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“It’s true,” Alexander confirms. “It was my decision to retrieve her against orders. I have betrayed your trust by allowing her here, and then I lied about how it happened. I accept the punishment.”
This show pleases the Eminent, and he glides back over to me, leans down, and places his hands on the armrests of my chair. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when his hot breath hits my cheek as he whispers into my ear.
“Isn’t he a martyr?” the Eminent says to me. "What should I do with them?" I don’t respond, and my teeth clench until they hurt. Alexander and Theodore look at each other, wary of what’s happening, and I refuse to answer. No response I offer will change his mind.
“It would appear that my decision is clear to the average person,” he sighs. “But you keep silent.” He tilts his head, urging me to comment, to give my vote for who to save or punish. I shudder in a breath, my heart beating faster.
“You’re not an average person,” I say. “You’re… the Eminent.”
“You’re not ordinary either. Most women would sneer at the idea of being called a rat, but I think you like it. You don’t care what I think of you, only what I do with you.” He slides a palm up my thigh. “Or, what I don’t do.”
His nose glides against my cheek, trailing his lips across my skin. “Such a lovely little rat. So interesting,” he whispers. Waves of panic thrum throughout my body, but I remain still, allowing this man to touch me and play with his little rodent.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. The onlookers hold their breath, waiting for what comes next. This isn’t their typical hearing or orgy or whatever this is supposed to be, and they’re all at the edge of their seat, trying to guess their leader’s next move.
“Alexander,” the Eminent announces. The words startle me, loud in my ear. “You betrayed me, but Theodore is weak and a coward. Too afraid to admit the crime and quick to throw a dear friend of… how many years have you served together?”
Alexander swallows and his shoulders rise to his ears. “Four,” he says. Theodore’s face is fuchsia, looking around the room in terror. We all know something is about to happen, but the Eminent’s unhinged nature appears shockingly controlled, giving away nothing. His erection nudges at my closed legs, and he pushes forward, sliding it between my locked knees, begging for friction.
“I hate to admit this, Rowan,” he grunts with the movement. His tone is mocking, almost giggling at the game he’s playing. His lips meet my ear and his voice is so low that I struggle to make out the words. “But I owe Alexander a debt. I’ve felt ever so terrible the past few months, and you’re the perfect way to settle up.”
The Eminent stands, drawing a gun from his belt in a smooth motion. There’s the sound of a click before he aims at the men behind him. I want to close my eyes, to look away, but I don’t. Frozen, I see every second as if it’s in slow motion.
Theodore’s mouth opens in protest before the weapon fires, but there isn’t a chance for a sound to escape. A bullet pierces his temple, right above his eyes, and blood splays across Alexander’s cheek.
Alexander’s eyes close, his body jolting once with the sound of the gunfire. Theodore falls to a heap on the floor, choking on the blood that pours from his mouth.
Bile rises from my stomach, but I keep it down, clawing my nails into my thighs at the sight of Theodore’s brains splattered on the wall behind him. I tell myself to breathe, to let the oxygen in. When Alexander’s chest expands, I do the same, and my lungs burn from the air, and my face fills with heat. We’re both thinking the same thing, hoping he’s only firing one bullet.
“I’m done for the day,” the Eminent announces, laying a hand on Alexander’s shoulder as he walks past and clicking the safety back on the gun. “I do feel so terrible about it all, Alex. Have her for a few nights before I decide what to do with her. That would please your Eminent.”
“Of course,” Alexander croaks. Blood runs down his cheek and drips onto the floor. Theodore’s movements stop and the puddle spreads closer to my feet.
“You’re an interesting rat,” the Eminent mocks, looking back at me. His eyes don’t move to Theodore. The dead body is nothing more than someone else’s mess.
“My family,” I get out. “What’s your decision about them?”
He snickers, walking away, and the door opens for him. “We’ll talk in a few days. Be careful of traps, Rowan. Few men like rodents as much as me.”
Chapter Nine
The Thirteenth Floor
Alexanderyanksmebymy elbow, bringing me to my feet. My sore legs still ache and burn, unable to work without trembling. His eyes trail down my body, and I open my mouth to speak, but he shakes his head at me. Ignoring the eyes that stare at us from the table, I obey, clamping my mouth shut and taking his lead.
He pulls me from the room, hand in hand without a word. I step into Theodore’s blood, leaving a mess of red footprints as we leave.
We turn down unfamiliar hallways, passing by people unphased by the splashes of red across Alexander’s face. No one stops us or asks questions. They don’t look twice, and I suspect that this close to the Eminent’s courtroom, it must be a normal occurrence.
I move through the haze of strangers until we’re stopped at large grey doors guarded by a man asking us where we are going. He’s dressed like Alexander, even holds his gun as Alexander did that day above ground, but they’re nothing alike. Alexander hates the AOE. I feel it in the way he looks down at my scar, squeezing my hand so hard he hopes I don’t notice it’s shaking.
“I’m taking her to get fresh clothes,” Alexander tells the man.
I look down at myself and notice that Alexander isn’t the only one covered in what’s left of Theodore. I gag and the sound of vomit rising in my throat makes the guard open the door, and he ushers us through.
My body vibrates from the shock, and I can’t hide it from Alexander, trembling violently while I wrap my arms around myself. I’ve cheated death before, but I’ve just asked for it, telling the leader of the underground to bring Dean Riggs to our doorstep.
Alexander hands me a red uniform, but I drop it with my unsteady hands.
