“You should have gone.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t start.”

“You’ll never be safe if he’s alive,” Ryan continues, his voice tight. “You or any other woman in the wild. You can’t tell me with what we know about him and his deal with the Colonies that you don’t think he deserves to die.”

“Who are you trying to convince, Ryan? Me or yourself?”

He doesn’t answer and when I look over at him he refuses to meet my eyes.

“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him softly. “You’ll hate yourself if you do.”

“If I don’t do it, who will?”

I look back to the gate as it swings open with a long, grating shriek. Men step through the container, moving into the open space inside the gates like they already own the place. Like it was theirs before it was even built. Like the world belongs to them, along with everything and anyone in it.

“I’m sure if you asked nicely you’d find a few takers,” I mutter.

“Vincent!” a familiar voice cries, carrying across the gardens to the building.

When Marlow steps into the early morning light with his arms spread wide, I want to sprint to him. I want to leap into his arms and drive my knife so deep into his back it passes through his body and pierces me on the other side. I will gladly bleed with him if it means I can watch the light drain from his eyes up close and extremely personal. I will suck his last breath from his lungs and hold it in my mine until his life is burned out in the angry ash of my heart.

I don’t like murder, I’m not a killer at heart, but this man is a now a threat to the only thing in the world I can even vaguely call mine, and if killing him with my bare hands keeps that safe, I’ll gladly live with his ghost for the rest of my life.

Vin approaches Marlow without hesitation. They hug each other warmly, and that right there speaks volumes. There are no searches, no patting down to look for weapons. There’s so much trust here, so much tried-and-true history that they don’t consider each other the least bit of a threat. Not an immediate one anyway. It makes me more and more convinced that Vin plans to use Ryan. Even if he’s given an “opening,” I wonder if Ryan will be allowed to kill Marlow.

“Here they come,” Ryan mumbles.

Marlow is walking with Vin across the gardens, happily surveying the area with a grin on his face. He points to plants as they pass them, gestures to the roof, asking Vin questions as they go. Vin looks like he’s answering, a similar grin on his face, but as they get closer I can see a tightness around his eyes. Maybe it’s the glare from the sun, but more than likely it’s Marlow. It’s too many cooks in the kitchen. His kitchen.

“It’s impressive,” Marlow says as they step inside, the doors being yanked open by a mix of Hive and Guard.

All six of Vin’s men are with him, the only followers he has left in the building, while Marlow has brought eight of his army. The rest are outside in the gardens milling around, checking out the grounds. I can see a few wandering toward the water, some others looking at the animals. Slowly but surely they’re circling the building. It’s a not-so-subtle message to Vin that Daddy is here and he’d better not forget it.

“They did a great job setting it up, but that’s what they do,” Vin agrees.

“And where are they now? How many workers are there?”

“They’re locked safely away,” Vin lies. “I didn’t want itchy trigger fingers to kick off a war. They’re not a strong group, not when it comes to fighting.”

“More farmers and bakers, eh? That was to be expected. We’ll split them down the middle. Send half to The Hive, leave half here. We could use skilled farmers at home. Could cut our dependence on other resources.”

I bristle at the vague reference to his deal with the Colonies.

“So what else is here? Are there many women? Have you started training?”

Vin shrugs carelessly. “Haven’t had the time. We only just took control of the building.”

“Good, good. We’ll want to get on that quickly. A lot of our inventory is aging, looking tired. You could start fresh here. Get all new girls. Speaking of…” Marlow turns to face me, a wicked smile on his ugly face. “Hello, my dear.”

“Fuck you,” I tell him coolly.

Marlow throws his head back, laughing full from the gut. My knife hand itches.

“Oh, I do like you,” he finally says, crossing the room slowly. Ryan moves closer as well. “I’m so glad you’re still alive. I was worried about you.”

“You sent me to die.”

“I sent you on an errand. If you had died on that errand you would have showed me you’re weak, but here you stand—alive and well and beautiful as ever. Vincent, what are your plans for this one?”

I glare at Vin over Marlow’s shoulder, just waiting for one of them to give me a reason.

“I hadn’t decided yet,” he says simply.

Marlow nods thoughtfully, turning to head back toward Vin. “I think we’ll keep her as a bargaining chip. She still a Benjy?”

“Far as I know.”

“Good. If we’re going to keep this place we’ll either have to fight for it or pay for it. I’d rather not lose any men right now, not with things as tense as they are, and Westbrook has expensive tastes. She could be just what we need.”

And there’s my reason.

I take several quick steps toward Marlow’s turned back, my lips curling up over my teeth in disgust. I’m almost to him, Vin shooting me a horrified look over his shoulder. I’m reaching out to take hold of him with one hand and unsheathe my knife with another. I’m going to kill him. I’m going to end this for everyone.

I’m swung off the ground and spun around in a circle. Shouting in anger, I thrash and claw at the arm around me. I know it’s Ryan but my frustration is so deep I dig into his skin, drawing blood and snarling like an animal. The room spins in front of my eyes in a blur, and just before my feet are put back on solid ground I catch a familiar face in Marlow’s guard.

Andy.

“Slow down,” Ryan whispers brusquely in my ear, his arm still around my waist as he holds my back against his front. “Not yet.”

“Tie her up,” Marlow commands, sounding oddly disinterested. “Be careful not to mark her skin, but keep her contained. I’ll take her with me when I leave. Now, Vincent, show me the rest of the building. I want to see what I’m buying.”

Marlow and Vin leave without a look back, followed by four of each of their guards. Ryan and I are left alone with the remaining crew: two of Vin’s men, four of Marlow’s. I’m both relieved and annoyed when Andy steps toward me with a length of rope.

“Put her down by the door,” Andy tells Ryan sternly.

He does as he’s told, leading me to a vacant chair by the door and gently pushing me down until I’m glaring up at Andy.

“Tie it loosely,” Ryan warns under his breath.

Andy shifts his eyes to the other men in the room. They’re all watching us.

“So I don’t mark her skin. Yeah, I heard him.”

“So I can get loose and snap your neck,” I tell him, leaning forward to get in his face as he leans down to tie my ankles. “I’ve missed you, Andy. Did you miss me?”

“Shut your stupid mouth,” he whispers bitterly. “If they hear you—”

“They’ll know all about you. That’s the point.”

He tugs harshly on the rope wrapping around my ankles. I fight the urge to wince as the rough fibers scrape across my skin.

“Go ahead, tell them. They’ll kill me right here and you’ll be next.”

“You heard Marlow. I’m expensive. You guys aren’t allowed to touch me.”

“Not you. Him.”

I sit back hard in the chair, my eyes going to Ryan. He’s watching Andy’s hands as they secure knots, each movement making me more and more Marlow’s prisoner.

Andy cuts the rope with a small knife before sitting up on his knees to tie my wrists.

“If they hurt Ryan—” I begin, my teeth clenched tight.

Andy looks at me sharply. “They won’t. Not if you keep it together. You’re too emotional. Sit back, shut up, and let me do my job.”