Page 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

XAVIER

I’m going to kill him.

First, I’ll get Lucy out of here, so she doesn’t have to see it, and then I’ll kill him.

Rage is an inferno blazing inside me.

This fucking piece of garbage.

Terrifying Lucy.

Traumatizing her.

Hurting her.

He touched her. Grabbed her arm. Put a gun to her head. Carried my sweet, sensitive, beautiful girlfriend in his arms as he brought her here.

My drugged, helpless girlfriend.

Fuck.

I’m going to kill him.

Fortunately—for me and Lucy, not that piece of garbage Amberson—he underestimated how much of the sedative to give me. In all his meticulous planning, he didn’t take into account that the dose he gave her wouldn’t be enough to fully incapacitate me. So I was only unconscious for a short time in the trunk, with Lucy tucked next to me, and by the time we arrived at this dilapidated house, I was awake and could see for myself that he never tried anything.

So I might make his death quick.

On the other hand…

I can still see Lucy’s face as he forced her into the trunk of his car. She was terrified. Panicked. All her worst nightmares were coming to life.

As she lay beside me, her body was vibrating with fear, and her breathing was so fast I was afraid she’d hyperventilate. As she slowly succumbed to the sedative, I reassured her over and over that it would be okay.

Will I get her out of this? Yes. So, in that sense, she will be okay.

But what of the rest of it? Being tricked into believing her father was dying? Having a gun pressed to her head? Restrained and drugged? Shoved into a trunk? And now shackled to the wall in an empty building, just like this whole thing started?

Maybe slow and painful is the way to go.

It’s just a matter of waiting for the right moment to execute my plan.

I’ve been running through it ever since I woke up in the trunk, maybe ten or fifteen minutes from here.

Wherever here is. From the brief glimpse I got as Amberson dragged me into the barn—I was still pretending to be unconscious, so I didn’t want to risk opening my eyes for too long—all I saw were trees and grass and a dirt road with only a single set of tire tracks on it.

Not too far from Lucy’s parents’ place in Olmos Park, I bet. Amberson wouldn’t want to risk both Lucy and I waking up in the trunk and complicating things. He wants to hurry and get this game started.

Because that’s what it is. It’s Expiration Date all over again, except this time, with two people trapped instead of just one. Everything’s the same—the shackles chained to the wall, the meager pile of food and water, the hole in the floor… and that damned rope hanging from the ceiling.

The only difference? There are two this time. An opportunity for the couple to end things together instead of watching each other slowly waste away.

How fucked up is that?

I’m almost glad Lucy hasn’t woken up yet.

Shit. She’s going to be so scared. She might even have a flashback and try to escape, hurting herself in the process. And I can’t comfort her the way I want to, not if I want my plan to work.

It’s clear Amberson is waiting for us to regain consciousness. Through my slitted eyelids, I can see him pacing, his feet kicking up puffs of dirt and bits of old hay as he moves. Every minute or so, he pulls out his gun to inspect it, checking the chamber and making sure the safety is off.

And that’s why I haven’t made my move. I can’t. Not until I get him away from Lucy. I have a stash of zip ties and my small Ka-Bar in my pocket, and it was just me, I wouldn’t hesitate to take on Amberson. But with the gun, and Lucy here, chained up… it’s too risky. The second I try anything, he’ll threaten to kill her.

But once he leaves the barn, all bets are off. He thinks he has it all figured out, but there’s something?—

A soft groan breaks the silence of the barn.

Lucy’s eyes blink open, dazed and unfocused. Her brow creases with pain, and she reaches her unrestrained hand towards it, but it’s an uncoordinated movement and she nearly misses her forehead.

Amberson steps closer, so he’s maybe ten feet away, and his mouth curves into a predatory grin.

“What…” Her voice is slurred. Confused.

“You’re awake.” Still grinning, the piece of garbage takes another step towards Lucy. His teeth flash a dull white in the dim of the barn.

“Don’t get any closer to her,” I growl. There’s no point in playing pretend anymore, not when the game’s about to start.

“Xavier?” Lucy turns to me, her eyebrows arched in question. “What… where are we?”

“It’s okay, Luce.” Scooting over a few feet, I take her hand with mine. “It’s going to be okay.”

Amberson laughs. “I think your idea of okay isn’t the same as mine.”

“Xavier?” As realization sets in, Lucy’s chin wobbles. Her voice shakes. “Are we?—”

She stops. Pulls at her shackled wrist.

Horror fills her gaze.

“No.” Then louder. “ No .”

“Lucy. Look at me.” I squeeze her hand. “It’s okay.”

