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I groan and desperately try to right myself, but with my hands behind my back, it’s not as easy as it seems. My ass finally crashes down on the hard ground and I kick off my heels, doing anything and everything that I can to try and give myself an advantage.
Using my leg, I scoop my heel back toward me and do my best to try to get it to my back. I climb up onto my knees, spreading them wide for stability and with Ember and Paris keeping their eyes on the road, desperately trying to attempt their bullshit getaway, I use the heel to claw at the tape around my wrists.
It takes far too long, but with every passing second, it allows the boys to clear the ballroom and get all of our people far away and out of harm’s reach. But in doing that, it also takes me further and further away.
My hands come free just as we start approaching the city center, the most populated area in Ravenwood Heights, and despite it being well past ten on a Saturday night, there are bound to be people everywhere. The clubs are only just letting people in as sports bars are crowded for the big game that would have ended a little while ago. Hell, even the theater would be just letting out showings. Now is my only shot to get out of here, but how?
Keeping my hands behind my back, I discreetly inch forward. I have to somehow get that phone detonator off Paris while keeping Ember at a distance, get out of the van, get lost in the crowd, and somehow still have the upper hand.
It should be easy as pie.
I let out a breath. I’m fucked.
What the hell would the boys do in this situation? A laugh bubbles up my throat and I quickly swallow it back down. The boys wouldn’t get themselves in this bullshit situation in the first place. They’re too good for that. This would be a walk in the park for them. Hell, they’d already be out and calling one of the other guys to come and pick them up by now because screw walking all the way back home.
Fucking hell.
My gaze shifts over the front seat.
Ember still has the dagger holstered at her thigh while the phone detonator rests in Paris’ lap. My only advantage being their focus is so heavily trained out the front windshield as they navigate the busy streets. If only I could get my hands on that dagger.
A plan quickly forms and I sit back, a twisted smirk settling over my lips. “So, what’s she promised you, Ember? I gave you the perfect out. You could have been freed from all this bullshit.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” I laugh. “I’ve been battling against this psycho bitch for months. You don’t think I’ve learned a thing or two about the way her twisted, fucked-up mind works?”
Ember spins around in her seat, her glare sharp and deadly, but she doesn’t quite have what it takes to intimidate me, even with the dagger at her thigh. She’s like a fly that just won’t go away. “Don’t you talk about her like that,” she spits at me, the anger building in her eyes and quickly taking control. “You don’t know anything about her.”
“Both of you fucking idiots shut up,” Paris snaps.
“You know, she promised Royston Carver that he was going to rule Dynasty, and then promised Scardoni and Harding the same thing, though we all know it was always her intention to rule. So, what’s she offered you? A lifetime of warm, fuzzy mommy/daughter time? Or is it something a little more exciting? It must be for you to throw away a whole safe future with your adoptive parents. You could have had it all, but you chose this. Unless ...” I say, my brows rising as Ember clenches her jaw, “she has something on you.”
Ember huffs, struggling to keep control. “Shut up, you don’t know anything. She hasn’t got anything. I chose this because it’s what I want.”
Paris snaps her glare up to meet mine through her rearview mirror, knowing exactly what I’m trying to do. Her glare cuts across to her daughter before focusing on the road ahead. “Don’t listen to her, Ember. She’s trying to get in your head.”
I laugh, because why the fuck not? It’s working and we all know it.
“She’s promised you something, huh?” I question, not even close to wanting to give up. “Tell me, how can you believe a word she says? How could she have promised all those guys that they were going to lead Dynasty? She’s a liar. They were all pawns in her twisted game, just like you are. You mean nothing to her. She’s known where you were your whole life and she never came looking for you until you were actually of use. She doesn’t love you, Ember. She didn’t love Harding either. You’re going to be tossed aside the second she’s got what she wants. Did you watch her shed a tear when I killed Harding? No, I bet you didn’t because she didn’t fucking care. People like her can’t care. They’re not wired for it. Yeah, she was pissed, but only because it screwed with her plan. Face the facts, Ember, mommy dearest doesn’t love you. She never will.”
