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By the time we reach the cell Julie is in, I’m paralyzed by sadness. Still, as soon as the cell door is opened and we enter, I tug my hand free of Markus’s. I’m tempted to rush toward her still body, that’s nothing more than a heap in the corner of the cell, but one look from Markus has me stopping in my tracks.
“Like I said, she’s been thoroughly used. However, if you want her, she’s yours. We don’t usually do business like this, but I’m making an exception; the Moretti family has helped us a lot, after all.”
I want to cut this man’s tongue out of his mouth and feed it to him. The way he talks of Julie like she is nothing more than a piece of meat, and not a living, breathing, human with feelings. Markus takes a few steps toward her, and she doesn’t even react.
Her face is tucked into her chest, and her body is nothing but bruised skin and bones. It’s obvious they’ve been starving her and raping her repeatedly.
It isn’t until I blink and feel wetness against my cheeks that I realize I’ve started to cry.
“I’ll take her,” Markus says, and I want to hug him.
He saved her. He rescued her even when he didn’t have to. He went against everything he’s been claiming and showed me a sliver of the human he really is.
Both elation and sadness encompass me in a tight hold. Even after doing this, I will still have to betray him. No matter what feelings I’ve developed or how much kindness he shows me, my sister must come first. I came here to save my sister, and that’s all that matters. Rescuing Julie might have brought us closer, but none of that will matter when I find what I need to save my sister.30MarkusPlacing the beaten girl carefully on the backseat, I try to ignore Fallon’s continual questions.
“What did they do to her? How could they? Who are these people, and why did they not get her any help when she so obviously needs it?”
“Get in the other side and hold her head in your lap,” I order, instead of answering her questions, and thank fuck, Fallon listens for once. She climbs into the backseat, carefully lifts the girl’s head, and cradles it gently in her lap.
I get into the driver’s seat and start the car, wasting no time in getting the fuck out of here. We’re lucky we got out without there being a scene. Tony isn’t usually as understanding as he was today.
“Where is the closest hospital,” Fallon asks as I pull out of the empty parking lot.
“We can’t take her to a hospital—”
“What? You have to be kidding me. We have to. Do you not see how badly hurt she is? If we don’t, then this will have all been for nothing. She’ll die without a doctor.” I hate to tell her, but that’s what was going to happen to her anyway. I hit the gas and drive back toward the interstate. Every piece of my plan has been put into place. Now I have to see if Fallon falls into line as well.
“I guess you’re holding her life in your hands then.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I grip the wheel hard. “Give me the number, Fallon. Give it to me, and I’ll get her help. I’ll have the best doctor in town come to the apartment.”
Fallon snorts. “You’re joking…”
I catch her shocked gaze in the rearview mirror. “Nope, that’s the deal.”
“Do you even know what you are asking? You want me to choose between Julie’s life and my sister’s.” She shakes her head, looking utterly defeated, and I hate myself for doing this to her, but it’s the only way. She’s too stubborn to put her trust in me. It’s either I force her or nothing.
“Either way, I’ll be responsible for someone’s death.”
“I’m asking you to trust me, Fallon. Save Julie’s life, so I can save your sister’s.”
I can see the turmoil she’s going through; it’s etched into the contours of her face. She’s conflicted, scared, but most of all, she doesn’t trust me.
“Markus, please, don’t do this.” Her voice is shaky and full of emotion, like she is about to cry. “Don’t make me choose. I can’t choose. I can’t.”
“It’s not a choice, you can save them both. All you have to do is give me the number.” My voice takes on a gentle tone, a tone that I’ve never used, not even once in my life.
Silence stretches between us for so long, I’m worried she might actually refuse. If she does, I’m not sure what I’ll do. I guess my next resort will be threatening Julie as fucking shit as that sounds.
“Fine, I’ll give it to you, but you have to promise… promise you’ll help me save both of them. I don’t care what happens to me when this is over, but I want both of them to be safe.”
