Page 99 of Explode
The cameras had been labeled on the plan, and from memory, I knewthe one in my room was above the door that led to the walk-in wardrobe. There was also one inside the wardrobe, but Kai had respected my privacy enough to not install one in the bathroom.
I doubted Hendrix would afford such privacy.
Taking the chance that Hendrix hadn’t put any more cameras in theroom, I made my way to the side of the bed furthest from where I knew the camera was. I sat down and pulled my knees to my chest, and buried my head in them to make it look like I was crying.
Keeping one hand wrapped around my knees, I dropped the other tomy waist, and without lifting my top, I moved my hand over the object hidden in my waistband, running it down the length.
It wasn’t big, but cupping my palm over it, I felt the shape of it. It wasrectangular and solid, and when my finger brushed over a small lump on the side of it, I knew in a heartbeat what the object was.
A flick knife.
Aside from teaching me how to shoot, Miles hadn’t taught me how touse any other weapons, but how much training did I need to use a knife? Surely it was a simple case of sticking the knife in, and hoping for the best, right?
As much as I’d been present when both Kai and Miles had takenpeople’s lives, I’d never been the one to deliver the fatal blow. It looked like that was about to change, or at least, I was going to do my damn best to end Hendrix’s life.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, and my heart raced like aspeeding train as I waited for what would come next. Taking calming breaths, I reminded myself of everything Miles had taught me when teaching me how to defend myself. Don’t hesitate. Trust your instincts. Predict what your opponent is going to do next. Use the element of surprise.
I repeated his lessons over and over again, doing my best to slow mypounding heart. There was one thing Hendrix had on his side that I didn’t though, and that was his strength. He could easily overpower me, and if he did, I would be in all sorts of trouble. But with the knife tucked securely in my waistband, I had the element of surprise.
I only hoped I didn’t fuck it up.
I didn’t know how much time went by, my only indication time hadpassed was the view from my room. The curtains were open revealing the floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the city stretched out for miles. It was a view I’d always found breathtaking, but now, I couldn’t focus on anything but my impending doom.
When I’d first been thrown in here, the evening was dusk. Now,night had fallen, and the city was lit up with bright lights as far as the eye could see. The sounds of the city reached my ears as people went about their lives, clueless that I was locked up here deliberating on how I was going to save my own ass.
In a way, the hum of the traffic below was soothing. That was until aloud bang had me jumping to my feet, and looking out the window. Below, flashes of light caught my eye, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunshots.
A pang of hope zapped through me.
I was too high up to make out what was going on, the only indicationof a gunfight was the flashes of light and echoes of shots. I assumed it was Kai and the Apollo team fighting The Stags, and the pang of hope took root.
Racing over to the door, I pulled it in hopes Ash had figured out a wayto override the system, but it didn’t open. Again, I put my finger back on the pad, but all I was met with was the angry bleep telling me I didn’t have permission. Ignoring the disappointment, I crossed back to the window to see what was going on.
Pressing my palms against the glass, I was so focused on trying tomake out what was happening that the lock on the door disengaging took a second to register. Spinning around, my heart dropped to my stomach as Hendrix closed the door behind him, a devious grin on his lips.
“It seems your men have come for you, Riley,” he said as he reachedinto his pocket and pulled something out. “I don’t think they’ll cause too many problems for my Stags, there aren’t many of your men, and even if they do get past my Stags stationed outside, they won’t get into the building. Max’s security system is unbreakable.”
I swallowed nervously, my feet rooted to the spot as he put the keyhe’d just pulled out of his pocket into the lock.
“But, I’ve waited too long to risk anything going wrong, I’m not takingany chances. Tonight, I’ll make you mine, once and for all.” He twisted the key, and the deafening sound of the lock clicking into place echoed around the room. He put the key in his pants pocket, smiling menacingly at me the entire time.
“How do you like your new room? I made some improvements sinceyou were last here, I hope you don’t mind. I know it looks a bit basic, but you really won’t have a need for anything other than the bed. And you certainly won’t have a need for any clothes, I plan on keeping that fuckable body on show at all times.”
His eyes raked over my body, and he licked his lips. Nausea churnedin my belly, and my hand twitched with the need to grab the knife from my waistband and jump over the bed so I could plunge it into his eye. But patience was a virtue, and I needed my timing to be right.
“Cat got your tongue,Star? You’re awfully quiet. It’s most unlike you.”
Urgh. I hated it when he called me Star. That name was reserved forKai, and Kai alone.
“Yeah, well, my mom always said ‘If you don’t have anything nice tosay, then don’t say anything,’” I replied, unable to resist keeping my mouth shut.
His lips quirked. “Ah, there she is. For a minute, I was beginning tothink I wouldn’t have anything to beat out of you.”
I refused to let the fear show on my face, My lip was still throbbingfrom his earlier whack, and dread pooled in my belly, but I let my mind go to the knife tucked in my band, knowing it was there when I needed it.
“So, princess. I hear congratulations are in order. I must say, I wassomewhat disappointed not to receive an invite to your wedding,” Hendrix said, a smirk creeping over his lips as he took a step forward.
“Must have got lost in the post,” I replied, watching his every moveand trying to predict what he would do next.
