Chapter 66

I stared ahead as we made our way down the last curved hall. The Cradle was ahead and I was ready to break these children free. To put a new future in their path that was different from mine. If I could do that, they stood a chance. My days here might have very well ended tonight.

“Leave West to me. I will convince him, and he will believe. If he doesn’t, he may find himself not waking up the next morning. That would have already been the case if I knew the masters would let me be free. I’m working on that. I will never be owned by another one of these devils again.

At least this one I can somewhat control.”

We slowed and Eli’s hand moved to the knife on his hip.

“I don’t blame you. I hate this place. I don’t know why you don’t leave with the children. You should. You should escape and start over.”

My head quickly shook. “We’ve talked about this. I belong here.” Bram was here … or at least his memory. His ghost. I felt and saw him everywhere. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

He threw me a grin, but I couldn’t return it. I headed for the entrance with Eli following. A guard was outside the door and another was just inside. The children were scattered through the large main room. Some were reading, while others were watching a DVD that was playing in the corner.

“Mistress Harper.” The guard smiled at me and I beamed one back at him. Almost instantly, the sound of a grunt had him turning back to the door on alert. I didn’t wait, I jerked up my knee-length dress, pulling the knife from my thigh and plunging it into his chest. And I didn’t stop stabbing. The guard wasn’t good. He was one Eli suspected of molesting the children while he put them to bed. I couldn’t let that go.

The weight hit the floor and I slid the knife back into the holster, waving my hands at the children. “Come on. It’s time to go home.” For a few seconds, all they could do was stare in horror and shock. I rushed forward, hating that they had to witness this side of me. “Jessie, Renee, come on sweeties, we have to go. Your mommy and daddies are waiting.”

As if reality dawned, the kids began rushing toward me. Eli raced for Sheree, a little blonde girl who was barely five. He placed her on his hip, helping me guide the children to the door. I held two of the little girl’s hands, running as fast as their little feet would carry them. When the hall turned off the way we’d come, I took a right instead, weaving through the labyrinth I knew was empty of masters.

“We have to hurry,” Eli whispered, loudly. “The guards have to check in every fifteen minutes. From the time, I figure we have less than ten.”

I swept the smaller girl in my arms, clinging to the other as we increased our speed. Time seemed to drag on, and yet I felt like we were flying. To stay out of view, I knew we were taking the longer way, but it was the only chance we stood at not being seen.

“Devon, pick Casey up. We have to go faster,” Eli urged.

The hall came to a fork and I took a glance down the hall to the right, jerking to a stop at the face that glared at me. A hand pushed hard into my back and I held in the tears as I sprinted straight. Bram. Each time I got a glimpse of him, it got harder. Elevation began dropping and I knew it wouldn’t be long now.

“Wait. Wait. There will be a guard ahead.” Eli had me pulling to a stop as we neared the last turn. He placed Sheree next to me and withdrew his knife as he crept forward. When he disappeared around the corner my heart was in my throat. I looked behind me, half expecting to see those narrowed blue eyes projecting their hate—their love. Nothing.

Within moments, a voice echoed in the distance. Instinct had me pulling the kids in close as I waited. Their little breaths were ragged and I knew they were just as afraid, if not more. Seconds passed and my hands were shaking as I reached out and tried to touch each one to add comfort.

Footsteps had me stiff as I waited.

“Hurry.” Eli appeared, waving us forward.

Blood covered his hands, but I pushed the sight away as we began moving forward again. He picked up Sheree, leading us through a door that cloaked us in darkness. Deep pants echoed and my fingers broke from Renee’s palm as it shot up to add cover from the blinding headlights, not feet away.

“Thank God.” I breathed out. “Hurry, let’s get them loaded up as fast as we can.”

The van door was already opening and panic left me scooping up the first little girl in my arms as I raced over to stick her inside. One by one, Eli and I handed them over to a man inside. Nothing I did felt fast enough. I knew we had to hurry, I just feared any minute West would be barging through the doors after me.

“I’ll see you soon, baby.” Eli sniffled, hugging his sister tightly before he lifted her from in front of him. My stomach twisted into knots and I blinked passed the tears.

“Let them go,” I whispered. “She’ll never be safe if you don’t.

Hurry, we have to leave.”

