Chapter Seventeen #2
debts that I must collect. The worst part of being kidnapped was that they put
me in the same room with their agent. She was small like me. She looked like
me. I watched while they cut her hair to match mine. She even had scars in the
same places I had them. I believe they found a girl close to my looks and size
and gave her plastic surgery to make it close enough. As you can see with
Tatiana, they don’t look the same when they grow up, but they don’t need to.
They only need to pass long enough to get comfortable. They trained us all,
just like the girls who took our places. But I found out that the operatives
they sent to our homes, to take our lives, all have a trigger. It is a song and
a book. Different for each. When they hear the song, they cannot resist the
need to find their book and do whatever the note left in the book orders. It’s
a control measure in case the sleeper doesn’t want to wake up. Usually it is
something like telling the operative to copy files or take photos. But
sometimes it is more.”
“Fuck me,” Taggart said. “She’s looking for her family.”
“She’s looking for revenge,” Charlotte corrected.
Lucy continued. “I found Tatiana’s file one day. I’m
better with computers than I say I am, and I have someone I work with. He’s
excellent with them. When I saw her picture in the files, I knew who she was.
Look into her travel records. After she turned fourteen her parents were
convinced to send her to France for regular wellness trips. She would go twice
a year for a week at a time. With her companion, of course. Who was with The
Chateau. She was truly Tatiana’s handler. Tatiana would actually go to The
Chateau instead of some spa. You’re probably asking why would I hurt her when
she was a victim, too. Well, we find out who we truly are when that pressure is
applied. Tatiana was my tormentor during those weeks. They would give me to her
like a prize, and I would suffer. She would laugh and tell me stories about how
someone else is enjoying my cushy life and that rich girls deserve this. I
don’t know why she chose me. I would have thought she would hate Gabby, but she
wanted me as her chew toy. That is why. I tried to do it quietly. I wanted to
ask her questions, though I know she has no real knowledge. I am the one who
kept Penny’s laptop from working. I knew she would figure it out. I have left
apologies to all of you. There are still three of us out there. Three sleepers
who will wake soon. I have sent someone to bring you the key. I don’t know what
Gabby stole, but she told me it would change everything someday. I know the
power at the top of The Chateau changed recently, and it’s more brutal than
ever. I think she’s a woman. Madame T is what they call her, though no one I
know has seen her. I want you to know how much I appreciate all of you. You
showed me the world doesn’t have to be cruel. I wish I had been able to stay in
your world. Don’t look for me. Look for the truth.”
Everyone was silent for a moment, and he realized Oliver had
gone to sleep. The rest of them sat back, shocked at the contents of the
letter. Vivian hadn’t opened hers yet.
Then Taggart growled. “What the fuck is wrong with kids
these days? First Zach runs off to deal with Huisman himself and now this? The dumbassery is strong with this generation. What did she
think? That I wouldn’t help her? That I don’t want to kill assholes and cover
it all up? That is a fun Saturday night in this family.”
Kala looked serious for once. “I think she has to do this
alone.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Charlotte said. “And we’re not going to
stop looking for her.”
“Of course we’re not,” Kenzie agreed.
Mal had been thinking about this a lot. “Would you have
helped her kill Tatiana?”
That seemed to stop Ian in his tracks.
Charlotte squeezed his hand. “He likely wouldn’t have. Does
anyone know what really happened? Why are people saying Sosa killed Tatiana?
Did she push her out of the window?”
Vivian had told Mal some of what had happened, but they
hadn’t had a lot of time to talk. Everyone in their group had been focused on
Oliver.
“She jumped out herself,” Vivian explained.
Kala sank down beside Sami. “You’re telling me that overly
privileged narcissist chucked herself out a window to the spikes below? That
was some gnarly shit.”
Vivian’s hand squeezed his, and she leaned into him. “Sosa
didn’t push her. At least not physically. She used some of Tatiana’s training
against her. When did the cams go out and did we figure out how it happened?”
“Charles must have had someone working for him,” Sami said.
“The cams went out right after we heard them talking in French.”
“So right as the music started?” Vivian asked.
Damon nodded. “And then comms went down.”
“Sosa isn’t lying about how powerful that trigger is.
Tatiana didn’t want to go out that window, but she did. She had to. Someone
planted that seed deep in her head.” Vivian wiped a tear away. “She couldn’t
stop herself.”
“So we have absolutely nothing to go on.” Taggart sat back
and looked more helpless than he’d ever seen the man. “I’ve got a traumatized
twenty-year-old assassin out there looking for her double.”
