CHAPTER 71: A FATAL CHANCE
"You seem taken aback, Elena Was Victor, in your opinion, the most terrifying creature you had ever
encountered?
The voice had a sharp edge below its pleasant, even amused quality.
I pushed my eyes open, fighting the hammering in my brain as my vision swam.
It was a chilly, dark room. The kind of chill that crept into your joints. Heavy shackles held my ankles
in place, and my wrists were chained behind me.
And there was Cade Voss in front of me, grinning lazily like I had seen him do too often.
An apparition from my history. Not the sort that abandoned you, either.
The trap
"Didn’t expect to see me again, did you?" Cade folded his arms and leaned on the metal table.
The taste of bitterness in my tongue was swallowed. Not at all. I believed I had you buried.
He laughs. "You should’ve done a better job."
I made myself breathe more slowly. Worrying wouldn't be beneficial. Before I lost everything, I had to
learn out the rules of the game Cade was playing.
"What do you want?"
Then Cade cocked his head. "That is the true question, isn't it? I want what? Victor wants what? More
significantly, Telsa, what do you desire?
I remained silent.
Because I had just one desire at the moment.
A means of escape.
The Sale
Pushing off the table, Cade hunkered down in front of me, his black gaze piercing with threat.
"Victor’s losing patience with you." He took one look at my shackles. In all honesty, I am, too. Stay
faithful; that was your only task. However, you lied instead. And for what purpose? "Joe?"
My mouth clenched.
"He’s not worth it."
"You don’t get to decide that."
Cade gave a sly smile. "No, but I do get to decide what happens next."
He got up and started to pace. "This is when things start to get interesting. Victor still believes that
you are important. Me?" Then he shrugged. "I believe that you are a burden. However, I'm open to a
compromise."
I kept my face expressionless. "What kind of deal?"
He bent closer. "You are free to leave this place. You have no shackles and no bullet in your head.
"And in return?"
He widened his grin. "You help me take Victor down."
The Capture
My heart froze.
"You want me to betray Victor?"
Laughing, Cade said. "Betrayal is such a derogatory term. My preference is for a change in power.
I shook my head. "You’re insane."
"Am I?" Cade dropped his voice and squatted down once again. Telsa, Victor is acting in his way.
Is it genuinely your belief that he will keep you around forever? You're helpful to him right now, but
when will that change? He gave a finger snap. "You’re gone."
I turned aside.
Since a part of me knew he was correct.
Victor didn't retain any debts.
That's just what I was wanting tonight.
"Tick-tock, sweetheart." His wrist was tapped by Cade. "This offer doesn’t last forever."
I swallowed forcefully.
There were two options available to me.
Have faith, Cade.
Alternatively, wait for Victor to initiate contact.
Regardless, I was risking my life.
The choice
As he watched me, Cade straightened.
"Well?"
In my ears, my heartbeat thumped.
I needed a competitive advantage. To keep me in control, anything at all.
Thus, I took the only action possible.
My grin came.
Alright. I will assist you.
Cade grinned more broadly. "Smart girl."
When he took a little knife out of his pocket, I didn't recoil.
His steady, precise motions sliced through the ropes around my wrists as he crouched next to me.
"Let’s hope you don’t regret it."
The twist
I moved the instant my hands were free.
Be quick. Angular.
I twisted the knife free by grabbing Cade's wrist, but he was quicker.
He shoved me back into the chair as his fingers tightened around my neck.
"Tsk tsk, Elena" His hand became tighter. "And here I thought we were finally getting along."
I let out a gasp and scratched at his arm.
The words "That was a mistake," he whispered.
Next—
At the back of my skull, a sharp ache burst.
And then everything became dark.
It was worse when I woke up.
Not the frigid storage facility. Not Victor's typical holding positions.
This time, it was different.
Underground.
No windows. Just walls.
As well as the sound of approaching footsteps.
My eyesight became fuzzy when I twisted my head.
A voice. Minimal. Well-known.
"Time to play, Elena"
I stopped.
Because that voice was familiar to me.
And I was already dead if he had been present.