I didn’t wanna speak ill of the dead, but this was the best I could come up with.
"I didn’t give it to her. I came here to warn her, knowing you would come after I gave a hint about the mafia’s movies and blackmail. She’s probably out of the city now."
"Is that all?" Ares asked, eyeing me with intensity until I was pressured, but the lie came smoother than the truth.
"Yes, I’m sorry I got you worked up for nothing. I-I should get going, I promised Tori I’d see her when I got back." I turned, but Ares grabbed my wrist to stop me.
I shift my gaze back to him before he tugs me close.
"Next time, be honest with me," he said. "No matter what."
"Alright," I replied, and freed my hand from his grip, walking out of the store.
I kept trying Tori’s number, but she still wasn’t picking up. I need to get to her as fast as I can.
~☆~
I knocked on Tori’s door, pounding my fist against it and not caring if the neighbors heard.
"Maybe she’s not around?" Nico asked beside me.
"She is, and what are you doing here? You can wait by the car."
He leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "This is much better, milady."
The door suddenly opened, and Tori peeked. Nico so rudely came to check, but I got in and slammed the door in his face.
Tori was shaking, eyes glued to the floor. I rested my hands on her shoulders to check for any wounds, but thank God there weren’t any.
"Tori..." I said softly. "I’m so so sorry, I—"
She broke down in a fit of tears, and I hugged her tightly. I shook in her hold, still reliving everything that happened. My stomach turned, and I peeled away from her, scurried toward the toilet and vomited, coughing and choking. It was an agonizing few minutes before my face was finally out, and I flushed.
I got weak sitting on the floor with my knees to my chest. Tori came to me and sat opposite me.
A heavy silence passed between us, and never-ending guilt clawed at me.
"I’m sorry..." I said faintly.
Tori shook her head slowly. "It’s not your fault."
"Yes, it is... ever since I signed that contract, my life has turned upside down. Literally. I didn’t sign up for this. All this mafia shit, enemies and nano whatever..." I took off my glasses and tossed them on the floor. "I almost lost you, Tori. I could have never forgiven myself for that."
Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t say a word. I won’t blame her if she doesn’t. This was overwhelming even for her, and I could only imagine the horrors she saw while in captivity.
"I was gonna go on leave. I actually planned it out because I needed the break..." she began. "And then it all happened so fast, and the next thing I knew was I was bound to a chair beside a dead body."
"Jenna."
"You knew her?"
I nodded. "The person I wanted to meet that day at the cafe when I asked you to cover for me. She was investigating the Kings, but we cut contact."
"Oh my god." Her hand slipped into her hair, and she closed her eyes.
"She was a warning of what would happen if I didn’t follow his orders, and I screwed that up too..."
"We have to tell Ares. I know they threatened us into silence, but we can work something out. Ares can do something."
"I-I can’t..."
"What?"
"I can’t, Tori, I can’t, and neither can you. You must tell no one about your kidnapping or everything that happened."
"Catherine..." she breathed. "I’d have said the cops because they seem like the best choice to bring this to and get witness protection, but I do this for your sake. Ares is mafia, and I have a feeling this circles around him somehow, and now we’re all caught up in his mess. One, he should clean up himself, we’re not gonna be collateral damage."
"We really can’t, T."
"Why?!"
"Because he will know when I so much as speak his name or tell anyone about him. I’m forced into silence."
Tori tried to speak, but she couldn’t.
I leveled my gaze as I cried and trembled from an unknown cold. Tori crawled, sitting beside me, and wrapped her arms around me.
~☆~
I stayed in Tori’s place, and it was silent most of the time as the TV played a show in the background.
Tori finally got some sleep, and I knew she was more at ease knowing I was beside her. I just finished tucking her in when I heard my phone ding.
My pulse raced instantly, but it wasn’t that son of a bitch.
Honey: It’s getting late. Nico is waiting by the car.
Me: He can leave. I’m staying.
Ares was in the middle of typing a reply, but I swiped off the chat.
I walked to the couch and sat. I don’t even have the faintest desire to rest. How can I? I knew without a doubt that Noah was gonna contact me again.
I reached for my purse and took out the flash drive. He never wanted this... he wanted me... to control, and he mentioned something about Ares’ downfall.
I clenched the drive tightly. I can’t tell anyone about him, and I can’t escape him. I was trapped. I had no idea how I could pretend or lie to Ares; it was already difficult as it was. I’m scared I was gonna slip and put Tori’s life in danger.
She made it out this time, but I wasn’t sure there was gonna be a second time. Noah knows about my family in Rosevale, too. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to them because of me.
I buried my face in my hands, consumed by terror and confusion.