Page 49 of Die for You (Diamond Devils #4)

Aurora

My head is groggy, heavy, when I stir awake.

The air is suffocatingly musty, thick with mildew and mold. Around me, the room is barren. An unforgiving vinyl floor beneath me, a blank, concrete wall at my back, and a degrading wooden staircase that leads to a door.

I’m in somebody’s basement.

Behind my back, my wrists are yanked together and bound, shoulders already aching from the strain. I tug at the restraints, but they don’t budge. How long have I been down here?

I try to scream, and that’s when I finally notice the gag in my mouth. Cloth with a rough fabric, my tongue dry as it soaks up all the saliva. My whimpers of panic barely reach my own ears, let alone whoever might be on the other side of that door.

By my feet, a glass of water rests. If it ever contained ice, it’s long since melted. Taunting me with the promise of hydration that I can’t get my hands on.

Along the opposite wall, something catches my attention.

A suitcase stuffed with clothes. My suitcase. And beside it?—

My violin.

I nearly weep in relief. He didn’t destroy it. He stole my violin and brought it here. Knowing he’d make sure I would soon follow.

With another violent tug, I pull at the restraints. All the effort does is make my wrists sting, the zip tie unyielding, indestructible.

Jeremiah .

Once the Devils were arrested, he lingered outside their house, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. And I handed myself over to him on a silver platter.

Alone, unprotected.

He must’ve put something on that wet cloth. Something to knock me out so he could bring me here.

This is exactly what the Devils were trying to prevent. Exactly why I’ve been running all this time.

Now, I’m prey in his trap. Unable to do anything other than wait for the moment the predator will strike.

A gut feeling grabs me and doesn’t let go. The Devils won’t be able to save me this time.