Make You Beg

My heart sinks at his words. Did everyone know what we were doing? That they were using me? I knew it, but I couldn’t stop it. They made it feel too good. My body was conditioned to crave it. My mind forced to enjoy it. Law was right. I begged for it on so many occasions. It makes me physically ill to know how pathetic I am.

“Yes,” Law answers through gritted teeth. He’s aggravated. That’s clear, but why? I gave him proof, and he’s going to ignore it. Just let me die because this bastard tells them to.

That’s why Law placed the tape over my mouth, so I can’t scream what I read off that piece of paper. I will die, right here at Death Valley, just like Brenda Nash did—with a secret.

A phone dings, and then Law speaks. “They’re here.”

Mr. Monroe takes a step back from me, letting me go, and I fall to my knees once again. I’m so tired, and I can’t breathe. My chest … something is lying on top of me. My shoulders hurt; my wrists are sore. My vision goes in and out. I think I have a concussion. The Reapers have had enough of them that I know the signs. I hope I don’t have to puke. I’d hate to die from my own vomit. Wouldn’t that be the icing on the cake, though? I kill myself? They wouldn’t even get to take credit for that.

New tears sting my eyes and fall down my face and over the tape. I have failed so many people in my life. My father, my brother, and most of all, Brenda. I will not be the little bitch they want me to be. I will not beg on my knees when I can die on my feet.

Fuck them all to hell!

GRAYSON LAW

Mr. Monroe hands me the gun, and I let out a sigh of relief, putting it in the back of the waist of my jeans.

I look down at Henley, and her head bobs up and down. Her body sways a little bit. I hit her hard. Too hard. I should have stuck her with a needle and drugged her with something, but I didn’t have anything on me. And I didn’t have the time to go chase down Dax and ask if he had some. I needed to act alone. I acted on instinct, and I know it was the wrong decision.

Mr. Monroe’s phone rings, and he walks away to answer, knowing it’s one of the Founders. They didn’t show because it would look odd if they all left the party. But they know we’re here. He told them what’s about to happen.

I bend down and rip the tape off her mouth. She doesn’t even make a sound. Gripping her chin, I lift her head to look at me. “Little doll?” I ask out of habit.

She slowly blinks her watery eyes, and fresh tears run down her bruised cheeks. “We don’t have much time.” I look over at Will pacing back and forth while on his cell. “Do not mention what you read. Okay?”

She just stares at me, almost in a dreamlike state. Eyes dilated and looking out into nothing.

“Henley?” I grab her shoulders and shake her a bit.

She blinks again and sucks in a long breath. “I … my chest,” she whispers.

I ignore that. “Listen to me. Do not mention what you found; do you understand?”

Her eyes narrow up at me, and her lips thin as if she’s finally seeing me, remembering why she’s bound and kneeling on a concrete floor. “You son of a bitch …”

I slap my hand over her mouth, the process tilting her head back at an odd angle. “I will put this tape back over your mouth with three more pieces if you don’t shut up,” I snap, checking to see that Monroe still has his back to us and is on his cell. “Pay attention.” We don’t have time to talk about my betrayal. She’ll be dead soon, and it will no longer matter anyway. “Do you understand?” I snap.

She tries to nod, and I release her mouth. “What are you not going to do?” I ask.

She sucks in a deep breath, her eyes fogging over once again. She’s probably about to lose consciousness. “Not mention the paper …”

I stand, giving her my back. Good enough. I pull out my cell and text Rellik.

Me: Keep Scout out of my way.

He reads it immediately.

Rellik: What do you mean exactly?

Me: I mean, don’t let him fuck this up! I put the phone away, ending the conversation. He’ll try to stop me. Want to save his doll. And that’s not an extra problem I need right now.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

RYAN SCOUT

“WHAT THE FUCK are we doing here?” I ask, looking down at my watch to see it’s a little after ten, and I just arrived at Death Valley. We were at the Monroes’ fundraiser when Law sent me a message to meet him here. Right fucking now. Were his words. I wasn’t happy about it, and the fact that Henley is still ignoring me. She’ll pay for that after we’re done here, and I get to her.