Page 64 of Forever Filthy

“What do you think our chances of getting out of here alive are?” Tate’s softly spoken question pulls me from my inner turmoil.

I release a loud sigh and lull my head to the side, I can just make out her silhouette. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure both you and David get out of here.” My stomach twists, not knowing if David is safe or if he is actually here is making me feel sick with worry. The old man has become someone I truly care about and dare say… been a father figure I never knew I wanted or needed. He has always been by my side and trusted in me to make the right choices and lead The Brotherhood in the rightdirection. Now he may face a fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone I care about.

“You’ll be fine, you have money and a family that will want you back.” The edge of bitterness I hear in her tone has me feeling sorry for her and the situation she is in. I may fight and bicker with my mom and brother but I can’t imagine not having them. Family means everything to me.

“I won’t leave you Tate, I promise.”

“Yeah, everyone always promises not to leave until they do.” I reach over and place my hand on her arm, choosing to ignore how she flinches.

“I’m not everyone and I will never leave you.”

“You don’t even know me, Vivian!” she bites out in a harsh tone.

“Then tell me.”

“Why, because now you suddenly care?”

I balk at her cruelness. “Tate, I have always cared about you.”

“No, you have just cared about how I run your hotel. You and I aren’t friends, you’re my boss.”

“Fine. I admit I have done a shitty job of proving to you that you are more to me than just an employee. But, there is so much more happening that you don’t understand.”

“Given the fucking situation we are both in, I believe I deserve the truth.” I debate for a half second about telling her everything, then decide she is right.

“What I am about to tell you is going to blow your mind and you cannot tell anyone about this. I mean it Tate, not a fucking single soul.”

“I swear.” So, I tell her everything about the Saints and who Thomas is and what he has done. I even told her about Alexander and the deal I made with him. The part I struggled with was admitting that the masked men are my brother and myguys. To my shock, learning about the Filthy Few shocked her more than anything else.

“You see, someone will find us. I made sure of it, we just have to survive until they arrive,” I say quietly.

“Jesus Christ, of all the towns I could have run to, I chose the wrong freaking one!” Tate exclaims.

I snort. “Yeah. Hollow Hills isn’t exactly what everyone thinks it is, especially if you have a certain last name.”

“So you and this Alex guy and the Filthy Few plan to kill every Valerian?” The hint of… remorse I hear in her tone staggers me for a second until I realize not everyone is used to murder like most of us.

“Yeah, it's the only way to be sure that we will all be safe. Alex’s terms were clear, he helps me with Thomas and I make sure the Filthy Few don’t touch Nexus.”

“Does this guy Nexus know about all of this?”

Something in her tone puts me on edge. “Yes. He knew from the moment I banished the guys and his father that his end was coming, he just doesn’t know it won’t be by the hands of the man who’s sister he drugged, raped and murdered.”

A soft whimper escapes her. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I ask.

“I just… Vivian, I lied,” she blurts the last part.

“About what?”

“I’m not twenty-three.”

My brows raise. “How old are you?”

“Seventeen,” she whispers.

“What the fuck!” I shout.

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