Page 99 of King of Cruelty

“Then why are we hiding here?” Kenzie looked between the glass-paneled walls, giving a clear view into the stark barerooms. There was no chance of hiding in there. They were two big fishbowls. “When that guy wakes up, he’ll just come back up and give us matching brain injuries, then!”

I laughed. “I said it doesn’t look like there’s a place to hide, but I played hide-and-seek with my brothers and sisters in this place for years.” He winked. “They never found me.”

Walking her out onto the terrace, I breathed in the warm, muggy Cinco morning. The sky was so clear and beautiful, shining down on a living nightmare.

My family was in more danger than they’d ever been in. We were trapped in a building that was about to blow up. Kenzie was separated from her sister and daughter, and the only thing I could do about it was hide like a little bitch.

All I wanted to do was storm Sunny’s apartment, but even though they needed proof of life for their little auction, they didn’t need to prove they didn’t torture and shoot us a bit first. There were a lot of horrible things Debra could do to my family before I even got close to wiping out her and her cronies.

What I needed to do now was play it smart, stay hidden, and wrench away the upper hand. The more desperate she gets, the more mistakes she’ll make.

Together, Kenzie and I stepped out from under the cabana and took it all in. The terrace was always my favorite place growing up. Just more proof that I belonged outside.

The entire perimeter was shrouded with plants. Mostly to give us our privacy, but also to make it feel like we were in a breezy, verdant jungle. All the chairs, chaises, and tables were angled around the firepit, and memories of long nights laughing and roasting marshmallows with my family filled my head.

I had a good life, and a great childhood, but now...I gazed at Kenzie.Now I have something to live for that isn’t making weapons and making money. There’s a life with Kenzie andLaurel waiting for me after this fight, so what do I want that life to look like?

“Over here,” I said, shaking away my heavy thoughts. “This is where we hide.”

Kenzie followed my finger. “Bane, you’re pointing at a bush.”

I cracked a grin. “I’m pointing at a fake bush sitting on top of a huge, man-sized flowerpot. All of these plants are fake,” I explained, grabbing hold of the plastic fronds, “and all of these pots are empty. We climb in, put the bushes back over our heads, and no one will know a thing.”

“Oooh, sneaky. No wonder your siblings couldn’t find you.”

I swept out my hand. “Milady.”

Dropping a peck on my cheek, Kenzie swung her leg over and climbed inside. I carefully placed the bush cover back on, then hopped inside of mine...

...and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited some more.

Thanks to Debra’s phone, I was able to keep track of how long I spent cowering in a big flowerpot while my enemies invaded my home and held my family hostage.

It went off in the middle of me checking the time for the sixth time.

“Hello?” I chirped.

“You shitfuck, bigamist bastard swine!”

“Debbie, love, is that you? What’s going on? You sound upset.”

“Thought you were so clever, tricking my guys into giving me a hard drive filled with baby photos of that blonde brat?!”

I laughed. “I actually didn’t know the drive had photos of Tricky, but you should give them another look. Maybe her sweet, chubby cheeks will melt the ice around your desiccated heart.Once it gets some room, I’m sure it’ll grow, my green Grinchy friend.”

“Where is the drive?” she forced through gritted teeth.

“It’s safe.”

“Really? As safe as you are in those oversized chamber pots?”

I froze.

“I hope so, because if you don’t stand up and hand it—and whatever weapon you’re carrying—over to me right now, I’ll put a bullet in the fuck toy’s head.”