Chapter 30

My head is pounding and my mouth feels so dry when I come around. It takes a moment to remember what happened and to realise where I am. Someone’s boot. Panic claws at my throat before I realise that I’m unrestrained. Taking deep breaths, I force myself to calm down. I can handle small, dark spaces so long as my hands aren’t tied. I think. Well, that’s what I tell myself anyway. The truth is much more fragile than that, but I can’t fall apart right now. I feel around the dark space but of course my bag is gone. Checking my wrist, I find my watch missing too. Great.

There’s not much use in kicking and screaming or trying to fight my way out. This was too well orchestrated to lead me to believe they’ve not covered all their bases. My best bet is to bide my time and wait. Eventually we’ll arrive at our destination and an opportunity to run might arise. Thank fuck I’m wearing trainers and workout gear and these assholes didn’t decide to ambush me at the parents’ evening meal when I was in a dress and heels. I plan to run for my fucking life if the chance arises. I’m not stupid enough to think I can fight four guys who all tower over me. Especially not with a possible concussion.

As soon as I think that, my head begins to pound and I have the overwhelming urge to throw up. The twisty, turning road we’re on isn’t helping matters. but I try really hard to keep my breakfast down.

Jesus, is it still only morning? It feels like a year has passed since I left the canteen in a strop with Axel for giving a shit about my safety. Kind of wish I’d listened to him at least a little bit now.

The car slows to a stop but the engine doesn’t cut. A moment later there’s a beep – like security clearance being granted – and the rumble of metal shutters opening. The car pulls forward and a few moments later, parks. This time the engine cuts and I strain my ears for snippets of conversation, any clues which might hint at where I am or what’s about to happen. Nothing.

Car doors open and slam shut again, and every muscle in my body coils ready for action. Maybe they’ll still be expecting me to be out cold. When they open the boot, I can spring out with the element of surprise. One good punch to the throat and then run like the fucking wind—

That plan dies the second a gunshot echoes around the space we’ve pulled into. It was so close, so loud. I freeze, terror holds me captive, and daylight appears in an ever-growing crack above me, making me blink.

When my eyes adjust to the light, I’m staring into the barrel of a smoking gun.

Fuck.

“Thinking of going somewhere, your highness?” Hades grins at me. I shake my head, though I’m sure that question was rhetorical. What’s with the nickname too?

Rough hands haul me from the boot of the car and set me on my feet. They don’t let me go though, Ares and Apollo flanking me on either side and gripping me tightly. Which is insane and pointless. It’s not like I’d run or fight. Even in trainers I couldn’t outrun a bullet. As if anyone could. I’m not stupid. Nor do I have a death wish. I know when I’m outmatched and outsmarted.

I’m dragged along by my guards, who follow Zeus across the secure, deserted car park we appear to be in. We’re followed by Hades bringing up the rear, the press of his gun burning the skin on the back of my neck.

I bite my tongue to keep from snapping and saying something, and likely earning me a bullet in the back of the head too. While I’m sure they didn’t knock me out, haul me into the back of a car and drag me out to god knows where just to kill me, I wouldn’t put it past them. It’s not like I know them at all.

Zeus leads the way over to a lift and I realise how similar this setup is to the hotel Zie took me to when it was fight night. This place seems much nicer than the one he took me to though. When we enter the lift and it ascends, I almost weep with relief. It’s not the same place.

The elevator pings softly to announce our arrival and we step out onto sumptuous white marble floors and so much gold it dazzles my eyes. I’m herded like cattle over to a reception desk and Zeus rings the bell. There’s no one around, the place oddly deserted despite the soft jazz welcome music playing in the background.

I despise jazz.

The General would always play it, and it’s become synonymous in my mind with him.

“Boys, to what do I owe the pleasure?” A clipped, refined quintessentially British accent asks. The guys spin around in the direction of the voice, meaning I’m spun around. Too fast. My head protests, my stomach lurches and my legs almost give out from under me.

I blink and take a few deep breaths to regain my equilibrium and then take in the woman standing before me.

She’s jaw-droppingly stunning. A tall, dark haired goddess with hair like a chestnut waterfall cascading down her back to her ass. She’s dressed in a sharp, white, tailored suit, with nothing underneath and killer black heels. And she’s absolutely gorgeous, despite the frown that says she’s less than ecstatic to have us here in what is very clearly the foyer of an upmarket, chic hotel.

“We’ve got a delivery for you. Fresh blood.”

I’m jerked forward before the woman in the white suit and she assesses me appraisingly.

“You know I’m not open for official business yet,” she eventually replies with her lips turned downwards in a slight frown of disapproval. At me, or them?

“You’ll make an exception for this one,” Zeus insists. “She’s special.”

