Page 7 of Grit & Glamour

“We may not take hits on kids, but we do always clean up our messes. She saw your face; it’s too risky to just let her go now,” the taller one says resolutely.

“What about the boy?” the one who was originally kneeling asks.

“He found us once. He could find us again,” the other points out.

“Stop it! Stop talking about us like we’re not right here. I didn’t see your stupid face, so relax already. I didn’t try to trick you or set you up or whatever you think I did, and I really don’t know what you think my mum is involved in, but you’re mistaken. She’s evil, but she’s behind closed doors evil, not the running the mafia kind.”

“Behind closed doors evil?” one of them echoes, and I’m not even sure which one anymore.

“Yes. I had to get rid of her to protect my little brother, that’s all I know,” I plead, praying that by some miracle they’ll believe me and set us free.

“He doesn’t look that little. Why does he need his older sister to protect him from a tiny rich woman?” the tall one with the firm voice asks.

I feel defensiveness rush through me, and a million words want to pour from my mouth to defend my bother. I swallow them, now isn’t the time to be a smartass. I need to concentrate on getting us out of here alive. Appealing a little to whatever humanity these men may have can’t hurt.

“Have you noticed he hasn’t said anything? Not even so much as a shout or scream?” I ask. Not waiting for an answer, I continue, “Caleb doesn’t really talk much around strangers, especially in difficult or stressful situations. He’s shy, okay? And he needs me.” I pause, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm my nerves. “Whoever screwed you guys by ruining the hit or whatever, they screwed me too. They screwed me and my brother out of any chance of a happy escape from this mess. We’re not your enemy here. I hired you guys to kill my mother, for fucks sake! I’m not looking to have you arrested or identify you. Hell, I’d just get arrested right alongside you.”

I pause after my outburst, staring at each of the masked faces as they seem to deliberate in silence amongst themselves. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice one of them making covert hand signals, hiding his hand behind his leg. Not that seeing it does me much good, I could make more sense out of ancient Latin than I did that.

“We let them live for now, and then we’ll discuss this in the morning when we’re all thinking straight,” the leader, despite whatever he claims, announces. “We have a camping bed that we can set up in a spare room for your brother to sleep on, you’ll have to take the floor though,” he instructs.

“Fine, but I want to make sure wherever you’re keeping my brother is okay. He needs access to a bathroom, water, a blanket, and some food,” I demand, not afraid to ask for necessities on his behalf.

“He’ll get whatever he’s given,” he barks back.

“Please,” I beg, not having any other cards left to play. “I’m not asking for anything for myself, but my brother, I need to make sure he’s okay. He gets stressed out easily.” I spare a glance at my brother, who is sitting deadly still not speaking. He’s gone into what I refer to as vacant mode. If I didn’t know him and his behaviours, I might even be worried he was dead because of how motionless he sits.

“We’ll make sure he’s okay,” the newcomer says, drawing my attention with the comfort I hear in his voice. I look up, gazing into his brown eyes through the slits in his mask. “We had a sister, she got stressed out from things easily like he does too. We won’t hurt him. He didn’t see any of our faces up close. No matter what happens, I promise we’ll find a way to let him go and get him to safety.”

“We?” I question, my brain tripping over that little detail. The guy who knelt in front of me before coughs, and my head turns towards him. His height, his body-shape, and even the colour of his eyes through the slits on his mask, they’re all identical to the other man. The two of them are twins. I file that little nugget of information away in my brain, just in case it’s useful later.

“That’s enough questions.” The taller man grunts, while moving closer towards me. It takes everything I have not to flinch away from his touch as he releases me from the chair, taking his time and untying one knot at a time. My hands stay bound however, and I feel oddly restricted as I stand up under his direction.

The twins lead my brother from the room without another word, leaving me staring after him even after the door closes. After a few seconds, I realise I’m stuck in here. Trapped in this room alone with the taller man. I feel my body tense all over, preparing to defend myself as the awareness rushes through me.

“Relax,” he mutters, sensing my distress. He places a hand on the small of my back and pushes me forward towards the door. “I’m not that kind of bad guy.”

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