Fixation of the Mind (The Foedus: Ambros Brothers Duet #2)

1. Chapter 1 - Layrin

Chapter 1

A s my senses came back to me, I realized I was face down on something flat. Taking in a long breath, the stench of rubber filled my nostrils. The vibrations from the floor shook my whole body, and when my eyes cracked open, I was surrounded by darkness. Oh yeah. I got kidnapped.

The only good thing about being bound and hooded was that I couldn’t focus on the boys’ betrayal. Nope. That was tomorrow's problem… If I lived to tomorrow.

It took a second for my mind to kickstart. Pain radiated from the back of my skull to the front, making me wince in agony. Partner that with my rolling stomach, and I knew this day was just going to get worse.

Suddenly, I had the tenacious idea to try to sit up, to try to find out as much as I could about what was going on. I was pretty sure I was in the back of some van with how loudly sounds echoed and how jerky it was whenever we hit some kind of bump.

I tried to roll onto my back to sit up, but that didn't work very well because every time the driver turned a corner, I tumbled over to the other side. Since my hands were tied in the back, I kept falling face first into the floor. At this point, I was just glad there was nothing else in this van that I could fly into.

Suddenly, I was jerked forward when we stopped. Even though I was groggy and my head felt like it was splitting in two, I readied myself to focus on whatever I heard next. It was obvious this person was strong and skilled, so I needed to be smarter, or at least ready to seize a chance to escape if it presented itself.

The rumble of the engine cut off before two doors opened, so I knew there had to be at least two people responsible for my kidnapping. Only one set of steps was coming my way, but I didn’t know if that was one of the people from the car or a third who’d been waiting for me to be brought to this new location. It would make sense that there’d be a few people—the two who were strong and crafty enough to take me by surprise and haul me away, then another to make sure everything was ready when they arrived. A third door clicked, the one closest to me, and the hinges creaked as it opened.

A low, muffled voice sounded above me. “Don't fight. You'll just hurt yourself.”

I knew it was dumb of me to ask, but it came out before I could stop myself. “Why do you care? You're just going to kill me.”

The voice didn't answer, just like I expected, but what I didn't expect was the calm, gentle way my kidnapper’s hands grabbed me, cradling me in their arms instead of throwing me over their shoulder.

I did as they asked, not fighting what was happening, and focused on using my senses. The pungent smell of the burlap bag over my head, the crunching of gravel with every step they took, and the soft, steady breathing coming from my captor.

My heart squeezed, though whether it was in a good or bad way, I couldn't tell. My mind kept playing back what I had seen just moments before I was abducted. While the boys’ secrets were most definitely disturbing and the pang of betrayal still stung my heart, I knew each of them were in some way obsessed with me.

But what kind of obsession was it? Were their gestures and words simply a means of manipulating me? Were all the displays of emotion just cleverly crafted performances? If that were the case, they were very good at hiding their true intentions, or maybe I was just naive enough to think that I finally had people on my side, people who would think of my betterment. I was leaning toward the latter, but none of that mattered now.

No matter their real motives, I should've listened to them. I knew someone had it out for me, but I let my emotions run wild, and now I was paying the price for it.

It was much better to stay with the psychos you knew than the kidnappers you knew nothing about.

I was settled onto a chair before a second set of hands carefully maneuvered my bound arms around the back of it. The coolness of the smooth surface soaked into my skin, telling me I was sitting on metal. Obviously, I still couldn’t see what was going on, but I could picture it in my head like a scene from a movie. Everything, even down to the chair they used, was a signal as to how professional they were.

Once I was settled, two sets of footsteps got farther and farther away until a door slammed shut. The silence in the room was deafening, and once again I was left alone.

With nothing else to occupy my mind, the same questions swirled in my head. Why? What could I have done to these people? Does it have to do with the boys?

My mind drifted from the situation I was in and onto the boys I'd left behind. On the surface, the situation looked scary, threatening, and even horrifying, but when I thought back to my time with them, not once had they hurt me. Not once had the alarm bells in my chest rung to tell me they were bad.

They had fed me, clothed me, taken care of me, and kept me safe and warm. Going over those days and nights, I was forced to admit that nothing had happened that I didn't want. I was a willing participant who was always given time to think, and the ability and space to say no, so what was I really upset about?

Sure, the files and data Rion had captured, Ravi’s shrine, and the jars Roux had filled were all creepy. In an over-the-top, macabre sort of way, they could be taken as proof of their dedication and devotion. What else could motivate someone to keep such kinds of mementos? And I had a feeling that was what they were, souvenirs saved for some private kind of satisfaction or purpose. They’d obviously never intended for me to find those things, so maybe their obsession actually was rooted in some real emotion for me? I clearly occupied their thoughts in the years we’d been apart. Maybe they genuinely cared for me like I did for them.

My survival side came rearing its head the second I’d settled on giving them some kind of credit . What the fuck are you thinking!? Did you forget those jars were filled with pieces of people?

A second voice, smaller and meeker, combatted the loud, obnoxious one. People who hurt me .

