They carried Lonny inside, but the minute they were through the door, Savannah knew something had happened. There was a coldness, a stillness, to the air that wasn't usually there, and it sent a chill of apprehension running through her limbs.
"She's been here,” Ronan said, voice sharp.
She glanced at him. “Anni?"
He nodded. “Recently."
Her gaze went to Kel. “Has Anni Jones been—” She stopped, noticing for the first time the curious blankness in their assistant's eyes.
"Fuck,” Ronan said softly. “What do you want to bet that Candy is no longer our prisoner?"
"Odds on, I'd say,” Savannah replied softly. “You all right to take Lonny to the cells?"
He nodded and shifted his grip to take the woman's full weight. Savannah walked around the desk and squatted in front of their still admin assistant.
"Kel?” she said, touching the other woman's knee lightly.
Kel blinked, but her eyes were still curiously blank as she said, “I have a message."
It was Kel's voice, and yet it wasn't. She reached out psychically, gently probing Kel's mind. It was being held by another, and though she dare not probe any deeper for fear of being detected, it didn't take a genius to guess who that other person might be.
"What was the message, Kel?"
"Be at the clearing where the first victim was found by eight, or else your not-so-charming lover or your sister's brother-in-law will be the next victim."
Fear stepped fully into heart, and for several seconds she couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Then the anger rose again, and the force of it swept the fear away. How dare Anni threaten her family, her man, and attempt to make them pay for something that had happened long ago. Something that was always going to end badly for the people involved in the true madness of Rosehall.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “That only gives me twenty-five minutes.” Which would be more than enough time if she were going straight there, but she intended to detour and collect her gun. She just wished she had silver bullets to go with it. It would be a tidy way to end this whole damn thing.
"We both know twenty minutes is sufficient time."
"Cade and René had better be alive when I get there, Jina."
There was a beat of silence, then, “So you know."
"Yes. I also know now what Jontee really did. He deserved the death he got."
"It was Nelle who did that. Nelle who controlled him. He wanted no part of it."
"Then he should have fought her. He was strong enough."
"Not that way.” Kel blinked, and the light of awareness seemed to shine briefly in her eyes. Then the blankness returned. “Time's slipping by, ranger. If you are not here by seven, one of them dies."
She glanced around as the front door opened and almost groaned aloud when she saw the two dark-haired, powerful looking men walking in. Zeke and Tye Sinclair—René's father and oldest brother. Just what she needed right now.
She motioned them to be quiet and returned her attention to Kel. The reality was, she had enough psychic strength to attack Jina right now, and either freeze her mind or fry it. But it would also hurt Kel in the process and would probably result in both Cade and René being killed by Candy in revenge. Meaning, she really only had one option.
"I'll be there, Jina."
"Be sure you are. Candy is extremely hungry."
Kel blinked before Savannah could reply, awareness and horror surging into her eyes.
"Oh God, oh God,” she whispered. “I'm sorry. I just couldn't stop—"
"I know,” Savannah interrupted. “But I need to make sure it can't happen again, which means I need to place a block in your mind."
"Go right ahead. The thought of that woman in my mind again—” She stopped and shivered. “She's mad, you know."