Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“What?” I demand. “What aren't you telling me?”
“Triple Zero isn't a trafficking ring.” Beast's voice is careful. Measured. “They're—”
“An empire. Yeah, I know.” I try to move again. Hella won't let me go. “They run everything. Pull all the strings. Millie already explained.”
“Did she tell you they're connected to Vanguard?” Hella asks.
The world tilts sideways.
“What?”
“Vanguard.” Hella's arms tighten around me. “The organization that trained me and Beast. That we escaped from. They're—” He stops. Takes a breath. “They're not just a they, they're a he, and baby, listen to me...”
No. I don’t want to. How could my life be so epically fucked up right now.
“The men that have Millie.” I force the words out. “The ones wearing masks. You know who they are.”
It's not a question.
Hella nods slowly. “They're recruited by Agent 000, so they fall under his control, and Triple Zero himself has always been the only person Vanguard could never control.”
“Leader.” I finish. “He was the one who drugged me.”
“Fuck.” Hella pulls back enough to look at my face properly. “Melissa, I need you to listen to me carefully. The men who have your sister—they don't negotiate. They don't trade. They don't—” Hella's face contorts into pain and rage and guilt all mixed together.
“I'm sorry.” The words sound like they're being ripped out of him. “I'm so fucking sorry. If I hadn't—if I'd—”
“Stop.” I cut him off. “This isn't your fault.”
“It is.” His voice breaks. “I pushed you away. Made you think I didn't care. You wouldn't have been outside if I hadn't—”
“Hella.” I grab his face with both hands. The movement makes my head spin, but I don't care. “Look at me.”
He does. Those blue eyes swimming with guilt.
“This is not your fault.” I say each word clearly. Firmly. “This is on them. Not you.”
He stares at me like he wants to believe it but can't.
“Now.” I lower my hands. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“Tell me we can get her back.” My voice wavers despite my best efforts. “Tell me there's a way. Tell me my sister isn't—” I can't finish the sentence.
The silence that follows is too long.
Hella looks at Beast. Beast looks away.
No.
No, they can't—they have to — “First.” Hella stands, lifting me with him like I weigh nothing. “We get you inside. Get you cleaned up.”
I want to argue. Want to demand answers right now. But the drugs are in my system and I'm naked and have a damn mark on my forehead that makes me feel like I’m going to be chased.
“Olive.” I freeze. “Where's—”
“Safe.” Beast cuts me off immediately. “At my mother's house with her cousins. Doesn't know anything about what happened. We kept it quiet.”
Relief floods through me so suddenly I sob.
“Thank fuck.” I press my face back against Hella's chest. “Thank fuck.”
“I've got you.” Hella's voice drops to something softer. Gentler. “I've got you, baby. Hold on.”
He starts walking. I feel Beast moving beside us. Other voices join—Frost, Ripper, others I can't place through the drug haze.
“We're almost inside.” His voice is steady now. Controlled. Like he's forcing himself to hold it together for my sake. “Almost there.”
I close my eyes and let him carry me. Let myself feel safe for a moment despite everything.
Because Millie's out there. In the hands of monsters. Still — Hella's grip tightens around me. Like he can read my thoughts.
I want to believe that we can get her back, but all I can see is the masks. All I feel is the fear that exploded through me as he entered.
And all I can think is that maybe—maybe—some monsters really are untouchable.
That sometimes, the bad guys win.
Thirty-Eight
Hella
The shower water swirls pink before turning dark, disappearing down the drain.
I slump against the cold tiles outside the bathroom, ears straining. Melissa’s in there scrubbing herself raw. Hasn’t made a sound since I put her down. Just drifted inside like she’s already half-gone, then clicked the door shut behind her.
Not locked. Just... shut. Like she’s too tired to even bother with that.
Beast stands next to me, arms crossed, jaw tense.
“She's going to want to go after her.” His voice is low enough that it won't carry. “You know that, right?”
“Yeah.” I run my hand through my hair. “I know.”
“And we can't let her.”
It’s the truth that I know Melissa isn’t gonna accept. “I know that too.”
The water shuts off. Movement inside. The soft rustle of fabric.
I should have stopped her from going outside. Should have kept her close. Should have — “Stop.” Beast's hand lands on my shoulder, as if my thoughts were carved all over my face. Fucker knows me too well. “This isn't on you.”
“Bullshit.” The word comes out flat. “I pushed her away. Made her think I didn't give a fuck. She wouldn't have been out there if—”
“If what?” Beast's voice hardens. “If you'd claimed her as your old lady in front of everyone? Triple Zero was always coming for Millie. Melissa was collateral.”