Page 114 of Under the Lies

Thea comes to collect me exactly ten minutes after Noah left.

“What’re you doing?” Thea asks when she finds me still in Noah’s office.

“Staring.”

She shakes her head at me and grabs my arm, pulling me out of the room. “We have to go.”

“Why am I even going?” I ask, hearing the pounding flesh from a couple of nights ago in my ears.

I don’t think I could handle watching Noah get hit again. The last time was bad enough. Him sprawled out on the ground is still fresh in my mind.

“Noah needs you there.”

Hearing the words Noah and need in the same sentence do things to me I can’t describe.

I let Thea lead us downstairs, to the car where Jenkins is waiting.

“Why does Noah have a driver if he never uses him?”

“He’s more for everyone else than Noah.” Jenkins glances at us from the rearview mirror.

“Why?” A light bulb goes off. “Because his parents?”

Thea nods. “He has to be in control. He doesn’t trust anyone else.”

I’m quiet for the rest of the ride.

Thankfully, it feels quicker than the last time we came here.

Once we’re out of the car, Thea walks ahead to the building’s door. After she bangs on it, a slate opens to reveal a set of eyes.

No words are traded as Thea pushes up the layers of her clothes to reveal her marked arm.

The slate closes and the door opens.

We’re in.

Before we reach the door that leads to the ring, Thea grabs my arm and slows our steps. “The same rules apply as last time, Sayer.”

I nod. My promise to Noah nags me.

“I’m going to add one more.”

I wait for her to elaborate.

“If anything happens, you run and hide like hell. Wait for me or one of the guys to find you.”

Her tone is grave and swallowing becomes difficult as I take in the matching expression on her face.

“What’s going to happen?”

“I don’t know. Just promise me.”

I nod again, in promise.

She smiles, but it doesn’t touch her eyes. “Ready?”

I don’t get to answer before we walk into chaos.

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