Page 104 of Beneath the Surface

We’re all just lions at Thomas Wells’s circus, desperate to feel the earth under our feet; our paws chained to cold metal.

It’s hard to sit through dinner when you’re expected to eat across from a man who lives his life as though he hasn’t tattooed people’s hurt on his skin and worn it as his shield. He kisses my mother like she’s the only thing he sees, but her stare is vacant, and my heart squeezes, knowing they’re really just two hollow pieces to an empty shell.

Olivia is also here, although God knows why, silently twirling her pasta methodically around her fork. My head cocks as I take in my mother.Does she know?I assume she’d have to, what with the fact Olivia is always around.

And then another thought hits me, wondering if Olivia was the first.

If she was the last.

My blood boils even hotter, my fists clenching so tightly the silverware cuts into my hand. I’ve never wished death on anyone, but even if the life drained from his body under my hands, it wouldn’t feel like enough.

After dinner, we all separate, prisoners dismissed back to their cells. But instead of heading to my room, I walk outside, lighting up a cigarette and hiding in the shadows, waiting until Olivia leaves for the night.

It’s forty minutes later when she appears out of the side door, adjusting her top and wiping the smeared lipstick off her lips. My stomach tosses, again questioning whether I can trust her.Is she setting me up? Testing my loyalty?

Reaching out, I grip her by the shoulder, my hand covering her mouth to stifle her gasp as I push her against the brick wall.

“Ssh, it’s me,” I whisper.

Her body softens as she realizes, and she nods her head.

My hands drop to my sides as I back away. “What do you need?” I ask.

She tilts her head. “For...”

“To get them?” I lower my voice even more. “The pictures. What do you need?”

Her eyes spark in understanding. “Youneed to get them.”

A warning tingle rushes up my spine, my brows shooting to my hairline. “And how do you expect me to do that?”

She licks her lips. “I’ve known his passcode for years. It never changes, and he’s never taken me seriously enough to think I was a threat.” Her nostrils flare, jaw clenching. “I’ll distract him, and you can slip into his office and grab what we need.”

“What about the cameras?”

Her forehead wrinkles. “We’ll just have to make sure and do it right before we turn them in.”

I suck in a breath. It’s risky, but not impossible. “You’re sure they’re there?”

She nods. “He adds to them all the time.”

My stomach sours.

“But he has favorite ones. Some from when I was…” She doesn’t finish her sentence, but she doesn’t need to, I get the gist.

“And you’ll... go public?” I tilt down my head to meet her eyes, my palm gripping her arm. “You’re truly okay with that?”

“If I said I would do it, then I’ll do it, Alexander,” she hisses, ripping herself out of my hold.

I raise my hands. “I’m just making sure. It’s not like you’re making fucking cookies, Olivia. I don’t want to start this unless you’re one hundred percent in. This isimportant. This could change everything.”

Her eyes soften. “This could set us free. Both of us.”

Her hand comes up, fingers grazing against my stubble, and I jerk back, my mouth twisting at her touch. “What are you doing?”

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I just thought—”

“Well you thought wrong.” I harden my gaze, my fingers gripping at the roots of my hair. I turn toward her, pointing my finger. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

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