Page 33 of Shattered Home

“Because I need to escape. And I have a safe place in the woods to take you to.” The words left my tongue before I could stop them. I don’t know why I told him that; I’d be an idiot to trust this man. And I could already envision the fight for power between Rainer and this man if he ended up in the woods with us.

“Is that right?” The tone of his voice made it clear he didn’t believe me, but I didn’t care, I was out of options.

Tilting his head side to side, I could tell he wasn’t going to give me anymore, and my heart started beating faster. I needed someone’s help and at this point, I wasn’t above begging.

“Please, if you’re trying to escape, let me help.”

The man stepped forward, his body crowding mine and my neck titled back as I stared up at him.

“What’s your name?”

“Alessia.”

Reaching out to grab my shoulders, the man turned me around until I was facing away from him. His warm breath hit my ear as he whispered, “Well, Alessia. I suggest you head back to your tent before you get yourself in trouble.”

I whipped around at his words, ready to tell him what he could do with his suggestion, but he was already strolling away from me, whistling unabashedly, not afraid to get caught. Groaning under my breath, I realized how much of a waste this had been, but I wasn’t going to give up. He had something brewing or else he would have told me to get lost the second I asked.

Creeping back to the tent, I was determined to follow that man’s every move until he gave me what I wanted. And until then, I’d continue to protect the twins, hoping the people in charge wouldn’t hurt Aiden more than they already had.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ididn’t spot the man the next day and I knew he had to have been hiding from me. The camp wasn’t that large and I was actively searching for him. My frustration built and built as the day wore on, Aiden and the twins catching on by the time dinner rolled around.

“What’s up your ass? You’re freaking the kids out,” Aiden muttered in the food line.

Trying to put a smile on my face, I spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ll tell you about it tonight.”

Aiden seemed displeased with my answer but sighed with resolve, piling some potatoes onto his plate. The kids were sandwiched between us, each holding their own plates, when a group of guards came walking toward us.

Their gazes were trained on us, so there was no confusion about who they were stomping toward. Aiden’s shoulders hunched at the sight of them, his lips flattening in a grimace. I knew what this meant and I so badly wanted to stop it, but I wasn’t sure how.

However, when they approached, I realized it wasn’t my twin I should be worried about. “Alessia Accardi, come with us.”

It was clear their direction wasn’t a question, simply a command. I wanted to fight, but I worried what would happen to Stephanie and Lucas if I did. And I also knew there was no point in delaying the inevitable. I had given them a fake name and yet somehow they knew exactly who I was.

“She doesn’t know anything,” Aiden pleaded with the guards, but they ignored him.

Handing my plate off to Aiden, I pleaded with my eyes for him to take care of the kids for however long I was gone. Once my hands were free, two guards gripped my arms, pulling me toward the building.

Dread filled me with each step closer we took until one of the men unlocked the door and shoved me through. Based on the living arrangements outside the building, I had been expecting some sort of shack. Instead, the entire first floor was filled with desks and computers, large screens dotting the walls.

A few couches were pushed against the far end of the room, people lounging on them as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Stairs led to a second floor, but I couldn’t see anything besides a long hallway. The two men holding me dragged me past everything, stopping at another door, before leading me down a set of stairs.

The stairs creaked under our feet, the sound eerie in the tinted light, and shivers wracked my body. I didn’t know what to expect, Aiden had been so hesitant to share what happened to him, but now I wished he had told me everything, so I could have prepared myself.

Leading me into a bare room with a single chair, the men shut the door behind them, locking me inside. Walking around the empty room, my feet slid across scratches on the floor, most likely there from furniture being moved. My gaze caught on a few small holes in the wall, presumably where pictures were once hung.

I didn’t know what this building used to be, what this room used to be, but I had a feeling it was something much happier than what I was about to endure. I was staring at the door, realizing there was no lock on this side, when it swung open.

Large boots clambered into the room, the door loudly slamming behind the body. My eyes trailed up a pair of thick legs, an even thicker chest, landing on a man’s bearded face. A comically wide grin hid beneath the thick beard, his bald head shining under the dim singular light hanging above the chair. He held a chair in his hand, dragging it behind him until he sat down with a thud.

“Alessia, I’m so glad I can meet you. My name is Vex.” He gestured toward the chair and I followed his instructions.

Maybe if I was compliant, I wouldn’t end up with a bruise across my cheekbone like Aiden. Sitting across from each other, the two of us sized each other up as the man and I had done last night. But instead of the curiosity from the night before, my eyes were wide with fear.

“Now I have to tell you, I was surprised Aiden’s sister was here. According to our records, your name was Lauren Califorie.”

I didn’t answer his unspoken question, knowing it would be futile to lie. They knew who I was, knew I had given a fake name. I just had to hope they left the kids out of whatever this was.

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