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Madd:So our security footage and alarm system were both disabled internally. I assume by her. If I had to guess, she knew she was going to leave and she wanted to spend her last moments at home with Aiden.
Madd:I also think we need to consider the possibility that theyhave Spencer. He wouldn’t be MIA like this unless he was forced to.
I don’t reply. It’s the same conclusion I had come to about Spence. I just put my phone back in my pocket and try my damndest not to cry like a little baby. It would make sense…for her to have disabled it all herself. She’s a fucking tech genius. And if she had an inkling of Spencer being in trouble she would sacrifice herself.
The very idea that he used her brother to get to her has fury running through me. That’s when I started to really rip the house apart. I’ll find something…anything…that can lead me to her. I don’t give a shit if I have to break down the walls and rip up the fucking carpets. I will find something that leads us to her.
Chapter 21
Dakota
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" - Mary Anne Radmacher
My head is pounding like someone decided to use me as a soccer ball. There's this throbbing pain at the base of my skull that feels like it’s radiating all the way down my spine. My mouth feels like I swallowed glass, gritty and dry, while also having the distinct taste of vomit.Lovely.
It takes a couple of tries but I slowly am able to blink my eyes open. Only as soon as I do, I wish I hadn't. Spencer is tied to a metal chair across from me, his body smattered with cuts and bruises as his head hangs limply to the side. He looks worse than he did in the photo I received. Like the second they sent it they decided to go to town on him.
Slowly I start to remember everything that happened. The text messages, the decision to leave, and….Rodrigo. The man himself isn't in the room so I take a moment to gather myself. I willingly walked into the arms of my biggest nightmare. AndI can’t find it in me to regret it for a single second. My brother needs me…he needs to get out of here and get medical help.
I look around the room and try to figure out where we could be. It’s some kind of basement, all cement walls and flooring, with two metal chairs - one of which I am tied to. There's a table in the corner that houses some kind of torturous array of instruments. And there's only one faded yellow light that is hanging from above us.
This is obviously not a good place to be. The air even holds the sharp scent of bleach that barely covers up the metallic tang of blood. If I looked hard enough, I bet I could find blood stains on the floor. But that will likely just send me into a panic so I keep my focus on my unconscious brother.
“Spencer!” I hiss, wincing at the paint that crawls up my dry throat.
When he doesn't move, I start to worry even more. What if I did all of this only for Rodrigo to have killed him? It wouldn't shock me, the man is the fucking devil. But I still can't fathom the thought that Aiden will have no one. That I will have given up my life for Aiden to get a real chance only to leave him completely alone.
Again I call for him, this time louder and with more urgency, “Spencer! Please, wake up!”
Spence lets out a pain-filled groan that has relief flooding me. He’s fucking alive. Now I just need to get him out of here. I need to make sure he is safe. I need to get Rodrigo to fulfill his end of the bargain.
Spencer’s head lolls on his shoulders and he blinks around the room, confused and dazed until his gaze lands on me. I watch as a parade of emotions flies across his face - confusion, anger, fear, sadness, and then right back to anger.
“What. The. Fuck,” he seethes, his breathing becoming labored, “What are you doing here?”
My eyes slam shut and regret starts to burn inside me but I push it down. I don't care if he is mad. I don't care if he fucking hates me. My brother will live through this. He will be the one to walk away and get to Aiden, the only one who can keep my son safe. So if he needs to rage and be angry, then so be it. I made this decision and it was the right fucking one.
“How long has he had you?” I ask him, trying to avoid the obvious anger that is filling the air.
“Dakota, look at me,” he barks, his tone brokering on furious.
When I lift my eyes to my best friend, his gaze softens and tears fill his eyes. He's coming to terms with the fact that this will be one of his last memories with me. I can see all the thoughts and plans running through his head. All the hope he has at escape. I watch as it dwindles and fades the more he thinks about it. There will be no escape from this prison. He can hope and wish and pray all he wants but I will not be walking out of this room.
“Why?” He asks, his voice cracking at the end.
Instead of answering, I guard my words, not knowing if Rodrigo has cameras in here listening to us, “You know why.”
He nods and lowers his head with a dejected look. When he speaks, it's a low painful whisper, “I wish you wouldn't have come for me. I wanted to keep you safe.”
I give him a sad watery smile, “Yeah, but I needed to keep you safe.”
He lets out a humorless laugh that gets cut off by the sound of the metal door creaking open. Rodrigo is not what most would consider an ugly man. He’s tall and strong, even after years in prison he still has an air of authority to him. The only changes over the last decade are the shading of his hair, from dark black to salt and pepper, and the weathered look on his face.
He smiles at me, bordering on manic, “Aw little traitor! You’re awake. I’m so glad.”
I don't respond, just staring at him. I can't figure out how I feel right now. Part of me is screaming to run and flee, the panic I have gotten so accustomed to is trying to break through and take over. But the other part…the larger part is angry. I’m furious that this man is able to stand here and taunt me. That he has this power over me. Because at the end of the day, he’s fucking despicable and sad. He tortured and raped a tennage girl, and then went on to obsessively stalk her for nearly a decade. He’s rotten right down to his core and I don’t…want to be afraid of him anymore.
I don’t want to allow him to have that power.
