He pushes the sharp edge of the knife between my skin and the zip tie. In one fluid motion, he frees my wrists. "Mrs. Breckenridge. Meet your companion, Lainie Grieve."
Grieve. She must be Torrence's daughter. Except I was unaware he had one. I thought Jason was his only child.
None of the men say another word before leaving. The clicking sound from the other side of the door confirms I'm locked in.
They've left me unbound with this woman to guard me?
The woman's a small blond with childlike facial features. Round face. Big brown eyes. Thin and frail, maybe even sick. She doesn't appear to have the physical strength to fend off a mosquito. She has no weapon that I can see. I'm almost offended they think she's capable of wardening me.
Go ahead, Grieve. Keep underestimating me. Continue making mistakes like this and see where it gets you.
At the same time, it isn't wise for me to underestimate this woman. Just in case. She could be a chameleon.
One of the first rules of abduction: make your abductor see you as a person so it makes it more difficult for them to harm you. I need to develop a rapport with Lainie. "Hello. I'm Bleu Breckenridge. But I guess you already know that."
"Why would you assume I know who you are?" Lainie continues eating her sandwich without looking up. Her voice is monotonous and deadpan.
Something is off about this. "I assumed Broden or one of the others told you ahead of time that I was coming."
"You're Mrs. Breckenridge. I know because that's what Broden called you and you just told me the same. With a name like that, I would assume you're Fellowship. Beyond that, I'm clueless."
This woman doesn't appear to be on alert at all. I could attack and kill her with my bare hands right now.
"They didn't tell you anything about me?"
"Why would they?"
"Aren't you here to act as my guard?"
She bursts into laughter. "No. I'm their prisoner, same as you."
She's related to Torrence because they share the same last name. I would expect her to be the top of the hierarchy instead of the bottom. "But you're a Grieve."
Her laughter disappears. "Don't remind me."
This woman clearly isn't pleased to call Torrence family. That could work in my favor if I play it right. "What turn of events made you a prisoner here?"
She shrinks into herself and looks away, saying nothing. Within two minutes of knowing her, I can read her body language and plainly see that she's been abused. "What have they done to you?"
"I'm sure you're aware Torrence's only son was killed."
"Yes." Very aware.
"Torrence's wife, Cordelia, had difficulties carrying babies. She lost many pregnancies before she gave birth to Jason. She almost died having him and was told by doctors to never become pregnant again. Because she had done her duty and provided Torrence with a son, it wasn't a problem … until Jason was killed. Torrence was left without an heir and with a wife who couldn't give him another. That became a huge problem fast. So he killed Cordelia and replaced her with a young, fertile wife. Me."
My God.
"My parents arranged our marriage knowing he murdered Cordelia for her inability to provide him with another son. I wonder what they think he'll do to me if I can't give him one either."
"I'm sorry." I really am. Doesn't matter if this woman is part of The Order. No one should be subjected to such treatment.
"I'm nothing more than a breeding machine for his next heir. Believe me when I say he reminds me on a regular basis."
"Are you pregnant?"
She shakes her head. "Unsuccessful two months in a row." I can't tell if it's relief or regret I hear in her voice.
"Two months can't be considered unsuccessful."
"Try telling him that. He's impatient and angry. Says he could get Cordelia pregnant any time he tried so it must be my fault it's not happening. I'm fearful of another failure. I don't know what he might do to me."
She probably should be fearful of what he might do to her if she doesn't conceive.
Torrence is aging so he must be desperate to produce a son as soon as possible. Even if this woman becomes pregnant now, the child would have to grow into an adult to take his place as leader of The Order. Doesn't make sense. He should choose someone else as his successor.
"I don't want his spawn inside me but I almost wish I would get pregnant. At least then he'd stop coming here and forcing himself on me."
Lainie is tiny. I'm sure he easily overpowers her. That's likely one of the factors to sway his decision in choosing her. A wife with strength would be more difficult to subdue.
I feel nauseated.
