Page 63 of Unmasked

Katia flinched as I let the tip drag over her bicep.

“…No.”

I brought up the knife, embedding it in the muscle and feeling it hit stone underneath. I pulled it free as her head tilted back through the gasp and cry.

“I don’t believe you.”

“—I s-swear. He doesn’t even know you’re a-live. G-Game. It’s all a game t-to them.”

“Them?”

“The C-Council. Mr. Prescott and The Sultan…” harder she cried. “They m-make bets. They up the stakes by…suggestions, by exposing truths.”

Her head turned back and forth as she hugged her arms to her chest, trying to add pressure to her wounds. Her lids were barely staying open, and she was bleeding out at a rapid rate.

“What is the ultimate objective of this game? What do they want out of me and King Lawrence?”

Sobs shook her, and her lids stayed closed. I drug the blade over her forearm, feeling her jump and sink down underneath me.

“Focus or I stab you again. Objective of this game.”

“Ent…Entertainment. They… don’t care. They…” Her eyes rolled, and she started to pass out. I stabbed the blade close to the other wound on her shoulder.

Katia’s eyes flew opened, and she tried turning as she sucked in air.

“You kept saying baby. Is my child in danger?”

“K-King Lawrence…” More she gasped and sobbed. “He chose… her. He will kill… to… have her. Even… the baby. Espec..ially… the baby. Kill… Theodore. Since Grove Square. He’s going to… kill… Theod—Con…tract—Kill⁠—”

Kill… Contract?

“Repeat that.”

“K-Kill. Con…tract for… Theodore. Since the beginning. He paused but… title… his—he plans—kill.”

My head flew up, and my hand slammed the knife down into her chest, burying the blade in her heart. I was standing and pulling my phone free as I headed for the door. I pushed Theodore’s number, bringing the phone to my ear as I took wide steps towards the guards ahead.

Ring.

Ring.

He hadn’t left that long ago.

An hour?

Two?

I looked down at my watch, pointing to the room as I swept by the guard.

“She’s dead. Get rid of her.”

I didn’t wait for their reply.

A contract since Grove Square? Theodore should already be dead… But she said something about it being paused?

Ring.

Ring.