Page 42 of Tangled Fates

“Then, what is taking so long?” I snapped. “I can’t leave this place, so it's not like I could go anywhere.”

My anger got the best of me.

“What do you mean?”

Fuck this; if he wasn’t going to tell me shit, then I wasn’t going to tell him shit either. I looked out my window into the night, ignoring him.

He sighed before sitting on the edge of the bed. The interrogation was about to start and as much as I liked Gray, I wasn’t ready to tell them everything for fear that they would use me like everyone else.

“We’ve been interrogating Demitri,” he said softly. “Soren is worried more people are going to come and we want to be prepared. He hasn't given up a lot of information, but he did say something that piqued our interest.”

My heart pounded faster, my hands grew clammy and I dreaded what he was going to say next. My anonymity was ruined and once they knew I was the source of Oria, who knows what Soren would do.

“That he’s been picking up vials of Oria from here for about fifty years,” he said, as I felt his gaze. “He also admitted to coming on his own because he felt entitled to receive more than he’s been getting.”

Relief coursed through me that Tay didn’t send them. His betrayal hurt worse than Mother’s. As much as I would like to believe Mother loved me and would do anything to protect me, I’m pretty sure she would sacrifice me to save herself.

“Demitri has always been loud about what he’s owed. He’s never liked his captain and since Merrick despises him, Tay has had to deal with him,” I said, looking at Gray.

“So, is my assumption correct if I say Tay is a pirate like Merrick?” Gray pushed the tray to me.

“Yes,” I confirmed wanting to eat, but not eating on principle.

“Merrick is a good friend of mine, and I can’t say that I’ve met Tay, but I do know that Merrick is very particular about who he keeps around,” he said, getting comfortable on my bed. “Can Tay be trusted?”

My immediate answer was yes, but now I was hesitant.

Don’t trust anyone. Not even me.

I shivered from the memory of just a few months ago looking up into Gray’s emerald gaze.

“I don’t know,” I said, grabbing the sandwich he made me, to give my hands something to do.

“Did he hurt you?” Gray’s lethal voice gave me shivers.

“No, he’s never hurt me,” I said. “Tay has made this place bearable. He’s given me music and books.”

He nodded, but his face had a sour expression like he didn’t like what I had just told him.

“Do you like music, Sunshine?”

“I love music. Tay just gave me a rectangular device that plays music on it, and I can also read on it,” I said, getting up from my bed to grab the device from the charger.

“Does your phone work here?” He sat up, sounding excited as I brought the phone to him.

“Yeah, I can play things on it,” I said, handing it over to him.

“Oh, you don’t have service,” he said in disappointment, lacing his tone.

“What’s service?” I looked over his shoulder to the device, seeing him quickly going through several boxes moving through the device with ease.

“He gave this to you?” ignoring my service question.

“Uh yeah, my birthday is soon, so this was my present, since I’m stuck here,” I said, hating that I just spilled my secrets for him like I had no filter.

“Does it have movies on it?” He pressed a few buttons on it.

“Movies on the phone?” I didn’t know how you could put them on the phone.

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