Their Reign (The Rite Trilogy 3)

2

MERCEDES

"Get off me!" I scream, thrusting my palms against the man as he tries to maneuver me into the back of a van.

"Mercedes," he hisses under his breath. "You can stop with the dramatics now. I think you've been convincing enough."

Something about his voice makes me pause, but before the full weight of understanding settles over me, he hauls me into the back of the van and slams the door shut.

"Go!" he bellows at the driver.

"Georgie?" His name leaves my mouth on a broken whisper.

"Yes, Jesus." He rips off his mask and tosses it onto the floor as the van lurches forward. "I think your Oscar-worthy performance back there will leave permanent scars on my arm.

He pulls up his sleeve to examine the damage while I try to make this situation make sense. My eyes move to the driver. She's wearing a hooded cloak and big black sunglasses, but I'd recognize those red nails anywhere.

"What the hell is going on?" I demand. "Why are you and Madame Dubois kidnapping me?"

Georgie blinks, his gaze moving over my face before he sucks in a sharp breath. "Did you not read your text messages?"

Text messages?I glance down at my dress, realizing I don’t even have my phone.

Georgie mutters a curse and produces the burner phone from his pocket. He must have grabbed it in the scuffle. When he pulls up the screen and checks for himself, his brows draw together, and then his gaze snaps to mine.

"Jesus, babe, you really didn't know? Oh my god." He pulls me in for a hug, and I release a long breath.

"What is going on?" I ask.

"Solana texted you," he explains. "We have a plan to help you hide. God, sweetheart, you must have been so terrified. I thought you knew, and you were just laying it on thick."

I half laugh, half cry before I pull back to look at him and shake my head. "I didn't know. I was just focusing on getting to the condo, and the next thing I know, you’re abducting me."

He nods in understanding and then slowly eases me onto a bench seat, giving my hand a squeeze before he releases it and sits beside me. It's at about this point it occurs to me I still have no idea where we're going or what's happening.

"You didn't need to do this," I tell him. "I have cash at my place. I was just going to grab it, and—"

"No, you don't," Georgie interrupts solemnly. "He took it."

It's impossible to miss the disapproval in his tone, and I don't have to ask who he's referring to. Of course, it could only be Judge. He didn't want me to have any means of leaving.

I swallow and dip my head as that news settles over me. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that, but my gut tells me this isn't good.

"Oh, God." I bring my trembling fingers to my forehead, pressing them against the rising tension. "What am I going to do? They're never going to let me go."

"It's okay." Georgie rubs my back. "We have a safe space for you. We'll keep you there until we can figure something out."

I smile through my tears because he sounds so determined. But Georgie doesn't yet understand there's no such thing as a safe place for me. He knows about The Society now, but he can’t possibly comprehend their power. The full depth of their reach is suffocating, yet this is the only option I have because Santi and Judge have stripped me of any others.

"Thank you," I tell Georgie, and I mean it. "This will just be temporary. I'm not going to burden you guys forever."

"Honey, you are not a burden," he assures me. "Never."

When I don't respond, he stops rubbing my back and gently turns my chin to face him.

"Say it with me," he insists. "You are not a burden."

I don't want to because it feels like a big fat lie, but I know Georgie, and he won't drop this until I give in, so I say it.

"Good girl." He grins, rather pleased with himself for my capitulation. "This is what friends are for. We ride or die, baby."

"I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you." I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze. "Because I’m pretty sure none of my Society friends would ever stage a kidnapping to help me."

"Mm-hmm, that's called next level, sweetheart. Don't you forget it."

I laugh despite being so exhausted and emotional I can't think straight. And then the van pulls to a stop, and Madame Dubois turns off the ignition.

"How'd you get her to help with this wacky plan?" I ask.

"Are you kidding?" Georgie snickers. "She's the one who showed up with the mask and a van this morning. There was no asking."

Again, I laugh, and I feel better just knowing Georgie is here with me, even for a little bit. He helps me up and opens the rear door, and when we step outside, we both freeze.

"Holy shit." I stare at the home we’re parked in front of, wide-eyed. "What is this place?"

Georgie seems equally awestruck by the elegant villa with Greek-style columns, a beautiful courtyard, and gardens that must cost a fortune to maintain. Madame Dubois, on the other hand, is as casual as ever as she saunters up to the door, snapping her fingers at us to follow along.