Nila’s face went white, finally realising what she’d done. Kes and I stayed silent, waiting for her to verbalize her fate.
Her voice shook. “You no longer need to hide anything from me, because I won’t be around much longer to share it.”
Bingo.
I groaned quietly as a despairing cloud filled the car. The unhappiness, regret, and anger resonating from Nila was too much. Flicking the button on the steering wheel, I wound down the windows, blasting cold autumn air into the car.
I inhaled greedily, trying to dispel the lacerations of her anguish.
Nila shivered, hugging herself with white fingers.
Kes said, “You see...the truth is a bitch, but you’ve earned the right to know everything. Any question you want answered...we’ll tell you. Every facet of our enterprise and brotherhood, you’ll know.”
Placing his hand on hers, he smiled softly. “You’re one of us now, Nila. Forever and always. The world knows it. Your father and brother know it. There is nothing else to say on the matter.”
She twisted in her seat, looking to the left where the moor and the graves of her ancestors rested. A chill scattered down my spine.
“So I’ll be buried on your land to hide all the secrets I’ll be privy to. Just like them.” Her head fell forward. “I’m sounbelievablystupid. About everything.”
I opened my mouth to agree—to dig the blade of unhappiness a little deeper. But...I couldn’t.
No amount of drugs could make me kick her when she was already bleeding. I wouldn’t be able to withstand the backlash, not to mention the rapidly building agony in my heart.
I thought the tablets would save me. Nila wasn’t the only one who’d been stupid.
We’re both fucked, and it’s up to me to hide my issues so Cut leaves her alone.
I couldn’t stand the stagnant sadness in the car. Unable to stop myself, I whispered, “You’ll like what we have to show you, Nila. You’ll see. You’re one of us now, and it’s time you understand what my family has been fighting to protect for generations.”
* * * * *
Diamond Alley.
Nicknamed centuries ago by an ancestor who no doubt graced Hawksridge walls in some depressing painting. It’d gotten its name due to the four huge warehouses facing each other, creating a narrow road between them.
Driving here took a couple of hours, but it was worth it to have our very own port—unwatched and unmolested—yet another example of being above the laws governing the masses.
No light entered, only shadows. Electric fences, keycards, and passwords fortified the entrance. Located on the coast between sleepy seaside towns where the police force was entirely owned by us, we guarded our domain carefully. Greased pockets and yearly bonuses, we paid the coppers handsomely but we required strict loyalty.
I’d bloodied my hands a few times over the years teaching one or two traitors who didn’t follow the rules a lesson.
Slowing to enter a key code at the front gate, conversation remained scarce as I drove through the compound and parked the Ferrari. The only cars and motorbikes here were those of trusted employees. No sightseers or holidaymakers. No one had any reason to visit, and it wasn’t on any map. The two long fingers of warehouses looked derelict on the outside, but top-of-the-line security equipment, heat sensors, and bulletproof glass guarded their contents.
We protected our investment.
Pity the Weavers didn’t do a good job protecting theirs.
The moment the car was stationary, Kes tapped Nila’s shoulder. “Shall we?”
She unbuckled her belt and scooted out of the bucket seat without a backward glance. Kes climbed out and slammed the door.
I was left all alone.
Thank fuck for that.
I stretched my arms in front of me, rolling my neck and exhaling the magnitude of emotions I’d absorbed in the journey here. We hadn’t spoken since leaving Hawksridge, but Nila’s thoughts bombarded me mile after fucking mile.
Nila and Kes drifted away, heading toward the warehouse. With shakinghands, I fumbled for my pills and took another before climbing from the vehicle and locking it.
