Page 109 of Wonder

Alyss’s head tilts. “The staff?”

“Rab has them rounded up. They’re working through the back areas too, but it’s easy with there being one entrance.”

She clicks her tongue. “Investors?”

Aiden snorts. “Strongly advised to leave. Amazing how quickly people can run with their dicks hanging out.”

She grimaces. “I don’t like the idea of leaving them to go and fuck around somewhere else.”

I clear my throat. “There are tapes. Many of them. Red stores them in her bed, uses them for blackmail.”

And her lips spread into a smile. I don’t look down as Red screams in outrage, her nails scraping at me.

Alyss walks over to us.

The slap that she delivers to Red’s face rings out. “Shut the fuck up until I amfinished.”

Red’s voice cuts out into stunned silence.

“Casualties?” Alyss doesn’t look away from Red, even as Buck chuckles.

“A few. Knave. Rook. A few more guards.”

Alyss blows into Red’s face, a quick puff of air. “Do you feel that, Red? That’s the sound of your house of cards crumbling into dust around you.”

She stutters. “I’m going to—.”

“Nothing,” Alyss says shortly. “You’ll do nothing.”

“Hatter.” She grabs at my sleeve, yanking on it. “You can’t do this to me.”

“You’renothingwithout Wonder, Red.” I peel her fingers off my skin. “I told you that earlier. And how right I was. Touch me again and I’ll break your fucking fingers.”

Her face falls. “I—,”

“You’ll come with us. Don’t worry. It’s not a long walk.” Alyss turns to Buck. He’s watching a shaking Gryphon, his face filled with anticipation and rage. “Do you want me to stay and help?”

“No,” Buck says quietly. He flips the knife. “Gryphon and I are well overdue for a discussion.”

She nods, her hand trailing down his back. “Leave a little for me.”

“Yes, boss.”

Gryphon backs away, stumbling into a seat. His skin looks distinctly green. “This is fucking bullshit. My men—,”

“Don’t know you’re here,” Buck grins. “Do they? Poetic justice, Gryphon. I sold my soul to this place for my father, but you killed him anyway.”

Chess steps up beside him. “And now you’ll die in the same space where you sold out Adam Lidell. I hope the thirty pieces of silver were worth it.”

He splutters. “King was a fucking mess—,”

“And so will you be,” Alyss says. Her voice rings through the room like steel. “When we’re done with you.”

She ducks through the curtain, her voice floating back to me. “Bring her.”

Kayden moves up beside me. His hand grasps my shoulder “You good?”

Aiden moves up on Red’s other side, gripping her arm. “We’ve got this. Take a minute.”