Page 16

T he warehouse is still in full swing when I walk back in, but I don’t stop for anyone. I make it to the small room they’ve given me, and I close the door, leaning against it, trying to catch my breath. I can't believe he said it, can't believe he loves me, can't believe the way he left me. I feel like I’m spinning, and I don’t know how to stop.

I lay down on the mattress, the exhaustion finally catching up with me. My eyes close, and I drift into a restless sleep, the events of the night weighing down on me. I toss and turn, getting woken up every now and then to the sounds of laughter or shouting coming from the party outside. Eventually, it all vanishes into pure darkness.

When I wake, the sun is streaming in through the cracks, and I hear the sound of commotion, the distant rumble of engines. I sit up, taking a moment to remember where I am. There is a lot of shouting coming from outside, and I don’t imagine that can be good. Pushing to my feet, I make my way out, opening the door bleary-eyed to see utter chaos unleashing.

Mera notices me first, rushing over and putting her hands on my shoulders.

“What's happening?”

“Have you seen Talon?”

“I saw him last night, why?”

“He’s gone, Nia. He told Kael last night he had something to take care of, that he needed to end this so he didn’t have to see you again. We think he has gone to try and get Lily out.”

Everything inside me goes still. I don’t even know how to process that information.

“What?” I say, shaking my head. “He’ll get himself killed. The very moment he shows up, he’ll be dead.”

“Wolfe thinks he is going to go in using the information you gave us about where the cameras are. He’s going to try and get her out.”

All because he doesn’t want to see me again.

Being with me has caused him enough pain that he is willing to risk his life just to get rid of me.

That hurts.

Fuck, it hurts .

I don’t let Mera say another word, instead I spin, rushing out, my bare feet slapping against the concrete as I search for Wolfe. I find him near the bikes out front, barking orders at Knox. He turns when he notices me coming, but I don’t stop for a breath.

“Where is he?”

“Think he’s gone to get the girl.”

Panic swells in my chest. “We need to go after him. He can’t do this alone. They will kill him if they find him.”

Wolfe’s voice is sharp. “You think I don’t fuckin’ know that already?”

“Then we go. We have to go now.”

He shakes his head. “No. It is too risky in the daylight. We need a plan to get him out. One that doesn’t cost us all our lives.”

That means we have to wait all day.

That’s too long.

“Wolfe, if they have him, all day is too long.”

“Talon is smart, he won’t go in during the day. He’s either in there hiding already or he’s waiting until night falls.”

“Then we need to go and make sure,” I say, rubbing my hands over my face, exhaling.

“No, we’re not risking it. If he has a plan, and we just show up, it could backfire. We need to trust he knows what he’s doing for now, and wait for the evening.”

“Then what?” I question.

“I don’t fuckin’ know,” Wolfe growls. “I don’t have a plan.”

“We ambush them, go in with guns and weapons,” I say, quickly.

“You think your father isn’t already anticipating that?”

Dammit. I know he’s right.

I know he is.

"I'll go in," I say, the words falling from my lips with a weight I hadn't anticipated. Wolfe's eyes narrow, assessing me with a mixture of skepticism and something else—respect, maybe. "I'm the only one who can. I’m the only one who knows where to hide and how not to get caught.”

He crosses his arms, the leather of his jacket creaking. "You sure about that?"

"Have you got a better plan? If they haven’t caught Talon already, then he is walking straight into a trap if he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I can help, I can get us out of there.”

Wolfe's jaw tightens, a muscle flickering beneath his skin. He nods, slowly, as if each movement is a concession. "You get them out. They will retaliate, we need a plan. We need to end this, once and for all.”

“I could take in an explosive...” I say, the words rolling off my lips without thought.

"We can’t blow the place without harming the kids."

Fuck.

He’s right.

I can’t risk the lives of innocent children.

What if I could somehow get Miriam out? She does take them on an outside trip once a month, usually to the local lake where she teaches them away from prying eyes.

“What’s the date?” I ask, quickly.

Wolfe narrows his eyes but pulls his phone out. “19th.”

My heart skips a beat. It’s as if the planets have aligned. “I think I have a plan.”

Shaking his head, Wolfe looks at me, skeptical and unsure. “I’m listenin’.”

“Miriam takes the kids out once a month, on the twentieth, to the local lake where she teaches them outside of the compound. If we work it right, not only could someone get Lily, but I could go in, get Talon and plant an explosive. We blow it when she leaves.”

Wolfe’s brows go up. “Fuck me. You really willin’ to kill that many people? That’s a fuckin’ massacre, Nia.”

My heart sinks. I know what it is.

“I don’t know any other way around this,” I whisper. “They will never stop. Not until me and my child are dead.”