Her breath comes in rapid gasps as she tugs at her shackled wrist, yanking it against the thick metal. “Oh, no, no, no?—”

“Ah, this is great,” cackles Amberson. “I don’t usually get to see this part in person. It’s so much better this way.”

“Lucy. Stop.”

But she’s panicked. Frantic. The instinct to escape is too strong. Lucy’s pulling at the shackles, bruising her poor wrist and ankle, possibly lost in a flashback already.

It’s horrible watching her suffer like this.

“ Lucy .” This time I harden my voice, pitching it low and commanding. “Look at me. Now.”

“If she’s not even going to listen, what’s the fun in that?” grumbles the piece of shit I’m going to kill shortly.

“Lucy,” I repeat sharply. “ Look at me .”

My chest aches to see her this way. So scared. Confused. I want to pull her into my arms and comfort her, kiss the tears away, help her do those box breathing exercises until she calms down, but I can’t. Not now.

Lucy drags her gaze to mine, so fearful, but still so trusting. “Xavier?”

“I need you to calm down, sunshine. Stop hurting yourself. I know it’s scary. I know.”

In a tiny voice, she replies, “But… the game. And you… I’m sorry… it’s my fault…”

Fuck.

My heart.

“It is not.” I release her hand to brush the tears from her cheeks. “You trust me, right?”

A small nod. “Yes.”

“It’ll be okay, Luce. I promise.”

Amberson snorts. “Aww. That’s so sweet. But completely ridiculous.” He pauses. “I can promise things are very much not going to be okay.” Another pause. “Well. They will be for me. For you two? Not so much.”

“Just let her go,” I grit out. “If you want to play your fucked up game again, do it with me.”

“Oh, no.” He smirks. “What would the fun be in that? And really, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this idea before. Two lovers trapped together. Will you share the food? Sacrifice yourself so the other can live longer? End it all together like Romeo and Juliet?”

Lucy whimpers. Her teeth dig into her lower lip hard enough to make it bleed.

“Or maybe one of you will turn on the other,” he continues. “Wouldn’t that be interesting? It adds so many elements to the game. So many things to bet on.”

“You’re sick,” Lucy whispers. “Evil.”

“Do you really think everyone is good, Lucy? Like the characters in those silly books you write?” Amberson lifts his gun and cocks the trigger, then points it at me. “I could kill your boyfriend right now and I wouldn’t feel a second of regret.”

“No!” She struggles to her feet, swaying as she tries to stay standing. “Don’t.”

Will he?

My muscles tense, ready to move.

I don’t want to do this now, with Lucy right here, but if there’s no other choice…

“I won’t.” He lowers the gun. “Not because I care about his life, but that will ruin my whole plan.”

“Why?” I grit out, though I’m sure I know the answer. “Why not leave? You made plenty of money. There’s already a suspect in custody.”

Piece of Garbage grins. “I know. Isn’t that the greatest? Poor Garrett, he had no clue I was setting him up the whole time. I met him online in some group for hackers; he was so eager to brag about his skills. How he could hack anything.” He shrugs. “It’s really his own fault. Pride’s a sin, you know.”

Lucy gapes at him. “You killed people. You almost killed me. You don’t think?—”

“I don’t care, Lucy. That’s the thing. I. Don’t. Care.” After a brief pause, he asks, “You know what I do care about?”

“Money,” I spit. “And being a sick fuck who gets off on other people’s misery.”

“The money part is true. But also, revenge.” Amberson steps back, his gun lowering to his side. “I had a good thing going. I was making millions, you know. And then you —” He glares at Lucy. “You ruined it. You and your fucking rent-a-cop boyfriend. You even got the damn FBI involved.”

“Good.” Lucy’s voice is hard. “I’m glad I ruined it.”

“You won’t be glad for long, little Lucy.” He takes another step back. “You’re going to be my last game. When they eventually find your bodies, they’ll think it’s something that idiot Garrett set up. And I’ll take the money and go on to another… venture. Maybe something with trafficking this time. I’ve heard it’s very profitable.”

“Why me?” Lucy asks quietly. “We never even met?—”

“Why not you? Like you’re something special?” A beat, and then, “Honestly, I didn’t care who you were. Not until you fucked with my business.” His eyes narrow. “Now I can’t wait to see you die.”

This fucker .

He’s going to regret this.

“Well,” he adds brightly. “I guess it’s time for me to get out of here. Leave you to your… demise. That’s an apt term. But I’ll be watching”—his gaze slides to a camera mounted on the wall—“to see how it all turns out.”

And with a little over the shoulder wave, Amberson heads towards the barn door, adding brightly, “I’m betting he goes first. I’m putting the odds at two to one.”