Page 10 of The Unravelings

“Be in touch?” Simon asks hopefully, batting his eyelashes. “Oli and I are in, right?” He grins, reminding me of the question he asked not too long ago.

They want in on our initiations. But why? Even more reason to keep her on my radar.

“Uh, yeah. We’ll be in touch about that. You and Oli.” A plan forms in my mind to keep her in my sights. I may not know where she is right now. But I’ll find her and get the answers to all my questions.

Simon grins more, pulling out his phone when it buzzes. He groans to himself, tossing his head back. “Gotta take this. You’ll see yourself out?” he asks, motioning for the front door.

I nod, keeping my eyes on him as he wanders into their shared living space and sits on the couch. “Mom,” he says into the phone with a tired sigh, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling.

Peering around the room, I take in Olivia’s space. The place she’s carved out to be her own while she’s here. For a short time? No clue. All I know is, before she leaves town again, I’ll find out why she came back. And how. There’s a story there. A tale I’m desperate to hear. Even if I have to tie her to my bed and force the words from her mouth.

Excitement rushes through me at the thought of forcing answers from her. By any means possible. But more so, to have her in my space again. I need to get my greedy hands on her and figure this all out. Especially before Mack finds out. Fuck. I nearly flinch back at the thought of telling him she’s alive. His look of despair flashes through my mind from the day we found out.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Mack asks, jumping from his seat. “What did you say?” He gasps this time, earning a glare from Franco, who rounds his desk with his features forming into a mask of fury.

“Settle, Boy,” Franco hisses, jabbing a finger into his chest. “Sit the fuck down and remember who you’re speaking to.”

My heart beats out of control, the entire room spinning when he says the words again. Ringing forms in my ears.

“Olivia, Espie, and Sophia died last night,” he states matter-of-factly, like the news wouldn’t bother us in the least.

“Dead?” I breathe. “No, they—” I shake my head in disbelief. I saw her. Right before we left for Vegas on Franco’s orders. I told her I loved her. I kissed her soft lips. This can’t be real.

“How? What?” I suck in several breaths, attempting to keep the tears at bay. Crying in front of Franco is never a good idea. He’s the most powerful man in a hundred-mile radius. Emotions are not tolerated here.

“Yes, it’s unfortunate,” he says, waving a hand dismissively. Like Olivia wasn’t everything to us. “Untimely. They were good people,” he says with a shrug, abandoning Mack to retake a seat behind his desk. Those dark, assessing eyes take each of us in, memorizing our expressions.

Like he gets joy from the stunned looks on our faces that we can’t hide from him.

“How did it happen?” Hux asks, keeping his gaze forward. A tic forms in his jaw, continuously bouncing his muscles as his eyes slightly droop.

I side-eye Hux. Is this why he had to leave Vegas before us and come home?

“Electrical fire. I’ve been telling Raph to fucking fix it for months now. But he hasn’t listened.” For the first time since he called us into his office, he shows a grain of emotion, spitting Raph’s name like he stabbed him in the back.

“When?” Mack grits out, balling his fists at his sides.

“Last night while you were away.” He raises a brow at the three of us, checking our expressions. If he looks close enough, he’ll see the tears burning my eyes and the redness of Mack’s face. “The funeral is set for five days from now. They’re still recovering the bodies. Or what is left of them.” He peers down at sheets of paper on his desk and sighs. “I’m terribly sorry for what you boys lost. It’s a shame it happened while they were sleeping. Such a damn shame.” He clicks his tongue a few times.

Despair takes hold of Mack, and his features twist before he leaves the room in a rush. Only I witness the silent tears streaming down his cheeks at the callous news of our girlfriend’s death.

Her death.

The words ring in my mind repeatedly. Olivia died. Electrical fire. Sophia, her sister. Espie, her mother. The woman who smiled timidly at us every time we came to visit, but only while her husband was away.

Words erupt in my throat, desperate to scream them in Franco’s unmoving face. He doesn’t care. Not now. Not ever. They were pawns in his game. People to use to help him grow his business.

And now they’re gone? Just like that? One day here and the next, poof—out of existence.

I squeeze my eyes closed, taking several breaths to calm myself down. This can’t be happening. She can’t be gone. It’s impossible. I’d feel it, right? I’d feel the moment as my heart shattered and the other half of my soul split from this earth. Right? Even from miles and hours away.

I rub my chest where an ache forms over my frantic heart. Hux holds on to his emotions better than I do. Sitting stoically and eyeing Franco’s reactions.

Maybe he doesn’t believe she’s dead either. Maybe this is all a trick to prove our loyalties.

Franco stares at the door with a blank expression. “Your run in Vegas went as planned.” And as simple as that, we’re down to business. It’s the entire reason we were summoned into his office so bright and early in the morning. Business. And Olivia’s death? Just another task on the calendar to discuss.

Fuck. My soul bleeds from the inside out.