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Who does she think she is givingmeorders?
“If you don’t want us to leave you here with your dead friend, I’d think carefully before you open your mouth again,” I snarl, but follow her and slam the door shut behind me while Freddie starts the engine.
Bram’s laid on his back with Seb and Ivy kneeling on either side to hold him in place. A dim, orange glow from the lights above illuminates the shackles attached to the van’s sides and a locked black box in the corner.
Ivy nudges her head at the box. “There’s a first aid kit in there. The code is 2322.”
I tap it in, hesitating before pressing confirm. “There better not be a bomb in here…”
“I’m not you. Just open it,” she snaps in her usual demanding tone.
I press the button, and the lid springs open. “Well, what do you know…” I let out a low whistle. “It looks like Ivy knows how to tell the truth after all, Seb.”
“Do you have everything you need?” Seb asks, watching me pull out the kit and check its contents. I should have all the supplies I need. As well as the kit, there’s a set of keys in the box for what I assume are the van’s chains.
“Lock her up before we start,” I order, throwing Seb the keys. He fumbles but catches them.
Ivy’s jaw drops, and then she tries to make excuses. “You don’t need to—”
“You’re lucky we let you live,” Seb interrupts coldly, grabbing the chain nearest to him and snatching her wrist roughly.
She’s too weak to object as he forces her hand into the cuff and winces like he slapped her. The cuffs click as he fastens them without looking at her, which makes me smirk. Did she expect to skip off into the sunshine with Prince Charming? Her gallant knights—the men who desperately tried to impress her before—are gone. She’s going to meet the real Dukes and see our dark side.
The engine growls to life as we pull away.
“Try to keep him steady,” I say, not acknowledging her.
Bram’s eyes keep flickering as he fights to stay awake. With Seb and Ivy—even tied—on either side of him, it should stop Bram from jostling around too much. I have a task to do. I’ve always performed under pressure, hence why I made such a good doctor.
I hum while I put on my rubber gloves and inspect Bram’s injury. He’s losing a lot of blood, but I’ve pulled people back from the brink of death before. Like the Grim Reaper, I can choose to save lives or take them.
Seb pales while I take a deep breath and clean the wound. He’s squeamish around blood when he’s not the one doing the damage.
Seb’s voice trembles. “He’ll be okay, won’t he?”
I ignore him and address Bram, “It’s your lucky day, Bram. After this, you can never complain when I steal your custard creams again…”
CHAPTER 2
IVY
Ishake the cuffs and chain. Yep, I’m definitely tied down alright. Seb avoids looking in my direction. He chews on his lip, too scared to blink in case he misses Bram’s dying breath. I should say something, but what good would that do? He hates me. They all do.
I lied and betrayed them.
Now, they’ve bound me like an animal, and they’re going to make me pay. Maybe it’s what I deserve. Maybe I’d even happily accept whatever they did to me next if Callen saved Bram’s life.
Callen’s already hard at work, sweat dripping down his forehead in concentration as he approaches the task with laser focus. He’s entered a trance-like state, withdrawing into his own world and letting everything else disappear. He hums under his breath to the tune of‘Staying Alive’as he busies himself.
“Do you have to hum?” Seb snaps.
“Do you want me to save your boy or not?” Callen raises his eyebrows. Suddenly, the van swerves to the right, causing us all to be thrown to the side and making Bram’s body skid into mine. “Hold him still, for fuck’s sake!”
Seb grips Bram’s other shoulder while I reach for Bram’s hand. His arm is outstretched, hiding it from the view of Callenand Seb. I should say something to Bram—anything—to let him know that it’ll be okay, but nothing comes. My fingers stroke his, hoping this says more than words could. He should understand that better than anyone.
“This is going to hurt like a bitch.” Callen frowns at Bram’s wound as he finishes cleaning it. “I’ll need your tie.”
Seb’s nose scrunches in confusion, thinking Callen’s really gone insane. “My tie?”
