One tugs on my arm, leading me toward the helicopter and rudely interrupting me from my observations. They’re all tall, with One being the tallest. They’re all lean, with Four being the biggest.
“Get in!” One points up the little steps to the sleek black chopper, and I abide. It’s not like I have any other choice. “If you haven’t figured out yet, this is your lifeline.” I try not to look at him for too long, because—well—because he’s pretty. If you can even call someone like him pretty. There’s a fine line between pretty and scary, and One uses that line as a tightrope. It’s not just his appearance either. It’s the way he carries himself and takes charge. You just know a true alpha when you see one. They don’t need to bite because their bark is more like a roar, terrifying enough to scare away anyone who comes near.
Rose glares at One as she takes her seat opposite me. “And if you haven’t figured out, she doesn’t speak much.”
One kicks his foot out. “You assume I don’t already know that.” His fingers hover over his phone as his attention comes to me. As soon as the chopper begins to lift off the ground and the other three guys are seated, One opens up his phone and the rest of us fall into a long stretched silence.
We descend onto a helipad that’s in the middle of a large field. This helipad has the same seven-point star as the one that was on the yacht. Interesting. There are large green shrubs that surround the helipad in one circle, blocking every view of the giant mansion I noticed on our way down. As soon as we land, One opens up the door, and I follow closely behind him.
He looks between Rose and me, his face placid. “Will you follow my instructions carefully?”
Two chuckles, licking his lips and standing beside One. “You think they’ve got it in them?”
One glares at me. “No.”
Rose’s hand comes to mine, and I give it a little squeeze. Doesn’t do much for reassurance, but at least I know she’s beside me. A stranger can fill the void of a gaping hole that panic punched into, so for that, I’m thankful I have her beside me.
Three and Four remain behind Rose and me.
“Answer me…” One demands, his eyes strong as steel. “Will you follow instructions?”
“Yes,” Rose hisses.
One steps forward, and it’s then that I realize he’s coming closer. His dark shadow expands like an umbrella around me. “Dovey, if you don’t abide by the rules that will be set out for you, there will consequences.”
I don’t answer, my eyes flying across the grass, as if I’m in search of something. Anything. Maybe what I’m searching for are the words that flutter over the tip of my tongue, threatening to slice him across the neck.
I flinch when his finger wraps around my chin, tilting my head up to his. I don’t like to be touched. He towers over me, so my neck has to bend for my eyes to meet his. Green on green, only different shades. Both human, only different souls.
“Do you understand?”
I don’t, but I nod my head anyway. One and Two begin walking in front of Rose and me, with Three and Four following behind us. We exit out of a clearing that surrounds the helipad, the sun now setting in the distance, burning the sky to a crisp orange.
“What is going on…” Rose mutters, and I squeeze her even more.
One and Two continue through the thick clearing until they part out of an exit. Music is pulsing loudly, throwing my mind back into The Club. As soon as we exit the same clearing, my footing falters. Eminem is vibrating around the place and the entire backyard of the mansion is filled with equipment I haven’t seen. People are shuffling around the area—workers, I think. One and Two pause, turning to face me. Delicately manicured hedges line the gardens and a large swimming pool sits to the left of the yard. To the right is where all of the different equipment is laid: poles, a large square cage that’s big enough to fit a group of humans, and a black, silver, and lilac styled tent that has been dismantled. The mansion spills out onto the large patio area where a boulder is carved into a naked woman and man, curled up together. There’s a fountain surrounding them, and table and chairs neatly stacked around the patio. The home is something straight from Europe, with its Victorian style architecture. The moss that is growing between the stones faintly reminds me of a certain person’s eyes.
“What’s going on?” Rose repeats, her attention shifting directly to One. Even she knows who the alpha of the pack is.
“Ahhh, Rose Kinnish and Dove Hendry. I’ve been waiting so long to meet you…” A soft voice beckons from behind us, and I turn to quickly face the intruder.
Long legs meet a long torso and a small face. She has short black hair and beady little eyes. That doesn’t take away the fact that she could be beautiful. I say could because there’s something about her that taints her beauty. Something dark and sinister. She also has a small scar that is indented into her upper lip, which is curved like a half-moon.
She studies me closely. “You’ve met The Brothers of Kiznitch.” She gestures to the four who stand around us before putting a cigarette between her tiny lips and lighting the end. She inhales and then points toward One. “Kingston.” Kingston. She then points to Two. “Killian.” To Three. “Kyrin.” Finally, to Four. “Keaton. Tell me,” she blows out more smoke, “why do you think you’re here?” She drops her smoke onto the grass, and I watch as her red bottom pump squashes it into the blades. She steps forward. I have to fight the urge to retreat back. When we don’t answer, a small smirk glistens over her mouth. “Interesting for you.” She points to Rose. “Not so interesting for you.” She comes back to me.
“Why are you telling us this?” Rose interrupts.
Her eyes clip to Rose. “Wouldn’t you love to know.” She continues. “I run a show, and I only have the best of the best, but the art in which we gather our performers is different to how others do. I like my performers broken and unamendable, but of the purest construction.” Her eyes shift to Kingston. “Or, just emotionless. I gather machines, not humans, and I orchestrate them in becoming moneymaking puppets.” I want to say that I’m not a puppet. I want to say so much. Sweat trickles down the side of my head as words threaten to spill from my mouth, but before I can formulate enough fire to spit them out, my teeth clamp closed like a bear trap. “You don’t get an option. Neither of you. You will come with us. You will dance.” She looks between the two of us. “I will pay you. In return, you’re not to tell anyone about what goes on from this point forward. You sign on the dotted line, and Midnight Mayhem owns you. You never walk away. You’ll never have that option.” Her eyes, once again, fly between us. “Do you understand? You cannot have a life outside of Midnight Mayhem.”
Rose sucks in a deep breath. Midnight Mayhem? What is Midnight Mayhem. “I know who you are.”
The woman looks directly at Rose now and brings her perfectly manicured coffin-shaped acrylic nail to Rose’s cheek. “Sweet girl. You don’t know me. I am Delila Patrova, and I can either be your worst nightmare or your best friend. The decision is yours. The decision is always yours.”