Insidious(121)

“You don’t have to treat me like a disobedient dog. I can walk myself,” I said, trying to mask my dread as mere annoyance.

“It’s for your own safety,” he assured, dragging me out through the iron gates. We headed up the steep cement steps, coming to the entrance where four white cargo vans sat parked out front. Russell directed me to the third one, opening up the back door. “The drive shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes. Just stay put, and we’ll be on our way in a few.”

“What are all these for?” I asked, pointing to the rest of the vehicles.

“It’s just a precaution. The rest of the crew will be hiding in the backs of the other vans, locked and loaded. So if Hellhounds try to ambush us on the road, they won’t know where you are. And we’ll take them down before they even get close to you.”

Unless I wanted my shoulder ripped from its socket, I had no choice but to climb up into the empty van as Russell yanked up my arm to hoist me inside. There was a small foldout seat in the back corner, and I strapped myself in. He shut the doors behind me, locking them from the outside.

This was so not good.

There weren’t any windows in the cargo bed, sending me into complete darkness. Indistinct voices clamored outside, and not a minute later did the engine roar to life.

What was I going to do? Adam had abandoned me. Did he have another plan devised? With all the guys coming on this trip to the safe house, it meant that the compound was now lax on security. Was that what he anticipated, setting Blaine free at the opportune time? Every last ounce of hope I had clung to that possibility. If not, Blaine would surely be dead long before I had a prayer of getting back here.

The cabin jolted as we accelerated, and a strange numbness swept over me.





Chapter 34

Until the End





The darkness dissolved as metal bars formed in front of my face. I was suddenly standing, now looking out into the basement hallway. Chains softly clattered behind me, and I spun around to see none other than Blaine still sitting on the floor. I was in his cell! On the wrong side of the bars!

I expected him to look up at me with that cocky grin, an innuendo already laced in his words, but he didn’t budge. Didn’t bother to pay any mind to me. I staggered back, expecting to crash into the caged bars. Only, I didn’t stop. I had to catch myself as I fell out into the free side of the hallway. The bars were still intact, but I’d just floated right through them as if they were made of air.

I hesitantly reached out to touch the bars. My fingers passed clear through them. I waved my hand from side to side, watching my entire arm go through the railing. Was I…a ghost? Had I died in the car ride?

“Blaine?”

He didn’t respond.

I slowly eased myself back into the cell, slipping right through the barrier. I waved my hand in front of his face, calling out his name again. His head lifted, and I stumbled back. Had he heard me? He let out a jagged breath, letting his head fall back against the cement wall. Tremors continually ran through his body, and his eyes pinched shut as he tried adjusting his scorched wrists in the manacles. I couldn’t believe I even considered it, but I knelt down beside him and rested my hand on his shoulder. He had to feel me, right?

Yet again, my hand fell right through him.

Footsteps reverberated from the main stairwell, startling me back upright. Blaine sighed, almost laughing, but it was raw.

“Come to kill me yourself?” He glared up between matted blonde locks of hair at the visitor in question and scoffed. “I thought you only sent out your lapdogs to do your dirty work.”

Mr. Reynolds grabbed the iron folding chair resting against the far wall and dragged it over in front of the cell, taking a seat. His unflinching gaze homed on the young man. “No, I’ve come to look evil in the face.”

“Well, that’s ironic.”

“You nearly killed three of my men just bringing you here.”

A fiendish grin painted Blaine’s mouth as he chuckled. His body had gone taut, suppressing any signs of the agony he clearly exhibited not a minute ago. “Well, you have me dead to rights there.”

Reynolds’s features hardened as his teeth ground. “He should have killed you when he had the chance.”

“Your son?”

“Your father.”

Blaine’s mock amusement washed from his face, replaced by incredulity.

“He deserved the death he got,” Nathan spat, “bringing a monster into this world.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“I’m not the monster here.”

Blaine’s jaw wrenched as resentment heated his eyes. “You honestly believe that, don’t you? After everything you’ve done…and your conscience is still clear.”