Page 168 of Perfect Liar

I wiped my mouth again and sipped on the water she handed me.

Mrs. Bates called out on the other side of the door.

“Mary, John’s come. I can see the lad on the telly screen.”

I jumped up, and we both hurried out to the main space. I ran to the door, crashing into John as he came through it.

He reached out to steady me. As he stared at me, he spoke to his mother.

“Everyone is safe, Mum. The estate is secure. I can take you all upstairs.”

“Where is Will?” I asked.

John avoided making eye contact with me.

“I watched everything on the monitors. A gang of hit men attacked us, and two got away. Thomas is waiting for you in the billiard room, Ellie.”

More dead men. Another heavy burden for Will to carry.

I gripped John’s arm.

“But what are you not saying? Two got a?—”

Gasping, I realized what I wouldn’t make him say—that Will was gone.

“He went after them,” I whispered.

John finally met my eyes and nodded.

I darted out and ran up the stairs, shouting for Will, even though I knew he wouldn’t be there. When I burst into the room, only seven men stood there, soaked from the rain. I grabbed at Thomas.

“Thomas, please. Please go after him!”

Thomas pried my fingers off his arms and pulled his blood-stained shirt over his head.

“Someone, give me a clean fucking shirt,” he snapped.

Ben tossed a plain white t-shirt at Thomas.

“Will’s alone. Why are you all so damn calm!” I shouted.

Digging my fingers into Thomas’s flesh again, I pleaded.

“You must find him and go with him…don’t leave him alone. Please, Thomas!”

He pushed me back, pulled on the shirt, and then wrapped his arms around me as I came at him again. With a low growl near my ear, he warned me to get myself together.

“Stop it, Ellie, right now.”

But I didn’t stop. I shouted at him.

“Where is he? Where has he gone?”

Without another word, Thomas hauled me into the war room while I shouted at him more.

“Tell me, damn you!”

Once he turned me loose in the room with the door shut, I came at him and punched his chest twice. I was out of my mind, trembling, so scared.