Page 75 of Midnight Queen

I’m laughing at that when I put the phone to my ear. “Hey, Luce! I’m still with Duke, but I’ll be here a little while longer if you want to swing by. Maybe you can bring him dinner since the food here is crap.”

Lucy’s come by a couple times with me to hang with Duke. She doesn’t participate in the exercises like I do, but instead sits in a chair, sucking on a lollypop, while she judges Duke’s progress. She’s gone the tough love route. Everyone but the confused nurses finds it hilarious, Duke included.

There’s nothing coming from the other side of the line, so I try again. “Lucy?” Maybe she butt-dialed me?

Ice-cold fear runs down my spine when she finally speaks. “Don’t react, Q. You have to keep it together. Don’t let Duke know anything is wrong. Do you understand?” I can count on one hand the number of times that Lucy Bell has ever been scared, but when she talks now, I can feel her distress through the phone.

And that is why I know it’s very important that I listen to her. It takes every ounce of strength in me to keep the lighthearted smile I’d been wearing with Duke on my face. I subtly let out a long breath and force my muscles to relax, despite the overwhelming tension.

“Sounds good to me,” I respond. To keep up appearances, I nod my head like I’m truly enthralled with what she’s saying. Looking at Duke, I point at the phone. “Lucy says hi, but she won't be able to make it tonight. She says she’ll come by in a couple of days instead.”

Using his cane, Duke ambles over to where there’s small hand-weights. “What, does she suddenly have something better to do? Are we not exciting enough for her?” he teases.

By some miracle, I find the ability to laugh at this, even if my fingers are starting to tremble around my phone. “She says she’s headed home to crawl into bed. Probably a good idea, since she sounds exhausted. Maybe she’s getting sick. Are you feeling okay, Lucy?”

There’s whispering, but I can’t make it out. After a pause, Lucy reluctantly says, “She wants to talk to you.”

Who’s she?

“Hello, Quincey.” A familiar voice replaces Lucy’s. “I sure hope you’re enjoying your visit with Duke.”

Rowena.

And like that, the moment I’ve been waiting for happens. The other shoe drops and it’s way worse than I thought it’d be. I was expecting more attacks on Silas’s employees, but it’s hitting way closer to home than that. Rowena has Lucy.

“Say something so he doesn’t get suspicious,” Rowena snaps.

My mouth opens and closes once, my mind drawing a momentary blank. I finally manage to respond. “Yeah, Duke’s improving. You’d be proud of him.”

“Good,” she almost purrs. “Here’s what you’re going to do, Quincey. Without signaling for help, you’re going to get out of that building and come to me. If you don’t, I’m going to rip your beloved best friend’s heart from her chest.”

My stomach turns and nausea tightens my throat, but still, I keep my face impassive.

“And then I’m going to go after Duke—he’ll be easy since he’s defective right now. Then I’ll go after sweet Della and that idiot Lorcan. I will save Silas for last, and I will keep you alive to watch each of them die. Do I make myself clear?”

I lick my dry lips and choke out, “No, you didn’t cut out, I can still hear you.”

“You have twenty minutes to come to St. Sin. If you’re a second late or you foolishly bring someone with you, I will kill Lucy before you can so much as scream for help. Leave your phone there so you can’t be tracked.” There’s pure evilness in her voice when she talks. “On your mark… get set… go, Quincey.”

The line goes dead, and my heart stops in my chest.

Fear cements me in place as I think over my options.

I know I should call Silas but doing so would put Lucy’s life at risk. That cannot happen, and that’s why in the end, there’s only one option. Lucy has been the one constant in my life for the better part of two decades, and I refuse to jeopardize her life.

She’s my family.

Pretending to read a message on my phone, I frown at Duke. “Silas just texted. He finished with his meetings early tonight, so if it’s okay, I think I’m going to head out.”

Duke smiles at me as he does a slow bicep curl with one of the small weights. “Of course, darlin’. I appreciate you spending time with me. I know you’ve got your own things on your plate, but it means a lot.”

Walking across the room, I wrap my arms around him and squeeze tight. “I told you I would come here until you’re better and I meant it. You’ll be back out there with Silas before you know it.”

“Fuck, I hope so,” he says once I release him. “Go, get out of here, just because I’m trapped here doesn’t mean you need to be.”

I gather my belongings off the small table I’d left them on I leave my phone next to Duke’s

I feel like I’m holding my breath when I move to the doorway. Looking over my shoulder at him, I say, “Everything’s going to be okay, Duke. I’m sure of it.” It’s a lie, but I feel like it needs to be said.

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