Page 19 of Mastered by Them (Rose and Dagger #2)

Edmund

D anica tugs on my sleeve. “Um, where is Troy, anyway?”

“Good question.” I take her hand and start toward the door where Amber disappeared.

The press of people wearing their finest is thinning out.

Hushed, scandalized voices are growing louder.

Gossip is rampant. We just witnessed the end of Amber’s company.

The waste in Mekinsaw Lake was a huge headline nine or so years ago.

The sick people recovered, thank god, but the Clayborne company was nearly destroyed in the process.

And PECS was behind the dumping. They advised Clayborne to use the lake. I knew about it—Troy told me. But holy shit. The video Troy had…it’s a lot more incriminating than I thought. No, it wouldn’t have changed anything. It wouldn’t have un-poisoned anyone.

But it will absolutely ruin Amber’s company. And, along with that—Amber.

I haven’t talked much to her—I couldn’t stand her even when she and Troy started dating. But I know she won’t take any of this quietly. If she’s going down, she’ll take Troy with her.

“Hurry.” I tug harder at Danica’s hand. She has to jog to keep up with me.

I have a bad feeling. Troy hasn’t come through that door yet, and Amber went in there.

When Danica and I reach the door, I let go of her hand. “Stay here, wait for us, okay?”

Her eyes flash like steel. “Um, how about no?”

“Danica. I don’t want you to have to be a witness to whatever?—”

“Fine, shut up.” She gives me a beseeching look. “Just…go help him?”

I nod and hurry through the door. The hall beyond is dimly lit, and quiet. Rather than letting the door swing shut behind me, I ease it closed.

Fuck. It’s too quiet. Where the hell is Troy? If he’s hurt…

Stop feeling so goddamn much . Emotions aren’t going to help me now. I need to turn everything off, find the clarity of acting on my instincts.

“The flash drive,” a woman hisses. “Right now, or I swear to god, I will pull this trigger.”

“Go ahead. I don’t fucking care.” Troy’s voice. “You ruined everything already—what should a bullet matter?”

She ruined everything—he means with Danica. Does he really think that? Pain stabs through me at his words, but I shove it aside. No room for feelings.

I keep my footsteps as quiet as possible and move down the hall. There are two doors—one is closed, but the other is open. Pretty sure their voices came from the open room.

I ease to the edge and wait, listening.

“Just give me the fucking flash drive, Troy.” Amber’s voice is shaking.

I have to see what’s going on before I burst in there. If Amber’s unsteady, she could get startled and shoot Troy. Either on purpose, or by accident. I’m not willing to risk it.

I crouch down and peer around the edge of the door.

Immediately I spy a guy on the ground. He’s moaning and holding his head. Amber stands right next to him, her arm extended, gun in her hand.

The guy on the ground catches sight of me. He freezes and starts to raise his hand, probably to get Amber’s attention.

I spring up, grip her gun arm and push it away from Troy before she can see me coming.

The gun goes off. Several people in the ballroom scream in fright.

“Let go! You’re hurting me!” Amber’s screeches make my ears ring.

I don’t let her go. No fucking way. I pry the gun from her grasp, making sure to keep it pointed at the ceiling the whole time. Then I drop it to the ground and kick it toward Troy.

As for Troy…he’s staring, dumbstruck, at me and Amber.

The guy at my feet doesn’t move. It seems raising his hand to signal alarm was the most he could do, and now he’s out cold.

Or he’s pretending to be out cold. Fucking coward.

“Who’s this guy?” I nudge the man’s knee with my foot.

He groans. I guess I gave him more of a kick than a nudge.

Troy smirks. “Dan. He’s an asshole.”

“Troy.” Amber’s voice is a low, harsh sound. “Call off your prince, let me go. I’ll disappear, I promise?—”

“No.” Troy detaches the gun’s magazine and sets it on the AV board behind him. He cocks his head. “I hear people coming.”

“Are they ours?” I ask.

Amber’s struggles renew, her slinky dress sliding against my grip. I tighten my hold while wishing I could push her away from me.

“Let me go .” Amber tries to elbow me in the gut. If I weren’t holding her as tight, she’d hurt me—and she’d probably get me in the nose, too. Lucky for me, I’ve had to restrain Danica, so I’m prepared.

“Weapons down!” a man calls as he steps into the room.

He isn’t police—he’s a uniformed security officer. He takes in the room before him. A similarly uniformed woman shows up behind him, her eyes alert, a no-nonsense expression on her face.

“Ironwood,” Troy says. “They’re ours.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Amber rushes to say. “These men are attacking me. They knocked out my bodyguard—Dan, are you okay? Dan—wake up!”

The female bodyguard’s lip curls. “Yeah, I don’t buy it. Still, over here with me, please. The police are on their way.”

The fight leaves Amber as the woman speaks. She has nowhere to run to, no way to escape. I pass her over to the bodyguard, grateful to no longer be touching her.

I’ll take a long fucking shower when Danica and I get home.

Danica . I look around and address the bodyguards. “Where’s my fiancée? Did you see a small, blond woman on your way in?”

“She’s waiting for you,” the male bodyguard says, “but she’ll have to wait a little longer. The police will need your statement.”

An annoying necessity. But Amber isn’t holding a gun on my friend, and soon she’ll be in police custody. I’ll take the inconvenience of a statement in exchange for Troy’s safety.