Page 129 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“If you don’t come and get dressed, then you won’t get to see James later.”

I shot out of my dad’s lap, running towards my mum.

“No, please. I want to see James.”

She took my hand.

“Come along then, pancakes will be ready soon.”

“Will Dante be at James’ when we go?”

She smiled at me as we walked out of my dad’s office together.

“I’m sure he will.”

“He owes me a new Lego set.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Does he now?”

“Yes. He promised to get me one for my birthday.”

“Well, I’m sure he will if you’re a good girl.”

I heard my dad chuckling as we walked out the door.

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I took a shaky step forward, trying to remind myself that was the past. I couldn’t get lost in it. At that moment, all I wanted was my best friend. He’d understand why this hurt me so much. Dredging up memories I wanted to forget. What he didn’t know was what happened that night in the kitchen. He didn’t know I’d watched them die.

I could do this without James. I could do this without Aiden. I had to stand on my own two feet.

I approached the first filing cabinet and pulled open a drawer. It would take time to go through the contents of these. I had no idea where he’d have put the paperwork.

The office was littered with paper by the time I found the folder. My dad had always been one for keeping hard copies rather than relying on computers. I’d found some useful documents other than my trust fund paperwork. I piled up everything I needed into the bag I’d brought with me and carefully put everything else back in its place. I didn’t want to stay here any longer than I had to, so I’d read it back at Aiden’s.

I shut the office door behind me and walked back down the hallway into the lift. I looked at the portrait of my family one last time before the doors closed. This place could burn to the ground for all I cared. At least I would never have to relive those memories again.

When I reached the car, John got out and opened the passenger door for me.

“Did you get what you needed?”

“Yes, I think so.”

I strapped myself in and turned to look out the window. I didn’t really want to make small talk. The lingering fear I felt at being back there still threatened to break me. I wasn’t going to let it. Those memories couldn’t hurt me now.

John thankfully left me to my own thoughts. He dropped me off outside Aiden’s flat, waiting until I got through the door before he drove away. I trudged through the front door a few minutes later. I popped the bag of documents on the kitchen counter before taking off my coat and kicking off my shoes. I hung the coat up on the rack before I walked down the hallway. I came to a standstill when I noticed the cell door was open.

What the fuck?

I approached it cautiously, peering around the doorway. Two women were huddled together in the corner. They were barely clothed and had bruises all over their bodies. They both looked at me, fear in their expressions.

Why were these women here? And where the hell was my boyfriend?

“Aiden, why are there two women in our flat?” I called out.

I stepped away from the door, looking down the hall towards the living room.

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