Page 38 of Rising from the Ashes

1…2…3…4…5…6…7… - Trying to distract myself from the pressure building in my chest, I begin to count the seconds as they pass by.

I feel myself being ripped backward, my back slapping against the back of the chair that I am loosely bound to by cable ties which are cutting into my wrists.

“If you want to live, I suggest you give me the information I want, Mr. Demassi.” Everly approaches me, placing her hands on my knees and leaning forward.

I cringe at the last name I’ve tried to forget for the last two years, since I learned of my father’s plan.

“Did you think we wouldn’t find out who you were? Adrian Demassi, son of Craig Demassi. Claiming to be reformed against his father’s devilish ways.” She sneers. “You murdered your own father, in cold blood. You used Reign to tap into our tech and met up with Calista that night. You fucked up the assignment.”

Feeling the fist tighten in my hair, I try to stall them, “Look. It was a job. But I never gave Drake intel he could use. Not until…” I stop mid-sentence when I try to speak Calista’s name, but the word fails to escape my lips.

She doesn’t deserve this. Another man who claimed to have her best interests at heart, betraying her. I failed her. I should have told her the truth.

“Until Calista?” She pauses. “Awww, what? Is the next thing you’re going to say that you fell for her and changed your ways? That you weren’t going to kill her and attempt to take down The Society?”

“Nothing I say matters. If you’re going to kill me, just do it already.”

“Oh no, Mr. Demassi. I am not going to kill you, but we will see if Calista doesn’t kill you though.” She smirks. “You know how rather unconventional her methods are.”

Everly looks up as the door swooshes open and I can hear the slow clicks of heels approaching.

Chapter thirteen

Calista

It’s quiet as I enter the dimly lit persuasion room, the only sounds are the clicking of my heels and the labored breathing of whomever they have in the chair. Trying to appear unbothered, I approach Everly and her men. The door automatically shuts behind me as I continue my trek to where they are standing in the middle of the room.

“Oh, look who decided to join us.” Everly smirks as I approach the man cable tied to the chair. His wrists have deep cuts from where the plastic has sliced into his skin. My heart drops to my stomach as I recognize the tattoos and jet black hair.

They fucking got to him first.

Rounding the chair, bile rises in my throat as I observe the scene before me. Shado’s head is hanging low against his chest, his hair dripping wet, and his breaths are slow and ragged. His eyes are closed, and he looks unconscious. Blood is dripping from a deep laceration across his right temple, and his lips are swollen, and with every breath, blood splurts out down his shirt. Looking to the side, I notice the water bin. The thought of them almost drowning him pulls at my heart.

He lied to you. He deserves this.

Two emotions are at war within me as I look down at him. Anger and love. My anger for the past year has kept me guarded and safe from the men I hunt down.

Look what happened the second you let your guard down.

Love is weakness, a distraction; an emotion that will tear your heart out or get you killed.

“What the fuck are you doing to MY recruit?” The words fly out of my mouth, surprising myself that I feel so possessive of him.

As the anger whirs within me, I can’t help but feel the need to reach out and touch him, save him even. Like he saved me.

“He’s a spy, Calista, for Drake Reign. His job was to kill you, myself, and disband The Society.” Everly says, flatly.

“Yeah, I know. I found that out tonight.” Gritting my teeth, I whip my head around toward Everly.

I glare at her, “I wanted to be the one to torture him,” I lie.

“He was my recruit, it’s my job. Maybe your men should’ve done a better job screening him, this would not have happened,” I snap.

Everly slits her eyes at me. “Watch your mouth, Cal.”

I have been playing the conversation between him and Drake in my head repeatedly on the ride over to headquarters. He wants an out, if anything, an out from this mission. From what I can gather, he hasn’t given Drake the information he seeks. Otherwise, I feel as though Drake would have grown impatient and sent in more men from the outside.

I need to talk to Shado alone.

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