I smirked at my idiotic self. Sure, but their actions were also the reason you were ostracized and labeled as the cursed child in high school. Do you not remember that? Roux is the direct reason for all your pain and suffering!

As tears clouded my vision, I shook my head. I didn't want to think about that right now. I didn't want to feel hurt by them all over again.

The small voice sounded less sure when it replied, Rion and Ravi didn't contribute to that. Do they deserve our ire?

Oh, you mean the one that has been watching you for years from afar, using security footage to spy on you? Every time you thought you felt eyes on you, you were right. They were him. And don't get me started on the infatuated one. He sat there and used those pictures of you, blew you up to a body pillow, and snagged your underwear… To do what? You think he’s just praying over it? Get real, Layrin. He’s using all of that for god knows what, thinking of you the entire time.

But isn't that kinda sweet? It's been about me all this time, the meek voice said, but I could feel the larger logical voice towering over it, overpowering the small voice I realized was my heart.

It's been about you in secret. All they've done is hide things from you and made you believe what they wanted you to believe. Lied to you. Everything was lies, even from the beginning.

My breathing came out labored as I bounced between my head and heart. Sitting here with only my thoughts was making me jittery. I needed to get up, walk around, physically get this all out so it didn’t overtake me.

Yanking on my restraints did nothing for me. Whoever had tied this made it so tight I couldn't fit even a finger between. I moved my legs around, trying to see if there was anything on the ground that could help. If I found something, I could tip the chair over and maybe reach it with my fingers.

A creak came from somewhere in the room, and I froze. This time, the steps were light and careful. I waited, wondering what was going to happen, then I felt the bag lift a little, the end pulled right up to my nose.

“Drink,” the artificial voice said, and someone lifted a glass to my lips. I didn't realize how water starved I was until the first drop hit my lips. Without a care, I gulped the cool, refreshing drink, finally able to cleanse the cotton mouth I had been suffering since waking up.

“Thank you,” was all I replied after they let me finish the cup. I thought the exchange was over, but then a few steps came closer. Something brushed up against the bag next to my face.

The last thing I expected my captor to say was, “I left him a breadcrumb. He’ll come for you.”

My heart stopped, my eyes roaming around as if I could glean any small details through the fabric, but it was no use. What could they have possibly meant by that? I reiterated the words in my head. They’d said “he.” My mind circled before it reminded me of something. The triplets were pretending to be one person, R. Ambros. Was that the “he” my captor was referring to?

Just when I was about to ask them, the door banged open, and several sets of steps followed. Everything went silent except for those looming hard clicks of high-heeled shoes that were heading in my direction.

I didn't speak, didn't move, waiting for the impending doom that seemed to fill the air. The clacks stopped, followed by the sound of several people bringing stuff in. Each bang or clank was more and more confusing. What were they doing? Were they preparing to kill me right here? The beating in my chest grew thunderous as my mind ran wild with all of the commotion.

The seconds dragged out even though it probably only took a few minutes before someone yanked the bag off my head. I winced, disoriented by the blinding light that was pointed in my face.

“Are you Layrin Smith?”

I didn't answer at first, rapidly blinking to clear up the haze clouding my eyes, trying to get a grasp on the situation as fast as I could. The only thing I could make out was the dark shadows of a lady in front of me and the two people standing by her sides.

“Are you deaf?”

The question came out swift and curt like the last one, and it really irritated me. If this was going to be an interrogation, then fuck it.

“Give me a damn second to get acclimated, then I can answer the stupid question you already know the answer to.”

Although there was no reaction, it felt like all the air was sucked out of the room, and that made me smirk. I guessed she wasn't used to being talked back to. I let go of my fears, accepting that I was most likely going to die after her questioning. There was no way they would let me go free after this because I would be a liability. So, I pulled out my street card and cashed out. I could fake it ‘til I made it like the best of them.

Time ticked by, then I heard her heavy exhale. “You’ve got a mouth on you.”

Puffing out a laugh, I grinned at the blinding light. “Well, you got the upper hand, so why not be a bitch and give you a hard time?” I rolled my neck before finishing with, “And yes, I am Layrin Smith.”

A quiet clank hit the ground in front of me, and I looked down. Before I could figure out what had fallen, she called out with a bite, “Where did you get that ?”

I narrowed my eyes on the shiny thing, trying to make it out. With the light pointing at me, it was impossible. A moment later, the light was turned down, and my heart stopped. On the floor was my necklace.

Instinctually, I yanked against my bound arms, desperation creeping up my chest as my fingers twitched, wanting to grab the necklace back as fast as I could.

“That's mine.” I couldn't hide the distress in my voice, and it pissed me off.

“Did you steal it?” Her accusing tone made me want to rip my arms off and charge at her. Instead, I had to settle for letting my wrath fill my veins as my chest rose and fell.

First, my friend died, then the only people I’d trusted all my life betrayed me, and now I was kidnapped and labeled as a dirty thief by some strange mystery person. I was up to my ears with how tired and fed up I was with my life. Fear, pain, desperate curiosity, all of those feelings sank to the bottom as I growled, “It's the only thing that's truly mine. Give it back, bitch!”

