Page 17 of High Stakes

“I'm not some frail old woman, and your daughter is still down there until I say otherwise.” Nathan pushes off my desk.

“Now get out,” I snarl, anger boiling inside me. Nathan stumbles back, his face twisting with his anger and grief.

“She is not your enemy!”

“That's for me to decide. Now, I said, get out!” He turns and leaves without another word.

The silence he leaves behind feels suffocating. My mind races, images of Fallon—her lifeless eyes, her robotic movements—burned into my memory. The realization of what I’ve done, of who I’ve become, claws at me. With a trembling hand, I grab my keys and storm out of the office. The drive home is a blur, the engine’s roar barely drowning out the chaos in my head.

I slam the car door shut and stride into the house, each step fueled by a mixture of anger and guilt. I go straight to the kitchen, searching for a lightbulb. Stealing one from a lamp, unsure where Maria keeps the rest, I head for the basement.

At the door, I hesitate for a moment, then descend into the darkness. I unlock her door and step inside. She jumps, squinting at me, then sighs, assuming I’m here for the usual routine. She scoots down the bed, spreading her legs in resigned expectation.

I ignore her. Moving to the center of the room, I fumble as I screw the lightbulb back in place. The click of the switch echoes in the cold, empty space as I test the light once then flick it off again.

I leave without a word, closing the door softly behind me. My heart hammers in my chest, the adrenaline still surging. I lean against the wall, holding my breath, listening.

A flicker—a small sound—the soft click of the switch.

And then, the sobbing starts.

Her cries seep through the cracks, a sound of brokenness that pierces me. Each sob tears through me, knowing the terror I’ve inflicted on her. Her tears are acid, stripping away any veneer of control and power I thought I had.

There’s no dominance here. No strength.

Only cruelty. Only cowardice.

Milo was right. I am a fucking coward.

As her sobs continue, unrelenting, I realize the darkness I’ve forced upon Fallon is nothing compared to the blackness swallowing my soul. Sliding down the wall, I bury my head in my hands.

Seven

Milo

The glow of the surveillance monitors cast eerie shadows across the walls as I watch Fallon huddled on the bed in the basement. She is still wearing the same shirt Leone gave her, and her itchy blanket is wrapped tightly around her as she tries to remain warm. I hate how Leone keeps her locked up like this, but there’s nothing I can do about it without risking both our lives. The cameras give me some sense of control over the situation, even if it’s just an illusion. I am at my wit’s end and unsure how much of this torment I can take.

As I monitor the screens, I sit up when Leone returns home. He rummages around in the kitchen and then heads to the basement. I watch Leone enter the basement, holding a lightbulb in his hand. My heart races, wondering what he’s planning. He replaces the bulb he took with a new one, and the room is suddenly flooded with light. It’s a small mercy. At least she won’t be engulfed in darkness any longer, and I can see her better now.

Leone leaves the basement, flicking the light off, then hovers by the door as if listening in. I watch as Fallon waits a few seconds, expecting it to be some trick. After a couple of tense moments, she rushes over and flicks the light on. Fallon then collapses to her knees on the cold concrete floor, sobbing uncontrollably. It’s gut-wrenching to see her like this. What unnerves me more is the sight of Leone in the hallway outside the basement. He looks distraught, something I’ve never seen before, as he slides down the wall onto his ass and puts his head in his hands. I don’t understand what could have shaken him so much.

I head down to the basement, trying to keep my steps quiet and measured so as not to alarm Fallon. When I reach the bottom, I find Leone still on the ground, staring blankly at the door opposite him. I squeeze his shoulder gently, keeping my voice low so Fallon doesn’t know I’m here. “You okay, boss?”

Leone doesn’t answer for a moment, lost in his thoughts. Then, without a word, he gets up and walks away, leaving me alone in the cold basement. I watch after him, concerned. This is the most emotion I have received from him in ages. Something has set him off, making me wonder what happened at work tonight. Whatever happened has affected him deeply, and I can’t shake the feeling it’s only the beginning of something much darker.

Before returning to the surveillance room, I press my ear against the door, straining to hear any sound from Fallon. All I can hear is my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, drowning out everything else.

Back in the surveillance room, I keep my eyes glued to the screen, watching Fallon as she moves around the now-illuminated basement. She doesn’t turn off the light, and I can’t blame her after all that time spent in darkness. As much as I worry about her, I know there’s nothing more I can do right now.All I can do is watch and wait, hoping somehow, things will get better for her and Leone comes to his senses before it’s too late.

Later that night,the house is eerily quiet, and I can’t keep my eyes off Fallon through the surveillance cameras. I spend most of my time here, often falling asleep in the chair. The darkness has settled in like a thick fog outside, mirroring the heavy atmosphere within these walls. Her prison cell is lit up; even while sleeping, she left the light on. My chest feels tight; I know I shouldn’t be watching her like this, yet something compels me to make sure she’s safe. I want to go to her, Yet, I know by doing so, the moment I open the door, it will alert Leone and make things worse.

However, when she stirs, I sit up straighter. She moves into the fetal position. Her squirming continues, showing her discomfort even in her sleep “Damn it, Leone,” I mutter under my breath, my eyes glued to the screen as she wakes. She pulls the blanket back, peering underneath like something is wrong. My brows furrow as she gets up and moves to the toilet in the corner of the room. I avert my gaze. I can’t offer her much privacy, but not staring at her right now is the least I can do.

Listening to the audio, I hear the toilet flush when suddenly she breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably. My heart catches in my throat, and I can’t stand it any longer. She is clearly in pain by the way she curls back up on the cold bed. I get up from my chair, my back aching from sitting so long, and grab another blanket from the linen cupboard. I head down the hall before my mind even registers what I’m doing. I trot downstairs and head into the basement. Reaching her door, I stop, unsure how I am going to get in without Leone.

“Fallon?” I tap gently on the door, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine.” Her voice cracks, raw with emotion. “Please, go away.”

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