Page 36 of Brutal Truths

I must have fallen asleep quickly, because when the alarm goes off, it feels like I just closed my eyes. It’s completely dark outside now. Around nine in the evening. Several hours have passed since Rurik locked me in the other room to give me time to reflect.

Every hour he’s gone only fuels my temper, doing the opposite of what he intended.

What’s keeping him? He was so eager to talk, then suddenly called away. What could be more important than interrogating his prisoner?

Who the hell is he?

After I’ve moved around a bit, I make another trip to the bathroom. As I drink a glass of water from the tap, I study at my reflection. My pupils haven’t improved, so back to bed I go.

I’m weak. I haven’t eaten all day. My last meal was rushed when I was called away by Dr. Grieves. Crazy to think that was less than twenty-four hours ago.

My limbs are heavy. Every movement dragging. So, when I lay down for a second time, sleep takes over rather quickly.

This time, I dream.

Aiden is here. Looking for me, but he can’t find me. No matter how loud I yell or pound against the door. Nothing works.

His shouts pierce the silence, each call of my name laced with panic. His pleas for me to respond growing more desperate.

I answer. Scream back. But he doesn’t hear me.

I startle awake. Check my alarm to find only an hour has gone by since falling asleep.

I fall back on the bed, adjust my position, then shoot upright. My breath catches as pain slams through me.

The right side of my face is killing me. Sharp and relentless.

The only pain meds I could find were generic Tylenol. I took it because I had to. But it barely makes a dent. I need something stronger. Which is why I’m back where I was when I started.

The swelling has only gotten worse, confirming my earlier suspicions of a fractured cheekbone. It wouldn’t surprise me if my eye socket is broken as well. The area around my right eye is swollen to the point that it’s almost closed.

I look like I’ve gone several rounds with a street fighter—and lost.

Why do these bastards always know how to hit a woman?

While this is a first for me, I’ve seen enough cases in A&E to recognize the damage.

I’m worried about my grandmother. I hope Aiden is taking good care of her. Shielding her from all of this. Nothing good can come from her knowing. She’s better off kept in the dark.

Did she know? And if so, why has she never told me the truth?

As a child, I can almost understand her keeping it from me. Losing my parents was already a lot to grasp, even with the amazing family I had around me. I longed for a mother and father, ones I could call mine. Adding more to that confused child would’ve broken me.

But I’m not a child anymore.

As an adult, I had the right to know the truth. It still would’ve been difficult to hear, but at least it would have given me insight into a mother I barely remember.

Instead, I’m left guessing, trying to piece it together on my own.

I don’t know why she did what she did. I may never know. But at least I’d have had a chance to try to figure it all out, and maybe even avoid my current situation.

Dragging in a slow breath, I force my frustration down.

I can’t stay mad at Grams, not now, even if she helped keep it a secret all these years. She’s been rambling during her moments of confusion. Enough to make me assume that what I’ve learned holds water.

Maybe she knew only some of it. It’s hard to believe she’d keep such a big secret. I can’t shake the feeling that if Grams had known, she would’ve fought to raise me instead of letting strangers take me in.

It sounds absurd calling my siblings strangers, but right now, that’s what they feel like. I thought I knew them. But they kept a major secret from me. One that changes everything.