Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Very wrong.
“I’ll get Seth and Cody,” he said before agreeing to meet Brad at his room, and after he left, I tossed on my clothes and hurried out, taking the stairs since they were more likely to take the elevator.
Waiting in my hiding spot, I’m anxious to see if they’ll head into the woods for the church. The Sinners don’t normally meet this late, but it’s been an unusual week. They’ve spent more time at the church. I haven’t been as diligent in my duties since I got what I needed from the Saints, but I still have to keep up appearances because it’s entirely possible this stuff with Matteo won’t work out and I’ll be right back where I started, needing the Saints to help me.
A breeze rushes past me, and I shiver, rubbing my hands against the outside of the hood of my jacket, over my ears to keep them warm. God, it’s fucking cold out tonight.
About ten more minutes go by, and I’m starting to think they aren’t going out tonight, when the dual doors push open. Luke and Cody lead the way, and behind them are Seth, Brad, and…who the fuck is with them?
His arms draped around Brad’s and Seth’s shoulders, head slouched forward, they’re escorting someone along the pavement as they head along their route. I have this horrible feeling even before he raises his head.
Holy fuck. They’ve got Matteo.
I’m freaking out.
Did he accidentally say too much? Did they use some spell to figure out if we were watching them? But if that was the case, why go for Matteo and not me?
Although, if Matteo did say something, he wouldn’t have ratted me out. Even in the short time we’ve known each other, I know that much about him. But couldn’t Seth have pulled that from him against his will?
There are so many thoughts racing through my head as the Sinners haul him off into the woods. They must be taking him to the church.
I don’t have time to speculate. I hurry to the parking lot, hop into my car, drive around to the back road, then run along the path through the cemetery. I have to stop them from fucking with Matteo. But how am I gonna manage that?
I’ve got my pocketknife, so I could use that as a weapon, but how effective would that be against their powers?
I’m racking my brain for a solution as I come up behind the church and drop down in my spot, peering through the cracked boards covering the cellar window. Matteo’s now in the middle of the pentagram, his wrists and ankles bound with rope. They’ve got a rag in his mouth and rope bound around it as a gag.
What are you guys up to?
As Matteo struggles on the floor, Brad inspects his restraints.
“I said stop!” Seth shouts.
But Matteo keeps flailing about.
“Why isn’t that working?” Luke asks.
“He’s getting better at resisting,” Seth replies.
Seth’s power allows him to manipulate people’s thoughts and actions. From what I’ve seen, it’s incredibly effective, so I’m just as curious to know why it’s not working.
“I can stop him from resisting,” Brad says, seizing Matteo by his shirt collar, and hot rage sears through me.
I will fucking end you, Brad Henning.
I’m not thinking clearly right now. Just push to my feet and start around the church. This is a mistake—the rational part of my mind knows this. But whatever they’re doing, they’ll do to Matteo over my dead body.
As I navigate through the board they typically enter through, I accept that this could mean exposing my cover. I want to know the truth about my brother, but not at the expense of Matteo’s life.
I use my flashlight to light my way. When I find the cellar door, I trade the light for my pocketknife, drawing the blade. I open the door carefully, quietly, and start down the steps. There’s no way to do this without them seeing me coming up on them, so I just gotta be ready to go all in.
As far as I’m aware, Seth is my biggest threat. They all have powers, but they’re limited, not strong enough to take me on. Maybe I need to cover my ears until I can get to him and keep him from talking. That’s likely the only way I’m gonna get through this.
Great of an idea as that might be, I don’t know how I’m gonna manage that.
“How the hell did this happen?” Luke asks.
“Like any of us fucking know,” Seth snaps back.
I was right—they found out Matteo knows their secret.
As the guys come into view, they’re surrounding a squirming Matteo, too invested in restraining him to notice my entrance.
Brad manhandles him. “Stop fucking moving.”
Matteo turns and spots me. Red-faced, veins popping in his neck, he’s clearly been struggling for a bit. His eyes look strange, though. Darker than usual.