Page 94 of Pretty Lethal
With rage burning a path through my veins, I snap my attention to Kai, who is too busy watching the porn show happening in front of us with furrowed brows and pinched lips. I notice Hawk has shuffled closer to Emilia, the two of them whispering quietly.
I glare daggers into Kai’s forehead until he finally returns my attention, then raise an eyebrow at him in a silent ‘well, you’re the ex-Marine, what’s the escape plan?’
He simply stares blankly back at me, and I shake my head in disappointment. How has he not learned to eye-read yet? Such a valuable skill to have. I bet if I communicated the same thing to Hawk, he’d understand. And that’s why he’s my best bro and Kai is just the white knight.
The sound of lip-locking finally stops.
Here’s to small miracles.
“Of course, I’m so glad you actually survived,” my mother says casually. Too casually. My head whips round as I gape at her.
I’m so glad you actually survived.
Actually survived.
As in, she wanted me dead?
“You were trying to murder me?” I choke out.
“Don’t take it personally,” my mother says with all the indifference of a psychopath.As if I could do anythingotherthan take it personally.
Oh, your mother attempted to have you murdered? No sweat, I’m sure she had a good reason.
“I was simply eliminating any potential threat you might have been to my reign.”
See? That’s an entirely justifiable reason.
“You attempted to kill your own son!” Emilia cries in outrage.
Thank god someone else sees the craziness in all of this!
My mother rounds on Emilia with an impassive expression and cold eyes. She looks at my Angel as though she’s nothing more than a fleck of dirt on her shoe. “Didn’t I just say I was glad the plan failed?”
Dismissing Emilia just as quickly, she smiles sweetly as she turns to Robbie, fluttering her eyelashes. “Robbie, baby, could you be a dear?”
Yuck! Bleh!Her sickly sweet tone has me nearly dry heaving.
Retrieving a tablet from somewhere hidden beneath his robe, Robbie taps on the screen before turning it to face me. The screen is black for a moment before an unsteady film begins. It looks like a video taken on someone’s phone, the way it shakes and moves in and out of focus.
However, it’s not enough to distort the image of me wearing my original #darkknighttotherescue t-shirt as I drive Marie into some guy’s neck. He’s wearing black combat gear, and although I haven’t the first fucking clue who he is, I know exactly when this was filmed…
…The night we broke into the Nocturnal Mercenaries compound and rescued Hadley.
“How magnificent you were that night. Untouchable. You showed such confidence as you delivered each killing blow.” Her voice rings with pride, as though murder is comparable to a seven-year-old getting ten out of ten on his spelling test.
“How did you get this?” I ask, still frowning at the scene playing before me as I yank Marie from the guy’s throat, sending a stream of blood spurting everywhere before wiping the blade on his clothing and moving on to the next person.
I can vaguely make out Hawk moving about in the background, but it’s me that the camera is focused on.
“I have people everywhere, my child. Nothing happens without me knowing about it.”
“However that was four years ago. How did you even get eyes inside the compound?”
Her voice tinkles with polite laughter. “My dear child, you do not yet comprehend the extensive reach of the Elites.” Turning to look at the others huddled together, my mother steps away as she approaches them.
My muscles tense as I wait anxiously to see what she will do.
Stepping in front of Hawk, she stares down at him. “Your mom was a strong woman. Exactly the type of person this country needs to get back on its feet again.”
