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Chapter Twenty-Three
Ryder
I’ve had a bad feeling about this place from the moment I’d seen the armed guards down at the cove. And that was before the hell hounds, the double-layer hex forcefield, and the booby-traps.
It still hadn’t prepared me for what I’d just seen down in that cavern.
I need to get Ven out of here. We aren’t going to be able to save her friend. It had always been a fool’s errand with little chance of saving Luciana. But I’d thought maybe this was some small secret lab that I could infiltrate quickly, sneak in, sneak out. Grab Ven’s friend if she was found alive, as doubtful as that was. Give Ven some closure if not. Escape again.
The fortress we find ourselves in, however, with a basement halfway to Hell and crazy shit experiments going on? Not even close. How could I have been so cavalier, so arrogant, about all of this? I should have shut this down the second I heard the name Night Guild.
But of course, I know now why I’d pushed on, even though it was stupid as hell. Because I’d been falling for Ven. Right from the beginning. Falling hard and lying to myself about it even harder. I’d wanted to impress her. Show her my skillset beyond just making everyone lustful. Make her realize I’m more than that.
And now, because of my need to show-off and win the girl, I’ve put her in the worst kind of danger. If Ven is harmed, or worse… I won’t be able to live with myself.
I reach the supply closet and begin quickly loading the requested items. That way I don’t blow my cover the second I head back down to Hell Hospital. But then I’m grabbing Ven and we’re getting out of here. There aren’t that many staff down there. Ven and I can take them if they give us trouble.
I finish gathering what I came for. When I turn for the door, someone is standing there.
“Ahh, Ryder. Right on time.”
Dante steps forward into the faint fluorescent glow, his faun’s horns casting a shadow on the floor.
I have half a second to realize how fucked I am before he lifts a chubby hand and blows sparkling dust in my face. Darkness swirls in around me and the last thing I feel is my cheek hitting the cement floor.
