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CHAPTER TWENTY

WYNTER

I enter Maximus’s room first. When he looks up, he appears genuinely pleased to see me, and I smile. But when he sees Wrath behind me, he jumps up from his seat, and Wrath throws me behind him, filling the doorway with his large frame.

“No,” I yell, squeezing back between the pair. I hold my hands up, praying it’s enough as they smash against Max’s chest. “Please,” I squeak out. “He’s with me.”

“I can see that,” Max snarls.

“We want to talk,” I add, and he takes a step back but still looks wary. I hold up the keys Alex gave me. “I can unlock you.”

He watches as I remove his metal cuff, then he rubs his wrist, just like Wrath did. “What’s going on?”

“We want to leave here,” I state, and he frowns. “And to do that, we need your help.”

He begins to laugh. “That’s never gonna happen. This place is locked up.”

“Are you at least willing to listen?” I ask, and he gives a stiff nod. I step to one side. “Okay, wait out there while I get the others.”

His frown deepens. “Out there?” he repeats warily.

I take his hand, and Wrath grumbles behind me. “It’s okay, I’m right with you.” I lead him from the room, and the second he sees Alex sitting with Martha, he begins to back away. I take both his hands to reassure him. “They’re on our side.”

I move to Zeus next and get the same reaction. “You left,” he says accusingly.

“I know,” I whisper, smiling sadly. “It wasn’t because I wanted to.”

He glares at Wrath. “Why is he out?”

“He’s helping me,” I explain. “I’d like you to help too.” He nods, holding up his cuffed arm without question. I smile, unlocking him and taking him to join the others.

Abe gives me a hard stare then turns his back. I made Wrath wait just outside the room this time, knowing Abe would be more difficult, but as I step farther in, I feel him lingering near the doorway.

“I’m sorry,” I say. Abe doesn’t respond. “I didn’t want to leave.”

“We had to . . .” he pauses, sadness passing over his face. “We almost hurt you.”

I smile sadly. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I can’t stop the feeling of guilt and?—”

I rush to him, pulling his head to my chest and cradling him. “It’s okay,” I whisper, running my fingers through his hair. It’s the first time he’s allowed me to touch him like this, but he falls against me so easily, I wonder if he’s ever been held.

Wrath stands in the doorway, and Abe’s attention is drawn to him. He dives up, and I stumble back. “He hurt you,” he yells, pulling when his chains restrict him.

“He didn’t want to,” I say, trying to push him back into the chair. “Relax,” I order, and he brings his eyes to mine, then they narrow.

“Why is he out?”

“Long story, but he’s helping me.”

“How?”

“To get us all out of here.”

Abe laughs. “Because it’s so easy.”

“With the four of you together, it can be.”

He glances back to Wrath. “You’re releasing all of us?” I nod. “Wynter, it’s too dangerous.”

“I need you all,” I tell him.

“We can’t control ourselves,” he snaps, now glaring at Wrath. “Tell her,” he orders.

“You can,” I argue, crouching before him. “They told you that you were monsters, but it’s not true. You can control yourself.”

“The things I’ve done,” he cries. “That we’ve all done.”

“I know,” I say, nodding, “but you didn’t do any of it because you wanted to.”

He laughs, and it’s cold. “Is that what he told you?” he asks, nodding at Wrath. “You think he hates the fucking?”

I glance at the floor, my cheeks colouring slightly. “Please,” I whisper.

“Of course, we like it,” Abe yells, getting in my face. Wrath moves fast, but I hold my hand up, halting him.

“You’re scared,” I state, looking Abe in the eye. “It’s okay, I am too. We all are. But I swear, we’ll stick together from this point on, and we can be scared or brave together.” I hold up the keys, waiting for him to agree. He eventually nods, and I uncuff him.

We all stand in a circle, the warriors glancing at one another with confusion and disbelief on their faces. Jaycee and Anna have also joined us, and I’m so relieved they’re both okay.

“So,” I begin, “there’s only one way to do this.”

“Walk right out of here?” asks Abe, his voice full of sarcasm as he rolls his eyes. “You’ve all lost your minds.”

“We end the forefathers,” I reply.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he snaps.

“It’s the only way.” I look around the circle. “Without them, no one will know what to do, they’ll be in a state of panic.”

“And what, we just walk away?” asks Martha.

I shrug. “I don’t know, but I do know that while they’re still alive, we’ll never truly be free.”

“There’s an announcement tomorrow,” says Martha. “Everyone has to meet in the town.”

