When the man opens the door for me, I practically sprint out, making it only a few steps before I lean over and vomit. Evenafter my stomach is empty, I stand there, shaking through dry heaves. If only I could purge the stain on my soul…
Eventually, it passes, and I’m able to stand again. I can still hear the man crying, and for a moment, I think it’s nothing more than the whispers of my nightmarish memories, until I hear him shout, “Please! No! Don’t!”
There’s a gunshot and I jump, whirling around to rush into the room I just left. I’m stopped by another hand restraining me. Snarling, I manage to land a punch, but it’s ineffective as I’m thrown against the wall, my head hitting it with a loud thunk. Fuck. Pain explodes inside me, but I ignore it. I try to push off, but the other man is there, holding me. And worse…there’s the bitch again.
“You really don’t know how to follow instructions, do you?” Her smug sneer is still there, and I try to lunge toward her, but it’s ineffective. She rolls her eyes before quickly backhanding me. Her engagement ring tears into my skin, and she glances down at it with a look of disgust. “And now I need to explain why there's blood on my jewelry…”
“You fucking bitch. I did what you said! There was no reason to kill him!” I’m trembling, whether from the aftereffects of the medication or the pure insanity of it all, I don’t know, or even care anymore.
Snorting, she bats my words away. “You don’t make demands. That was your consequence, and it's an innocent that has paid for your failure. Keep that in mind…”
She strolls away, the clipped sound of her heels making me shudder as I’m dragged back toward the cell I share with Roman. I panic at the thought of seeing him, of having him hate me for becoming the same demon he fights in his nightmares. I struggle against the man, and with a curse, he puts me in a chokehold.
I almost weep with joy as I start to lose consciousness. Anything to find some peace. Anything so I don’t have tothink about my crimson-stained soul, and the blackness that has leached into my heart. Anything…anything to not face the destruction of everything I believed in, and all the people I loved…
Iwon’t admit it, but Benjamin putting me to bed was much needed. My head is clearer, though the headache at my temples disagrees, but that’s more due to lack of food and caffeine than anything.
A quick shower and change of clothes later, and I’m heading down to the kitchen for a coffee, since Benjamin didn’t let me finish mine earlier. I want to be annoyed, but I know he was coming from a place of concern. Even if it’s irritating to know he’s capable of making sure I’m okay while ignoring his so-called best friend on a normal basis. But that’s an issue to worry about later, along with the conversation we need to have regarding his relationship with Tennant.
Tugging at the sleeves of my shirt, I resist the urge to shove them up my arms. With my quick in and out, not wanting to linger in our bedroom for long, the shirt I grabbed in my hasteisn’t even mine, it's Jude’s. The looser material around my wrists is bothersome, and I wonder why I'm bothering to let the sleeves sit awkwardly on me, but the idea of exposing my scars… Too many people have already seen them, or could have guessed what was underneath my bandages, but that doesn’t mean I want to display my vulnerable parts to everyone. So, I leave the shirt alone.
In the kitchen, I am handed a plate of food, while Roman’s kitchen staff stare me down, stepping in the path of the coffee maker. Grumbling, I accept the food, and even take a few bites before I’m rewarded with coffee.I'm going to have to see about getting a coffee maker in the office.Tennant will sigh, and try to impose rules, but it’s worth it to avoid the not-so-subtle bullying from the kitchen staff.
Though maybe Emilio will share his with me. He’s the only one around here who actually appreciates the need for coffee above all else.
When I’ve satisfied the kitchen staff and eaten most of the food—though I couldn’t say what exactly I put in my mouth, my thoughts already focused on everything I have to do—I’m able to leave, fresh coffee in hand.
The hours spent in bed might have helped clear my head and sharpened my focus, not that it’s not still a battle to keep my eyes open, but that doesn’t mean they were a good thing. Not when there’s so much that needs doing.
As I get closer to the office Leandro and I share, my mind is already whirling. The list of properties we’ve compiled for both Senator and Cecily Dowing isn’t extensive, but it’s still a lot of ground to cover. Without knowing where Roman and Lio were taken, it first needs to be a task of narrowing things down before we can send anyone in. The last thing we need is to be too spread out and easily taken down because we didn’t put enough time or research into finding where they’re being held.
Leandro doesn’t bother glancing at me when I enter the office, his focus on his monitor. I don’t have to ask what he’s been doing in the time I was away, because he shares it as soon as I sit down.
As complicated as the boy makes everything outside of these four walls, he’s the easiest person I’ve ever had to work with. As in sync as H and I can be, there’s something inherently magic about the way Leandro can anticipate my needs. I shouldn’t be so surprised. It’s in his nature to be observant, and to make himself into whatever version is needed in order to blend in, but that still doesn’t mean it’s not impressive. His skills have more to do with how smart and talented he is, rather than his mimicry.
Catching up to speed is a slow process, as I not only have Leandro’s work and notes to go over, but everything my automations have been pulling as well. I'm halfway through reading a report Leandro put together on the Senator when there’s a notification in my inbox.
What gets me to pause my task is the type of notification it is. It's not my regular one that everyone in the Family uses, and not the secure one I have set up for H… But the one connected to my darkweb presence.
The only reason that’s still active is because I sometimes take on the occasional assignment. The Family might keep me busy, but when we don’t have senators and their daughters on our asses, things can be slow and dull, so breaking up the day with whatever mundane research or hacking job I can, keeps not only my skills sharp, but saves me from boredom.
“You expecting anything?” I ask Leandro.
“No. H is looking into both the Senator and his daughter through his contacts, but he knows to get in touch with me directly with his findings.”
I hum in response and share my screen with him as I read the note attached to the video.
Monsters can only hide their true colors for so long… Every dirty secret will be exposed soon enough.
A fissure of fear and anxiety shoots through me as I hitplay, unable to hide my intake of breath when the video shows Roman and Lio in a cell. They’re chained, with just enough slack they can touch one another.
A lump forms in my throat as I watch them try to comfort each other, and then the door to the cell opens. Cecily Dowing walks into the room with her two goons, and the anxiety running through me makes me lightheaded as she gives Lio an impossible choice.
“No…” I say to myself. “No, Baby…”
Roman tries to fight, to plead and beg, but Emilio proves his heart is bigger than most would give him credit for, as he allows himself to be taken out of the cell. The video shows Roman breaking down, curling into a ball as much as possible and sobbing.
“Hol…” Leandro says, just loud enough to get through the violent tumbling of my mind as flashes and images that refuse to stay buried collide with what’s happening on screen.
