5. Chapter 5 - Layrin
Chapter 5
H e led me to the back door of the building, which seemed normal until you were up close. The steel frame was heavily fortified, covering the hinges and the seam to make it impenetrable to even the air around it. The door handle had an odd shape, something I’d never seen. Rion had to grip it with his hands in a certain way, his thumb wrapping around to the back. In seconds, a beep sounded, then the door opened without him pushing or pulling it.
There was no light when I looked in, and I hesitated to go forward. My skin pebbled, the feeling that something horrible might happen crawled all over me, setting my instincts into hyperdrive. Rion gave my arm a small squeeze.
“I got you.”
His low words had my feelings inside of me warring. One side wanted to rebel, to tell him off, while the other wanted to sink into his side and let the warmth and protection of his words wash over me. Shaking my head to clear it, I nodded. This wasn't the time for feelings, it was the time to survive. Standing straighter, I took a step forward into the darkness.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, a steel-lined hallway lit up our path. Even with this hallway being devoid of any extras, of any life, I already felt eyes on us, watching and waiting. I couldn't help but move just a bit closer to Rion, preferring his stoic attitude to their probing gaze.
It didn't take long for us to come to a large square room with an imposing black metal desk in the center. I didn't see a door or another hallway, and when I turned to ask Rion what was next, a holographic image popped up in front of us. It was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and unnaturally blue eyes.
“Identification.”
Letting go of Rion so I could step closer, I scrutinized the image, fascinated with the level of technology in front of me.
Rion sharp tone answered, “A49820X56ZAA3.”
Turning, I raised a brow at him, but he simply raised a brow back at me, almost in a challenge.
“Accepted. Welcome, R. Ambros.” The hologram turned to me and scanned me next, making me back up a few steps. “Identification.”
Panic began to set in as I had no idea what to say, but Rion cut in. “Guest. Layrin Smith.”
The computer lady looked like she was frozen for a second. She was so life-like before that, so her sudden stillness was unnerving. Did we break her?
“Access accepted by the council.” As soon as those words came out, one of the walls slid down to reveal an elevator.
Rion guided me toward the elevator without a peep. I took his cue and kept silent myself, but when I noticed the elevator had no buttons, I realized it was all run by that computer lady. “What happens if she malfunctions?”
“The heads of the families know a manual way to take over in case of emergencies, but I highly doubt that would happen. Rebecka is a highly trained AI program who has done her own maintenance and upgrades for the past twenty years.”
I didn't realize I’d asked my question out loud, but his answer was impressive, while also being scary because this meant they’d had this technology for a while. In the real world, AI had just become a possibility.
The swish of the elevator door was the only warning I got before it opened, and the abrupt motion made me jump. Usually, you could feel an elevator stop or jerk a bit if it was old, but not this one. It was silent, cloud-like. It felt like I had been standing in the same place the entire time.
Rion’s lip quivered like he wanted to smile. Instead, he put his arm out for me to take.
We left the elevator for another hallway that was filled with doors. There were no signs or labels to tell you where to go, you just had to know. That made this place feel more maze-like than anything, which I was guessing was the point. Everything looked the same: steel walls, steel light fixtures, and steel doors that looked like vaults, making me think that once you went in, you couldn’t get out.
As we reached the end of the hallway, one of the doors opened. Mrs. Ricci came out in red stilettos, navy wide-legged pants, and a silky, sleeveless white top that looked expensive. Her dark locks were pulled into a tight high ponytail, not a strand out of place. She gave off boss bitch elegance at its finest. Her beauty was breathtaking, and it blew my mind that this woman had grown children when she didn’t look older than thirty five. Two bulky men with sunglasses and the nondescript black shirt and pants combo came out behind her, standing next to her like they were prepared for anything. As soon as I saw them, dread filled my gut. My instincts knew something was off.
Glancing at Rion through my peripherals, I saw the solid line of his normally impassive lips turn down just a fraction, telling me he wasn’t pleased with our greeters either.
Her dark eyes scanned the two of us, her probing narrowed gaze lingering for a moment on our linked arms. “We will take it from here, Mr. Ambros. You can wait in the sun room.”
She flicked her hand toward the door we were standing next to, and his arm clenched tight around mine. “I’m here to escort her to the council, so I will stay with my charge. Who knows if she will actually make it in front of them if I hand her over to you.” It was blatant antagonism, and my eyes shifted from him to her, waiting to see who was going to win this match of wills.
