“And you would be correct, little Seer—an error on my part that has cost me everything. It has cost you, too, and now they must pay.”
I still wondered what had happened between him and these club members. They’d gone after his family.
“It is not important,” he replied to my thoughts. “What matters is putting an end to Ten Club, and with that, you will finally have your justice.”
Honestly, if King wasn’t the devil, he should be. The man was very adept at the art of persuasion, to a point where something you would never do, never consider, suddenly sounded like your only choice. In short, he was asking me to help kill these people, and now, I sorta wanted to.
“I’m not saying I agree, because I would need proof, absolute proof, of everything you’re telling me; but if this is all true, how could I possibly help you end Ten Club?”
He flashed a devilish smile. “A welcome-back party, of course. I would seal them in, and you would summon death.”
That sounded too easy.
“Trust me, it won’t be. The members are powerful and naturally suspicious, especially when their leader returns with scores to settle. But that is why you are so very important, Jeni. They would never see you coming. Not in a thousand years. It is the only way to go at such a cunning group of people who are on their guard with more than fists and guns. So you see, it was fate that brought me to you.” He stepped in closer, and the air grew colder, circulating around us. His delicious spicy scent filled my lungs. “I knew it before I had my memories back, and I know it now. So do you. You have felt the pull.”
“I did. I mean, I do, but—”
“No buts. You were born to set things right, Jeni. Ten Club is a monster I never should have created.”
It was a lot to take in. Him. The mere existence of Ten Club. My mother’s killer being a member. King’s family murdered. Terrible. Awful. He still hadn’t told me why they were killed, but I imagined King’s “monster” turned on him somehow. Wasn’t that always what happened? Cartels, the mob, gangs, corrupt political groups—sooner or later, the leaders were eaten up by their own people. Power was just too tempting to be left alone or shared, like a wicked cherry on top of a sick sundae. Power seduced and corrupted.
Not me. I would never want that sort of influence, mostly because I didn’t want to end up in a metal box. Speaking of, “And what about the person who threw you in the ocean? Will he or she be at this ‘party’?”
“He will be there. So do we have a deal?” Still with the small wooden box in his hand, King stared for a long moment. I felt him digging around inside my mind. He wanted to gauge how I felt.
“You won’t find anything because I honestly don’t have an answer for you, Jack—”
“King.”
“Sorry. King. I need time to think.”
“Preparations will require a few days. You may use the time to come to grips with what you must do.”
My compliance was not a forgone conclusion. “Whatever. I’m going to Florida. Alone. I need space.”
“My private jet will take you.”
Ah yes. The plane he’d mention earlier. I still couldn’t get over the contrast. Jack had nothing. King had everything.
“You have it backwards, Miss Arnold. Jack was much better off. I’ll have a car meet you at the airport in Tallahassee to take you home. Just one last thing before you go.”
“What?”
“I’ll need your wrist for a moment.” He raised his hand, and I felt my body falling. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard the gurgles of those heads pleading for death. I felt King holding my wrist, burning me with something.
When I finally came to, my vision was blurry, and a loud hum filled my ears.
I slowly sat up, alone on an airplane. In the seat next to me, a note waited on top of my brown purse.
I unfolded it, experiencing something between disorientation and bitter anger.
Dear Miss Arnold,
I will retrieve you at your father’s home in two days. The money is for him, should you not return from the party. And do not think of running. You belong to me now. It is for your own good. Show the tattoo to anyone from Ten Club who attempts to claim you as property.
– K
Tattoo? I rotated my wrist, finding red raised flesh and an elaborate K etched into my skin.
“That sonofabitch!” He had no right to defile my body. I’m going to find him and tattoo “asshole” on his forehead.
I opened my purse and found bundles of hundred-dollar bills. There had to be at least fifty thousand dollars there.
I shoved the money back in my bag and pressed the heels of my hands over my eyes. My brain was throbbing, my wrist was burning, and fuck if I knew who was flying this plane.