Page 81 of Psychological War

Peeking out from my eyelashes, I almost laughed at the sight of the big bad Dimitri sitting across from the bed I was lying on. For the first time I truly looked at him. His hair was a bit longer on top than the side, and his blue eyes bored into my own. I wasn’t sure why he was here, but whatever it was couldn’t necessarily be good.

“Is this going to be a long conversation or one where I need a drink?” I asked, finding more courage than I had. My body hurt, and I wanted to ask where I was. Along with a million other questions but the only one that I found myself truly wanting to know was if Zane was okay.

He chuckled before actually giving me a gentle smile. “I could get us one. That’s if you want one.” He shrugged, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. I felt unprepared for whatever he planned on doing.

“Let’s not take this the wrong way but I wouldn’t trust you not to put drugs in it.” I tried my best to sit up. Wincing, pain shot from all different spots in my body.

“None taken,” he muttered, watching me as I tried to find a comfortable spot. After trying for what seemed like the hundredth time I couldn’t, so I laid back blowing raspberries.

“Are you here for something, or did you just plan to stare at me creepily?” I finally snapped after him not saying anything to me.

“What happened when they took him?” he asked. “And you,” he added.

“I killed them, got him out, in the end,” I stated. I didn’t want to think back to that night that I let myself lose control. Every kill I knew what the outcome was. It was me or them. I wasn’t going to let them take anything else from me. But Carlos's brother? That was a completely different story. Tobias was there. Because of me.

“Cut the shit, Salem, I want to know. Why does my own fucking son hate me? What the fuck did you do to him?” Dimitri yelled at me.

“First off, you do not yell atme.Second off, why don’t you ask him? And seriously, Dimitri, I never made Tobias do anything, let alone hate you.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I hid the pain that shot from my side. I watched as Dimitri stood from the chair before walking over to me, standing over my bed.

“Salem, if I have to torture you to figure out what happened, I will,” he smirked.

Did I actually believe he would torture me? Yes.

No matter what he knew, he didn’t care about me. I was nothing but someone who warmed his best friend's bed.

Taking a deep breath, I stopped glaring at him. I had no idea why Dimitri would think Tobias hated him. Out of the times we’ve talked, he only told me he cared for his father. He didn’t want to disappoint him. Even for a four year old, it made me sad. I wanted to find Tobias myself, wrap him up, and tell him everything would be okay. But I couldn’t.

I was no one.

“Aaron smacked him, that’s it,” I said. Turning my head towards the window, I didn’t know where I was actually going, but I needed a breather from him.

“Don’t look away from me,” he growled.

“I am not Mila! You have no right to yell at me like I’m your fucking wife or your child!” I wanted to yell more, but my throat began to close up. I don’t know what it was, but I could stay quiet around those left of my family. But the moment Dimitri and his bunch showed up I opened my mouth like a fool.

“What happened to you?” he asked me. “The doctor gave me a full report on your injuries, so just fucking tell me yourself. What did they do to you!”

“GOD!” I lost it. I yanked the IV from my hand and swung my legs over the side. I had no idea what I was doing, but I couldn’t stay here and take him yelling at me like a child. I ignored the pain as I got to my feet. Walking over to the dresser I pulled out whatever clothes were in there. “You’re so fucking impossible, you know?” I yelled. “They tortured me, okay.”

I watched as his eyes shifted from anger to something different. I’m not even entirely sure what emotion he was having, but that didn’t stop me.

Shoving my legs into the sweatpants, I said, “They think I’m working with you. They think I’m your hired assassin. He’s angry I killed his brother. They took and tortured me for four, maybe five days. They cut me, burned me, fucking broke my bones, they fucking did everything you can imagine to me!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I didn’t even think. I whipped the hospital gown off and shoved my arms through a random t-shirt from Tyler's guest room. “I wouldn’t tell them anything, I was so ready to give up. I was ready to finally be done until they brought him in.” The tears were like a fucking flood gate at this point. “They dragged him into the room, laughed at him. Tobias pissed himself, and they laughed, telling us they were going to rough him up. They were going to make me watch as they tortured your fucking son. I snapped. I don’t even remember it. I blacked out. I told Tobias to close his eyes and when I came to, they were all dead. Aaron, his guards, all of them dead.” Taking a deep breath, I wiped my cheeks, refusing to let him see me cry anymore. “Then we walked out. He walked for the first two miles, but he was tired. So I carried him. I carried your son until I found a car that I could hot-wire. I carried your son with a fractured foot, broken ribs, and on the verge of dying myself. So if you ask yourself if I care for your son, I do. Ask yourself why he hates you.”

“Sal—”

“No, he doesn’t hate you. He’s hurting, he witnesses more than a four year old should ever see. I’m so sorry I was brought into your life. I should have stayed away, I knew I should have. I’m sorry for my part in this. But I will not apologize for killing them. They will all fucking die, Dimitri. So I think it’s better if you just get the fuck out and forget me. I won’t be seeing Tobias anymore, so fix your relationship with him.”

Walking to the bedroom door, I opened it, motioning for him to leave. Dropping his shoulders he walked to me, opening his mouth to say something else. Instead I held my hand up, not wanting to hear anything else he had to say. I already cried in front of this man, opening up more than I ever wanted to.

So I watched as Dimitri walked out of the door, and after I slammed it shut, I broke. My knees hit the tile floor, and I felt the warmth of my tears draining down my face. I cried for Tobias, the one who didn’t deserve any of this. I cried for the man I loved walking out of my life. I cried for my family who deserved to live and were taken too early.

I cried for myself.

***

One month later

I gritted my teeth as I poured a cup of coffee. It should not take this much effort to pour anything. But this time around my body was taking longer to heal.

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