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Slamming my hands on the steering wheel, I focused on breathing, needing to calm myself before I got home.
By the time I pulled into the garage, I was moderately more relaxed. Grabbing my belongings, I hurried into the building, eager to lay eyes on the beautiful girl waiting for me. Everything else was minuscule compared to the love I felt for her.
Taking the stairs, I used the energy coursing through me to climb them two by two. By the time I hit the eighth floor, I was breathing heavily, my heart pounding in my chest, but I felt more relaxed, ready to walk into my apartment and be the man I needed to be.
Unlocking the door, it creaked open, the barest of light greeting me. I placed the keys on the entry table, took off my shoes, and I crept toward the couch. The TV flickered some sappy movie, the volume low. Peeking over the sofa, my world righted itself. Brushing the hair off her face, I lost myself as I stared at her, reminding me what was at stake.
Camila Costa was a beauty who enchanted me to be reckless despite not asking for my help, but I’d been compelled to do so.
But I couldn’t do that again. Not at the risk ofher.
Four
CAMILA
“Cleo, can you help me or not?” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You make things so difficult. It makes me regret calling you.”
“Me? You’re the one that called, at an obscene time, mind you, asking for a favor when I haven’t spoken to you in five years. I regret answering your call more, especially since you can’t seem to call me by my name,” she mumbled, and I swallowed, realizing she wasn’t wrong.
“Fine. You’re right. It’s just… this is kind of life or death. Hence my urgency. Can you help me, please, Pixel?”
The line was quiet, and I pulled the phone back to see if she’d hung up. My fingers tapped nervously against the counter, and I knew my time was running out. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since I’d broken into Darren’s office, but I could feel my time expiring every second.
He’d find out, then kill me and everyone I loved.
The fear surged through me, and when I heard her groan, I pressed the phone harder to my ear, not wanting to miss anything.
“Ugh.” I could hear her eyes roll from here, and I smiled, remembering Pixel’s inability to say no, even though she constantly complained about it. “You’ll owe me like three favors,” she huffed.
“Worth it,” I said, inwardly sighing in relief. “Where do I send it?”
She rattled off a secure drive she had set up and a password I could use to sign into it. It made me feel infinitely better knowing it was this secure. Pixel had really upped her game from secret knocks and the burner phones she had at camp.
Once I hung up, I fell onto the couch, all the energy leaving me. I quickly signed into the site she’d given, moving the files off my phone. Instantly, I felt the weight lift off me, and I found myself breathing easier. At least that was taken care of. Time to discover what Darren was up to.
A poundingon the door had me bolting upright, the memory of how I found myself in this mess replaying in my mind. If only Pixel had found something sooner, maybe then I wouldn’t have been caught. Though, I couldn’t blame her. My recklessness had made me risk it all in the end.
The door opened, crashing against the wall, and Darren stormed in, anger radiating off him. Instantly, I tensed, moving back on the bed. He’d stayed true to his word and let me sleep in the bedroom. I’d wanted to refuse his kindness, but the bland bedroom was far better than a dark, dank cell.
He watched me recoil at his anger, a smile growing on his face. He grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet. “Your cousin is up to something. What did you tell him?”
“Nothing,” I whimpered, hating myself for cowering. I looked over his shoulder, hoping the friendly guard would be there, but he wasn’t. Instead, the one who liked to leer and grab at me stood silently, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. Spit landed on my face as Darren hissed, not accepting my answer.
“He’s enacted the brotherhood code. Do you know what that means, slut? Do you?” I shook my head, but it didn’t matter. He was manic and taking it out on me. “Oh, Big D will not be happy about this. I’m screwed. You told him something.” He shook me, and I cried out, my normal strength gone as I tried to stave off the dizziness. The tiny amount of food I’d gotten to eat over the week was catching up to me.
“I’m sorry, Dare. I never told Atticus anything, I swear.”
He sneered, tossing me back to the bed. It had been a week since the fight, and he’d gone to some function the other night. It was the only way I’d been able to keep track of time. At most, I had to guess I’d been here anywhere from three to four weeks. My finger throbbed, a dull ache at times, but the skin had closed over, a nasty scar now in its place. At least it no longer seemed to be infected. I’d been relieved when I’d woken up one morning last week to find rubbing alcohol, bandages, and antibiotics for me. I didn’t dare ask Darren if he’d left them, knowing he would’ve made me do something to earn the items.
Which meant it was my guardian angel guard. Even when I didn’t see him, I could feel his presence, smell him. It was nice to know someone was there, despite not knowing his name.
A slap to my face brought me back to the fact Darren was enraged. A laugh bubbled up in me, and while I should’ve regretted it, it felt right at the moment. My cheek stung, my finger throbbed, and my whole body ached, and as I watched the man I’d foolishly loved at one time stare down at me with disgust, I couldn’t help but smile.
“He’s getting to you,” I whispered, tasting blood on my lip. I watched as his fist raised, and I knew it would hurt, but I’d never felt so happy, even if I did black out.
* * *
Waking,I moaned out as the room came into view, and I blinked back the fog, the memories assaulting me. The punch he’d rendered had sent me into a blissful sleep. It was probably the best one I’d had since arriving here. My head ached, and everything was dizzy, but I didn’t care. It had been worth it to see him unraveling.