Her ruby red lips lifted into a sinister smile. “The text told you to bring her here, and you did. Past this point is for the heads of the family only, and if memory serves me correctly, you have yet to claim that title.”
His left eye twitched at her comment, but he closed them. A dangerously calm aura took over him before he opened his eyes. “That's only a formality, and you know it.”
She shrugged, and the men behind her moved into a fighting position. “Rules are rules, Ambros. You would think you learned that already.” She motioned with her chin, and the two guards stepped toward us.
Rion let go of my arm and pushed me behind him. His chin jutted out as he loudly and confidently staked his claim. “This woman is my externus . You will not touch her.”
Peeking over his shoulder, I could see her lips purse. I guessed he was right about them having some rules that even the top dogs needed to follow.
The two thugs coming our way turned to look at her. She nodded as she called out, “That will be discussed at another time. You do have my word that we are not going to harm her. She will come back unscathed.”
Rion backed up a step, taking a wider stance as he cracked his knuckles, watching the two guards advance. “That's not good enough.”
One guard lunged for him, but he dodged his attack while blocking the other's with his forearm. He did a spinning kick, taking down one of the guys with a thud while the other got to his feet and went for Rion’s legs.
I wanted to help him, fight with him, let him know that he wasn’t doing this alone. Even if we were currently arguing with each other, I had faith in him to keep me safe.
Going to his side, I waited for a moment where I could pop in and help, but it was too late. We had focused on the wrong threat. In the blink of an eye, he gasped, then his whole body seized up.
He growled at Mrs. Ricci, all of his anger shown on his face as he yanked a long, thin needle from the side of his neck. He crashed to his knees, still glaring up at her while I had my hands hovering over him, at a loss as to how I could help him.
The clicking of her stilettos came closer, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. His breathing came out in a hiss, his skin growing pale as the veins in his arms popped out. I swung my head toward her and spat, “What did you do to him?”
She crouched down, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m mildly impressed you have kept conscious this long.” She raised her hand at him, and my body moved into action before my mind caught up. I smacked her hand away, needing her to know that she wasn’t allowed to touch him in my presence.
Her lips quivered, eyes bouncing between the two of us as he took another ragged breath. After a moment, she chose to focus on him, eyes hard. “I do not make empty threats or promises, boy. She will not be harmed, but this is something we need to do.”
She got up, a hand extended toward me. “Come. The sooner we get this done, the sooner all of this will be figured out.”
I noticed that she didn’t promise I would be able to leave with him, or that I would be leaving this place at all, but the look in her eyes was dark and unyielding. My insides were telling me not to go, to stay with Rion, but given the position we were now in, the only thing that made sense was to go with her. I needed to find out what these people wanted from me. At the very least, she had promised I wouldn't die.
Her jaw tightened as I thought about what to do. I could tell she was at the end of her patience, and I wouldn't put it past her to force me to come with her, especially with Rion in the state he was in.
Making my decision, I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze with a tight smile. “I’ll see you soon.” He grunted at my words, throwing his body forward, his eyes looking up at me, pleading with me to stay with him, to not leave his sight.
Her sharp, clipped tone echoed through the metal hallway. “Let’s go, Miss Smith.”
Straightening my shoulders, I took a step back to follow her, silently telling him that I was going to survive and not to worry. He let out another pained moan, but I closed my eyes and turned away. I didn't have the time or luxury to keep this going. If these people were higher up in the hierarchy than the Ambros boys, then I needed to face them with my head up high even though my bones quaked with uncertainty.
The click of the door closing behind me shook me. My last defense was on the other side of the door, so it was only me now.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. The sedative should’ve knocked him out, but he’s being stubborn.” The flippant humor in her tone spoke to the nature of casual violence, pain, and death in this group. I needed to match that energy if I was going to survive.
She guided me through a long corridor with high ceilings and sparse black furniture placed along the left wall. What was really impressive about this space was the right side. There were rows and rows of massive screens that looked like windows showing off different cities around the world.
One of them had an aerial shot of what looked like a tall glass tower with a city around it. In the bottom left hand corner, it said, “Shanghai, China.” She kept an impressively brisk pace for being in heels, so I had to read the bottoms as fast as I could. Moscow, Rome, Tokyo, Stockholm, Madrid. The screens went on and on.
