Final Debt (Indebted 6)

She paused for a long moment, eyeing up my cast while chewing on the inside of her cheek.

She’s going to arrest me.

She’s going to lock me up and Cut will hurt him.

Finally, she nodded. “I hope you get better soon.” Turning off her torch, she waved me through. “Go on. Get home and sleep. You look positively drawn out.”

“I will.”

Unfortunately, I had no idea how many hours I had to breathe. I wouldn’t sleep…I wouldn’t waste a minute. After all, I wouldn’t wake from death—the longest sleep imaginable.

I gave her a watery smile, trudging in Cut’s footsteps toward the exit.

I’ve won but at what cost?

Cut’s diamonds had entered England undetected, and I’d just condemned Jethro to a life of hell when I paid the Final Debt.

NO MATTER WHAT I offered Marquise, he didn’t bite.

He flat-out fucking ignored me, tapping on his phone, sitting like a troll in the corner. I hated he had reception down here. It used to be that being metres beneath the ground there would be no signal, but that was before technology and routers and modems.

My shoulder screamed for mercy like it had for the past few hours. My neck ached from lolling on the floor and my headache flickered with hazy tiredness.

I wanted to sleep but couldn’t.

If I were concussed—which I feared I was from the car accident—I couldn’t afford not to wake up. I had to keep going. Keep trying.

Blood slicked my wrists from trying to get free. I’d hoped, once I broke the skin, that the crimson lubrication would help me. If anything, it’d just clogged the twine and wrapped it tighter.

Nila.

Was she on a plane now?

Had Cut helped her through security?

“What time do I get my surprise?” My voice tore through the stagnant silence. We hadn’t talked since Marquise informed me of Cut’s final plan.

I had no doubt my time was running out. I would remember the pain I was currently in with fondness once Marquise started delivering.

Marquise looked up from the glowing screen in his hands. “Eager to begin?”

“Eager to leave.” I cleared my throat, desperate for some water. Not that I’d ask him for some. He’d only taunt and torture. “Come on. Name your price.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have a clue, do you? You think you’re in charge. You’re not. I know the way your family’s wealth moves. Bonnie is the one with full jurisdiction and she’s the one I work for. You have no money—it’s controlled by your tiny grandmother, and I bet that pisses you the fuck off.”

I clenched my jaw. “She’s old. How much longer do you think she’ll last?”

Marquise shrugged. “Alive or dead, it doesn’t matter. I’m written into her Will. Loyalty is what she bought and loyalty is what she’ll get.” His eyes dropped to his phone. “Now shut the fuck up and prepare yourself for all the fun we’ll have.”

I fell silent. Not because he told me to, but because my energy levels were dangerously low. I had to be smart. I had to find a way out of this godforsaken crypt before it was too late.

Something shuddered above us. A sprinkling of dirt shivered from the ceiling, merging with the dirt below. I twisted, looking up, squinting as another dusting landed on my face.

What the—

Then a boom sounded. Low and echoing and terrifying.

Shit!

An explosion or cave-in.

When I was young, Cut had brought Kes and me to visit for the first time. I’d rather liked the oppressive tunnels. The thickness of earth and loneliness so far beneath sunlight appealed to my chaotic, oversensitive brain. But I’d explored too far. I’d got lost.

I’d tried to find my way out, only to crawl and get trapped in an unused part of the mine. A section of wall had caved in, partially blocking my exit. Luckily, a worker had come to reinforce pretty quickly and found me.

I’d laughed off the experience and Kes had used my tale as a fascinating story of diamond warfare, but I never forgot the instantaneous terror at being buried alive.

Another reverberation travelled through the walls and floor, shivering like a beast waking up.

Marquise shot upright, his phone clutched in his hand. “What the fuck was that?”

That isn’t normal.

The mine was sturdy, despite its ancient age. The rarity of a continual yield in diamonds after so long was another reason why the shafts and cylindrical passageways were well maintained. No one wanted to destroy a never-ending wealth creator, especially after centuries of collecting.

I flinched as another curtain of soil landed over my tied-up form.

Marquise charged toward the door. We humans were alike in that respect. We craved oxygen and sunlight. Put us underwater and claustrophobia could kill you better than any shark. Put us underground and fear could drive you insane.

My heart charged out of control as another smaller cannonade sounded.

Fuck.

If Marquise didn’t kill me on Cut’s behalf, it looked like Almasi Kipanga would.

The mine shouldn’t behave in such a way. The tunnels dived deeper and deeper as the years went on, but the workers knew how to reinforce. Their lives were on the line. They didn’t cut corners.

Yet another boom. Louder. Stronger. Closer.

The cave walls trembled, scattering earth over the table and medical supplies Cut had used.

I raised my eyes, fearing cracks and sudden crashing of rock and earth.

“Fuck this shit.” Marquise grabbed the handle and wrenched open the door.