Page 33

Blade

Waiting has never been a problem for me. You can always find something to do while waiting. Something worthwhile. The only exception to that so far has been waiting for Bella. But I’m not learning that waiting for death is another such exception.

I’m sure Socrates had a bunch of smart things to say about being imprisoned while waiting to die, but none of them come to mind right now.

What’s also not coming to me is figuring out a way out of this.

I suppose once they start shipping those pieces of me back to Rogue, the MC will try to find us.

But will it be too late for Bella? Will they even help her? Can they?

Pointless questions in the here and now.

I failed Bella once again. Failed to keep the love of my life safe.

Failed to keep her at all. Twice she was snatched away from me.

Twice I let her go. I don’t deserve her.

Never did. My one happiness in the sadness that was the last ten years without her was knowing at least Dante never got her.

But now he does. I failed to prevent that too.

My only idea of how much time has passed comes via how achy my arms and legs grow. From discomfort, to pins and needles, to numbness. Hours at least. Maybe the whole day.

The Hydra assholes will be here soon. Good. I want to get this show on the road, face what’s coming head on and not by sitting alone, tied to a chair in a small room. I don’t mind waiting, but I hate postponing the inevitable.

I’d been thinking that for a while by the time the door of my pantry cell finally opens again.

Not in that pompous way Dante used when he visited me, but slowly, cautiously.

The cool air from the dark hallway beyond the door is a welcome change from the stuffiness and rotting potato smell of my cell.

Matteo comes in and he’s alone. I have so many choice things to say to him I don’t know where to start. But he taps his finger to his lips as he closes the door behind him slowly and quietly.

He’s ditched the suit all these mob guys like to wear 24/7 for a sensible all-black ensemble, complete with cargo pants and boots. The knife in his hand shines bright silver in the overhead light as he walks up to me. Maybe the things I want to say to him aren’t the right ones.

Or maybe he’s just here to cut off that first piece of my flesh.

“What’s going on, Matteo? Had a change of heart?” I ask, hoping I’m reading this right more than I’ve hoped for anything in a good long while.

“Don’t talk,” he says as he steps behind me and I can no longer see the knife. That fills me with the kind of dread I’ve never felt before. But then my hands are suddenly free. Still numb, but no longer bound. He saws through the ties binding my legs next.

“What is this?” I ask, standing up and shaking my arms and legs to get the feeling back.

“What’s it look like?”

“It looks like you’re setting me free,” I say. But can I trust it? Or is this just a sick little game? But what choice do I got?

“Bella’s in the second bedroom left of the stairs on the third floor,” he says, handing me a key. “The side door is unlocked, the gate in the east fence too. It’s a straight shot from the side entrance where we brought you in, but don’t take the open route, go through the trees.”

He holds out the knife too. “You have half an hour. Hydra just got here and Dante will spend at least that long talking to them before he reveals he has you. He likes to put on a show. But don’t count on them being very patient.”

I take the key and the knife, just looking at him because I got so many questions I don’t know which to ask first.

“You think I’d let my sister get taken if I could help it?” he asks.

“You tried to sell her off once before,” I say and he scoffs.

“That was different. She was gonna be married to secure an alliance. That’s how it’s done,” he says. “She would’ve had a good life.”

“Yeah, well?—”

“Stop talking and get moving,” he says. “Third floor. Get her out.”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’ll have a car waiting. And I’ll cover our escape. You do your part. Don’t make me regret freeing you,” he says. “I’m only doing this for Bella. Wait a couple of minutes after I’m gone and then get her.”

Then he stalks out of the room, closing the door just as quietly as he opened it. I wait for maybe three breaths and follow.

This is the chance I never thought I’d get and I’m gonna seize it. And this time, I won’t fuck it up.