“She wouldn’t necessarily look like her now. Plastic surgery
at a young age can’t undo DNA,” Sami said. “It must be one of the reasons
Tatiana had to fix so many things about herself.” Oliver snored and Sami
sighed. “I’m going to take him back. Fill me in on the rest later. Mum, I’ll
stay with him. Take a break.”
Archie stood. “I’ll go, too. Thank you for letting me sit
in. I’ll give you any help you need. I know Sosa a bit. I might be able to
profile her.”
When they wheeled the sleeping Oliver out, Damon shook his
head. “I’m worried about him. I didn’t realize he’d spent so much time with
Sosa.”
“I think they’re friends,” Charlotte said. “He’s been kind
to her.”
Penny put a hand over her husband’s. “I’m glad to hear it
but…I worry about it, too. I’m concerned about how intense it could be.”
Charlotte’s brows arched. “You’re worried Sosa could hurt
Archie?”
Damon’s voice was low, like he wanted to make sure his
children didn’t hear him. “Quite the opposite. I love all my children, but they
all have their flaws and Archie’s is obsession. He’s very reasonable most of
the time. He’ll share anything but his people. If Archie is in deep with her,
he won’t stop.”
“Then Archie can be my ally,” Taggart replied. “Because we
won’t stop either.”
“She said one more thing,” Vivian announced. “I put it in my
reports. She said we should find Kit Lowe. She said he knows something, but he
isn’t aware of it yet.”
Her uncle’s eyes went slightly predatory. Like he was about
to burst but he was holding himself back. “And what does this person who we
haven’t found yet since he didn’t show up at the party not know? Since
obviously Sosa knows. So she could fucking tell us. Is he a good guy? A bad
guy? How do we deal with him? Where do we find him? All things Sosa could have
told us.”
“She has her reasons,” Charlotte said, but she was already
getting up. “I’m taking him to get some food and some sleep and maybe a bunch
of Scotch.”
The twins stood, too. “We will join you.”
“I’ll start researching,” Lucy promised. “I’m going to have
such a talk with Sosa when Tag brings her in.”
They all filed out until it was just Mal, Vivian, and her
brother.
“Are you okay?” Cooper asked, looking her over. “Did you see
a doctor?”
She sighed. “Mal made me. I’m fine.”
Cooper held a hand out. “Mal is doing a good job. Thank
you.”
Mal shook his hand. “I will always take care of her. She’s
the heart of my world now. And your parents have been updated on what happened.
We ate a late supper with them last night, though I suspect they’ll want to lay
eyes on you, too.”
He gave them a nod and walked out.
Mal stood and reached for her. “How are you feeling?”
She let him help her up. “I’m worried but I’m happy, Mal.
We’re done with all the bullshit, right? We’re together.”
He pulled her close. “No more bullshit. It’s you and me and whatever
comes. I promise I’m going to talk to you when I’m hurt. I’m going to keep up
my appointments with William. I’ve got a lot to dig through, and I truly want
to be the best partner I can be now that I know what it’s like to have one.”
She laid her head on his chest. “And I’ll be reasonable in
the field. I’ll train hard so you don’t have to worry.”
He would always worry. Always. But he would trust her, too.
He reached down and lifted her into his arms.
They were taking the rest of the day off.
* * * *
“Your brother is…” Sophy paced the length of the
couch. Her hands went up. “He’s going to turn me into a murderer.”
Vivian looked up from her place in the lounge. They were in
The Garden again this evening because they found a foundation leak at Dominion
and the club was closed for repairs.
But they would get there.
Damon had been kind enough to give up a Saturday night to
the younger crowd.
She was looking forward to serving her Master well.
Sami took a long drink of her martini. “My darling, I sympathize.
Ollie is the worst patient ever.”
“He is insisting on inspecting the club himself before he
calls the contractor.” Sophy’s heels clicked on the hardwoods. “He’s not even
allowed on crutches yet, but he thinks I’ll wheel him around in his wheelchair.
He’s not supposed to be out of bed.”
“I preferred his morphine phase,” Lucy quipped. She was in
her version of fet wear—a long sheer skirt made of
something organic and earth friendly and a push-up bra. If the club allowed
anything but heels or bare feet for subs, Lucy would probably be wearing
Birkenstocks. “Once they weaned him off he’s been a bear, and not one of the
nice ones.”
Oliver was being stubborn. He was pushing and pushing while
his family worried.
Although Archie seemed worried about more than just his
brother.
It had been a week since Sosa disappeared, and Archie was
calling in every favor he could across two law enforcement agencies.
She still didn’t understand their relationship, but she knew
it was important to both of them.