Page 106 of Freeing Denver

“No, I’m going for Marnie.”

Sebastian says, “Why don’t I get Marnie, and you go with Kitrick?”

“She won’t go with you,” I say. “She has no idea who you are. I’ll find her. I’ll meet you back here. Ten minutes, tops.” I’m already at the door.

“No good plan starts with splitting up,” Sebastian interjects, stalling my hand on the doorknob. “I promised Colt I wouldn’t let you leave my sight, Denver. I’m coming with you.”

He’s right. Splitting up now would be reckless. If Kitrick can’t get the message to Colt or he’s too late, I need to be with Sebastian to get out of here together.

Kitrick says, “I’ll turn off the cameras. You remember the way to my room?” I nod quickly, opening the door, already half over the threshold. “Head the same way but turn left instead of right at the end of the hall. She’s in the third door on the left. It’slocked, and she should be alone. Spider and Eli are in the library, drinking.”

The hall is deathly quiet when we step into it. The grandfather clock ticks softly, and the carpet muffles our footsteps.

We reach the clock and go left, just as it chimes on eleven. I pause when I see Marnie in the hallway.

“Denver,” she whispers, but freezes in place when she sees Sebastian. “Is … is everything okay?”

I nod quickly and approach her. “This is Sebastian. He isn’t who we thought he was.” Laughter reaches us from downstairs, and I take her hand, going into her room.

“Hurry, Denver,” Sebastian says. “I’ll wait out here.”

My heart is racing as I close the door behind Marnie and me. She stares at me, eyes wide. “What is it?”

“Colt is here.”

Marnie stares at me, her mouth opening and closing before she finally speaks again. “Really?”

“Yes, he’s outside. Taf, Alistair, JJ, everyone is here.” I grip her shoulders. “We’re getting out.”

Tears fill her eyes, and she looks close to dropping to her knees. “How? How will we warn them?”

“Kitrick,” I whisper, getting closer. “He’s getting a message to Colt now. He’s going to help.” I smile, cupping her face. “We’re going home to Holly.”

She lets out a disbelieving laugh and pulls me into a hug. I squeeze her, holding her as tightly as I can, because this was worth it. To get her home, to reunite her with her daughter, was worth it. The pain, the fear, the exhaustion. It’s all worth it as long as she comes back with us.

Marnie pulls from the hug and brushes my hair back, a tear falling free from her bottom lash and over her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Denver.”

“Sorry? For what?”

Her lips tremble and she rubs a lock of my hair between her index finger and thumb. “I’m not Marnie.”

My lungs feel like they collapse. My heart becomes a useless organ in my chest, no longer doing what it should.

“You really are my good girl, Jenna.” The voice climbs over my skin like poisoned fog. I spin, my heart free-falling as Spider watches me from the corner. “I had a feeling something was happening when Colt and Ranger were pictured together. But Kitrick?” He tsks, a wild smile spreading across his face. “That’s just a bonus.”

I’ve barely screamed Sebastian’s name before Spider lunges for me. His knuckles meet my jaw and pain blasts across my face, up my cheek, and into my head. I stumble, hitting the floor, trying to blink through the quick throbbing. Blood and saliva fill my mouth, and I heave breaths into the floor.

Spider crouches in front of me. “This is the problem with men like Colt.” He sighs, his tobacco breath turning my stomach. “They grow too attached to the women they should be controlling.” He stands.

Sebastian starts bellowing my name, and something crashes. He’s fighting to get to me. To save me. To do what he promised Colt he would.

“This isn’t going to be a happily-ever-after, Denver,” Spider whispers. “That’s not how life works.”

He hits me again, and everything goes black.

Roars of painpull me from a deep, painful slumber. My face aches, my lips taste of iron, and judging from the ache in my shoulder, I’ve been lying on the dining room floor for a while.

And the sounds that woke me are coming from Kitrick.