Page 112 of Love to Defy You
The entire right side of his face is covered in scarlet blisters. He blinks his eyes open for a split second before closing them again, but it’s long enough to show that the entire white of his right eye is crimson.
“Someone bring me water!” I shout. “And someone else call an ambulance!”
“We’ll need to carry him out,” someone says. “The medics can’t come down here.”
“Fuck off,” I snarl. “Just call them.” I tug off my suit jacket, ball it up, and place it under Mikhail’s head. “Hey, Mick, we’re going to get you help.”
Groaning, Mikhail tries to touch his face, but I pull his hands away.
“Don’t touch it.” I glance up at the crowd of people. “Where the fuck is that water?”
“Right here!” Someone pushes through the crowd and drops a bucket beside me. I yank off my silk tie, dunk it in the cool water, and press it to his face.
Mikhail howls.
“I know it hurts. We’re going to get you out of here.” I glance up at Paul, who is standing over Mikhail with a pale complexion. “Keep his face cool with fresh water.” I point to the guys standing next to him. “You three, carry him out. One of you carry his legs while the other two each take an arm. Go!”
I direct them to pick him up gently and head to the courtyard to meet the ambulance. I’d rather the paramedics come down here with a stretcher for Mick’s comfort, but it will take too long, and these guys know the fastest way out.
Paul keeps dabbing Mikhail’s face with the tie while I walk with them toward the exit.
I squeeze his hand. “I’m sorry, Mick. I’m so fucking sorry. These guys are going to get you to the hospital, okay?”
When we reach the entrance of the chamber, I release his hand and watch them disappear around the corner into the tunnel.
This happened to Mikhail because he was protecting me. He finally dared to question Enzo’s authority and paid dearly for it.
I round on Enzo to charge at him, but he’s nowhere to be found. Everywhere I look, figures are rushing about in a panic, some with their hoods down while others remain shrouded. I lunge at the closest masked person and yank his hood back, but the person staring back at me has blue eyes.
“Enzo!” I bellow. “Where are you?”
I push my way through the crowd of figures, pulling on masks and hoods until I find Enzo, but even after everyone is revealed, none of them are him. He must have slipped out amidst the chaos.
“Dammit!” I slam my fist against the wall, busting open one of my knuckles. He’ll likely reach the entrance of the tunnels any moment now. I’ll never catch up to him.
“Think, think,” I mutter, pacing back and forth as I run my bloodied hand through my hair.
If I had to guess, he’ll be going to Andarusia, where Willow is—or at least, where he claims she is. Perhaps she arrived in Andarusia for her father’s wedding, and Enzo made sure she didn’t come back. I have no way to verify if that’s true, but it would make the most sense to hide her in the same country I’ve been exiled from.
I pause. “Wait! The necklace…”
Nobody knows this, not even Willow, but the necklace I gave her for her eighteenth birthday is more than just a pretty trinket. It has a small tracker inside, and if I can get access to the app, I can find Willow. I nearly forgot about it since I never needed to use it, although it would have come in handy last night when I got out of my cell and came home to an empty apartment. I’m kicking myself for not remembering it then, but I was panickedand sleep-deprived—not exactly in my right mind to think straight.
I’m not so sure I’m in my right mind even now.
I round on one of the hooded figures milling around the dais. They’re speaking in low voices, trying to figure out what to do with the women chained up in their custody.
“You!” I rush toward the nearest figure and grab the front of his cloak to shake him. He stares at me with wide, fearful eyes as I slam him against the wall. “Not so bold now without your cult leader to hide behind, are you?”
“W-what do you want from me?” he asks in a trembling voice.
“Give me your phone.” I hold out my hand and wait as he searches his pockets. “And make sure these women get to the hospital or I will hold you personally responsible and kill you. Am I clear?”
He gives me a shaky nod as he places his phone in my hand. Snarling, I shove him to the floor and head toward the exit. If I can catch up to Paul and the others carrying Mikhail, I can follow them out before I get lost and get somewhere with cell reception.
If I have any chance of saving Willow and making it out alive on the other side, I have to be smart. One wrong move and I die.
And if I’m gone, Willow will never be able to escape Enzo Messina.
