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"I thought he couldn't see me?" I glare at Castor once we're back in the elevator.
"He couldn't see you, Ryan. I don't know how he knew you were there," the agent says, baffled.
"Well, now he knows I went to see him, and why does he think he's going to get out of there?" I'm freaking out. I knew this was a bad idea; the worst part was that I got no closure.
"He's only saying that as a scare tactic. You have nothing to worry about." Castor stops me as we get to his car. "There is some good news, though. I was informed that Luca was jumped and stabbed multiple times. He didn't make it."
I can't breathe.
Bending over, I place my hands on my knees and try taking deep breaths. Luca was someone I was intimate with, and even though I believe he deserved to be locked up, it doesn't mean I wanted him dead. I didn't wish Dante dead, either. The fact is, yes, they were evil men, and yes, they took what they wanted from me, but they never beat me.But they beatBeau's mother. I have to remind myself of this. Had I refused, I probably would have ended up just like Chloe.
"Ryan, I'm sorry," Castor says softly.
"No, you're fine. It hit me the wrong way, and I had to remind myself that Luca wasn't a nice man. I once thought he was the nicest of the three, but he repeatedly proved me wrong." I look back at the ordinary brick building that houses the worst criminals. "Now I know why,hesaid that he lost hisbrothers.He will also take that out on me if he finds a way out."
"He won't, Ryan."
Knowing there is a high possibility that he's wrong, I smile slightly at Castor before getting into the car. Three of the five men I have had inside me are dead. That doesn't help soothe me at all. They seem to be dropping like flies. Am I jinxed? Is that why all this shit keeps happening to me?
I'm so lost in thought the rest of the ride home that I don't realize we've pulled up to the Manor. It isn't until Castor opens my door for me and shakes me that I come to. Looking around, I'm surprised that we are here already. It was a two-hour drive back from where the underground prison was. Was I really out of it for that long?
"Are you going to be okay?" Castor asks as he walks me to the door, carrying my bag.
"Yes. I think I just need to sleep for a day straight," I tell him and chuckle.
"You should. You've been through a lot, and you still have a long road ahead for yourself, but I'm here if you ever need me." He smiles and steps just a little bit closer.
Is he…coming on to me?
"That's so sweet, Castor…"
"Brant," he says.
"Excuse me?"
"My name. It's Brant…Castor is my last name," he informs me.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know…"
"That's okay. Most people call me Castor, but I wanted you to know my real name." He takes another step closer, and now I'm starting to get nervous because I don't want to have to be the bad person and turn him down. "Listen, Ryan. I would very much like to take you…"
The front door swings open, and Bain looms in the doorway. "I'm glad to see you're back safely." My stepfather smiles and takes my bag from Agent Castor. "Thank you for taking care of Ryan and seeing her to the door. I'll take over from here." He completely dismisses the agent, ushering me inside and closing the door immediately.
Bain doesn't say anything to me until we reach my room. Placing my bag on my bed, he turns to me, putting his hands in his pants pockets. There is an uncomfortable silence between us, neither of us having talked to the other in weeks.
"I'm sorry…" I start.
"So, I…" he starts at the same time.
I'm exhausted and don't want to fight with him, so I walk over to my bed and open my bag. If he wants to talk, he can. I'll wait until he's done, then say my peace.
"I'm glad to see you back. I take it you had a successful extraction?" he asks gingerly.
I stop what I'm doing and look at him. "We did. There were a few casualties on their end, but we came out unharmed and with everyone accounted for."
Bain's brows furrow. "I never realized that it was that dangerous on these missions."
I scoff, "What did you expect? We are dealing with people like the D'Angelos. They are all dangerous when we come in and dismantle their way of life."
