Page 111 of Orion Ruined

This morning, after one of my wildest ever nights with my boys, I wake up alone in bed.

I know they had to go, each rushing to his own family when the message came on their cells. Milan has done something again, this time big. They wouldn’t tell me what. I didn’t want to know.

They shot out in a hurry and left me naked in my bed, the door still slightly ajar, and now the aroma of freshly-made coffee reaches me and is what actually makes me get up. It smells divine.

I hear someone shuffling about downstairs in the kitchen, making noise. Maybe Orion asked Lisa to make me something to eat. I’ve told her so many times I can make food for myself. And for everyone else. She doesn’t need to cook for me, or do anything for me any longer. Orion just doesn’t listen.

I head down in my cami and panties. Lisa’s seen me wearing skimpy clothes plenty of times before. I was woken up too early, and coffee is what I need.

Following the scent into the kitchen, I head for the coffee pot. The fridge door’s open, concealing Lisa behind it, who must be deliberating on what to cook for breakfast.

“Good morning.” I pour myself a cup, take a large gulp, and cringe at the bitterness and smoky flavors that attack my taste buds. This coffee is vile!

I look up to see a man’s hairy hand holding the fridge door, closing it slowly to reveal the person standing behind it.

I freeze. My heart pounds in my throat. The cup I’m holding slips from my fingers, but the loud crash when it hits the floor doesn’t even make me flinch. I–am–dead–already.

“Good morning, Maisy.” The barbed, nauseating voice I hoped never to hear again. His fat, rounded physique has become more revolting, his thinned hair combed to the side. The greasy face is the same. It’s always been his signature look.

My worst nightmare, Milan the Dog, is standing in front of me. I’m locked in place, pinned by his narrow, bloodshot, amber eyes with dilated pupils that glow with triumph. Although, he never used to have dark circles under his eyes. We must’ve been giving him a run for his money. Exhaustion is what I see in his face. But what scares me most is the creepy absence of emotion.

“Surprised to see me?” His raised eyebrows suggest doubt, albeit false.

How did he get in here? Will Orion storm in and save me? Where are Kai and Logan right now?

I blink a few times. Then blink some more. Insecurity and anxiety take over my every pore. He has me cornered.

“Milan,” I whisper. More to myself, than to him.

“Rosey made me come. She said you’ve been looking for her.” He takes a sip of his coffee and regards me closely for a few moments. “She’s alive, you know that, right?”

After what seems like staring at me for an eternity, he continues nonchalantly to pour me another cup while carefully avoiding the broken one on the floor. “You must try the coffee I made. What you’ve had here’s below par, don’t you think?”

“R-Rosey?”

“Yes. Your sister.” He passes me the cup. “Take it. Drink.”

“Where is she?” I demand, ignoring the offering. It’s my right to know where Rosey is.

He shrugs, and sets the cup down again. “Rosey? In my house. She’s perfectly fine. In fact, she wants to see you.”

“Stop lying, you piece of shit! Where is she? I want to see her!” I take a step forward, wanting to threaten him, although I know that could happen only in my dreams. But the fact that I’m in Orion’s house gives me strength.

“Great, because as I said, she wants to see you too. And I’m more than happy to send her your way. For good, this time. Except,” He takes a swig of his coffee and swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing disgustingly under the wrinkled skin of his neck. “It’ll cost you. And if you can’t pay, I’ll kill her.”

“You do that, and I’ll kill you myself!” I try to spit back with venom, although I don’t even believe myself. My threats are weak. I’d do anything for Rosey.

“You’ll kill me? Haha. Please, sweetie. Check yourself.”

“Milan, please, I haven’t seen Rosey in years. Please.” Uninvited tears fill my eyes and roll down my face, out of my control. She’s so near I practically feel her, and he’s doing the same thing as always, blackmailing me. I take another step, this time to grab his arm, to plead my case, to show him the pain in my heart. “Please, don’t kill her. I’ll do anything. Anything. You know me.”

“Tomorrow, at noon, be at Gianini’s on 34th and 6th Street. Make sure the Delgado, Vitali, and Carte heads are with you. Park at the back, inside the alleyway.”

“Wh-what are you going to do?” The words taste like tar on my tongue as I suddenly realize what’s he asking me.

“Bring them with you, and don’t worry about the rest. I’ll send Rosey to you. You can go wherever you want with her, I don’t care. I hear she’s saved quite a lot of money, too, so your lives could actually work out.”

Rosey saved money, for us? I know her. I know what she’s been thinking. I’d do the same. Gianini’s, that’s one of Kai’s places. He talked about it before. Could I do it? For Rosey?

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