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Determined to uncover the truth, I head back to the library and then out into the hall. Not sure where to start looking, I decided to do the next best thing.
"Xavier!" I shout, clenching my fists as I stomp forward. "Antonio! Lucas!"
My voice only echoes back to me.
"Hey!" I scream, straining my voice. "I know you can fucking hear me, you lying bastards!"
15
MIA
As I continue shouting, my frustration and confusion mounting with each passing moment, a door creaks open nearby. Startled, I turn my head to see Lucas, bleary-eyed and disheveled, emerge from his room.
"What's going on? Why are you yelling?" Lucas asks, his concern evident in his voice. His brows knit together as he takes in my distressed state, scanning me from head to toe. "Are you hurt?"
"You lied to me," I accuse with venom dripping from every word. "I know that we aren't exactly best buddies but you all fucking lied to me!"
Lucas steps closer, his eyes filled with empathy. "Mia, calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down!" I shriek.
Lucas takes a step back, his expression a mixture of concern and surprise. "Mia, I'm sorry if—"
Before he can finish his sentence, the door to a nearby room swings open, revealing Antonio and Xavier standing there, wearing expressions of confusion and concern.
"What's going on? Why is everyone yelling?" Antonio asks, his voice laced with worry. Xavier's face mirrors a similar sentiment as he scans the hallway, taking in the tense atmosphere.
I turn to face them, my eyes narrowing in disbelief. "You two! Where the hell have you been?" I demand, my voice quivering with anger and hurt.
Antonio's brow furrows, and he steps forward reluctantly. "Mia, we didn't mean to—"
"Save it!" I interrupt, my frustration boiling over. "Is it true?!"
Xavier stares at me, his gaze steady and unyielding. "What are you talking about?" he demands, clearly growing impatient.
"You're part of the mafia! Aren't you? Tell me it's not true!" I shout, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
The silence that follows is deafening as all four of us stand in a motionless standoff while my words hang heavy in the air around us. Xavier stands completely still for what feels like eternity before finally breaking into a resigned sigh—the realization slowly dawning on him that there was no use denying it any longer.
"Yes," he admits.
Antonio jumps in, inching toward me. "But it's not what you think," he insists.
Tears prick in the corner of my eyes. I know it's ridiculous, that we haven't known each other long enough for me to feel so betrayed, but I can't help it. I feel connected to them, to each of them, no matter how crazy it sounds. And, right now, I can feel my heart breaking.
"Really?" I demand. "It's not what I think? You don't make a fortune trafficking drugs? You don't cover up murders?"
Xavier strides forward, grabbing my arm. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about," he says sternly, gazing intently into my eyes.
"I know exactly what I'm talking about!" I snap.
As we stare at each other for a few more seconds without saying anything further, Antonio finally breaks through our standoff by speaking quietly but firmly, "Okay, maybe it is what you think. But you honestly can't fault us for not telling a complete stranger our deep dark secrets, Mia."
I scoff in disbelief. "We're not quite strangers, though, are we? Considering two of you have fucked me."
The space goes silent for what feels like an eternity before Antonio and Xavier burst into wild laughter while Lucas simply chuckles softly in stunned surprise from behind them—clearly taken aback but unable to look away from the scene playing out before him either way.
"It's not funny!" I snap, sobering them up. "Do you not care about me? Do you not understand how dangerous what you do is?"
