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“I need you to make this go away, I have too much riding on the Kensington deal.” He shows no remorse for the pain this will cause my mother if she finds out. “Make it disappear.”
This is our purpose. Unlike before when our great grandfathers outsourced, selecting high-end mercenaries to deal with shit like this, my father decided why not create our own mercenaries. The four of us had no idea what was expected of us, or that we would have to fight for our place as one of The Panel members.
Our fathers never had to pass some fucking test, but Alistair likes to take advantage of his role. Assert control to make himself feel important, although it only makes him weak in my eyes.
Taking my first life as a child traumatised me. Now I can’t think of doing anything else.
Deals by day. Death by night.
“Done.” If doing his dirty work allows me to leave here and return home, so be it. Avery is safe.
* * *
I stalkthrough my apartment with only one destination in mind. I throw my keys on the sideboard and drag my hand through my hair. The elders don't know about Avery, and the boys won’t say a damn word. We have spent the better part of the afternoon sorting out my father’s mess. Madison Henry is far from the kind of woman to be caught up in the filthy hands of my father. I have no doubt she was blackmailed into sleeping with him. We just need to find out who is blackmailing my father, and what my father has on Madison to dismantle this mess in the most efficient way possible, and clear the air before the Kensingtons get wind.
With Barclay’s position in the government, we need to be careful how we play this. The slightest slip up could come back to bite us on the arse, and we need Barclay to be able to keep playing his role. I hear a loud cry of frustration as I take the stairs, my smirk widening by an inch, but it’s soon chased away by a deep frown. Had I just taken what I wanted that day in the rain, I wouldn’t be left trying to shift through the shit I’m in now. Avery was attracted to me, there is no denying it, but now. Now she despises me.
Her roar of anger, followed by the low sobs of her cursing me as I shoved her into the spare room adjacent to mine earlier, still rings in my ears. She isn’t going to be easy to win over.
I enter my own room and turn my gaze to the long one-way mirror splitting our rooms apart. Avery is pacing the room and her eyes flick towards me. Yeah, I’m here, Bluebird. When this mirror was installed, it was for my own safety. Rubin would keep an eye on me after my grandfather passed away. He was the only father I ever wanted. Losing him left me soulless. I hit rock bottom, surfacing in a dark place, and I’m not entirely sure that place has truly left me.
For some time, I’ve wanted to remove the mirror. I’m fucking glad I didn’t now. I watch her moving about the room, chewing her thumbnail and flicking anxious eyes all over the place. Drawers are hanging open and the bed looks rumpled. She’s been looking for a way out. Wide ocean eyes lift, looking straight at me.
You, Avery Anderson, are sensational. I admire her jawline and high cheekbones. Her clothes are form fitting and I can truly see her figure without the barrier of her gym hoodie in the way.
I’ve never been a possessive man, but with her, the only word that springs to my mind is… mine.
I walk over, spreading my arms to lean and press my forehead against the mirror. Her uncertain gaze flits all over the frame. She lightly runs a delicate finger along the edging. I can’t remember a single moment in my life where I ever wanted anything as much as I want this woman. My heart thuds painfully in my chest as I draw in a deep breath before stepping back to press the button, allowing her to see not what, but who, has pulled her attention this way.
5
AVERY
It’s been hours.How long does he plan to keep me locked up in here?
I’ve screamed and cried, banged loudly on the window, overlooking the streets in a hope to gain someone’s attention. I’ve searched every inch for a way out, or something to help unlock the door, but other than a plastic comb which snapped under pressure, nothing has been of help. And what’s more is my eyes keep being drawn to the oversized mirror hanging horizontally across the far side of the room. It’s ornate and enormous. I can’t believe I cheated death for this? A different kind of sentence. I could, in fact, still die, and that scares me more than being locked in this room. I wish Simon had never asked me to go to get that damn file. How is this all connected to Jamieson?
I pace the room and like before, something has me searching the mirror, an invisible force pulling my gaze its way. I walk over, running a finger along the intricate design, and as I look up, the mirror vanishes. Jamieson is staring at me from another bedroom. Gasping, I stagger backwards.
Oh God, how long has he been there, watching me?
“Hello, Bluebird.”
“Stop calling me that!” My voice croaks, raw from crying.
“No.”
Biting my lip, I look away.
“I want to go home.”
“That's no longer an option.”
I know not to ask questions. He is in control, and I’m caged like the damn bird he keeps referring to me as. I’m guessing it has something to do with my name. How unoriginal. I swallow and brave looking back up at him. He is terrifyingly beautiful and I can’t work out whether it’s my physical reaction to this man or the fear of death that has me so scared. All I know is he said it would be hard for him to keep me alive. I want to stay alive, and if I don't, my DNA is all over this room. I made sure of it.
“Did you find a way to keep me alive?” I whisper, moving towards the mirror but stopping, scared it will disappear altogether and put me in the same room as him.
“Maybe.” He slides off his jacket, and turns, resting it over the back of a chair in his room. “Get some sleep.”
