Page 25 of The Freedom in Captivity

Summer’s night air washes over me like a tepid bath. Nothing as hot as the daytime, but not the cool hints of fall that’ll be on us in another month or so. All thoughts of Rozelyn are wiped away by the accompanying breeze as I drop onto the top stone step. The night sky is a deep blue, the stars twinkling in no apparent pattern, and the crescent moon above us bright and bold.

I scowl at the giant lit-up rock. Even fucking nature is taunting me.

To cool the irritation inside me, I’d fucking love a smoke right now, missing the way the nicotine always eased my nerves. I quit after high school though. After she told me goodbye, every cigarette included a memory of her playful expressions of disgust, and they hurt. Quitting and experiencing the nicotine withdrawal was better than reliving those memories.

Countless times over the years, I’ve debated about taking the habit up again, but I never have. Something always seems to stop me before I can walk into the store to buy a new pack, which has been fucking annoying.

At the same time a bird squawks nearby, the large front doors behind me open, and someone steps out of the house. It’s most likely Nico, having spotted me on the cameras, but then I note how the footsteps aren’t as heavy.

Black heels enter my vision, peeking out from her usual pantsuit, which costs more money than what I have in my bank account. Regardless of the rich material, Caterina Corsetti lowers herself onto the step beside me, her arms wrapping around her knees.

Somehow, I know what she’s about to say before she does. From the moment she found me between the two buildings, Caterina’s heart has been undeniably large toward me.

With knowing eyes, she gazes at me. “Can’t sleep?”

“You’re here late,” I state instead.

“Enzo’s in with Nico,” she explains, answering the earlier curiosity of who Nico was talking to. “Rafael found Maurice’s daughter, but she’s led to more questions than answers. They’re debriefing on a few things.” She pauses. “Between you and me, Enzo’s readying to step down completely, but before he does, he wants to get Nico’s plan of action. I think he feels like he’s doing his due diligence by triple checking Nico’s leadership.”

Nico is a great leader. Much like his father in that, and in all my years working and training with Lorenzo, he’s been unfailing. In recent months, all the soldiers have noticed that he’s been allowing Nico more command and control, and while I’m used to Lorenzo’s leadership, I also look forward to Nico’s.

“Saw you walk by the office,” Caterina continues. “Besides, if there was any soldier stalking the hallways at this time of night, it’d be you.”

Caterina knows a lot about me. Over the years, it was easier to lower my walls with her. Maybe she found me at the right time, or maybe she just knows what to say. Either way, I’m comfortable with her.

“Can’t sleep?” she repeats her earlier question.

“Nightmare.”

Her lips press together and she glances away from me. She tucks her golden hair behind an ear, her gaze going toward her feet. She might know me, but I also recognize her behaviours, and she’s biting something back.

“Just say it.”

“Nico told us what you admitted. Rozelyn De Falco isher?”

Over the years with the Corsettis, I slowly opened up to Caterina about my childhood, and everything leading up to the day they found me, which included high school and my single year with Rozelyn. I never gave them a name though. First, last, none of it mattered. She left me; therefore, she didn’t deserve to be named in my recounting.

“You loved her once.”

“Loved,” I emphasize the final letter. “Past tense being the key.” My eyes cut to Caterina, a tenseness knotting my shoulders. “But yes, that’s who Rozelyn was. I didn’t know because she went by Rozelyn Bray back then.”

“Flynn, I’m—”

“She was a lie. Everything back then was a fucking lie. I was a game to her. She told me as much when she broke up with me. Someone to amuse herself with as she partied in the slums, away from her princess life.”

Caterina shifts, almost looking uncomfortable. She maintains the two feet of distance between us, an unspoken length she knows I feel okay with. “You don’t know that for a fact. She might have—”

For the second time, I interrupt her, something others wouldn’t dare do. “What—loved me in return?” I scoff, shaking my head, staring down the long road making up the Corsetti driveway. It’s pitch black, the lights having been switched off for the night.

“Maybe,” Caterina replies in a soft tone, which only sets my teeth on edge. “Look who her father is. We don’t know what happened back then.”

“You sound like Della. I don’t really care to, to be honest.”

“This isn’t you, Flynn.”

Ignoring her, I add, “She’s Nico’s problem. Once she reveals her secrets, he decides what to do with her. If he orders her death, I’ll do it.”So why does the flash of her lifeless eyes gazing at me churn my stomach and send a murderous rage through my bones?“If she gets to go free, then I’ll turn my back to ensure I don’t shoot her in hers when she goes.”

Caterina makes a sound of disapproval in her throat, and finally murmurs, “I don’t believe you’d do either of those things. Nico said you wouldn’t be allowing your emotions to hinder your job.”

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