Page 56 of Inside the Wicked

“Where’s Ana?” I demand.

Silas takes an assessing breath. “It was either save her or you. Alistair already had plans to hold her, and had I taken her in for safety, he likely would have moved you, or killed you, out of fear I’d allied with Ana to come for you.”

“You should have chosen her,” I snap.

Silas’s eyes flex, and I’m aware how dangerous his family name is.

“Alistair won’t kill her. It would be a tragic waste, and he’s not stupid. After he learns of this, he probably plans to sell her so you’ll have a hard time getting her back and she’ll be in tiny, broken pieces by the time you do.”

“Stop the fucking car.”

“We haven’t gotten to know each other yet.”

I reach for the door, but it’s locked. I’m locked in a moving box with him while Ana’s time is ticking fast.

“What do you want?” I snarl.

“As I told your little bird, who was so willing with me, trust is a coin flip. Show me inside your house, and I’ll tell you where she is.”

I understand what he means, but there’s no fucking way I’m giving up the location of any part of Xoid to him.

“I’ll find her myself,” I say, controlling the anger I have nowhere to unleash.

“Disappointing. I’m rather curious of your operation.”

“You don’t let a rat loose in a snake pit.”

“Because it would outsmart them all.”

“You’ve wasted your time if that’s all you want. I’m taking you nowhere near Xoid.”

“Your girl trusted me.”

“She wouldn’t for this, and you know it.”

Silas shrugs. “Suit yourself.” He taps on the glass behind him, and the car stops. “Good luck, Kaiser. And tell Ana I expect to see her soon.”

I get out without another thought, and Silas’s car doesn’t linger. I have no clue where I am. All I need is a phone. My body is aching all over, but adrenaline is a numbing drug to it. My dignity plummets with every disgruntled look as I ask to use a cell phone.

My last resort leads me into a small store. Usually, my finesse for theft is impeccable, but I’m desperate, jittery, and annoyed as fuck. I still have the gun Silas gave me, and I despise what I have to do.

At the counter the worker is reading a newspaper. The store is quiet, with only a couple deciding on snacks at the back.

“Don’t make a fucking sound,” I say quietly, but with enough threat.

The man looks up as I lay my hand holding the gun on the counter. Contrary to my warning, he launches up in fright, swearing and knocking into the back display.

Well, fuck me.

“I need a phone and simnow,”I growl.

“H-holy shit. Okay, all right, hold on.”

The couple at the back try to scurry out, but I point the gun at them. I can’t have the police scrambling in here before I get what I need and get far away.

“Just sit the fuck down, and if I see a phone, I swear to god, I’m not in the mood to be nice right now,” I warn.

I have no intention of firing the gun. They could take their chances and run out and I wouldn’t stop them. I must look as unhinged as I feel right now, as they cower into themselves in the corner.

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