“We like to keep a pulse on what's going on in the major cities at all times. It's always best to have eyes and ears everywhere.” Her smile was well crafted, trying to put me at ease, to get me to trust her, but I'd seen con artists throughout my life. I wasn’t so easily fooled.
“What do you want from me?” I chose to take the honest route, like Rion had instructed, to see where it took me. I highly doubted I would get a real answer, but when her smile wavered, then finally fell with a sigh, I was intrigued.
She motioned for us to keep walking as we were almost to the end of the room where a set of double doors waited before us. “It depends.”
“Depends?”
Her eyes slid to mine, reminding me of a snake resting in the grass before it struck. We got to the doors, and with her hand on the door handle, she turned to me. “Yes. It depends on who you really are.”
She pushed the doors open and quickly walked through them into a large circular room. I was left wide mouthed due to not only the room, but her answer, which made me even more confused as to what they wanted from me. I was just Layrin Smith, the orphan from a small town in Virginia. What could they possibly want from me?
I watched her go to the left side and climb up a set of stairs to a circular row of seating that surrounded the ground-level platform. Five people were already waiting on the upper level, looking down at me, their faces concealed by the darkness. It reminded me of those old-timey cartoons where someone was sent to Hell. The Devil was always seated way up high while someone awaited their sentence down below, loomed over by their judge, jury, and executioner.
This set-up was made to make you seem small and insignificant, but the joke was on them. I already felt that way on a daily basis.
Judgmental whispers floated across the room, five sets of eyes watching me as they talked amongst themselves until Mrs. Ricci sat in her seat and addressed me. “Layrin Smith, we here at the council have a few questions for you. Once you answer them, we will let you know the outcome and what will happen next.” Remembering what Rion had said about lie detectors, I rubbed my sweaty palms on my clothes and tried to covertly look around, seeing only one red dot in the far left corner. I tried not to take too much comfort in that. With how advanced Foedus’ technology seemed so far, I was sure their system was more complex than just a single camera.
I took a breath, nodding for her to continue because I wasn't quite ready to use my voice, fearful that it would come out shaky and make me seem untruthful.
“Where were you born?” The voice came from my left, so I turned to look at the shadow person that spoke.
“Mintsburg, Virginia.” I tried to keep it short and sweet, only answering what they asked.
“Where did you grow up?” a smooth, cultured voice asked from my right.
“Same place.”
There was a puff of a laugh before the same voice asked, “What was your home life like?”
Well, they were sure getting personal. I lifted my chin, refusing to feel intimidated by these rich assholes. “I was in an orphanage from birth, left the orphanage when I was eighteen.” I decided to change my strategy, hoping to get ahead of a few of these probing questions. “The government checks stopped coming, so I got a job a few towns over in a diner.”
A snooty male voice scoffed. “Did you at least have any honors classes or learn extra skills in high school?”
I took a breath, not letting his attitude affect me. “I took a few AP courses, but that doesn't really amount to much in the real world. No one regularly asks me to do calculus or recite Shakespeare for them.”
The acoustics in this room was great because I could hear his pompous voice say under his breath, “At least she's not a complete idiot.”
A woman’s voice drifted down, holding a hint of kindness that marked her as different from the others. “It says on your application that you’re already twenty-one years of age, yet you are only a beginning freshman at Messores. Why didn't you go to college when you graduated high school?”
The fighter in me reared its head as I mashed my teeth together. It wasn't something I was proud of, obviously. I knew that was the path normal people took, but when you were poor and starving, all you could think about was your next meal, not about how you should be getting a higher education. Sweet old Mel was the only one who had ever pushed me to do any of that.
“At the time, getting money to fill my belly was more important than filling my mind.” I bit my tongue, mentally chastising myself for the slice of attitude I’d added to my answer.
The room was quiet for a second before Mrs. Ricci asked, “Then how did you end up here?”
My blood froze as I realized we didn’t talk about what I should say if that was brought up. I now knew that the guys had tricked me into coming here, and I was nervous that if I said anything else, the lie detectors that they had would pick it up.
Rion’s voice floated through my head. It all depends on how you think about their question and rationalize it. Rationalize it. Okay. Keep it short and simple. Stick to the facts.