I frown. “I don’t know anything about that.”

“Wouldn’t it be the perfect time to strike?” asks Alex.

My stomach churns with knots of nerves. “What about the bar?” I look to Jaycee. “The one we visited before.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not a good idea. I’m certain the guards have made sure to tell horror stories about this place, telling people it’s some sort of secure unit for mentally ill people. If we all go charging in there, especially with these big bastards, we’ll only scare them.”

Alex nods in agreement. “Lenny made sure no one could leave that way.”

“Looks like the meeting in the town centre is the only way. At least they’ll all be together,” says Jaycee.

“Look, if you’re going to go through with this, isn’t it better to conquer and divide?” asks Abe. “There’s four of us and four of them.”

I chew on my lower lip, a plan forming. “Or,” I say, stepping into the centre, “we could lure them into the caves.”

“How?” asks Martha.

“Keep me here.” I turn to Wrath and smile. “Tell them Wrath is refusing to let me out.”

“They’ll send guards down with weapons,” says Alex, shaking his head. “It’s not worth the risk.”

“If they have weapons, they’ll come anyway, no matter what we do,” Anna says.

I groan. “I don’t know what to do.”

Abe steps forward. “We conquer and divide,” he repeats. “We partner up. Lead us to the forefathers’ homes, and we’ll take them out one by one.”

I take a minute, thinking over his words. “It’s the middle of the night,” I say. “That could work if we go now.”

“I have an idea,” mutters Wrath, and I turn to look at him, smiling because he’s finally spoken in front of everyone and I know that wasn’t easy for him.

“We round them up and bring them to the place where ceremonies take place.” He takes a deep breath, and his fists clench as his sides.

“Alex will go to each home, tell the guard on duty that Anthony Sanchez is requesting them to come alone to the church for a celebration.”

“What about Anthony Sanchez?” asks Alex.

“I’ll tell him myself,” he says firmly.

“And if they question it?” asks Martha, looking worried.

“Tell them I am the one on the communion table,” I say. “They’ll believe that, and Anthony will come, no questions asked,” I add.

Jaycee smiles. “I’ll take the warriors over to the church.”

“I’ll help,” adds Anna.

Wrath looks to Martha. “I need lemons, or maybe a cleaning product?”

She nods. “I have both. I’ll get them.”

“You’re going to clean up after?” I ask, smirking.

“It’ll be a different kind of cleanup,” he replies.

I step closer and slip my hand in his. “Are you ready?” I ask as the others begin to file out.

He kisses me. “There’s a fire burning in my soul,” he mutters, not quite meeting my eye. “I need to know that you’ll understand or at least forgive my actions. I want them to pay.”

I nod, stroking a hand over his cheek. “Me too. Whatever happens tonight stays in that church.”

We head up the hill, making sure to hide in the trees. Alex is just behind, ready to deliver the message to the other guards. As we approach the large gate to my old family home, I feel a sense of peace. After tonight, I might actually be able to set everyone free.

Wrath taps on the gate and steps back behind the brick pillar.

The guard opens it and frowns at me. I smile, offering a small wave, and before he can question me, Wrath moves from the shadows and hits him hard in the face.

The guard stumbles back, and Wrath grabs his jacket, hauling him against the wall and pressing his arm to his throat.

The guard gasps, trying desperately to tug his arm away and free his windpipe, but it’s no use, Wrath is too strong.

A minute later, he stops fighting and his head slumps to one side.

Wrath carefully lays him on the ground and removes the taser from his pocket.

As we approach the front door, I notice the office light on and sigh in relief.

If Father is awake, this should be a lot easier.

The door is unlocked—they never bother to lock things here—and we slip inside.

We head straight for the office, and I carefully press the handle down until the door releases then slowly open it, sticking my head around just as my father looks up from his desk.

He frowns at the sight of me. “Evening, Father,” I whisper.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks, jumping out his chair and rounding his desk. I wait until he’s closer before stepping to one side and letting Wrath fill the doorway. I smirk when his step falters and he comes to an abrupt stop. “What’s going on?”

“We need you to come with us,” I say, still smiling.

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh, it’s not a choice,” I say sweetly. “And if you don’t come quietly, Wrath’s gonna make you.”

“Where are his chains?” he hisses.

Wrath punches him in the face, and he crumples to the floor, passed out cold. I grin. “Wow, you’re good at that.”

“Plenty of practice,” he mutters, grabbing my father’s arm and hauling him over his shoulder.