Page 98 of Gilded Locks

“I know.” She smiled. “I trust you.”

Chapter 19

Through the Keyhole

Stone let Marigold through corridors she hadn’t explored yet. The architecture changed as they walked, becoming more utilitarian. Service areas, she realized, the behind-the-scenes spaces that kept the fantasy of this gothic palace functioning.

They emerged into what appeared to be a security office. Banks of monitors showed feeds from every corner of the lodge, while communication equipment hummed quietly in the background. Hunter was there, along with Ash and several men Marigold didn’t recognize—staff members, from their uniforms and bearing. In the corner, beside a rather intense looking man she didn’t know, sat Katya.

Hunter’s smile held dark anticipation as he crossed the room to place a kiss on her lips. “Perfect timing. We were just going over the evening’s schedule.”

“Schedule?” Marigold asked.

“Your brother’s visit isn’t exactly social,” Ash explained, moving to pull her against his side. “He’s coming with lawyers and security. According to the messages we were able to hack, he’s anticipating an unencumbered rescue. You see, you were kidnapped and tonight, he’ll find you having another psychotic episode.”

Marigold sucked in a sharp breath. “You want me to act psychotic.”

“No. We want you as far away from him as possible,” Stone growled. “Hunter’s only relaying what we’ve gathered from hacking your brother’s phone. His words, not ours.”

“But she wasn’t kidnapped,” Katya said, offended on her behalf. “Marigold has chosen to be here of her own free will.”

“Well, sort of.” She flinched when Ash pinched her ass.

“Watch it,” he warned.

Hunter met her worried stare with unwavering confidence. “We’re going to let him think whatever he wants. At least initially. That’s how irrelevant his feelings are in tonight’s outcome.”

“What do you need us to do?” Marigold asked.

The brothers exchanged looks loaded with meaning. Whatever they had planned, it was complex enough to require careful coordination.

“Nothing dangerous,” Hunter said finally. “We won’t put either of you at risk. But your presence, your testimony, that’s what makes this work.”

“Jordan needs to understand exactly what he did,” Stone explained. “Not just legally, but viscerally. He needs to feel what his victims felt.”

“Powerless,” Ash murmured.

“Trapped,” Stone added. “Unable to escape what’s coming.”

The implications sent fear tunneling through Marigold’s blood like ice chips. They were going to break Jordan the same way he’d broken others. There would most likely be violence, but also psychological domination. She tried to picture the slow, inexorable stripping away of his control. Wondered how he might act when cornered and outmaneuvered, laid bare, with nothing but naked vulnerability to protect him.

Just as she’d been unprotected and outnumbered when they strapped her to that table and sent one hundred and twenty volts of electricity through her. She hoped when the guys were through with him, Jordan experienced the same convulsing helplessness Katya suffered, plus the fear Marigold felt every time the doctors at Whitmore put her through those electric shock sessions.

“Where will we be during all this?” Katya asked.

“Safe,” Stone said immediately. “Hidden. You’ll be able to see everything, but he won’t know you’re there until we’re ready.”

“Until he’s ready,” Hunter corrected with a predator’s grin.

The intimidating officer beside Katya stepped forward with a tablet. “Boat’s approaching the harbor, sir. ETA twenty minutes.”

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. “Good job, Cole.”

“Cole’s the head of security,” Ash whispered to Marigold, mouth warm against her ear. “He steps in when we’re preoccupied with the guests.”

The brothers moved with sudden purpose, checking equipment, confirming positions, preparing for battle. But it was Katya’s reaction that broke Marigold’s heart. The girl who’d been growing stronger by the minute suddenly went pale and rigid. Her breathing quickened, and her hands began to shake.

“He’s here?” she whispered. “He’s really here?”