1.71 ANTONIO

The ride home is quiet. Nicholas is in the back seat, slumped against his seat, tense. Caroline sits in the passenger seat, looking out the window. Her fingers are drumming on her exposed thighs. I am in the driver's seat, my fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly to keep from reaching over and touching her. I am craving her touch, her reassurance.

After Lester had entered the room, I had sent the remaining tech employees out of the room. I had sent them home early for the day.

I didn't want any witnesses.

And that included my caroline.

I didn't want her to see the monsters we are.

I had asked Caroline to step out as well and wait in the office, and she had agreed. But she hadn't listened. Instead, she had waited outside the door, leaving it cracked so she could peek inside. She had seen us, seen me, as I reached for the scissors on her desk. As I swiped those same scissors across Mario's throat.

The gasp she let out, god i felt like something was breaking in me when she shied