Page 76 of Twisted Mates

We get out of the car and are approaching the front door when I stop him. “Wait, I have one more question. If no one called to tell you that Alexia and I had ‘run off together,’ then why were you on your way home?”

Kai shakes his head. “I wasn’t on my way home.”

“Carrington said you were. That’s why we were coming in a hurry. We would’ve just taken our time getting back otherwise.”

“I was on my way to see you in Virginia Beach. I did text Carrington and ask her if you were there. She said no, but then tried to tell me that I ‘had’ to come home because Dad said so, and I basically told her to fuck off.”

“Why were you coming to see me?”

“I needed advice. I don’t trust my dad anymore, and with Mom gone...” He shrugs. “You’re the closest thing to a dad I have right now.”

My heart squeezes and for a moment, I see the kid Kai used to be—the one who asked me to take him to the park to shoot hoops, asked me for advice when he had his first crush, and ran with me for his first shift. I thought I’d never have the chance to connect with my little brother again, that I’d fucked up that relationship forever because of my hatred for his father. I wrap my arm around his shoulder and bring him in for a hug. He hugs me back, avoiding my potentially cracked ribs.

“What’s this for?” he asks.

“Just glad you don’t hate me anymore,” I say honestly, patting him on the back as we continue toward the door.

“I never hated you. I just felt like I lost my brother, and I was upset. But it seems like we’re on our way to fixing that.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

We walk up to the door, and he tugs on the handle. The glass clunks as it hits the deadbolt.

“It’s locked.”

The words are barely out of his mouth before I’m jogging around the building. I refuse to believe she’s not here, not when time is working against us. The steel door on the side is locked as well. Fear courses through my veins like wildfire, canceling out the pain. Broken bones and bleeding cuts mean nothing to me when Alexia is in danger. I don’t care if I have to repel inside through the roof and break another bone or two. Iwillfind her.

We reach the back of the building and goosebumps cover my skin. The Mercedes parked at the back door tells me all I need to know. Clayton is here. I turn the doorknob and a fraction of relief washes over me.

I look back at my brother, his face etched in worry. “You don’t have to come in. I suggest you don’t. I’m going to kill him, Kai.”

His face pales for just a second, but then he nods once. “Honestly, Xander, I don’t blame you. If he really is behind all of this and he isn’t here trying to save her from some disgruntled investor or something, then I won’t even try to talk you out of it.”

“Good.” I push the door all the way open, and we enter the building. It’s dark inside, and my stomach is churning so fast that I am on the verge of vomiting, but I manage to hold it down. “Where do you think they might be?”

“I don’t know,” Kai whispers. “I guess we just keep going until we hear something.”

We’re walking quietly through the building when I freeze. “Carrington was luring us all home for a reason. And I think we know who’s pulling the strings there.”

Kai’s breath catches in his throat, and he nods. “That’s what I’m thinking too.”

We pick up the pace, and I’m starting to panic. When I’m just about ready to start yelling her name, I hear a rhythmic thumping above our heads. It’s clearly intentional; maybe even a wordless plea for help.

Kai and I look at each other. “Let’s go,” I say, and we take off to the nearest stairwell.

TWENTY-FOUR

Alexia

Hours or maybe days pass as I sit strapped to a chair in the dark. I’ve tried everything to wiggle out of the restraints. My wrists are rubbed raw, and my thighs burn from trying to move the chair across the room. I even tried to shift until I realized it was impossible. There is some sort of metal infused into the rope tying me down. Silver or iron—either would hamper the moon goddess’s magic running through my veins, stopping me from shifting and shredding my way through this room. It burns through the delicate skin it touches, leaving me in agonizing pain.

During the moments that I haven’t been struggling, I’ve been praying to the goddess for help. I’m on the verge of giving up and believing I’m destined to die here when the door opens.

The sense of relief I feel doesn’t have time to take root. It is snatched away, and pure dread consumes me as Clayton walks in. He says nothing as he goes to the blinds over the window and pulls the string. The sunset light is a shock to my eyes, leaving me flinching as I try to focus again.

“You have put me in quite the predicament, Alexia,” he says, pacing with his hands clasped behind his back. “I was hoping this would all go over with no problems. You were always so compliant with your parents’ wishes. I was hoping you would continue to do the same for me.”

I try to hold my tongue. I really, really do. But I can’t.

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