Chapter 6
Indie
if today was your last day - nickelback
It’s been over a week since Jenna was rescued. Regina and I stayed up most of the night after Dr Beverley told us to write that letter.
We scoured through every memory we had, wondering which ones were the best to pick, which ones she would remember, make her smile.
There were tears, laughter, but most of all, pain.
The doctor has said there’s been a reduction in her acute symptoms of withdrawal.
It’s not that Jenna wants them, she was unwillingly force fed them, but her body has been conditioned to rely on them.
Apparently, she told the doctor she was only given them for six months, that she was part of some test group.
The only blessing is that the substances seem to have been non addictive. So far, anyway; who knows how that would have progressed under Omnia.
We’ve handed our letters over, and hopefully today the doctor will give her them.
The thought of what our best friend went through at their hands forces bile to rise in my stomach. There’s so many questions I want to ask her, but we’ve been advised to refrain from them for the time being, not until Jenna’s ready to talk about them.
Or even see us, which we haven’t asked for just yet, more to give her time.
There’s a deep, aching throb in my chest at how we couldn’t save her from what she’s gone through, had we just stayed with her that day. Maybe she wouldn’t have been taken.
In reality, they could have taken all three of us. They were going to ensure we stayed silent by any means necessary.
That also means they have a weakness, and they aren’t as powerful as they hope they are. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made out she’d died to scare us into silence.
Opening the door to Saint’s office, I pause just beyond the threshold, letting the door glide closed behind me. The light from the hallway fades from the darkness of the room as it creeps away; not even the screens along the back wall are on.
I go to take a step backwards to flick the light on, but I’m met with resistance, more so bumping into a wall of muscle.
Thick arms band around me, and my neck prickles as his breath slides over my skin like silk. “You need to work on that reaction time, darling,” he all but purrs in my ear.
The coating in my throat thickens as I swallow, arching into him. “I knew it was you.”
His dark chuckle raises the hairs along my neck, and then his lips soothe them into submission. Feverish kisses are painted along my neck, making my knees buckle at the sensation.
“Never assume. Not even here,” he growls, unbanding his arms for me as his thundering footsteps stretch across the room.
There’s a click of a button, and the once slumbering screens shudder back to life, showing the CCTV around the Pit.
I cross my arms over my chest as I fight for my composure. “I doubt anyone who works for you is suicidal enough to put their hands on me, Saint.”
His eyes scorch as they glare at me, taking a seat behind his desk. “Correct. However, until the Omnia crumbles, I’ll forgive you if you try to kneecap me.”
I bark a laugh, shaking my head, “I’ll keep that in mind for when I want you dropping to your knees.”
Saint’s smirk is outright hellish, relighting the fire inside me. “Never need to use force for that, darling. Always willing to entertain the command.”
Heat flares in my cheeks, and before those alluring grey eyes can beckon me forward, my phone ringing breaks the spell.
Saint turns his attention to typing on his computer, a satisfied expression plastered across his face, knowing fine well that’s twice he’s cranked up my arousal meter, to then leave it humming and unattended.
The dial spins right back down to zero when I see whose name flashes across the screen. “Oh, shit.”
I glance up, seeing him already glaring at me with a cocked brow. “What?”
“It’s her,” I breathe, the beating in my chest skyrocketing as the phone vibrates in my hand.
Saint abruptly stands, pounding towards me as he looks down at my phone. “Answer it.”
My eyes glare from the phone to him. “What? No.” I scoff. The device feels like it’s burning away the flesh on my palm. Like her evilness being unveiled now radiates around everything to do with her.
The phone goes still, and I toss it onto his desk with a thump, wiping my sweaty palms down my leggings.
Right now, I don’t want anything to do with her. I wouldn’t even know what to say.
She rarely calls me; that might actually be the first time in God knows how many years.
My stomach drops.
She knows it’s me behind REVENGE.
“She—” My words fire right back down where they formed, a text dinging.
Saint twists to pick it up, glaring down at it. “Call her back.”
Fuck.
