Page 177 of Spoils of war
“That’s how we get in,” I said. “That’s the way.”
Will’s face twisted, panic spilling into his voice. “No. Absolutely not. Kera, that’s— No. You’ll be trapped. You’ll be—”
“I have to,” I cut in, already decided. “This is the only way. And you know it. And you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Kera…” Aran leaned forward, eyes locked on mine. “You don’t have to do this.”
I looked at him. Didn’t blink.
“I do,” I said. “If it’s the only way to get her out—then I do.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Will never liked the plan. I didn’t either. Terror coiled in me no matter how many times we went over it, no matter how carefully we laid it out. Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to do.
Aran, of course, treated it like theater—rehearsing lines, slipping into character. He was supposed to “sell” me to the club to clear his debts. I’d get inside, find Licia, and then Will would buy a night with me, then we’d make our escape. That was the plan.
Aran leaned back in his chair, smirking. “So I lose the game, act all desperate, and go,‘Oh no, please sir, I’ll do anything!’”
He grinned at his own performance.
I rolled my eyes, the fear in my chest burning sharper.
“You don’t have to enjoy it.”
“You’d rather I cry? Or maybe I should brood, like he’s been all day?” He jerked his head toward Will.
I hated when he had a point. If Aran was good at anything, it was making a shitty situation seem less shitty. Will, on the other hand, wore his dread plain as day.
When Aran left for the club to start phase one of the plan—“losing his bets”—I stayed behind in the hotel lounge. Kalani lay curled up on the white linen sofa beside me, silent and lost in her own storm. Across from us, in the armchair opposite, sat Will. He wouldn’t look at me, but I couldn’t stop looking at him as fire crackled softly in the hearth.
I didn’twantto go. I didn’t want to walk into that mansion. I wanted to stay right there, press my face into his chest, and forget everything else. But I couldn’t, and he knew that. And still, he gave me the silent treatment. It felt like your parent sayingI’m not angry, just disappointed.As if those words hurt less.
“Will…” I whispered.
His jaw tensed but he didn’t look up. “I’m not discussing this anymore.”
“Yes, we are.” I sat up straighter. “We have to talk about it.”
“This plan is reckless,” he said, his voice cracking. “What if something happens to you? What if they—” He stopped himself. He didn’t have to finish, I knew what he was thinking.
“They’re not going to touch me.”
“You don’t know that,” he snapped, louder. “You have no idea what happens in places like that.” He ran a hand through his hair, trembling. “I do. I’ve seen it now Kera. And I can’t unsee it.”
“I can handle it,” I said.
“Handle it?” he shot back. “Do you even hear yourself?”
He pushed to his feet, shaking his head like he could throw the images out. I stood too, heat rushing through me, and closed the space between us. Anger bubbled sharp in my chest.
“You think I don’t know that?” My voice rose with it. “You think I haven’t played every horrible thing that could happen over and over in my head? But Ihaveto do this. What’s the other option? Leaving her in there? In the ’Hel’ you can’t even speak of. Doyouhear yourself?”
“And then what?” he asked. “You walk in there, grab her hand, and walk out? That’s the plan? They won’t let you leave. I don’t know how you got Aran to agree to this, or think it’s a good plan, but you’re all delusional.”
I stepped closer, heat rising in my chest. “You think I want to do this? I know exactly what’s at stake. I know what I’m risking. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not leaving her.”
“You’re gonna get yourself killed,” he shouted.
