Page 122 of Ravaged Devotion

Things were only all right when Ryker was with him.

He slumped into his seat, the vibrations from the vehicle keeping him awake long enough to hear the third and final bomb go off.

Then, for the second time that day, he slipped into oblivion.

Chapter 25:

“…where an explosion occurred around one pm this afternoon. Authorities are still searching the area, but we’ve been told that everyone who was within the resort at the time are presumed dead. We’ll keep you updated with…”

The clear male voice pulled Rue out of slumber, words coming in and out of focus as he blinked and sat up. When he went to move his arms, he realized his wrists had been secured behind him. There was tape on his ankles as well, leaving just enough give he’d be able to shuffle around, but definitely not run or even walk very far on his own.

Across from him, the tv was on and set to the news, images of the lodge—or at least, what was left of it—flashing across the screen while a reporter discussed what they were calling an unfortunate tragedy.

Most of the wooden building had been reduced to ash. By the time anyone noticed the smoke high above the trees, it would have already been too late. The drive from town took a half hour at best, and that was for regular vehicles. A firetruck would need to move even more cautiously up the winding roads, similar to how their bus had had to.

Of course they wouldn’t have made it in time to be much help.

The creatures wouldn’t be traceable either. The organic material would have burned away, and the tech in their heads would have come apart when they were blown up, sending pieces flying.

Somehow, Rue found himself in the Hart estate, seated on a couch in one of the rooms in the side house. He’d spent enough time there growing up to recognize the polished white walls and the navy accents, but his brain still took what felt like centuries to process where he was, since it seemed so impossible.

“Avan let me in,” Bowie spoke from the other side of the room, and Rue’s head whipped in his direction to find him sorting through files on a holopad.

This room was a small sitting area that the twins almost never used, but even if they had, Rue was struggling to comprehend how Bowie could be permitted to be here.

The Harts’ butler had been with them for near three generations. There was no way Avan would have allowed a stranger to enter their private homes, especially not one who was carting Rue’s unconscious body with him.

“Don’t look so confused,” Bowie noticed. “Eulalie brought me here a couple of times when Rhys was away on business to go over details, so Avan is familiar with me. I told him there’d been a terrible accident and you needed to hide out until it all died down and you could explain. Since you’re technically one of the masters of the house, that was all it took for him to agree to give the staff the rest of the day off.”

“You thought this through.” And Rue could sort of figure out what they were doing here now that his senses were returning to him and his mind was clearing.

“I have fake identities,” Bowie told him. “Your mom prepared them just in case something went wrong and we were caught. We could—”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” He meant it, but he also said it in the hopes to move things along. He was already sick to his stomach over what his friend and his mother had done. There was so much he needed to ruminate on, and he couldn’t do any of that until this came to an actual end.

On the tv, they continued to show scenes of the destroyed resort, but Rue couldn’t look at it.

Had Ellery gotten to Ryker in time? Had he managed to get them out?

Rue hadn’t seen Uriel with his cousin, but the two of them didn’t seem to separate, so there was a good chance he’d been in that hallway waiting with Ell so they could make their move.

The walk from the exit to the car had only taken them a couple of minutes. In total, it’d been maybe five from the time he’d left to when Bowie had detonated the bombs inside the creatures.

Five minutes wasn’t a lot of time, especially when dealing with a potentially fatal knife injury. They wouldn’t have even known to relocate or try to flee…

“He’s dead. Don’t be stupid. No one could survive that,” Bowie stated, seemingly knowing exactly where Rue’s mind had gone. He got up from the table he’d been sitting at and came over, grabbing Rue under the arm. Once he had him on his feet, he motioned toward the open doorway.

“Where are we going?” He debated whether or not to resist, to try to take Bowie out, but tied as he was, he’d only complicate things further.

“You know where.” Bowie kept hold of him as they moved, the walk taking longer than it normally would since Rue had to shuffle to keep from tripping over his own feet. “There’s one last bastard to take care of, then the job will be done.”

They turned into the hallway that led to the game room where the pods were kept.

“You don’t have to do this,” Rue tried to talk sense into him. “It’s not like he’s ever going to wake up.”

“Uriel woke up,” Bowie pointed out.

“Just go. Leave while you still can. As soon as his and Ellery’s families realize we’re the only survivors, they aren’t going to let you get away.” Saying it caused bile to rise up the back of his throat, but Rue told himself they were only words.