.”

I glanced over to Mr. Prescott and Bram before turning back to him. He had Melissa’s gifts of hypnosis. The best in the world. And I had him here with me…

“I want him to suffer so badly that his ancestors feel it. I want answers. Confessions. You can make that happen?”

Elec’s smile broadened.

“You know I can. I can make anything happen.”

CHAPTER 56

Penelope

Pressure on my wrists.

A dull pain in my back.

A caress.

Whispering.

Hot air against my cheek.

The multiple recognitions pulled me from the dark nothingness, catapulting me right back into a nightmare I’d had one too many times. But this wasn’t a dream. Fingers brushed back my hair, moving to my cheek and down to trace my jaw. It was barely there. Soft. Unwanted.

The violation had a cry coming from me, despite I could barely get a grasp on my thoughts or body. All I knew was instinct. That was to fight.