Taking a breath, I answered her. “I received a scholarship to come here. It was like a dream come true.”
The room buzzed with low voices at that, but I kept my hands clasped together at my front, hoping none of the computers or videos would notice the sweat that was dripping between my palms.
“Shhhh. Not now. That's not important,” I heard Mrs. Ricci scold someone before she turned the conversation to me. “About your necklace. When you were taken by my children, you had a necklace with a solid gold triangle with an inverted thorny rose in the center. Where did you get it?”
My fingers ran up my shirt and pulled out the necklace from underneath, letting it hit my chest. “This was on me when the lady who ran the orphanage found me in the forest in her backyard.”
Their collective silence was defining. This was some major piece to the puzzle, but I didn't understand it. It seemed like forever had passed in silence before Mrs. Ricci’s voice rang out.
“I call for her to be tested. Everyone who agrees say aye.” Tested? Tested for what?
While their faces were hidden in darkness, I could still make out five raised shapes as a collection of voices called out “Aye.”
“Well, the ayes have it.” Three quick claps sounded, then the light in the room went up, blinding me in the process.
My head whipped around when I heard footsteps coming toward me before my eyes adjusted. I could make out a large shape coming closer even though I put my hand up, then a set of what felt like iron pipes wrapped around me.
My intuition kicked in, and I kicked at the legs of the man who was holding me. As my heel connected with his calf, he grunted out his pain. I wiggled some more, trying to find my opening to get free. By the time my eyes fully adjusted, a short man with thick-rimmed glasses was coming my way.
Mrs. Ricci tried to reason with me. “Miss Smith, we need to take a blood sample.”
Blood sample? What the fuck did they want with my blood ? Whatever it was, I was sure it wasn't to save the world, and that was the only reason I would give my blood without a fight.
My pulse beat harder the closer the glasses guy got, then he pulled out the syringe and I went into survival mode. Smashing my head back, I hit the guy who was holding me down in the face. I positioned my leg between his and tried to kick back, hoping that I would hit his dick, but a thigh shot would do too.
“Just fucking stab her!” the man behind me bellowed, and the glasses guy scurried closer.
I tried to use all my muscles, all my might, to get out of this situation, but as soon as I felt that prick in my arm, I knew they had gotten what they wanted. My face scrunched up in defeat as my audience's eyes laughed at my struggle.
The only good thing I could say was that the glasses guy was quick.
As soon as he shook the blood-filled vial around, my captor released me, and I fell on my ass. I immediately turned around, glaring up at the guy who looked like a carbon copy of the two guards who had taken Rion took out. Blood was running down his nose, and I winked as he wiped it away. It was the only win I could claim.
My hand absently rubbed at my bruised butt to try to ease the ache until I caught the bastard smirking at me. I knew he had done that shit on purpose.
“The test is positive, Madam Chair.”
I flinched, so engrossed in my staring contest that only his words had reminded me what I was here for. All six of the people came down from their lofty seats to circle around me.
Now that they were up close and personal, I could finally get a good look at these council members, and I hated to say it, but they were impressive human specimens.
Mrs. Ricci crouched down, smiling at me again, but this time her eyes matched her smile. “Layrin, you are the missing piece, the last heir of the Rose family.”
My stomach dropped, and my mouth opened and closed like I was gasping for air. I had no idea what to say to that . Everything inside of me told me to run, to get away from these people, that I wasn't strong enough to handle them. There was no way that I was some last descendant of a fancy rich killer family. Someone would’ve come looking for me. They were wrong. Their test was wrong.
“She will need training.” I looked up to see a stunning mahogany-skinned man with piercing eyes and strong cheekbones. He looked like a model in his three-button navy suit and salmon-colored pocket square.
“Yes, but that means we’ll need to postpone the naming ceremony.” I remembered the soft feminine voice and turned to see a set of mesmerizing almond-shaped eyes and long, silky black hair. She was wearing a navy and gold-flowered cocktail dress that pinched at the waist and had long overly large sleeves. It reminded me of a kimono, but it had been altered to look more modern.
A man stepped forward, with dark trimmed hair and facial hair and sparkling honey brown eyes. I knew this was the mold they used when they called a man a lady killer. A Spanish inflection colored his words. “And who knew that Ambros was going to bring back the family member that would take half his territory.”
