Page 53 of Concealed Deception

Miles is waiting upstairs for me when I reach the basement door.“That was fa… fucking hell, what’d you do to him?”he asks, shocked at my current appearance.

“About that.I’ll organize someone to come clean the mess up.No one will know what happened by the time they’re finished.”I try to walk past Miles, but Wes comes up behind him, stopping me.

“Are you going to be a problem?”I ask the ex-soldier.They’re all easy to pick.They have the same discipline and stance.The only difference between all the men I know who’ve come from a military background is their facial expressions differ from the other.The harder their stare, the more likely they’ve already been to Hell and back.

“I think he’s telling you, you can’t leave looking like that.We have a bathroom for cases like this.Come on, I’ll show you the way, and I’m sure you came prepared with a clean suit.”His smirk tells me he knew I was going to unleash an inferno downstairs.He mustn’t have expected just how much blood I’d allow myself to be covered in.

My things are brought to me before we reach the bathroom—correction, washdown room.There’s not a thing in here other than a rubbish bin and towels lining the back of the door.There’s not a vanity or all the fluffy shit you normally find cluttering the space.The floor slopes off to the opposite end of the room, and I can understand this isn’t their first rodeo.

I do what I have to do to clean up, because the next thing I want to do is go home and surround myself with the one good thing to come of my life.

It took all of thirty minutes for the clean-up crew to arrive and make the cell the cleanest it’s probably ever been.Hats off to bleach and whatever else they use.

“Will you stop pouting,” I scorn Tony as he acts like a fucking child.

“You didn’t let me in on the fun,” he complains.

I turn to Miles, who’s sitting at his desk.“Ava wants to see Quinn.”I might as well get the last of my business with him out of the way while we’re here.

Miles affirms my request.“She’s been asking after Ava, too.I think letting them see each other is a good idea before Quinn is sent home and reunited with her family.I have some paperwork I need to sort out here before I can leave, otherwise I’m happy for her to catch a ride with you.I’ll just come by when I’m done to pick her up.”

“Stop treating her like a child,” Tony pipes up.“We’ll take her to Ava.Xander, let's go.”He gets up to leave.

“What’s wrong with Tony?”Miles asks.

“I stole his candy.”

Miles barks with laughter at my comment, and I, too, can see the amusing side.

“Come on, let’s get Quinn so I can get your crazy ass man-child out of my building.”

I think he’s having too much fun at Tony’s expense, but I let it go as Tony brought it upon himself.

“Let's get this sorted so I can get home.”

Quinn wasn’t the least bit hesitant when Miles told her she was coming with us to visit Ava.In fact, she jumped from the sofa in her room and latched her arms around me.

“Thank you, sir.Thank you.”

I’m most uncomfortable as she nearly strangles my midsection.I manage to pry her off me and look her over.Her black hair is long and tattered at the ends.Her skin is sunken into her bones, making her look malnourished, which she may well be, then there’s her brown eyes that bore into mine like I’m some kind of God.I turn my head to Miles silently, asking if this is normal, which he answers with a nod.

“How long were you in the hands of my father?”It’s the only answer I need to know.The rest speaks for itself.The men that held her captive were a different brand of evil.Miles already told me they did to her what they did to the others.

“Six years.”She slinks away, turning so I can’t witness the nightmares behind her eyes.Similar to the ones Ava’s been having.

“Let’s get you to Ava.”

Thirty

Ava

It’s going to take some time to find myself after what happened.I go through waves of good and bad moments; mostly bad.Lacey hasn’t left my side when Xander needs to go out on business, and Knox has been outside the door every time Vince has to leave with them.

“I honestly thought I was okay when I left the hospital, Lacey.None of the flashbacks or nightmares were happening.I was whole.Now who am I?”I pick up the coffee cup she brought me and take a sip of the earthly, bitter goodness.

“You’re the same strong and independent woman you’ve always been.What happened to you doesn’t mean you’re any less weak than before.Remember this, they can’t drag you down anymore because you defeated them.No one expects you to hold your head above water after that, and we’re here to stop you from drowning in the memories if that’s what’s necessary to help you find your way back.”Lacey pats my knee.Her connection drives home the support network I have surrounding me.

“Every night Xander wakes me because I’m either thrashing in bed or lashing out at him.I barely remember half of the dreams I’m having, and I refuse to take the pills the doctor gave me in fear I’ll go through the withdrawal process all over again,” I admit.

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