AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And who do you work for?” I press.
“Lots of different clients. There’s a lot to it, and it’s never the same thing twice. Most of it’s just plain boring. And you’re already breaking the rules of the game. One question. Now, I’ll tell you something about me you’d never think to ask.”
“Ooh, tell me, tell me.” I lean forward over the table, teasing him with wide eyes.
“You’re a menace. Okay. I speak six languages.”
Impressive.
“That’s just bragging! Tell me something secret. Something real.”
“You’re right.” Tell shrugs. There’s a short pause as he thinks. Then, “I, uh, I have crippling OCD.”
He says it softly, simply.
I take his hand.
“Thank you. You don’t ever have to share more about that, but you can. I can’t relate to it specifically, but I’ve struggled with massive anxiety. Particularly where guns and violence are concerned.”
“Seems like you have quite the backstory. Is that what brought you to Sanctum?”
“Is that your question?”
“Officially, yes.”
Doubts swarm through my mind, fears and aching memories. I’ve never told anyone, other than Rachelle. And she got the abbreviated, edited, only-what-she-needed-to-know version. The less anyone knows, the better.
But it’s been eight years.
“I escaped an abusive family, my stepfather. My mom who could never stand up to him. She finally helped me get out after…” The words lock up in my throat. Davi’s empty eyes stare at me.
“That’s enough, Hella, you don’t have to say it.” True sorrow on Tell’s face shows me he understands. That he knows pain and abuse.
“No. I want to. It’s just hard.”
“Eventually. You can tell me anything. Just take your time.”
“I guess I messed up the game…” I laugh, wiping away the mist from one eye with the back of my hand.
“Never. The only thing that ruins anything are those kinds of people. Like my father,” he quips with a humorless smile.
“I take it your dad is…”
“A domineering, controlling, overbearing, conniving, vindictive… sorry.”
“Don’t be. I know exactly how that can be. My stepfather was just like that.” I scoot around in the booth to be closer to him.
“Politician?”
“Career criminal.”
“Wow!” Tell laughs, his eyes bugging. “You may have me beat. Although, my dad isn’t far from it. He’s the mayor.”
“What? Your dad is Mayor Vanderbelt. Tyler Vand. Now I get it.”
“Shh! Keep it down. I don’t go around advertising it. And I’ve managed to stay out of the public eye over the years by very carefully crafting who people think Tyler Sr.’s son is. Or rather, making sure everyone forgets that he exists. I know my dad is happy to pretend most of the time.”
“Now there’s a question… how do I know the one I’m having lunch with is the ‘real’ you?”
