➵ Chapter 53-2

She wiped her hands off on her tattered jeans. "His daughter might turn on us." "I could always kill her too." "Ten o' clock, Lia. Do you want to change the plan?" "No. I'm fine. I was just hungry. I don't want to drink on an empty stomach." I gave her whatever was left of the chips and picked up my comms, slipping it into my ear. "We stick to the plan. Nobody interferes." Eric's voice sounded in my ear. "We're in position. It's up to you now." Tyra unlocked the car's doors. "Distress word is-" "Not boom," Jace said immediately. Tyra almost smiled. "Then what?" I shrugged. Neither of the twins made any suggestions, and Logan stayed quiet. "Eunuch," Jace decided. "Very inconspicuous." I got out the car, slamming the door shut behind me. The address Matthias Young was for one of the grander hotels in Cuba, the kind that people with money frequented. The kind I might have stayed at with Lilith and Isaac on one of their business trips. The exterior was constructed entirely of pure white marble, long pillars on either side of the entrance. The windows were tinted a glossy black, making it impossible to see inside. The visitors coming and going were well dressed in clothes that may as well have been crafted out of cash. Years ago, back before I was adopted, back before I learned to adapt to my surroundings, I would have been downright intimidated. But right then, in my pretty dress and easy smile, I blended in as seamlessly as the rest of them. The bellman didn't look at me twice. It only took a few moments to find the bar, and like the rest of the hotel, it was all marble. The floors, the counters. The tables were all crowded, the room full of music and laughter. I glided through the room and stopped at the counter, hopping up on an empty barstool. "The guy's in the booth behind you," Jace said. "He sees you." "He's coming to you," Eric said. Not a second after, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. "Hey, Lucy. You look nice." "I always look nice." The woman behind the counter smiled. "¿Qué desean tomar?" Matthias sat on the stool beside me and we both named our poisons, consuming drink after drink. The conversation was bland and loud and my eyes were starting to feel heavy. "People keep looking at you." "Is that so?" His hand flopped down gracelessly on my thigh and he leaned closer. "Well, you are gorgeous." I tried to relax. "Lia," Jace's voice said. "Do we need to step in?" His hand slid higher up my dress. "Lia, give me the bloody signal." "Do you want to get out of here?" I whispered instead. The look on his face was hungry. "Let's go." He swept us out the bar immediately, taking us out of everyone's line of sight. Matthias kept his hand wrapped around my wrist tight, pulling me along down the hall. I was stumbling behind him, trying to keep a clear head. "Lia, where is he taking you?" Logan asked. "Where are we going?" Matthias stopped at the first door, swiping his card through the slot and pulling me inside. The moment the door shut, he pressed me back against the wall. "Trust me. It'll be fun." It was completely dark, entirely impossible to see a thing. But I heard water flowing, soft and soothing. The sound did little to ease my nerves. "Are we at a pool?" "Mhm." His face was in my hair, hand sliding up and down my thigh. "Thought we'd go for a swim." "I've changed my mind," I said, keeping myself from reaching for the knife strapped to my arm. "Get off." He moved back, pulling me against him. "It's fun." "Let go," I said, itching to pull out the blade. He stopped walking, hand on my cheek. "Don't be such a tease, Lia." Lia. And then I was falling. Flailing. My body never hit the ground, but was submerged into water. When my head broke the surface, he pushed me back under. The distress signal. But I couldn't breathe, much less speak. Pressure was building up in my throat, bubbles flowing up around me. My ribs ached when I tried holding my breath, pain shooting through my chest in every direction. My hand caught hold of my knife, pulling it out and tearing my sleeve in the process. Matthias cried out when I jammed it blindly into his arm, and he let go. I grabbed his hand, yanking him into the water with me, and slashed at him with the knife again before grabbing onto the edges of the pool and pulling myself out. All I could hear was my own panting, and all I could see was black. Was I passing out or was it because I was too worn out to see in the dark? I forced myself to my feet, dripping wet. The droplets splattered against the marble, as my eyes tried to focus. He was moving loudly in the pool, water sloshing about as he tried getting out. "Want to try that again?" I asked. "I won't be as nice this time around." He tried to stand. I spun, my heel striking his temple. He didn't try to get up again. The doors opened again and I spun around, knife ready. Logan strode toward me, pulling the knife from my hand. "Sit down," he said, one arm around me. I shook my head, looking at Matthias. "We-" "Lia!" Eric cried. I smiled at him. "All good, dork." Jace came in after him. "Why didn't you say the distress word?" "I had it under control," I said, suddenly feeling incredibly lightheaded. "I-I forgot how drunk I am." Logan looked back toward Matthias. "Take her. Eric and I will bring him." I pulled away from Logan, unappreciative of being treated like I might break. The dizziness began again and I sat down, trying to even my breathing and ignore the pain. Jace knelt down, touching a strand of my sopping hair. "Aren't you cold?" "I've been wanting to go for a swim anyway." I looked down at my dress. "Lilith would smite me. This was couture." "Good thing she can't see you then." He pulled his jacket around my shoulders. "White fabric and water aren't meant to go together, love." "At least my bra's cute." His lips twitched. "Have I ever told you that you're absolutely ridiculous?" "Admit it. It's cute." "It's very cute. Now come on." I leaned into him, wondering if he would argue with me if I took painkillers after my recent alcohol consumption. "Tyra's going to be parked at the back door. There aren't any cameras there." It took ten minutes with my drunken stumble and labored breathing for us to slip out the back exit and into Tyra's waiting car. Logan and the Eric came next, carrying a rather large duffel bag with them as they moved. Eric tapped a hand against the trunk. Tyra popped it open and they tossed it - him - into the trunk before coming around to get in. Logan got into the front with Tyra, and Eric joined the both of us. Logan looked at me. "That could've gone worse." "Where's Lee?" I asked. "He's probably still keeping the security guard busy," Eric said. "Right," Logan said. "Busy." Lee came running out and his brother threw open the door for him. Tyra started driving the minute he was close enough to jump in. As Lee squeezed in, Jace pulled me into his lap. "Jacian." "What? There's not enough room for all of us and I don't think Lee wants to sit in my lap." Lee looked over. "Not true, pretty boy."