Chapter 25 Fallon
Fallon
The shrill sound of an alarm on a phone from upstairs wrests my attention away from the massive TV in the living room. I’m curled up on the couch with Hades when two sets of feet pound down the stairs.
“How bad is it?” Matteo’s voice thunders as he reaches the foyer.
Akio is already pulling up the details right behind him, face buried in a tablet. “Both a physical and virtual breach at Lunar. I can get started on the virtual but we need to move.”
Matteo’s phone rings and he immediately answers.
“I have the Hummer out front. Move it you two.” Declan's deep rumble pours out of his speaker so loud that I can hear it from where I am sprawled on the couch. They head for the front door, but both stop and turn back, as if just remembering me.
I give a little wave, not bothering to get up since Hades is practically on top of me and looks like he has no plans to move anytime soon.
“Stay here. The doors will be locked. You’ll be safe inside. Don't do anything stupid,” Matteo commands, his tone sharp.
“Safe inside or safe from escaping?” I arch an eyebrow, clearly irritated by his constant orders.
“Just do what I say, Menace.” His eyes dip. “And put on some fucking pants.”
I flip him the bird even though I know there is a hint of a smile on my face that I can't seem to make go away.
He shakes his head at me, but when Declan blasts the horn, they swiftly move to the door, ready to tackle yet another fucking problem.
I turn the volume up on the TV and make myself comfortable on what has to be the fluffiest couch in the world. I absentmindedly watch the reality show playing, my attention focused on stroking this big ass dog who didn’t even budge at the commotion.
Having people fall in love through a wall? That has to be some bullshit. No way it will last, and yet I allow the show to keep playing. What, like starting to care about your abductors is better, Fallon?
A very familiar voice saying my name has me jerking from that thought. When I look up, Love is Blind is no longer on the screen. Instead, I come face to face with Quinn.
I screech, jumping to my feet. “Quinn!! Is it really you?” My screaming and jumping startles Hades awake and has him up and growling at any potential threat. “Shhh, it’s okay, boy.” I smooth down his fuzzed up hair on his neck and back.
“Fallon, are you okay?” Quinn’s concern rings clear in her voice. Does this TV have a camera? The little light at the top tells me yes.
“Can you see me?”
“Yeah, girl. I have had access to their cameras for days but I couldn't get a moment where I could do this with all of them home.”
“Fuck, I miss you.”
“Miss you too. Now answer my question. Are you okay?”
Am I? I hesitate for a few moments, the words stuck in my throat because they sound fucking insane. “Yeah, actually I'm good. They are… I don’t know… definitely better than when I first got here.”
She raises her eyebrows in response. “Hmm. Well I gotta say, hacking this system was rough. Talk about Fort Knox. I had an easier time getting into White House servers.”
“Then why are you smiling? And when did you hack into the White House Servers?”
“Because it’s the most fun I have had in years! And, oh, that was a just-to-see-if-I-could kind of thing.” Her answer is vague enough to know there’s a story there she isn’t telling me.
“I will try not to take the fun comment personally.” I smirk at her. “I’m assuming you set off whatever drama they raced away to attend?” I flop back down on the couch as Hades makes himself comfortable half on top of me, half beside me.
“Yeah. You ready to get out of there? I can get you into the garage and we can pick which car to steal. They have some really great ones.” I can see the urge to drive one shining in her eyes.
Well, this is it. I can end all of this and return to my life.
But what would I tell authorities about being gone?
Do I really want the guys to go down for this?
What if they’re right and I can help stop whatever is going on at Helix?
Am I even safe to go back there with what I know?
Do I want to continue to play a role in covering the tracks of whoever at Helix Enterprises is involved in this?
Going back now means facing Clay alone. The more I question everything, the more my decision becomes clear, as does the real reason for my hesitation. I don't want to leave them.
Quinn, who has a knack for reading me like a book, appears more confused by the second. “Did you hear me? It’s time to go. They’re getting close to Lunar Headquarters now and will kick me out for a bit at that point.”
I take a deep breath before responding. “I need to stay. There are some things going on. I made a deal with them.”
“What kind of deal?” she asks suspiciously.
“I help them find out what is going on at Helix and they help me find who attacked me.” I have no doubt Quinn saw the latest Cerberus video.
“Holy shit.” Her eyes widen as she takes this all in. “Have they figured it out? And what is going on at Helix?”
“Yes, they did.” Her mouth falls open, but I shift to her second question.
I need a minute before I tell her about Clay.
“Helix Enterprises is involved with trafficking. Like, they’re literally selling women.
Clay is definitely part of it and God only knows who else.
I am starting to think this runs deep. They even have the cops in their pocket. ”
I’m met with shocked silence, Quinn’s mind clearly racing behind her eyes.
“There’s more.” I feel sick just saying this next part out loud.
Despite the new Cerberus video revealing the truth behind several attacks, including mine, I still feel raw over the whole ordeal.
It resurfaced everything I experienced that night and in the weeks that followed. “It was Clay who attacked me.”
Quinn gasps, her hand shooting to cover her mouth. Her head shakes in a mix of disbelief and fury.
Tears prick my eyes as I fight against the burn.
My throat is thick, and I am struggling to swallow.
When I finally have control, I speak again, my voice still cracked with emotion.
“Quinn, you need to be careful. Do not go snooping or confronting anyone, okay?
I don't think I could handle you getting hurt.”
“Fallon, I will be fine–”
“No, Quinn, I’m serious! This is so much bigger than you realize. Don’t do anything until we can map out our next move.”
“Okay, okay.” She lifts her hands in mock surrender. “Got it. So, next moves, let's get you out of there. You got the information you needed. You have been a fucking captive for over a month. It’s fucked up.”
Scrubbing my hand down my face, I agree, “I know, I know. But this is bigger than just my revenge, Quinn. I feel like I can really be part of doing some good here.” Like I could finally belong somewhere. Plus, I still need their help to pin down Clay.
“Are you hearing yourself? Fallon, that is insane.”
“No, it's perfectly logical. Do you really believe you and I can take down Clay without Cerberus’s help? Especially when he has the cops in his pocket. I need them to get to Clay and they need me to dig further into Helix.”
The silence lingers as she studies me with an unreadable expression. Sighing, she nods.
“Okay, fine but I will be watching, and if I think you’re in the slightest bit of danger, I am pulling the trigger on getting you out, with or without your permission.
” Her arched eyebrow smooths into a mischievous grin.
“Last question since you insist on living out this trope. Are they as hot as they seem? Please tell me there has been some masked freaky time!”
“Shut up.” Heat rushes to my cheeks.
“Okay, on a serious note, be cautious. I’m still not convinced we can trust these guys.”
“Yeah, no shit,” I laugh, but something about the statement feels like a lie.
“Love ya. Don't do anything I wouldn't.” She waves goodbye and disconnects from the system, leaving me with Love is Blind and a jumble of swirling thoughts.
I am so screwed.