“What do I even say? She knows, Saint. She never calls. Why else would she—” He silences me with a look.
“You’re nervous.”
He slowly drags his palm away, and my arms wave exasperatedly. “Of course I am, captain obvious!” I glare at him, and he narrows his eyes on me.
“If you truly wanted to be the one to kill her, you wouldn’t be flapping right now…You’d feel nothing.”
I drag a lungful of air into my chest. I feel nothing but betrayal when my sister’s name sounds in my head. It feels like an unnatural response to want her dead.
Who fucking wants to actually kill their sister?
Then I scoff.
What sister works for a secret society that harmed their sibling?
Then there’s Barry, who was like a brother growing up. That’s a whole other level of fuckery.
If Saint’s right, and he’s gotten her into it, then his betrayal is just as bad.
This situation is so beyond fucked up, I can’t get a coherent thought or decision to solidify within myself.
Saint leans back against the desk, handing me the phone. “Breathe.”
Instead of allowing another snarky comment to leave my lips, I follow his demand, conjuring up my well-rehearsed breathing exercises to settle my heart rate.
His voice drops low. “You’re gonna call her back.
” My top lip hitches up in protest, but his deathly glare makes it think twice.
“I’m gonna sit right here whilst you do.
You remain calm. If you’re unsure of an answer, I’ll nod yes or no.
Remember what she’s done, Indie. Let it sink into your fucking bones, then think about all the ways you’ll really get your revenge. ”
His words sober me, edging on the confidence. “And if she asks where I am?”
“You tell her we came back from England over a week ago, and that you’re staying at my apartment. Play her at her own fucking game.”
“Can she track the call from here?”
The corner of his lip flickers up. “You do know that we have Dawson here, right? This place doesn’t even exist on a map, never mind tracking a call.”
My shoulders relax, but I press the heel of my palms into my eyes and let out a groan.
Saint grips my forearm, pulling me to rest against his chest, hands gripping under my butt.
“They’re playing checkers; we play chess.
Louisa’s smart, but you’re fucking smarter, braver.
Think of this as playing with your food before you eat it.
” I move my hands away from my eyes when he tilts his head to the side, holding out my cell. “Call her.”
Glancing at the text, I read it over.
Pain in the ass: Hey, give me a call when you’re free!
There’s nothing suspicious in the message, and even though you can misinterpret the intentions in written communication, this seems like a standard Louisa. She’s never one for overfluffing messages; she isn’t dry either, despite her personality to me matching the name of her contact in my phone.
Well, her fake personality, seeing as she’s actually a serpent deep within.
I drag in a deep breath, my shaky finger hovering over her name, but Saint’s dips over the screen, deciding my fate for me with the tap of a finger.
If my glare could kill, he’d have keeled over by now, and he raises a challenging brow at me for it.
I hold the phone between us, closing my eyes whilst Saint’s thumbs glide across the material of my leggings, right under the curve of my ass cheeks.
It’s bizarrely soothing, but then again, his touch always is.
It’s the same way it calmed me in the manor, the same way he’s been dragging my mind from spiralling since we left.
The ringing stops, along with my heart, and my muscles coil tight the moment she answers.
“Hold on,” she says, and I can hear her closing a door. “Sorry, there’s a group of people outside my office door.”
“Hi,” I reply weakly, wanting to immediately punch myself in the face.
Normally I’d have responded with something sarcastic towards her, and Saint knows it too, going by the look he gives me.
For once, my mind and my mouth catch on quickly. “Louisa, I’m busy. Don’t ask me to call you and then have me waiting.”
I hang on bated breath for her response, whether this is going to go to shit, or whether she’s going to play along.
She barks out a laugh, her usual response. “Shut up, you little shit. I can’t let the office know I let you speak to me like that, otherwise they’ll think they can jump on the bandwagon.”
Another crack forms in my chest, the pieces already lying scattered in my chest.
The ordinary conversation between us hurts me deeper than words could form.
“Maybe you deserve it.” My words come out like a tease, but they’re coated in malice.
Her light laughter fills my ears, forcing my eyes to squeeze shut.
