Page 123 of Betrayed in the Dark
“We don’t know. There haven’t been any demands made yet, which is…unsettling.”
I glance around the room. “Well, what are we doing? You can make a call, right? There must be someone you can contact to get him out of there and bring him home.”
Mauro comes up to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder. When I look up into his eyes, I know I’m not about to hear the answer I want.
Leo approaches my other side. “It’s not that simple, Mad—”
“What do you mean, it’s not that simple? We are the Alaries.” My eyes dart back to Vin, pleading with him. “Make the call, Vin.”
“We don’t have any connections in Iraq,” he answers. “This is a level even we can’t interfere with for fear of making the situation worse.”
“Make the call!” I scream, barely recognizing my voice.
The room goes silent.
My brothers glance at each other as if my outburst has answered an age-old question. As if, after all this time, their suspicion regarding me and Eli has been confirmed.
And normally, I would deflect their accusatory glances. I would scoff at their insinuation. I would do everything in my power to protect our secret.
But I’m in too much pain to care.
I’m paralyzed by everything around me as I process Vin’s words.
Eli’s missing.
We don’t have any connections in Iraq.
They watch me cautiously, waiting for me to shatter into a million pieces.
But I won’t break in front of them.
My mom’s arm wraps around my shoulders. “I know this must be difficult for you to understand, sweetheart. It’s hard forall of us. Eli’s a part of this family. He’s one of us. But while we wait for an update, why don’t we—”
I don’t give her a chance to finish her thought as I remove myself from her hold and storm out of the room.
“Madeleine!”
“Let her go, Vin. She needs space,” I hear Alex say.
I return to my house, throw open the door, and rush into the living room. My fingers shake as I grab the remote, pressing button after button until I find the channel I need.
“Breaking news,” the woman reporter on the TV screen announces. “A soldier who was declared missing in action in Iraq is now believed to be a part of an ongoing hostage situation. Although the demands are not yet known, authorities are working to gather more information.”
I drop to the floor, tears smearing my vision.
This can’t be happening.
I let out a sob, my hands clutching my stomach.
This can’t be real.
This is just a nightmare.
One fucked-up nightmare I can’t escape from.
But it’s not.
It’s reality.
