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He swallows and lowers his stare back to our joined hands on the table. “It doesn’t really matter. I can never go back to them. Tony forbids it. And even if he didn’t…I can’t go back there. After everything I’ve done, they wouldn’t want me back like this.”
“Rhys, I really think they want you back no matter what. It’s clear they miss you so much. They won’t care about what Tony made you do.”
“How do you know that?” The words are a whispered, desperate plea.
“If you saw what I did online, you’d know it’s the truth. They’ve give anything to see you again. I promise.”
He nods but doesn’t speak again until Cameron comes back into the room to let us know his friend is on the way over to talk to Rhys about getting a sketch of Mike. I can tell Rhys wants to bolt, so I keep his hand gripped firmly in mind. I don’t leave his side once, not even when the artist shows up and spends two hours talking to Rhys about what Mike looks like. She sketches the entire time they talk, showing it to him frequently to make sure it’s coming out right.
“That’s him,” Rhys finally says when Amelia shows him the sketch again.
Cam glances over Amelia’s shoulder. “You did great, Rhys. I’ll find this guy.”
Amelia doesn’t ask anything about what’s going on. She simply gives the sketch to Cam before following him back out of the apartment. I wonder where he met her and how long he’s known her. He’s never mentioned her to me.
Silence hangs heavy in the air for a few minutes, broken only by the soft tones of Cam and Amelia talking outside.
“What if I’m making a mistake?” Rhys asks suddenly, staring at a blank spot on the wall across from us.
“You’re not.”
“You don’t know that,” he snaps, turning his head to glare at me. “I’ve spent the last five years doing every degrading and humiliating thing Tony’s ordered of me to keep Jack safe. I can’t let one moment of selfishness mess it all up.”
“Look, Cam’s not going to do anything until he’s sure Jack is safe. I promise.”
“He can’t get hurt,” Rhys whispers, the sharpness leaving his voice as quickly as it came. He blinks tears back as he says, “I’ll never forgive myself or you if something happens to my brother.”
“I know. But he’ll be safe. And if he loves you even half as much as you love him, then he would never forgive you if you don’t get out when you have the chance. Rhys, look at me.”
When he obeys, I see the tears shining in his eyes. The fear and vulnerability. I wish I could take it all away from him.
“There’s nothing selfish about not wanting to live the rest of your life chained to a monster. You deserve to be free too.”
His breath comes out in a shaky rush, but he gives me the smallest of nods.
It’s not everything I have to say. I want to tell him that he deserves to be happy. To be loved. To feel safe. But I’m not sure he’d hear that right now, let alone believe me. I just have to take it one step at a time.
Seventeen
Rhys
Cameron tells me to keep working like usual to not make Tony suspect anything.
Parker opens his mouth to argue, but Cameron shuts him down with a sharp look.
“I think everything will move very swiftly,” Cameron says. “So don’t be surprised if Tony’s arrested before you even hear from me. But I promise if the police show up, it means your brother’s no longer in danger.”
I nod because I don’t think I can speak. I’ve never been this scared before. Not even when Tony first took me away from my family.
Parker walks me to the elevator, holding my hand as we wait for it to reach his floor. “It’s going to be okay,” he says. “Soon, you won’t have to see Tony ever again.”
It’s too big of a promise for him to make, but I don’t point that out. My stomach is twisted up into an anxious knot. I should never have told Paker about Tony. If I’d just behave like Tony taught me to, Jack wouldn’t be in any danger. I don’t want to belong to Tony for the rest of my life, but I’d accepted it. It feels too risky to even dream of getting away from him. Maybe once it’s actually over, I can let myself accept it.
When the elevator arrives, Parker kisses the back of my hand before letting me go. My legs feel heavy as I board the elevator. I wish I could just stay here where I’m safe. But it’s childish thinking.
I compose myself as best I can on the ride down, and when I step out into the lobby, I keep my expression neutral. Cameron had told me to just act as I normally do, and that’s going to be the easiest part of this whole thing.
I didn’t book another appointment with Parker, so I don’t see him for the next three days. And those days pass in a numb blur of clients. For once, I’m thankful for them because I’m not working, I’m worrying about Jack.
