Page 165 of Savage Reign

I did make a sound then.

I squealed.

“Shh, it’s okay, Mila. It’s me.”

“Killian.”

“Yes, baby. I’m going to help you down, okay?”

I nodded, even though he probably couldn’t see me. Both Silas and Killian got me to the underground section of the building, which was more spacious than I imagined it to be. It was like a whole other level. And there were lights. I didn’t know how they got electricity down here, or hell, even to this building, but I wasn’t going to question it.

Killian pulled me out of the way just as Silas jumped down.

Killian frowned at Silas. “Why did you bring her? You were supposed to get her home and come here.”

“Because she wants to be here,” I answered Killian.

He looked at me with a dark look in his eyes.

I shook my head. If he even thought about sending me back up… well, I didn’t know what I was going to do. He probably could make me, but I was going to be very angry at him.

Thankfully, all he did was shake his head and mutter something under his breath before grabbing my hand andleading me down the hall. Silas followed us. I looked back at him, and he winked at me.

We kept walking. It was hot outside, but down here, it was much worse than that. I could feel sweat dripping down the back of my neck, and I resisted the urge to wipe it away.

I tensed when I heard a man screaming.

I shuddered and moved in closer to Killian.

“This is why it’s not a good idea for you to be here,” Killian said, his lips close to my head.

“You’re here. And so is Silas, and I’m sure Maverick is here as well,” I said. If Maverick wasn’t the one making that man scream. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“That’s fucking right,” Killian responded gruffly. “But what about all that’s going on up here?” He pointed at my head. “I can’t protect you from what you see or hear.”

“But you’ll be here,” I answered softly.

He was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded.

I smiled and moved in a little closer to him.

We stopped by a red door at the end of the hallway. Killian hesitated for a beat before opening the door, revealing a dark room lit by a single lamp.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust, and I leaned in closer to Killian when I finally made sense of what was happening.

Maverick was standing by a wooden table, various tools laid out, and in the middle of the room was my mother, tied to a chair.

She was also gagged but not blindfolded. Her eyes widened when she saw me before they hardened, filled with hatred.

My mother actually hated me.

I never really thought that was the case, but she did. She really did.

I wanted to look away from her but couldn’t. It was like a part of me needed to see this to finally let go of the idea that she could be there for me.

Maverick turned to look at us, his eyes stopping on me. He didn’t say anything. I resisted the urge to squirm under his inquisitive stare.

Then, “What do you want to do?”

---