Page 156 of Taint My Soul

“I need to try again,” I tell Blessing, and she gives me a nod.

A new target comes up just after I reload my gun. I spread my legs apart and hold my arms steady. Then I squeeze the trigger.

SAINT

A gasp scrapes out of my throat as the entrance glides up. I’ve been lying on my side, staring at the walls, since the last time that soldier came in to drop me a fruit.

Footsteps approach, sending an unnerving chill down my spine. My lips tremble, and my body quakes with fear. I have been trying to keep it together. To think of Elio more. But it’s no longer enough. This place is chipping away at my sanity, stealing all the good memories I have. All that’s left is a sickening, suffocating feeling that settles in the pit of my empty stomach.

The footsteps come to an end. And the cage goes extremely still, too still, it’s chilling.

“Son.” My father chokes out.

My spine goes rigid.

Memories flood in an instant. His words burn into my brain.

“And bring that bitch of an Elio to me. I need to paint my office with his blood.”

My mind races with questions. What if he had gotten to him? If he’s already dead. What if he’s here with him?

“Son.” It’s almost as if he’s disgusted saying that word. I turn around and look at him. “You’ll lose an arm if that wound isn’t treated. It’s been two weeks.”

“Fuck you.” I bite out even though my voice is barely audible.

“You’ll die.” He stares at me. “But it’ll only be one less disgrace to my bloodline. Virgil’s ready to take over everything. He’s been with me for the past two weeks, learning everything I taught you.” He reveals as if that’s enough to get me to give him what he wants. “Matter of fact, he’s courting the beautiful lady you turned down at your cousin’s wedding.”

Nothing I do will ever be enough.

I peer at him, and my lips curl into a disappointed smile.

He shakes his head and straightens up. “Fuck him up.” The soldier standing at his side storms toward me. His boot crushes against my injured arm, and a tortured, mangled cry gouges out of my lips. He grunts as he slams against my ribs and my face. I choke on the coppery taste of blood and spit the red, thick liquid across the floor. Hot tears burn down my cheeks like acid.

“I taught you everything!” he roars. The soldier pulls me to my feet and slams my back against the wall. Pain spikes across my spine, and my head hangs low as blood spills from my lips. “And you disappoint me.”

He looks over his shoulder at my brother Virgil. “Tell him.”

Virgil inches forward, jaw tight, eyes holding a sliver of remorse as he regards me. “Mason is gone. We searched for him throughout the entire city, even in Queenstown. He’s not coming back.”

“That’s not true!” The taste of copper floods my mouth from grinding my teeth as I hurl the words at him. “That’s not true.” I whisper to myself.

“End your suffering. End it now and come back home with us.”

“No, he’ll never leave me!” Vein strain in my neck as my voice turns rougher.

“He’s gone.” Virgil pulls out photos from an envelope and tosses them before me. Three dead bodies. “He fled the city with your personal driver.”

My pulse pounds in my chest as I stare at the pictures of my father’s soldiers. Blood pounds in my ears. Spittle escapes my lips and lands on the pictures. He tosses more images at my feet.

Two pictures of Elio driving out of the city. “Cross got these from the city’s database before he wiped it.” Virgil sighs. “He’s really gone.”

Silence presses in from every direction. My stomach drops, and a trembling breath escapes my lungs. A cold feeling latches onto my spine as the truth settles into my skin.

My tears mixed with blood land on the picture of Elio.

He’s not gone. He’s not really gone. He didn’t leave me.

Why wouldn’t he, though? Of course, he’d think I abandoned him. Or worse, he was waiting for the perfect moment to leave every sickening thing about me behind. Bernard doesn’t have a reason to protect him. Not after I’d questioned his loyalty. Not when he’s the reason, I questioned his loyalty.