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Chapter 31: Sienna
Ican’tbelievethisis happening to me. I’ve been in this small white room with blaring lights for what seems like twenty-four hours.
My eyes are scratchy and keep fluttering closed. I have to force them wide just to stay awake. My father…no, Bram and Jack just watched, the same with Max. He had this odd expression on his face but he didn’t move a muscle. He watched me like he does with his textbooks, with hyperfocus and intrigue.
Picture after picture they have shown me, including the so-called bear attack from back in that beach town. It took me an hour to figure out what this all was. I scoff at myself.
And I thought I was smart.
Maximus Mancini does not just kill people, he does it for sport. As in, he’s a serial killer. It’s not just one or two bodies he’s dumped for the mafia. I let a serial killer’s hands, which have been bloodiedsomany times, touch me.Worshipme. I allowed myself to fall for a man who enjoys hurting others and now he’s framing me as the killer.
I guess the joke was on me when I took his knife. The knife now in a plastic bag that will be used as evidence.
They keep bombarding me with questions I don’t know a single answer to, flinging more pictures and accusations at me. I’m too overwhelmed. It’s not like they give me time to think or answer anything in detail.
Each time I tell them it’s not me, they have the wrong person, or no…they go off again. They don’t ask who I think it is. They aren’t looking for the real killer;, they just need a face to pin the crime on so they can pat themselves on the back for a job well done. They want to continue on with their little lives at home, tell everyone what a great job they’re doing at keeping the streets safe. I can feel my bitterness ooze out of my pores.
“I’m not a killer,” I repeat for I don’t remember how many times.
A new cop enters and says something in the other officer’s ear. They look at me and the new cop sits down. “Your knife has the DNA of the bear victim on it.”
I already figured it wasn’t clean. I would bet Max knew I had it the entire time. How long had he been planning this?
“You’re not shocked.” He states the obvious.
I’m too tired to fake anything at this point. “I just want to go to sleep.” I lay my head down, my eyes closing because they’re too heavy to stay up.
“Tell us the truth and you can sleep.” The voice is smooth and calm, like a lullaby.
“I didn’t do it, but if it means I can sleep, sure. I’m your person. You got me.” My voice is sluggish, muffled by my head resting on my arms as I hope for sleep to come. My eyes hurt too much to open them again.
I’m pulled up, my feet move with the motion, but I’m too tired to open my eyes to take note of what’s happening. I just pray it’s sleep.
Chapter 32: Max
Elliot’sjournalsareanomnibus of my life’s work. Seeing everything he had was like I was seeing my life from the outside in. He’s begging me to tell him everything for his book. I think I might actually do it. It would feel good to talk to someone about it. No more hiding, no more secrets.
I close Elliot’s door behind me, looking forward to saving Sienna. The sick and twisted part of this is that I can’t wait to see her face when she sees me confess and save her. I finally get to be her savior.
I whistle as I walk down the dark street toward my car. The sound of footsteps has me turning as something is placed over my head. My arms are tied together and I’m lifted off my feet. Each of my limbs convulse in an effort to escape and I’m tossed onto a hard surface.
“Relax, Max, it’s us.” The cloth over my head is pulled and I stare at my brothers Romeo, Dante, and Savio.
“What the fuck!” I yell, trying to get to my feet, but I’m pushed back down by Savio.
“We can’t let you do it,” Romeo says, shaking his head. “We need you.”
“Do what?” I feign ignorance.
All of them give me the look. “We’ve been watching you. We saw Sienna get arrested and we can’t let you save her.”
I turn toward Dante. “You’re going to let Sienna rot in prison?” I accuse.
“All of you shut the fuck up!” Romeo hollers, pointing to me. “If you say another word, I’m going to sew your mouth shut.”
I open my mouth and Savio hits me upside the head, causing my world to grow dark.
IwakeupinDante’s basement, handcuffed to a table. My eyes slowly blink and my hand reaches to touch the bump on my head but my hands are constricted.