Saint wraps his arms around my waist, his hold engulfing me in the support I need to keep standing.
She huffs a laugh. “Yeah, maybe.” Clearing her throat, she speaks after a second. “How was England?”
“Yeah…it was great—”
“Mom told me you’re back with Saint?”
The man in question leans back, hands still roaming as he nods. “We are…it happened quite randomly actually.”
My mind works overtime, trying to conjure up a backstory within three seconds that’ll have her believing it.
“Can’t be that random if you travelled to the other side of the world with him,” she murmurs, and it sends annoyance through me.
“I’ve always loved him, and we’re not exactly strangers.”
“He broke your heart, Indie. You should be careful with him.”
The way she says careful, has my hackles standing to attention.
I can read her lies. “Actually, it was the other way around. Besides, we’ve put that behind us now.”
My hand reaches out to rest against his shoulder, and Saint places a silent, gentle peck to the outside of my wrist.
“I see.” She’s quiet for a beat before speaking again. “I met Gina the other day, did she tell you? With her boyfriend.”
“Oh…I haven’t seen her yet actually…she’s back on vacation with him.”
If Regina’s on their radar, this might help throw them off her trail, sending them on a wild goose chase, and thinning out whatever resources they have on the hunt for us.
“Really? Do you know where?” she asks.
When I look at Saint, this isn’t a simple yes or no question.
Fuck, where’s warm at this time of year?
“Yeah they’re in the…Dominican. I think they’re going travelling for a couple of weeks.”
“How did they meet?”
Christ, why the hell does she need all this information; my reload rate needs work. Saint points at himself, throwing me a lifeline. “He’s friends with Saint.”
The sound of her nails clattering off a keyboard fills the line as she speaks. “I thought that might be the case.”
“What makes you say that?” Alarm fills me, hoping I haven’t just accidentally put a target on Dawson’s back too.
“Just that you guys were in England, assumed she met him there.”
My shoulders want to relax at her response, but I need to treat Louisa exactly how she is.
My enemy.
I need to keep her closer than I want to right now.
“Yeah…that’s right.” I clear my throat. “Anyways, as I mentioned, I’m a busy woman, Louisa. The reason you called?”
That laugh that’s never changed our entire life fills the room again. “What are you doing exactly? Seeing as it won’t be working. I saw your company’s closing.”
That was it.
The moment I needed to know she was completely aware it was us, and that she’s watching me. Saint realises too, muttering a silent curse under his breath.
She’s fucking upping me at this game.
“Have you told Mom?” she adds.
“Jesus Christ, are you stalking me?” My question comes out with a little more bite than intended, the anxiety coursing through me threatening to topple over the sides.
“Oh behave, your life’s not that interesting. Someone in the office’s friend was looking for an auditing company, so I suggested yours.”
I scoff; it seems my sister is a professional at thinking on her feet. If we weren’t in this position, I’d have asked her for tips.
“We’ve made enough money that we can live comfortably, decided to go enjoy our lives. I’m not built for an office job anyways.”
“Well then, that brings me to the reason I called.”
I’m surprised when the gulp I battle with doesn’t become audible, and it doesn’t stop her in her stride.
“Your little asshole comment a couple months ago about Thanksgiving? Yeah, Mom’s been on my ass ever since. Seeing as it’s this weekend and something’s come up at work, I can’t. So…I’m arranging dinner at mine to make up for it.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Are you free next week? Mom’s good with waiting. She’s going to do something with Morgan in the meantime.”
Saint looks up at me and nods sharply, but I stall.
It earns me a nip at the back of my thigh, and I have to clamp my jaw shut not to yelp. “I can be.”
“Great…You should bring Saint.”
I want to say no.
Hell fucking no.
This is a trap for both of us.
She clearly doesn’t give a shit about doing it in front of Mom—that’s if she’s even going. Saint’s right; I need to play into their game.
When I glance up at him, his eyes radiate the most threatening warning for me to comply.
My eyes flutter shut, and I almost struggle to say the words. “We’ll be there.”