“Now, now. Let's not get hasty. We don't even know if the girl is a fit for us. Even with the Rose blood, she might be useless.” My eyes flicked to the nasty, annoyed voice, finding it belonged to a man with crystal blue eyes and golden hair that looked like a halo. All of those beautiful features were going to waste because the windows to his soul revealed his vile nature. This man was not one to be fucked with, and from what the other man had said, I could guess that this was the boys’ uncle.
There was one other person in the back, the unnaturally tall man silently observing everything from his casual position against the wall. In a loose linen shirt and slacks, he had a less formal air than the others. His eyes bounced around as if he were cataloging everyone’s reactions, including mine.
One thing was for sure as I looked around at all these people; their faces spoke volumes of their ravenous hunger for power. Intrigued by me, they tilted their heads like they were trying to figure out how this additional piece was going to be placed on the game board. Before me were the most dangerous strategists and most brutal of masters, and I was now in their sights. Shit.
“The test. She will need to pass the test, and if she does, then she can attend the naming ceremony and become the new head of the Rose family.” Mrs. Ricci grabbed my hand and pulled me up with her. I was still on information overload, so I didn’t pull away. “All who agree, show your hand.”
One by one, they all raised their hands until it got to the boys’ uncle. He sneered at me before raising his hand and saying aye in the most bored fashion possible.
Mrs. Ricci turned back to me. “We will have you training for the next three months, then you will take the test. Once your results are in, we will plan for the gala and the naming ceremony to be the next day.” Her eyes roamed over me like she was searching for something, or maybe someone, but I didn’t know what.
Before I could say anything, the boys’ uncle called out, “Now, since the girl is close with my nephew, it's only right that he trains her, don’t you think?” The smile on his face was wide and malicious. I wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly licked his lips, lost in a vision of eating me whole. If I had seen this man while growing up, I would’ve walked on the other side of the street just to escape his attention, and this was the man who had raised Rion, Roux, and Ravi.
Sorrow filled my heart for what life must’ve been like under a man like that.
Mrs. Ricci opened her mouth, probably wanting to claim her children should train me for whatever this “test” was, but I knew one thing. The triplets would ensure I survived. Not so that I could be a cog in the Foedus machine, nor to prove anything to these people, and certainly not because their uncle told them to. No, they wanted me to survive for purely selfish reasons, and I could count on that. I wasn't going to be picky about my survival.
“I agree," I blurted out. All heads turning towards me, their collective gaze intimidating but I had to press forward. Moving my arms and legs, I stood up. "I will train under Ambros for this test you have for me, then we will see if I belong here.” Still not believing that this was my calling in life, I knew I couldn't just say that to them. They wouldn’t just let me go. No. I needed to earn my freedom, and the only way to do that was if the boys trained me.
“So you are a smart girl after all,” their uncle cooed. Taking a step forward, he looked like the kid who had gotten the last cookie from the cookie jar. It was gross, and I really just wanted to punch this slime ball in the face, but I had just agreed to work with his family, so it might not be the right time to do that.
Mrs. Ricci immediately grabbed my arm again, giving me a tight shut-your-mouth look. “Then it's settled. Let me walk her out. I'm sure she has a lot to get caught up on, and we still have much to talk about.”
She bolted for the door, not letting go of me until we were outside of the room. I rubbed at the spot she held, feeling the residual grip of her fingers on my forearm when I took a step away from her.
“You need to be careful with the Ambros family. They are highly skilled, but they are also the most dangerous. Neil and his nephew are not to be taken lightly.” She glanced back at me with sad eyes. “I wished you felt comfortable enough with my family, but after some of the things I’ve heard, I understand.”
“Well, you also kidnapped me, soooo…” She stopped short at my words, looking at me with a sparkle in her eyes before she laughed. It was one of those full belly laughs, and it made my lips turn up.
“Yes.” She wiped a tear from her eyes. “You’re right. It would be hard to trust someone who did that, but just know that was just a light introduction into this world. Its purpose was only to confirm my thoughts. I don’t regret it. I was able to see for myself who you truly were.”
“And this necklace gave it away?” Lifting it up by the chain, I examined it with new eyes.
“Yes. It was your mother’s, and it’s one of a kind,” she answered before opening the second door, leaving me stunned for the second time today.
One thought circled in my mind over and over. She knew my mother.