“To have a word with Damien.” Now that I was in the lair of the demons, there was no time to be scared or emotional. I had to be hard and cold if I was going to survive down here. “He’s not expecting me, but he’ll be happy to see me.” I stepped forward and allowed the men to move their metal detectors across my body. As I expected, they didn’t check my bun.
That was a good sign.
One of them stepped off to the side to radio down into the hatch.
I waited patiently, seeing the guard look me up and down like I was a piece of meat.
I glanced at him, my gaze hostile. “Do you mind?”
He grinned and looked away.
The other guard returned. “He’ll see you. Come with me.” He took me by the arm.
I yanked my elbow out of his grasp. “I’m not a blind dog. I can see where I’m going.”
He didn’t try to push me again. He took me farther into the room and down a few hallways until we entered a room with an enormous hatch in the floor. He went to a keypad and typed in a code.
I managed to catch a glimpse.
34892
Easy enough to remember.
The large door slid open, revealing a spiral stairwell that went deep underground. There were lights along the walls for illumination.
Jesus, this place was nuclear-proof.
The guard guided me to the stairs and followed behind me. At the top of the stairs, I noticed a similar pad where the code could be entered to exit. I remembered what it was before I made the descent. It seemed to take fifteen minutes before we reached the bottom and stepped inside a large room. It didn’t seem like we were hundreds of feet underground, but in another building just like the ones on the surface.
The guard escorted me again, taking me down a few hallways until we entered a row of cells.
I memorized all the turns.
My heart started to beat harder the closer we came. All the cells looked like prison cells, and I suspected I was about to see Cato. I just hoped I could keep my emotions together, to not burst into tears at the sight of him. Whether he was injured or unharmed, it would be difficult for me to seem indifferent. The fact that I was making this gesture at all was proof that I loved him, but I didn’t want to wear my heart on my sleeve to Damien.
The guard knocked on the door before he stepped inside. “Here she is.” He gave me a push.
I stepped inside, and the sight I saw nearly made me burst into tears. Cato was on the ground, naked with the exception of his boxers, and he was so bloody that his features were barely distinguishable. He was breathing, but he seemed so weak…like he couldn’t even stand.
I fought the tears as hard as I could.
Damien smiled at me like this was the happiest day of his life. “Wow, you don’t look like you just had a baby.” He looked me up and down with approval.
I tried not to stare at Cato, who seemed to be unconscious. “I hit the gym pretty hard.”
“It shows.” On the table beside him was a bloody hammer. I hated to think what he’d done with that.
I was so glad I’d come. Whatever Damien did to me would be worth it to get Cato out of there.
“So, what brings you here?” Damien asked. “You missed the best part of the show.” He looked down at Cato. “He lasted longer than I thought he would. But unfortunately…we’re just getting started.”
Cato shifted from his spot on the floor. He moved slightly, like he was coming back around.
I had to get him out of here. “I’ll make this quick. I’m looking for a trade—him for me.”
He grinned. “No offense, honey. But he’s worth billions. You’re worth nothing.”
“I’m worth more than billions. You would know if you’d ever had me.”
His smile dropped.
“Make the trade. I will cooperate fully. I will be whatever you want me to be. And I’m sure Cato will pay you whatever you want to let me go…so it’s a win-win for you.” That was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He examined me with new eyes. “You were supposed to bring him to us. But now you’re sacrificing your life for his. Ironic, isn’t it?”
Cato started to wake up more, his breathing escalating.
“I suppose,” I said. “Do we have a deal or not?”
Damien looked me up and down as he considered it. “I have wanted to fuck you for a long time. I thought my interest would fade once the baby came, but I guess not. You clean up good.”
“Thank you,” I said with sarcasm. “Let him go, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Siena Russo, obedient?” he asked, his head cocked. “Didn’t think that was possible.”