Page 36 of The Heir
It's not the same room. I'm no longer restrained, but the thick metal bars of the cell door look newer. Much newer. They aren't rusted or stained with neglect. They practically shine.
Eerily, there is no sound whatsoever. The constant dripping is gone. There is no sign of human activity. I can't even hear the sound of anyone sleeping. No snores, no deep breaths. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Fuck. They've sequestered me away from my wife and allies. I'm entirely alone. All the money and connections in the world, but what good is that now? No one knows we're here. The Eligos may have concerns that we never checked in, but the rendezvous point was so remote—there definitely weren't any cameras she could track us with. Hell, I don't even know how we got here.
I don't know wherehereis. Helena said something about Mexico, but who knows if that's true? I wouldn't be surprised, based on the sticky humid heat. But that could be a lot of places. With how widespread the Seraph are, similar to GoCon, we could be absolutely anywhere in the world.
However, since Ella is the Beacon of North America, I can't imagine she'd allow us outside her grasp. I huff out a sigh and rake my hands through my greasy hair.
God dammit. I failed Melody again. I walked into a trap with a smile on my face, and I failed her. And now we're stuck in this shithole in god knows where, separated—she's probably terrified, if they haven't drugged her to sleep again—and I can't do a goddamn thing about it.
Furious tension courses through my veins as I stomp over to the little shelf and gulp down all the water from that stupid, tiny cup. My muscles contract, and I throw the fucking cup as hard as I can. Itclangsagainst the wall and tumbles to the floor, spinning in a lazy circle. The effort comes with a grunt, but it doesn't feel like enough. Nothing feels like enough.
I pace around this goddamn cell, fuming and grinding my teeth. I have to get out. I have to get us out. I have to save my wife, and I will do everything in my power to rip and tear and shred our way out. I'll rip Ella's throat out myself—assuming Melody doesn't get to her first.I'll strangle Hannah like I did her brother. I'll bury the Beacon and piss on her grave.
A primal yell erupts from my lungs, and the agonized sound bounces around the concrete walls. It doesn't do anything besides make my throat hurt, but once I start? I can't stop. I shout threats and curses, promising to end Ella's bloodline. I call her every name in the book. I tell her exactly how I'll put her down. I scream and scream and scream until there's nothing left. I'm so fucking exhausted.
"Impressive." Ella suddenly appears outside my door, smirking. She clasps her hands together, and I notice a white bandage wrapped around one of them. "You and that bitch are really meant for each other."
"What's on your hand?"
"Oh, this?" She shakes her head with a scoff, stepping closer to the bars. "Yourwifebit me. Like a dog. Disgusting. I can't wait until you watch her die."
Rage burns in my blood. She's so close. I could shove my arms through the bars and clamp my hands down on her throat. I'denjoythe feeling. The light leaving her eyes. The rattling squeaks of her trying to gasp for air. I would love every fucking second of it.
"You look like shit. Good." She runs a hand over her sleek red hair. "You know why that's good? I'll tell you. The Nephilim is coming. He wants to see that you're here. He wants to see that I've done the impossible. And I have!"
She claps her hands together with an excited giggle. I grimace and take a tentative step forward.
"And you know what? It was easier than I thought. You trusted Roman's word over anything. Everything! You had so many warning signs!" She laughs and slaps her thigh. "Shit, I really thought he was going to let it slip. He told me all about the little spats he had with your wife. Oh, he wanted to kill her.Sobad. But I talked him down. You're welcome, by the way." She grins. "It was hard. And he was so fucking ready to be rid of you."
"Tell me about that." It takes every fiber of my being to respond calmly, but I do.
"Now, now. I told you I wasn't going to monologue like a movie villain." She sighs and rolls her eyes. "Oh, what the hell? It'll be fun to watch you break. Do you remember when you graduated college, and your daddy wanted to set you up with permanent protection?"
My heart leaps into my throat. "Yes."
"Yeah, he wanted someone closer to your age. Someone you could trust. Someone who'd be able to—what was the term Roman used? Oh, right. He wanted someone who'd be able to, quote, 'hang with the boy.'" She points atme. "That's you."
"So, what? You planted him in the roster? Coached him on how to be the perfect applicant?" I shake my head. "I hired him, if you recall."
"You did! You took the bait! And he reported on you foryears. Oh, man. That was so long ago. That was back when I was just coming up in the Seraph, trying to find my footing, make a name for myself. The long con, you know? And it fuckin'worked."
"Years?" The word slips out of me before I can bite it back. Try as I might to remain cool, ithurts. My professional life, my personal life—he entangled himself in all of it. And I let him. I invited him in with open arms. His background check was clean, and his reported military service was impressive. I remember being particularly impressed with his intellect.
She's right. He was everything I—and, regrettably, my father, may he rot in pieces—wanted in a head bodyguard. Their fucking plan worked.
"Years, Dante. Years." She cocks her head to the side. "Don't like that, do you? Make you sad?"
I stay silent. My hands flex into fists as I try to calm my breathing.
"He wasoverjoyedwhen you picked Melody, the crazy bitch. He thought she might kill you. I, of course, was more interested in her criminal history. God, her arrest made me looksogood. Bit of a shame I'm no longer on the force, but my early retirement was accepted, and myservice was celebrated. It was lovely. You should have been there—a guest of honor!" Ella barks out a laugh, leaning back on her heels.
"When does the Nephilim get here?" I grunt.
"Soon." The way she switches from hysterical laughter to stone-faced focus is jarring. "Very soon. Be on your best behavior, Dante, and I might give you a reward."
Before I can ask anything else, she turns on her heel and disappears down the hall. The click-clack of her shoes fades away and, again, I'm entirely alone.
