Page 94 of The Freedom in Captivity

The first time, when Rozelyn walked away in high school.

Then when her captivity in the basement finished.

Last night turned morning coming to an end.

And now, my employment with the Corsetti organization.

Because a rage consumes me. Ifeeldeath—hisdeath. And pain—herpain from where she lies on the ground, her towel half unwrapped, her free hand cupping her cheek as she wearily examines the scene.

Vlad realizes the exact moment he fucked up when he has to block my incoming punch. I leap on him, throwing a fist in his face, the satisfying crunch of his nose sealing my betrayal to Lorenzo and Nico. Vlad rolls to the side, lunging back, but not to attack; on the defense. His hands come up for my shoulders, blocking my next lunge, but I only have one focus.

“Flynn!” he yells. “Stop! Fucking stop, this isn’t you.”

This isn’t me because I’ve only ever been a loyal soldier.

Through the noise in my head, Vlad’s shouts, my growls, Rozelyn’s whisper rises above it all, imbedding into my head. A single word. My name.

“Flynn.”

For a moment, she wins. I pause, glancing at her, seeing the red mark blooming across her cheek and there’s nothing in this world that can stop me now, not even her.

I throw myself at Vlad again, shoving a fist toward him. This time, he blocks it.

Between the yelling or the fighting, we garnered attention and the door flies opens. I don’t bother checking; the snarl from my throat should be warning enough for whoever enters. Instead, two arms wrap around mine, wrenching me away from Vlad.

“Call Corsetti.”

Whoever’s voice that was—too lost in my head, I can’t determine who it is—it does its very intention.

I stop.

Stop fighting.

Stop betraying.

My gaze finds Rozelyn on the ground, the towel slipping up her leg as she gapes, watching the group of soldiers fighting for dominance in her room. The bath we took seems so far away, as does last night.

I glance at Vlad, crouching nearby, rubbing at his face. He doesn’t look mad, and that’s the worst fucking part. They should all despise me.

My muscles go lax against whoever’s holding me. They don’t release me, but another puts his cell on speakerphone as he makes the call.

Nico’s voice comes through right away, a slice to an already precarious moment. “Corsetti here.”

“You might want to come to Rozelyn’s room. There’s an issue.”

Rozelyn

Thirty minutes later, I find myself dressed and seated in one of two chairs in Nico Corsetti’s office. Surprisingly, not in cuffs or anything of the entrapment variety, but it doesn’t make me feel any freer, given the weight of Nico’s glare as he leans against his desk, opposite of me. If math serves correctly, I’m a year older than Nico, but with the situation and his influential glower, he makes me feel like a child.

Somewhere behind me, Flynn is standing farthest away from Nico. It’s there where Nico’s eyes flick to. “I gave you precise orders, Flynn, and you fucking betrayed themforher.”

“I know.”

No fight. No argument. Merely an agreement in a detached tone.

Nico sighs, rubbing his face. “I’ve called Rafael, Rosen, and my parents. We’re finishing thisnow.” His gaze returns to me. “Once we have your father, you will be free to go. Find your sister and do whatever the hell it is you want, as long as it’s not anywhere near my territory. You will leave Flynn alone and we can all move past this. I won’t lose my man toyou.” He spits the final word, clearly solely blaming me.

I take it with shoulders held high because Nico Corsetti will say whatever he needs to, to rationalize his own actions, and it’s not worth fighting a losing battle over.

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