Blood splatter like that which sprays from my mouth in the next second, as Bruno backhands me across the face. “Who are you!?” he shouts as a cry breaks from me, as tears start to slip down my cheeks. I hang my head, sobbing, shaking it slowly. Knowing that this doesn’t end well. That they know
I tell them what I can in between strikes to my face, my arms, my body – offering the information freely, letting it stumble from my lips. I let them know that Romano does indeed have the information – that if there’s anything in Steven’s notebook about their finances, that Romano’s studying it for
“It’s too much of a coincidence,” Marino murmurs. “The hacker girl you’re looking for ends up in my son’s car the night he dies? And she’s living in Romano’s son’s apartment, a childhood friend? Under his personal bodyguard all day and night? It’s…too much.” “I agree,” Bonetti murmurs. “There’s mo
I don’t know how long I’m in the cooler, not really. I cried for hours, I know, and then somehow fell asleep – or went unconscious. I don’t really know what the best word is for that state. Just…out. Not in the world anymore. But I’m ripped back into it the moment I hear the jangling of my padlock
I go completely still, my mind not processing this – Because, I mean – It’s impossible – He doesn’t take his time to say anything else now that he’s stopped me from screaming, let me know that he’s here. Instead, he just shoves – hard – at Bruno’s legs, freeing my body. I don’t move, just star
I don’t even bother to close the door behind me, because Christian’s already in his seat, already hitting the gas. I just scream and duck my head down as low as I can, and the movement of the car peeling away from the house slamming my door behind me. But…we drive. Which mean’s Christian’s alive,
“What are we doing?” I ask, a little afraid at the change. Honestly, if we’d kept driving for hours – weeks, years – I might have felt better. “We’re getting those cuffs off you,” Christian murmurs, pulling into a spot towards the empty back of the parking lot. “Oh,” I say, sitting up a little –
As Christian sees me put the pieces together, he slowly nods. “Yeah, Iris,” he murmurs. “It’s bad.” “Christian,” I whisper, leaning forward and reaching for him. But he tightens his jaw and my hand falls limply between us as I shake my head. “Why did you do this? I’m – I’m not worth it, Chris –“