Page 2 of Ruthless Vengeance
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks.
I have to swallow down the bile that burns my throat as I consider the fact that my brother could be working for the man who is keeping me imprisoned, who kidnappedZoe.
Ben takes another step toward me, and I crawl back onto the mattress.
My brother has always been intimidating, with his tall frame and muscular build, but it seems he’s put on a large amount of muscle while in prison.
His eyes glint. “Or that no one bothered to warn you.”
Warn me.
A chill runs down my spine as I think of the phone call from the penitentiary. Could I somehow have prevented all of this fromhappening if I had just had the nerve to answer the damn phone? The thought has a sob building in my throat as I think of Marco and Zoe.
All this time, I was worried about getting caught up with Marco’s family when it was mine that was the threat all along.
How could I have been so blind?
My eyes flick to the open door, and then back to Ben.
Even if I was fast enough to get past him, I have no doubt that there will be someone a lot more terrifying waiting for me on the other side.
Even with an escape route in sight, I’m more trapped than ever.
“You’re clearly not here to help me, so what do you want?”
Ben strolls over to the far wall and drags his finger across the peeling paint.
I can’t help but notice a few stark white scars etched into the skin of his hands.
“Let’s just say I’m repaying a debt.”
I swallow hard.
What the hell has Ben gotten himself into?
“Are you working with these men?”
Ben doesn’t bother answering, so I don’t press for more details, knowing that whatever comes out of his mouth will likely be a lie.
I watch him as he continues to trace lines along the wall, my chest aching with an old pain I thought I buried years ago.
Somehow, he has aged decades while simultaneously holding on to some of his boyish youth.
When memories creep into my mind, and I think of my brother, that’s how I think of him—young and carefree, not yet hardened by the world.
I used to wonder if things would be different once he got out of prison, if losing so many precious years to a jail cell would change him for the better. But as I look at my brother now, at the cold rage in his eyes, I realize that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
He’s changed, yes, but for the worse.
“Whatever you’re caught up in, Ben, I promise there is another way out. You don’t need to do this?—”
“It doesn’t work like that Clara.”
“You don’t know that. If you just let me, I could help you.”
“Help me.” He scoffs. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
My lower lip trembles as I fight back tears.