Torrence Grieve is a monster. I have very strong opinions about what I believe should happen to his kind. "Why are you a prisoner in this place? He took you as his wife. The very least he should do is care for you in his home."
"I knew him for the devil he is so I ran after my parents traded me to him. He was furious so this is my punishment. No contact with my friends or family. I'm stuck here."
What has happened to this woman is a tragedy. She's so sad, and it makes me want to save her. But I must concentrate on saving myself-and my babies-first.
"Would you run again if you had the chance?"
"Without a doubt. And I'd do a hell of a better job next time. But I won't get another chance. Torrence has made sure of that."
He's beaten her down. "There's always a way out."
"If there is, I haven't found it in the two months I've been here." She goes to the window and pulls back the dated floral drapery, revealing planks of wood covering the glass. "It's dark so you couldn't see this when they brought you in. They're boarded up from the outside. There's no getting out."
She goes to the front door, turns the knob and pulls. "Padlocked from the outside. Trust me, I've tried. There's no opening it from this side."
Lainie is an Order member but I can't see her as my enemy. If anything, this tortured soul is my ally. I'm neither afraid nor ashamed to use that to my advantage. "We have the same goal: to get out of here alive. Are you willing to put aside your loyalty to The Order if it means escaping?"
"I have no allegiance to The Order. None. Any obligation I felt was terminated the day my parents traded me to a man who would repeatedly rape me and consider killing me if I'm unsuccessful at conceiving his child. I want out of here and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."
She may be broken but she's angry. I can use that. "All right, then. Tell me about their routines."
"Broden or Reuben checks in every two days. Deacon brings food and supplies every four."
That's a new name. "Who's Deacon?"
"My brother's mate. He's kind. Not like the others at all. Has a soft place in his heart for me."
Ah. That has potential. "Is this soft spot big enough to free you?"
"No. He isn't willing to die so I can escape." Not the answer I was looking for.
"How often does Torrence visit?"
"Only when I'm ovulating."
He should burn for what he's doing to her. "When will that be?"
"I have four days left until he'll come for me five nights in a row. And just so you know, I don't fight him because that can get me killed, but that doesn't make it consensual." Her eyes become distant while staring at the white cracked plaster wall. "I can't go through it again. I'll kill myself before I let him touch me again. I even have a plan on how to do it."
Her threat isn't empty. If she's formulated a plan, she's a serious contender for suicide.
She needs reassurance, to know there is a way out. "My husband is coming. I don't think there's going to be a peaceful trade so we can probably expect guns blazing. Either way, I won't leave you behind."
She comes to attention, her head jerking in my direction. Her sunken eyes enlarge. She places praying hands against her lips and mutters something I can't decipher before dropping her hands to her lap again. "Swear to me."
"I swear I'll take you with me."
I fully expect an all-out war when Sin comes for me. We should be prepared.
"My father-in-law tried to barter for me but Torrence wouldn't agree to a trade. Thane offered him everything we had and still Torrence refused to hand me over."
"Something bigger is going on. Torrence loves money and power too much to refuse a bountiful offer," Lainie says.
"He wants revenge for Jason's death more than he wants those things."
Lainie lifts her brows and nods. "Aye. Now this makes sense."
I pray Sin suspects the same thing when his father tells him Torrence turned down the deal.
"Why didn't your husband come to negotiate for your return?" she asks.
"I was told he was taken into custody. After tonight's events, I suspect his arrest might have saved my life. I'm hoping Sin won't contact Torrence for a trade."
"What would he do instead?"
"I hope he and the brothers will rush this place as soon as he's released. We need to be ready to move in a hurry."
There's no time to waste. "Do you know how to fight?"
She snorts. "Do I look like a brawler?"
Appearances can be deceiving. She doesn't look like she could punch her way out of a wet paper sack but even the smallest person can be taught to deliver powerful blows. "I'm going to show you some defense and attack maneuvers." I get to my feet. "What's his signature move?"