Page 113 of Burdened Bonds

“Yes, Phoenix, I know. But I believe this is something we have to do.”

43

Stone

It’sdusk by the time we reach the outskirts of Los Magicos and, despite spending the last few hours going over and over our plan, analyzing all the things that could go wrong and searching for potential solutions, I feel no better about it.

This is fucking stupid, and no one will convince me otherwise.

Several months back, before I met Rhianna, I would have walked away from a stupid scheme like this. Thrown my hands up and refused to take part.

But things are different now. I’m irreversibly linked to this girl – to all of them. And so I’ll do it – fuck I’ll give it my best damn shot – even if I think we’re doomed to fail.

An unease sits in my belly and I can’t help glancing at Rhi. If anything happens to her … It’s my worst nightmare. What I feared the most. Losing a fated mate. Ending up like mymom. The pain so extreme I’d be driven to insanity by it.

But isn’t that why we’re here doing this? To save Rhi from that fate? Spencer Moreau can’t die. We can’t let that happen. Spencer Moreau has to live.

Like I said, we’re all in this together now, our lives woven with each other’s, bound to protect one another until our very last breath, burdened by destiny. Rhi and all of them. All of us.

I take her hand in mine as Winnie weaves us through the empty streets of the city. It’s past curfew and no one is out, the usual busy bustling streets devoid of people. It makes the unease worse and I squeeze her hand.

“Okay?” she whispers to me and I nod my head.

The first part of this plan is all down to me and my ability to fool Christopher Kennedy – to appear as ruthless and fucked up as he is himself. Can I do it? Or will he look into my eyes and see the truth – how much this girl means to me? Will I be able to hide it?

Azlan has Winnie driving through the back streets away from any patrols and then we’re parking up.

“This is as far as we can take you,” he says, spinning around in his seat to face Rhi, Renzo and me in the back seat. Then he’s unbuckling his belt and climbing out of the car. Rhi leans forward in her seat, hugging her best friend and handing her the pig. He squeals and squirms in her arms, refusing to be handed over.

“Pip,” she says firmly, “You can’t come with me!”

But I have a feeling the pig is as unhappy with the plan as I am.

Eventually, Winnie wrestles him out of her arms, making us all promise to be careful, and then we follow Azlan out into the dusk.

“We’ll be waiting for you back at the mansion,” he says. “You know the plan. Make sure you stick to it,” he adds to Barone who simply stares blankly back at him. The unease doubles in my stomach. We’re trusting our safety – our damn lives – to a mad man. I think that somehow makesusthe crazy ones. Azlan pulls Rhi towards him, hugging her close to his body.

“Stay safe, sweetheart, and make sure you come back to me,” he whispers, his voice faltering.

She hugs him back. “I will.”

Then he climbs back into the car, watching us all through the window with a pain I feel in my gut as the car pulls away.

Once they’ve disappeared into the coming night, Rhi steps forward, placing her hands behind her back, and with a deep inhale, I secure them together with magical cuffs. Just like that first day we met. Only these she’ll be able to break apart when the need arises.

Barone looks at her.

“She looks too healthy,” Barone says.

“What?” I say. I mean, she does. Unlike the last time I cuffed her hands together, she’s no longer a malnourished, skinny thing. Her cheeks have rounded and so has her ass.

“If I was bringing in a person – to Lowsky or whoever – I’d have some fun first. You know, rough them up.” He licks his lips. “Make them hurt.”

I step towards him, pointing a finger right in his face.

“You’re not laying a finger on her.”

The assassin rolls his eyes. “You’re so fucking funny, Prof.” Then he waves his hands and when I peer over my shoulder at Rhi, her hair’s all messed up, there’s a bruise on her cheek and another around her throat.