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Mason’s head spun as he stood there waiting. Warden rarely spoke at all, so his verbose insubordination was completely unexpected. It would need to be dealt with swiftly. There couldn’t be a repeat performance.
When Dennis rejoined him, he held out his hand for the syringes and tucked them into his jacket pocket. They reached the dorm, and he entered the code, then stepped aside to allow the other man to enter first. There was no gunshot. He’d been right. Those girls weren’t going to shoot anybody.
Mason sauntered into the room. “Ladies, how are we tonight?”
He was met with silence.
“So quiet. How nice.” He walked over to Cate Garrison and twirled a lock of her hair around his index finger. “I understand you’ve been a naughty girl. Is that correct?”
She remained silent. He glanced over to Dennis. “Put her in restraints. I’ll search the dorm while you take her over to the bunker. I’m sure our other prisoner will enjoy having company now that my wife has rejoined the party here.” His eyes searched out Vanessa. A meaningful look passed between them, and he recognized the regret in her eyes. She’d learned her lesson. Maybe he’d bring her back into his household tonight. It was time. The younger two wives didn’t know him like she did. They messed up his coffee and ran his bath water too hot. They’d learn, of course, but if Vanessa was there, she could train them. Help them learn the proper way of doing things. What was it the Bible said? Something about the older women teaching the younger. Not that he’d call twenty-five old, but she was more experienced than her counterparts.
Once Dennis left with Cate, he went to the first bunk and yanked the sheets and blankets off, tossing them to the floor. “We’ll do this all night, and I’ll leave you no coverings for sleep if someone doesn’t hand over the gun immediately.” He slowly scanned each face in the room. When he got back around to Vanessa she was pointing the pistol at his heart. “I don’t think you want to do that, love.”
“Don’t I?”
He stepped toward her. Her hand shook. “Give me the gun, love.”
“How about I give you the bullets instead?” Her finger moved to the trigger, and he raised his hands above his head. “You don’t want to do this, Vanessa. We love each other.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t have taken Brittany and Katarina for wives. You’ve replaced me.”
“You, my love, are irreplaceable.” He frowned. “I’ve learned that the hard way. Now give me the weapon.”
Her shaking grew more pronounced, and he was afraid she might accidentally pull the trigger. “Don’t come any closer.”
He took a step toward her. She wouldn’t shoot him. He was almost certain, but he wished he hadn’t let Dennis leave the room. One more step. He was almost on top of her. “Give it to me, love.”
“You don’t love me.” Tears streamed down her face.
“I do love you.” He placed his hand over hers, and slid her finger off the trigger. “I’ll take this.” Forcing her to her knees, he held the gun to the back of her head. “Who wants to see my wife’s brain matter splattered around the dormitory?”
They all stared at him in horror.
“Try something like this again, and one of you will die.” He pushed Vanessa to the floor with his foot. “I’ll send Warden to put you back in solitary. This time consider it your permanent home. After this stunt, you will never see daylight again, my love.”
Chapter Forty
Samanthaheardsomeonecoming.The steps were heavy. It was the big man again. Despair settled into her chest. Why wasn’t Mason coming himself? She’d asked God to help her get out of this. He knew she didn’t have a fighting chance against Warden.
The door to her room opened, but nobody came in. She got to her feet and peered out into the darkness of the bunker. “Hello?”
She didn’t see anyone, but a voice answered. She’d never heard the big man do more than grunt, but she was almost certain it was him. “If you want to get off the estate alive, you’ll need to find a way to do so without my help.”
“Why did you open my door?”
“Mason pushed me too far.”
“Which way should I go?” Footsteps were her only answer, and she knew he was gone. A man of his word, he’d left her to save herself. And that was what she intended to do. Before she made it to the stairs leading out, she heard the sound of keys jingling. Was this whole thing some kind of game? Did Mason and Warden like to chase their victims? She cowered behind a metal desk.
“Mason has never allowed me to come down here before, but I’m looking forward to a little quiet time with you, Cate.”
Sam had hoped to sneak away, but she couldn’t leave Gavin’s sister with this creep. Unarmed and dressed in the thin cotton sundress Mason had forced her to wear, she had no way of defending Cate against the security guard. At least nothing other than sheer will and training. Her feet bare, she followed silently until the man with the keys pushed Cate onto the cot. He hadn’t yet noticed that Samantha’s cell was empty. Maybe he was telling the truth when he said he’d never been down there before.
“You are too lovely for words, darling. That fiery red hair and those sparkling green eyes. It’s a shame it’s so dark down here, I want to drink in your beauty before I take you.”
Creeping up silently, Sam forced herself to keep her mouth shut. As long as he didn’t know she was there, she had a slight advantage. And she couldn’t afford to lose it.
The man climbed on top of Cate then yelped in pain and let out a string of expletives. It was the perfect opening. Sam kicked the base of his skull. He was dazed but conscious. She landed another blow to gut and followed it with a head-butt. He tackled her to the ground, but she used both her legs against him for leverage and flipped herself upright. Cate swung her cuffed hands over his head and held him a head lock. Sam searched his pockets for the key to the cuffs, but couldn’t loose them without giving him back control of the situation. She found some zip ties in a holder on his belt and used them to secure his hands. Then she unlocked Cate. He charged. Cate kicked him knocking him to the ground. While he was on the ground, they slipped from the room and closed the steel security door behind them. It locked into place.
