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It’s almost like she’s preparing me in case we don’t find Tori, but I refuse to let that thought take root in my mind. We will find her, she’s going to be okay, and Titan will die. Anything short of that is not an option I’m willing to entertain.
We make it across the bedroom and to the bathroom. I don’t know if that was an intentional direction, but now that I can see the toilet, I’m thankful we’re close.
“I need to pee,” I announce with a chuckle. “And you’re going to have to help me sit on the toilet.”
She laughs alongside me. “As long as you don’t ask me to wipe your ass, then we’re good.”
Even as my legs shake and my head sweats, I can’t help feeling thankful for her friendship, especially in this moment. “You know you would if I really needed it.”
She sighs but can’t hide her smirk from me as she says, “Let’s not find out, okay?”
“Deal.”
As soon as I’m seated on the toilet, my phone starts to ring, and I swear my heart is seconds from breaking out of my chest because of it.
Justine leaves my side and rushes to answer. I can’t hear what’s being said as I move quickly to finish my business and flush, but when she re-enters the bathroom, she’s holding the phone out. “It’s Luca. He has some questions.”
Fuck. I hoped he’d have good news, not more questions.
I take the phone and place it on speaker, so Justine can listen and I won’t have to repeat the conversation later.
“Luca?”
“We found the house you were kept at,” he says, voice neutral. “I went to the basement and the place has been scrubbed clean. I can smell the bleach.”
Damn it. Why couldn’t Titan be a cocky piece of shit who just stayed in one place?
“What can I do to help?” I ask, my desperation surfacing.
“Tell me more about your time here,” he says. “Were the lights on? Did they bring you food at the same time each day? Did you see anything when they took you to the bathroom?”
Telling Luca that I pissed and shit near the door just to annoy them isn’t something I feel particularly comfortable with, so I avoid that question.
“The lights were on when I was alone and when Titan came in,” I say, “but when anyone else would enter, they turned off. I think there were only two, maybe three others that came to…visit me. I never really saw their faces, though.”
“How did you know they were different?” I hear Jaxon’s voice ask.
“Because their beatings varied. One not as harsh as the others. I assume the stranger who helped me,” I answer and can clearly picture the fury on Luca’s face as a rumble echoes through the phone.
“Did Titan tell you anything to try and sway you?” Luca asks after a few seconds of silence. “Anything that would tell you what his plans were?”
I frown, hating that I can’t be more helpful. “He only talked about what a terrible person you were and told me that you knew I was his daughter. That you’ve been using me this whole time to get to him. When I didn’t believe him, he called me a whore and the beatings began. Anytime I saw him after that, he only asked one question: ‘Have you changed your mind?’ When I refused to answer, he retaliated.”
“I can’t wait to fucking kill him once and for all. I’m going to—” Luca cuts himself off as if attempting to hide his rage from me. It’s not necessary and I start to tell him that, but he talks over me. “Thanks, Raven. We’ll call back after we go to a couple hospitals.”
“Do you think you found the guy I stabbed?” I ask, trying not to get too hopeful.
“A few potentials,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s optimistic about the leads or not. “I need to go. I’ll call soon.”
The call ends, and I look up at Justine from my spot still on the toilet. “This fucking sucks.”
“It does, but we’re doing everything we can, and if Tori is anything like you, then she’s going to be just fine,” Justine promises, but what she doesn’t know is that my best friend is my complete opposite.
She’s kind and soft and compassionate. Most of all, she’s been thrown into this situation blind, giving Titan the perfect opportunity to manipulate her and use her against me.
I’ve never despised anyone more than I do him, but that rage is the strength I need to keep going. I didn’t give up on myself, and I sure as hell won’t give up on Tori.
13
