Page 1 of Retribution

PROLOGUE

Islip the bomb under the sink carefully, balancing it on the pipes where it can’t be seen.

The door opens, banging onto the wall just as I straighten and begin to wash my hands.

The dude’s eyes move over me, not making eye contact as he lurches over to the urinals, belches, and unzips his pants.

I dry my hands and stagger a little as I leave, appearing to be the same as the rest of the clubgoers. I smirk to myself. I’m worlds apart from these mediocre creatures. Always have been.

The music pumps through the speakers. Bodies writhe under the lights. The smell of stale booze and sweat hangs in the air. I wander onto the dance floor and keep pretending. I dance with a leggy blonde who’s wearing Chanel, which at first makes me think she’s from one of thebetterfamilies here, but then I notice that all the clothes she’s wearing are knock-offs. She lets me fondle her ass, grinding into me like an animal. I pinch it much too hard and she grimaces in pain, pushing me away from her with a curse I can’t hear over the music.

I laugh in her face and leave. The bar is packed. Three-people deep at least. No time for a drink. I should probably go anyway. Being here like this is risky despite the crowds, not that I’ve seen the owner or his scumbag friends tonight.

I know they’re here, though. They always are on a busy night.

She’s here too. Downstairs playing chemistry set.

I slip along the wall to the door and wait for a good time.

The DJ starts a new set a minute later and the lighting changes, plunging the wall I’m standing in front of into shadow.

I have the door open and I’ve slipped inside before I can be seen, closing it quickly behind me and standing in the low light at the top of the stairs.

I’ve been down here before, but usually I’m in a hurry. This time, though, I have a little time to explore. I get down to the bottom of the cement steps and open the nearest door.

It’s pitch black. The light from my phone shows me a large room. From the looks of it, this is the VIP sex dungeon I’ve heard rumors about. I snort softly.

Reprobates.

I leave and close the door behind me, slinking around the cellar toward my exit.

I can come and go through the main door, of course. I have side-door keys to let the undercover officers in when I feel like it.

She’s in her little lab. The door is open a sliver, so I can peer inside.

She’s so wrapped up in her work that she has no idea I’m watching. She’s so fucking oblivious. How has she even survived this long? She deserves the Bandervilles. Maybe they’ll even improve her.

I sort of wish the bomb was going to kill her, too. Bury her down here, but it’s become apparent that we need her. Guess it’s a good thing he missed when he tried to mow her down.

We don’t need the owner and the scumbags though, and I can’t helpmy wide grin.

I stand there for a good few minutes, just because it tickles me that I can and she doesn’t look up even once. Dumb little retard.

I check my watch. I’ll need to leave soon if I’m going to get to the campus in time to make sure part two happens. I finger the straight ridge of the access card he gave me that’s in my back pocket and my lips twitch in anticipation as I go to the other door that leads to the tunnels.

My phone unlocks it with a click and I pause, wondering if she heard it.

But she doesn’t leave the lab.

Dumb. Oblivious. Bitch.

1

SHADE

They won’t let us into the club.

I pace the dark roadside across from Wrath, everything in me telling me to get inside and find Daisy. I’m covered in dust and dirt. My pants are ripped and one of my elbows is grazed. I don’t even know when I got hurt. All my thoughts are of Daisy.