Wolfe growls. “Too many lives. Let me think.”

I press my lips together, my heart pounding.

Then something comes to me. Something I hadn’t thought of before.

Maybe, just maybe, I am going about this all wrong.

“Do you have any computer geniuses on your hands?”

Wolfe stares at me like I’ve grown two heads. “What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”

“I think I have an idea,” I say, quickly, too quickly. My heart is stammering as it starts piecing together in my mind.

“Nia,” Wolfe asks again.

“Do you have anyone who can hack computer systems or not?”

Wolfe blinks, slowly. “No, but I know someone.”

“Get everyone together. I just figured out how we are going to end this.”

I just came up with a plan.

If it works, this will be over...

For good.

THE CLUB IS GATHERED in the middle of the warehouse, their eyes on me. I can feel the weight of their stares, the doubt, the skepticism. My heart is a wild mess in my chest, but I know I have to do this. I take a deep breath, looking at each of them, knowing my whole world depends on this moment.

"I have a plan," I say, my voice clear, unwavering. "But it’s risky, and it could go wrong, but if it goes right...we could all be free of this. You could all be free of me."

Mera frowns at my words, but nobody else flinches.

I’m certain this club won’t be sad to see the back of me, and while that hurts, I have made my mind up. I’m going to do this for them, because it is the only way. I’ll take the risk, for them, for Lily. If it means they go free, and aren’t bothered for the rest of their lives by the cult, then I’m okay with it.

If it means Lily is free, I’ll do it a million times over.

Knox snorts, crossing his arms. “Sounds good to me then.”

I ignore him, my eyes on Wolfe. In the end, it’s him I have to convince. “The entire compound has a security system that they monitor through screens in a back room. It’s only something they have recently put in, and not willingly. They fully believe in their ‘off-grid’ living but unfortunately with the world around us, people were getting far too curious and sneaking in to get a look at what was going on. My father had no choice but to set it up properly.”

Wolfe looks confused, so I get straight to the point. “I’ll go in tonight, find Talon and instruct him to take Lily and leave. I’m not leaving, though. I’m going to let my father find me. The thing about my father is...he is big on punishment. That is what I want, though.”

“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?” Zane mutters. “Not makin’ a lick of sense.”

I go on. “Before I find Talon, I’m going to sneak into the security room and allow the hacker to gain access to the system. When he goes, he is going to swap it over and livestream it anywhere he possibly can. Social media, even the dark web. It will be out there for the world to see – I can guarantee it goes viral in a matter of minutes. Something like that will grab on and take off. We’re going to tip the police off, at the right time, and when everyone sees what it is they’re doing...they will come crashing down. They will be arrested, the world will see who they are, and the cult will be no longer.”

I finish speaking and hold my breath, waiting.

Zane shakes his head. “It’s insane. How do you know they won’t fuckin’ catch you before you get in there?”

“It’s a risk, of course, but unless any of you have a better plan, this is the only way.”

The room goes silent, and I see the shock, the disbelief. Wolfe’s eyes narrow, assessing me.

“You’re gonna sacrifice yourself?” he asks, his voice low.

“In a sense, yes. They want me more than anything. While they’re busy with me, Talon will get away with Lily. I’ll let my father catch me, let him think he has the upper hand. It’s the least I can do, after everything. I’m willing to take the risk, if you are.”

Knox growls. “You’re outta your mind, girl.”

“Maybe,” I say, my voice firm. “But it’s the only option we have. They will kill Talon if they catch him, and I can’t have that. I won’t. This is the only thing that could work, and if we pull it off, the world will see the monsters they truly are and the police will have no choice but to step in.”

Wolfe nods slowly, a grudging respect in his eyes. “You’re serious about this?”

“Deadly.”

The room is quiet, and I feel the tension, the uncertainty. But I also feel the shift, the slow acceptance. They know it’s the best shot we have. There is no other option without risking the club, or innocent lives.

“Then let’s do it,” Wolfe says finally. “I’ll call in the hacker.”

Mera’s voice is uneasy. “Are you sure, Nia? You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do.” I look at her, my heart twisting. “After everything, this is my choice and I’m not changing my mind.”

Kael frowns, his eyes hard. “You aren’t going in unarmed. I’m going to find you a weapon, something you can hide so they won’t find it. At the very least, you need some kind of protection if this goes south.”

I nod.

There is a solid chance my father will search me, but it’s better than nothing.

“So we’re doing this, tonight?” I say, staring around the room.

“Tonight,” Wolfe nods.

I exhale, my chest tight with nerves.

I hope this goes to plan, because if it doesn’t...I may very well die tonight.

And it would all be for nothing.