Page 70 of Undertow

“What?!” he cries, collapsing against the wall. “Come on. It was an honest mistake!”

She lifts her hand to silence him without looking back. “Say another word and I’ll make it three.”

Tyler deflates, tangling his hands in his hair as he slides down the wall to the floor.

Adrian nods to me. “Let’s go. I’ll be back with some water in an hour or two,” he tells his cousin. “If you miss that bucket taking a shit, I’ll beat your ass again.”

Tyler releases a frustrated breath, but doesn’t look up.

Once outside, Adrian pulls the heavy door shut, and I hear the click of the lock. He enters something into the keypad to the left, shielding it with his body so I can’t see.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask as we start the long walk to the main house.

“Nothing. He’ll sit there to marinate for a couple days and get a fire lit under his lazy ass.” He glances back at the ominous structure. “He already got the worst of it. He’s family after all.”

I nod, somewhat relieved that my lie didn’t do more damage. Taking a hit is always a lot easier than watching someone take a hit on your behalf.

But something is still bothering me.

“There was a door against the far wall. Is there another room in there?”

“Yes,” Adrian answers casually.

“What’s it for?”

A dark grin splits his face. “Those who aren’t.”

There’s a mole.

I can’t get that thought out of my head as I sit across from McArthur, drink in hand, waiting for whatever bombshell brought me to his suite again. Merrick leans against the wall a few feet away, face unreadable. Scarlett isn’t here, but her mother Jacquelyn is, which concerns me even more.

There’s a mole.

I haven’t told them yet. I’m not sure if I will.

There’s also another room in The Shack.

For you when the Hartfords learn the truth about you.

“Drink!” McArthur says. “Why so tense?”

I force a tight smile. The last twelve hours have already been brutal, and I feel the weight cracking my exhausted façade. I need to breathe. I need towrite. If I can’t get relief soon…

Get it together.

“Merrick told you they bought the lie that we’re working with the RLC?” I ask, hoping to steer this conversation to a reminder of my successes.

I immediately regret it when a devious smile crests on his thin lips.

“He did. Brilliant plan, son. Wouldn’t it be divine if that pretty story were actually true? What a timely development.”

Timely? My blood runs cold. Oh no.

No, no, no.

My gaze crosses to his wife—Scarlett’s mother—whose chilly expression tells the story of what’s about to happen.

Fuck!I thought I had more time. I need more time!