Everything stopped, everything but my heavy breathing and wrathful gaze pointed in the direction of the bitch that had brought me here. It was obvious that she was in charge, so that meant she had to have something against me.

The ghost of a whisper hit my ears. “You do remind me of her…” The voice trailed off with a hint of nostalgia, and I was thrown off my high, angry horse.

Before I could demand someone give it back to me, pops of gunfire went off. I flinched at the familiar sound, and raised voices echoed from outside. Before anyone could do anything, the stone wall to the side of me was blown open.

Turning my face away to avoid any debris, I was surprised when only a cloud of dust fell over the whole room. Footsteps sounded to my right, and several people coughed at the micro bits of dust being lodged in their throats.

“Just like the Riccis to hide on a farm like a rat.”

My heart surged. I knew the owner of that voice. While I was pissed at him for so many things, I couldn't stop my pure joy at hearing his voice right now.

As the dust began to settle and light streamed in, I could finally make out the woman who was sitting in front of me. She was so gorgeous my mouth almost dropped. Long dark hair in large curls, a red and black tailored suit paired with black high heels with red bottoms. Her dark olive features only highlighted the crystal blue of her eyes. They were focused and fierce, like the woman was on a mission and would take out anyone in her way. She radiated power and prestige even though she was casually sitting in a cloud of dust like it was a regular Tuesday afternoon.

Rion appeared as if the dust had parted just for him, and her eyes slid toward the newcomers. Two black-masked men with X’s for their eyes burst forward with large guns, pointing them at everyone but me. Roux. Ravi. It had to be them.

The woman that I was slightly drooling over flicked her hand at me. “As you can see, she’s not harmed.”

One of the masked men shot at one of her men, hitting him in the leg. He cried out and fell to the floor as Rion answered her with equal power and authority. “And you can see that I don’t care.”

Her mouth pinched, but she said nothing. Rion laughed, the sound oily and cruel. “Oh, don't look at me like that, Maria . It wasn't like I hit any of your children. Why don't they take off those masks so I can make sure another slip-up doesn't happen? Someone might get hurt.”

She sighed and flicked up her fingers. Four of the seven people behind her took off their masks, and my eyes popped out of their sockets when Luca and Cinzia’s faces were revealed. Luca wouldn’t look at me, but Cinzia was staring at me with big puppy dog eyes, begging me to understand something.

I didn’t know what the fuck was happening. I could only guess it had to do with their family rivalry shit, but this was next level. “Cut me free,” I growled at the masked man closest to me. They immediately complied, so it was safe to guess it was Ravi.

Everyone was watching me, but I didn't care. I’d had enough of their stupid rival games. As soon as the zip ties were cut, I bent over and snatched up my necklace, instantly feeling calmer and in control.

“You got what you came for. Now, get out.” The woman's unsaid death threat hung in the air between the two of them.

Rion’s face had warped into a vile beast ready to take on his opponent head on, yet when I coughed, his head snapped directly to me. His eyes held a pained wildness, but relief filled them once his gaze scanned my body.

He turned around slowly, more in control of himself, and pulled out a handgun from behind him. He pointed it at one of her children that I didn't know. They looked older than me by a few years. “You know the rules. You call out your defeat, signaling this match as over. If you won’t, I’ll just put a bullet through Milo’s head.” Rion licked his lips as his eyes brightened, almost like he was excited by the thought. “You have three more children, so you have one to spare, right?”

She was still seated as she spat out, “Figlio di puttana. Mettilo giù.”

Rion’s finger went to the trigger, and she shot up out of her seat. “Fine! We concede. Get out before I lose my mind and demand that every Ricci on site put the four of you down like dogs!”

His gun fell as his other hand went up in a surrender gesture. “è giù. Non agitarti troppo.” His eyes pointed to her in anger as he took a slow step back. “You’re the one who started this, not us. Remember that.”

She nodded, signaling she was done with their little back and forth, then turned around, yelling for everyone to get out of her way. How she was going to punish those outside for their incompetence, I wasn’t sure, but the threat was clear in the anger of her voice.

The masked man I thought was Ravi put his hand around my waist and steered me out of the room while the other masked man kept his gun at the ready, covering our backs as we left.

The trio moved like a well-oiled machine—Roux covering our back, Ravi keeping me close as he watched the sides, and Rion at the front with his gun. We made our way over to a large green Humvee I’d seen in the garage at the house. Rion opened back the door before he waved me in.

I climbed in and sat down, going on autopilot. The rest of them clambered in after me while watching their surroundings. The masked man who I thought was Roux was driving, and the rest of us sat in silence. I could feel Rion and Roux looking back at me through the rearview mirror, but I ignored it, not in the mood to acknowledge them. Next to me, Ravi tried to move his hand over mine, but I yanked it away, looking out the window.

While I might be grateful to them for saving me, I was royally pissed off about all their lies. This was going to be a long car ride.