“Give momma a kiss for me.” He squeezed one last time, stepping back. The door immediately slammed closed. Red lights flooded the area as the van switched gears and I felt my pulse increase even more as it sped away. Darkness once again enveloped us, dying out as a glow emitted from Eli’s phone.

“I can’t believe we did. Son of bitch, I can’t fucking believe it.”

“It’s not over yet,” I said, shaking my head. “Hit me. And do it hard.”

There was no hesitation. No going easy on me. Lights flashed as the back of his hand connected against my cheek. I could feel the blood gush from my nose as my body spun at the force.

“Fuck, I’m sorry. Are you okay? Can you walk? We have to try to get back fast enough for you to tie me up. We might have a five-minute window before they suspect something may have happened. They know it’s bedtime.”

Eli turned to lead at my nod and all emotion drained from me. Just like it did on almost everything now. I grabbed my knife, taking three fast steps forward before plunging it into his back. Once. Twice. Three times.

Just like with the man I loved. Eli fell to his knees, hitting hard.

“Your sister will never be safe if you’re in the picture. They won’t even know about the relationship. I won’t put her in danger because of you or anyone else. But this,” I said, twisting the knife as he cried out in pain, “is from Bram and Lyle.” I removed the knife, reaching around and slicing his neck. The hard thump reverberated through the room, and with it, the pitch-black sense of calm appeared. With it, I retreated inside myself even more. I couldn’t see, but I didn’t care as I brought the knife up, dragging the blade slowly over my shoulder.

The halls, nothing focused as I let myself disappear into the void. Blood was dripping from my fingers and it didn’t take long for lightheadedness to overtake me. I knew I’d sliced deep. Maybe deeper than I should have, but I was past the point of caring. I took my time, staying in a daze until I finally reached the main hall. I knew the van needed time to get away, but the guards would be aware soon if they didn’t already.

“Mistress Harper?”

I blinked heavily at my name, feeling my legs buckle as the guard approached and caught me.

“My husband. T-take me to my husband.”

“We have a situation at the main hall. All active guards head to the Harper Wing!” The guard shouted into his radio, swooping me in his arms as he took off in a sprint toward the far side of Whitlock. It didn’t take but a few minutes for him to arrive. Guards were already outside the door and West pushed them out of the way, allowing room for me to be brought in. The worry on his face left me internally smiling as I was lowered to the floor.

“What the fuck happened?” He yelled at the guards, but no one knew. They stared at each other like lost little sheep, unaware that they all catered to the wolf. “Everleigh, baby, what happened? Where’s Eli?” When I didn’t answer, he got louder. “Where’s Eli? He was supposed to be protecting you.”

“Dead,” I forced out. “I killed him.”

“What?”

Pressure pushed against my arm and I sobbed letting my new manipulative personality take me over. “He hit me and killed the guards. He took us.”

“He what? You’re not making sense!”

I took a ragged breath, breaking down even more. “I told you! I told you someone was going to take me. I woke up and he was carrying me. The kids were so scared. Some man kept pushing them along. They took us to some dark place. A r-road. The man got the kids in and Eli tried to have them take me too, but I didn’t want to go. I told him I didn’t want to go, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He kept saying I was safer away from here. I didn’t think. I managed to get my knife and I stabbed him in the back a few times. When we fell, the van took off. He tried to wrestle me for my knife and that’s when I got cut. Somehow, I broke away, but he caught my leg. I

… I slit his throat,” I sobbed.”

“Son of bitch. That motherfucker!”

I let the sobs grow louder as he pulled me in his arms. Someone was applying even more pressure to my wound, but I barely felt it as my mind swallowed me even more. My body kept going through the motions, but I

wasn’t there. Not really.

“I have to get her to Medical. I want all men on this. Go down and find out what you can. Some of you hit the road and look for the van.” He pulled back enough to gaze down at me. “What kind of van? Do you remember?”

I shook my head, letting confusion play out on my face. “I’m not sure. It all happened so fast and I was over his shoulder. It was dark. I think it might have been black or blue. I don’t know.”

“It’s okay,” he said, lifting me. “You’re safe now. I got you. I won’t let anyone take you away.”

“You promise?”

His lips kissed my cheek and I immediately lowered my head to rest in the crook of his neck. “You better believe it.”