“Aren’t they all, to the right buyer?” Is her sardonic reply. When no one says anything, she sighs and looks me over again. Her expression clearly says that she doesn’t see what’s so special about me, and I’m inclined to agree.

“We don’t want to let this one go,” Zeus clarifies.

“We’re…attached,” Hades adds with a dark laugh. “But she needs to learn a lesson or two, so make sure she’s alive when your customers are done.”

“In one piece?”

What the actual fuck? How am I standing in the nicest hotel I’ve ever been to, being traded?

Why am I staying silent on the matter?

Oh, yeah, that’s right. Hades’ gun.

“Not necessarily,” Zeus admits. “Scarred for life by the experience would be nice. Maybe once she’s had some training we’ll keep her, if she makes the cut. We have some messages to deliver.”

“Is there anything I should know?” The woman asks brusquely. It seems like she can’t wait to be rid of us. Them. By the sound of it, I’m staying.

“This one likes to be restrained. Masks and pokers are a hit too.”

I gasp even as tremors wreck my body, my fear finally taking over and presenting itself for all to see. They weren’t lying when they said they know all about me.

“Especially if you have a nice little box or a cage that she’ll fit in.”

“Understood. I can work with those requests. I actually know just the guy, and he happens to be in town for a few days…”

“No.”

“No?” She raises her brows like it’s the first time she’s ever heard the word. With the way she exudes confidence and power and sex appeal, it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s not used to being told no.

“This one needs a crowd. The more the merrier. Multiples. Bring your most fucking depraved psychos out for this one, Arcelia. Make it hurt.”

“Arcelia?” I whisper. Why does that name sound familiar? No one pays me any attention, too busy suddenly negotiating fees.

Am I being sold?

No. They said they wanted me back. Broken. To send a message to The Trinity.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Arce.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snaps. Zeus smirks.

“Well, all the same, it is a pleasure. If you ever want to—”

“I’m not on the menu,” she replies flatly like they’ve had this conversation a thousand times before.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Positive. Do you want to see the suite before you leave? Or will you be observing tonight’s festivities?”

“You can show us, but we won’t be staying. It’s not worth the extra fee. We’ll take a copy of the security footage though. We have business to attend to tonight. We’ll hit them hard while they’re losing their heads looking for this one.”

“Who?”

“Tut-Tut, Arce. Not even officially open for business yet and already breaking your own rules. What happened to no questions asked? You obviously don’t know who this one is…but like I said, she’s special. We’ll collect what’s left of her in the morning. Now, maybe you’d like to lead the way to her suite, before we take our business elsewhere.”

Looking decidedly less happy, she leads the way back to the bank of elevators. We all file in and the air is thick with tension. She presses a button and the lift plummets faster than my stomach. It is the same hotel, only different. Arcelia Grande, hotel owner and business partner to The Holy Trinity. What was it they said? This hotel was special, unique, and guaranteed to make history…

I think I’m about to find out exactly why.

I’m marched along a dingy corridor which is much more like the hotel I saw at fight night, stopping at one of many reinforced metal doors. There’s no signage or number to indicate what’s so special about this room, but Arcelia seems to know exactly which room this is.

She uses an electronic keypad beside the door to unlock the room, and the heavy door swings open on a groan. We follow her inside.

“Is this to your liking?” She asks Zeus a moment later when we’ve all had time to take in the space. His eyes are on me. I’m barely keeping it together and he damn well knows it. A serpentine smile stretches across his face and I have to fight the urge to beg and scream not to be left in here.

“Oh, I think it will do nicely. Be sure to give her a party favour to get her in the mood.”

“Certainly. Any preference?”

“Oh, we brought along our own. Don’t worry; she’s familiar with it. We like to call it The General’s Special.”

That’s enough to make me freeze in terror.

“Very well. If you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I have some phone calls to make.” She ushers them towards the doorway and steps just outside the open door.

It’s no use making a run for it, they more than block the small space. There’s no way I’d make it and I might just get shot in the process of trying. Though, looking at what’s waiting for me, I might prefer the bullet.

The guys turn to go, leaving me alone in the room with the unusual hotel owner. At the last minute, right when they reach the lift doors, they turn back.

“Oh, Arcelia?” Zeus calls softly.

“Yes?” She practically growls from between her gritted teeth.

“Don’t go crying to your brother on this one. He won’t help you. He’s one of us now.”

“Understood.” There’s nothing in her posture to give away her disappointment, yet I can sense it all the same. She doesn’t like these men any more than I do, but I guess business is business. Or certainly theirs is a power which can’t be denied.

With a final, almost apologetic look my way, she steps out into the corridor and closes the reinforced metal door with a clang. A second later an electronic whirring fills the air and bolts slide into place with a hiss, sealing me inside.

There’s no escape.