Chapter 15 #8
I check out both their offices with quick peeks.
Both were shut tight; they are still trying to recover from all the work that has come their way during my time off.
If I’m going to go, now is the best time.
I have no doubt Tobias will live up to these threats, but this is too important.
If I have to pay the devil again, I'll do it.
The elevator and its ding will betray me.
No matter what, every time someone steps off that thing today, Tobias or Theo have poked their head out to check.
I slip my heels off, clutching them in my hand.
I don't want them to be heard on the marble floors.
I run on my tippy toes to the fire escape looking like a nighty kid who thinks the ground is hot lava.
I close the door as gently as I can behind me, waiting for a sound, or even worse, my punishment to rack my body.
Nothing but silence.
I sneak down an entire flight of stairs before I’m confident.
I run down the rest as fast as I can go.
I need to see Tom and get back up there before either man notices anything.
I get to the bottom step and strap my shoes back on.
I slip through the foyer without being spotted, and to the doors that lead to the car garage.
Once inside, I sprint up the ramps, somehow not spraining anything with my mad dash.
By the time I get to my old parking spot I’m huffing and puffing.
Tom stands against the barrier that stops people from driving off the roof.
He waves when he sees me and glances back and forth, leaning to the side, trying to peer around me.
Odd, why is he being so paranoid? I wonder if the run in with Tobias had been that bad this morning. I wince, if it had, it is all my fault.
“Where are they?” he asks peering down the ramp I just walked up.
“Still in their offices. What’s going on, Tom? Why the sneaking around?”
He loosens the collar of his shirt. I’ve never seen Tom so worried and awkward before.
“How well do you know Tobias and Theo?” he asks. I think it’s a strange question to ask. I think for a second, I’m fairly sure I know their darkest secret, not that I can voice that to Tom. But the way he is looking at me I have a feeling he knows about them already.
“I know them well enough, what is this about? You told me to let them help me and now you’re freaking out.”
“That was before I knew you were their mate.” That word again, and Tom obviously knows what they are.
I take a step back, this conversation is one I know I’m not going to like.
Not that I can blame him. He’s probably worried sick for me.
How would he react if he knew the things they'd put me through?
“What are you getting at?” I glance down the ramp, now paranoid myself they are going to jump out at us. Though, I'd probably get a warning buzz before they showed up.
“Tobias is a werewolf, Imogen and Theo—”
I cut him off. “I know what they are, Tom.” Tom’s eyebrows furrow, a blank look on his face. I guess it’s shocking that I know what they are and still stayed. “They told you and you aren’t running for the hills?” He stares at me like I’m mad.
“Well, it doesn’t change who they are, Tom.
They are still good people.” I can't believe the words coming out of my mouth. Can I really call them good people? But then, I remember the sweet moments. When Theo was there taking care of me, when Tobias had those human moments. The times I know they do have good hearts underneath all the horrors they’ve been raised with to make them the monsters they can sometimes be.
“Good people, Imogen? They aren’t even human!” he all but yells. His voice echoes through the empty lot.
“Shh, keep it down, stop freaking out," I hiss. I glance around us. Shit, if anyone heard that, I'll be the one paying. Shit!
“Do you have any idea the danger you are in when they try to mark you? Do you have any idea of the sacrifice you will have to make?”
I stop trying to shush him, my own brows furrowed. "Sacrifice?" I parrot "What sacrifice?" Pretty sure I sacrificed my freedom already; I’m so done being their prisoner.
Tom must see a look on my face. He pales, lips trembling.
I don't know if he will pass out or throw up. He takes an unsteady step toward me, sweeping my hair to the side. “Shit, I’m too late. I can’t believe you let them mark you, Imogen.
You need to get out of here before the bond kicks in completely. ”
I push his hand away. “How do you know so much? What you’re saying isn’t making any sense. Why would I run?” Besides, I've tried that, it hasn't worked well, and now with Mom there, I'm stuck forever.
Tom runs a hand over his balding head and loosens his shirt collar more, sweat beading on his brow.
He looks panicked “My family has worked for them for generations. Don’t you think it’s weird how no one knows who owns this company?
No one has any photos of them, no matter how big this company has grown and become recognized?
It’s because my family covers up for them, they have for generations.
My father did, his father and so on. We are bound to them from some old treaty.
As far as the public knows, the owners want to remain anonymous.
But if you check the filing and all social media accounts, you never see photos of them.
People would ask questions. People would find out what they are.
So, every generation, and even my future generations will keep them covered.
They move the company every few decades and come in as the grandson or sons to run it and my family follows to make sure they go unnoticed to the public. That’s how I know what they are.”
“But what’s that got to do with me? I haven’t got anything to do with it.”
“I know, but soon you won’t have a choice, Imogen. Soon my family will have to cover up for you, too. They have marked you; you belong to them forever.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Tom. I’m my own person. Nobody owns me.” I’m done with this conversation. I need to get back before they discover me gone.
“Right now they don’t, not until that bond kicks in. After that, you won’t be able to deny them anything.” He grabs my shoulders and stares me dead in the face. “You need to run. Get away from here while you can. Your relationship in the supernatural world is forbidden. No humans allowed.”
“I know this, but nobody knows except their parents that I even exist. Just spit it out, Tom. I have not got all day. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Think about it. You’re the Forbidden Mate. There are only two options for you. They either kill you or…” He stops, hesitating and peers down the ramp nervously. I do as well, thinking I heard something, before turning back to Tom again.
“Or what, Tom?” The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I don't like how he is so reluctant to tell me the entire thing. I have the worst feeling.
“They change you, Imogen. They have to change you, make you like what they are.”
I gasp and take a step back. “They wouldn’t do that.” But I’m suddenly not so sure. Them hiding me away and telling me to wait for the bond to kick in. Theo’s words came back to me.
“You won’t want to leave when the bond kicks in.”
I shudder, now understanding what he meant. I will choose to be changed. I don’t want to become like them, trapped. Forced to live forever. No wonder they never wanted me to meet Tom, had tried to keep me holed up in the prison. And how will they do that… change me?
I stumble backward. I didn’t want to be a monster. I don’t want to live like that, always hiding in the shadows. No, I don’t want that at all. I don’t want to change. I sure as hell won’t allow them to decide that for me.
“You need to leave, Imogen, before they either kill you or, well, kill you. The only way for you to become like them is to die or for Tobias to change you into what he is, which I heard is extremely painful.”