Page 48 of Inside the Wicked

I’m already lightheaded, and my vision sways with the sudden burst of hope I’m afraid to feel. “Did you find him?” I whisper.

“I did.”

I don’t really feel the chair beneath me anymore. I don’t hear the low chatter of the other diners. I swallow hard against the vomit that rises in me, because I can’t quite believe it. I stare andstare at every crease of that white envelope as if Rhett will be inside.

Heisinside. And outside. My eyes cast over the city. He’sright. There.

I dare to reach for it, but Jacob’s hand stops me. “First I need you to sign this,” he says, sliding another document to me.

“What is it?”

“Do you want Kaiser’s location or not?”

The only part visible is the signature area, already signed by him on one side. I understand the gravity of putting my name on a document like this, but he won’t yield to me, and I want Rhett too desperately to risk him taking back the intel on where he is if I argue.

Jacob offers me an expensive fountain pen, and I scrawl fast, trying to pretend I don’t feel the condemnation in doing so. I watch the ink dry with a thundering heart and set the pen down.

“You’ve done well, Anastasia. You’ve earned this.”

I fight the sting in my nose. Force back the tears pooling in my eyes. All my exhaustion bears down at once, and I have to take a moment. He takes his document back and hands it to one of his men. I take the envelope with Rhett inside, and my fingers clench as if Jacob will try to snatch it back.

I have to move fast. Now. I have to get this information to Rix so we can begin our plan, which has to happen before Silas breaks.

If he moves first and takes Kenna from Alistair, everything will be exposed. He’ll know I betrayed him and that there was never anything between me and Silas. Jacob will hear about how I played them both. Alistair will move Rhett, maybe even kill him, in his rage. I don’t know what he’ll do to me.

It’s become a race.

“I must get going,” Jacob says.

I always leave first, but I can’t. I think if I stand I’ll collapse before I reach the door, and I curse myself for the neglect of my body and the stress that’s been eating me alive.

“I think I’ll get something to eat,” I say. It’s not a lie. I need to try holding something down to get my strength back.

Jacob stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “I’ll be seeing you soon, my love.”

The term of endearment crawls over my skin. I hope to not see him anytime soon, but I smile.

When he leaves, I inhale a new clear breath. A tear escapes, a crack in my bottle, but I swipe it away.

I spend the next hour forcing down a chicken salad. I’ve already sent a picture of the location to Rix, who has it pinned, guys already being assigned to scope it out first in case it’s a trap.

We’re coming for you, Rhett.

Now I’m riddled with terror over how we’ll find him. How many pieces Alistair will have made of him. But I’m ready to love each one for as long as it takes to put him back together.

The food helps, and I take a long breath of determination as the sun starts to set. I head out and slip into the car Tony drives. I keep a tight grip on my phone from Xoid, antsy for an update. The street speeds by like my thoughts, a blurred, rushing mess. My knee bounces, and I taste the blood in my mouth from biting my thumb raw.

It’s when the car slows to turn at a junction that my awareness starts to trickle back. I stop biting. He’s supposed to take me home, but I recognize the route to the secluded manor.

“Why are you taking me there?” I ask.

“Alistair’s instruction, ma’am.”

Now I’m concluding the worst. That Kenna has told him everything. Silas has kidnapped her and I’m to blame. He’s found out I know Rhett’s alive.

The effort I put into eating and holding down the salad is about to be wasted when we pull up at the hauntingly familiar house. I hope to one day stand before it in ashes instead.

I head straight to Alistair’s office, knocking before entering. Kenna is here, and that brings on a new hot flush. I swallow down the sickness threatening to show them both my measly dinner.

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