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Before she knew it, they were at the conservatory, which Serena had to admit was quite delightful. Double the size of the dining room, this room could be used for a variety of activities. There were several sofas and chairs at one end, along with a small kitchenette, bookshelves, and a massive fireplace. The table in the middle of the room was set for what looked like another elaborate breakfast. Everyone was already seated, which made her wonder why she again appeared to be the last of the “guests” to arrive.

As she drew closer, though, she noted Dr. Mosley wasn’t at the table. The hard ball of dread she’d been carrying with her since she’d arrived grew larger. Would he come in later, or had Mosley been punished for signaling her for help yesterday? It hadn’t seemed like anyone else had noticed the gesture, but there were likely cameras everywhere.

To her, his signal had been completely innocuous, not to mention understandable, behavior. Had Kingsley seen it as something else?

A chill went through her. If the gesture had been seen, what had they done to Dr. Mosley?

Smith pulled out a chair for her, and as Serena sat, she tried to examine the faces of the others at the table, but no one would meet her eyes. That wasn’t necessarily concerning, as they’d all acted the same way yesterday. Her biggest concern was the absence of Mosley.

She had opened her mouth to ask the group about Mosley when Kingsley swept into the room. His smile even brighter than yesterday, he said, “Good morning, everyone. I hope each of you slept well. We’ve all got a busy day ahead of us, so let’s be sure to get in our nutrition.”

As if the keyword had been spoken, servers entered with platters and trays filled with a variety of breakfast foods. The activity gave Serena a chance to eye Kingsley more closely. She noted that he seemed almost giddy. His eyes sparkled, and a light flush of color brightened his pale face.

As soon as the servers left and everyone began to eat, she asked, “Is Dr. Mosley not joining us?”

The twitch at Kingsley’s mouth was the only indication that he might resent the question, but when he lifted his head, she saw only one thing—feigned sadness. “I’m afraid Jenson won’t be able to join us today. He just learned that his dear mother passed away overnight. He’s taking a couple of days off to mourn.”

Even though the others continued to eat, their actions not indicating they’d even heard his words, Serena watched their expressions. A heavy blanket of grief washed over every face, and a couple of them had tears rolling down their cheeks. Felix Mareno was gripping his fork so tightly, she imagined it would be bent when he put it down.

Somehow, Kingsley looked even happier than when he had arrived. And she knew, without a doubt, that the vile man had ordered the murder of Dr. Mosley’s mother as punishment for asking for Serena’s help. And the others knew the very same thing could happen to their loved ones if they stepped out of line.

Now she knew how he got these brilliant people to stay here and do whatever work he required. He would do the same to her. His threats last night had not been bravado. He would have no problem killing someone she loved if she didn’t agree to do his bidding.

Though her stomach felt like it held a boulder, she gave her attention to her meal as her mind raced. This man was beyond monstrous and had to be stopped.

And Serena knew to her soul that it was all up to her.

Chapter Fourteen

Just like yesterday morning, she returned to her room for a few moments, and when she finished brushing her teeth, the wheelchair was once again waiting for her.

Resenting that she was being treated like a trained animal would do no good. She would do what she had to do. Inserting her ego into the equation would be pointless. Her captors did not define who she was. Her purpose was clear, and if it got her closer to her goal, she’d behave in the manner they preferred.

The instant she sat, the bands locked around her wrists and ankles, and she heard Smith come up behind her. Despite her resolve, she couldn’t prevent a chill running down her spine. These people were downright creepy.

He once again rolled her into what she assumed was Kingsley’s interrogation room. Unsurprisingly, the photos of her mom and dad were already on the screen. She took in her mom’s beautiful smile and the love emanating from her dad’s gaze as he looked at his wife.

“From what I can tell,” Kingsley said from behind her as he entered the room, “you had the perfect childhood.”

“I did,” she replied.

“This day will be a difficult one for you.”

She arched a brow. “Is that an offering of sympathy or a warning?”

“A little of both.” With a toothy smile, he added, “You think you’re going to be able to withstand the pressure.”

“It’s your plan to break me?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that. Broken people are useless to me.”

“And you don’t think you broke Dr. Mosley?”

If possible, the smile grew bigger. “You caught on to that, did you? I wasn’t sure you would, since you’ve just arrived.” He shook his head and shrugged. “Dr. Mosley signaled to you yesterday. The man knew he was being watched, and still he disobeyed.”

“You set him up.”

His eyes widened with mock horror. “I did? However did I do that?”