Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

SEVEN

It isn’t until I duck into the large shopping mall several blocks away from the Roi de Pique that I finally let myself breathe.

I know I look like a mess, with a blotchy face and reddened eyes— you don’t look very pretty when you cry, baby.

I shudder, hugging my arms against my chest as that familiar voice permeates my thoughts. I shouldn’t have cried.

Of course, I shouldn’t have run away once, let alone twice, and crying and carrying electronics will be the least of my concerns if Raymond gets his massive paws on me again.

When .

I try to work through my thoughts, to focus on the here and now instead of on what could happen.

I wipe my eyes and duck into a clothing store. There are several other people in the store, and while the attendant is busy with one of them, I grab a handful of shirts and pants from the rack and take them into the changing rooms. I change into new clothes, then pull the old ones on over them.

When I’m satisfied that the new clothes aren’t visible, I head out, placing the extras onto the rack.

No alarms go off when I leave the store. I find a bathroom and remove the Roi de Pique branded clothes, leaving me with just the new stuff.

Good thing I haven’t forgotten how to do this. It had taken me a few attempts the first time to figure out how to sneak clothes out without anybody noticing. The alarms had freaked me out early on, but I learned to avoid clothes with the electronic tags on them, and I’d spent a few hours wandering stores to see how other people behaved.

It had taken two months before I could walk into a store without anyone giving me weird looks.

At least I’d figured out that restaurants often had food in their dumpsters, and sometimes people leave their uneaten food on the tables.

I’ll have to go back to doing that until I can get cash again.

My hands shake as I splash water onto my face.

I have nothing again.

No backpack, no money.

No Nacho.

The idea of leaving Nacho with a monster like Caleb has me letting out another harsh sob, but he’d seemed to treat Miss K well.

He might not care about people, but at least he cares about animals.

Caleb.

I’ve been avoiding thinking about him, but now that he’s in my thoughts, I can’t get him out of them again. I break down all over again, thinking about how I’d fucking trusted him. I’d given him so much of myself, and he’d sold me out—and for what? Money? He has plenty of it. Why would he need to do that?

It doesn’t even make sense, but then, rich people do selfish, cruel things all the time.

Someone comes out of one of the stalls, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut, and I startle.

“You okay, kid?” he asks gruffly.

Instinct tells me that offering to blow him in the middle of the bathroom isn’t going to get me anywhere, so I nod and paint on a smile. “Just had a bad breakup,” I tell him, which isn’t even far from the truth. I let out a breathless, fake laugh. “I’ll get over it.”

Satisfied, he washes his hands and leaves the bathroom.

I stare at myself in the mirror, hating what I see.

She would be fucking furious to see me like this.

But I’m not supposed to care what she thinks anymore. I straighten my shirt and leave the restroom.

I’ll stop by the food court to see if there’s easy food there. I’m not hungry, but I know better than to waste the opportunity to eat. If I’m lucky, I’ll find somebody in need of easy company. If not… I’ll just keep going. I can’t stay here for too long. With how connected Caleb is, I don’t believe anywhere in Calamity City is safe.

Going to the bus stop right away is stupid, though. That’s exactly where they’ll expect me to go. Maybe a truck stop would be better, if I can find one. That’s where I’d found most of the people who’d been willing to have me along.

They’d been quick to tell me they weren’t fags , but time away from their wives and families had made them more than willing to take what they could get.

They’re all disgusting, but… I need someone disgusting right now.

The food court isn’t as crowded as I would expect, although for all I know, this mall doesn’t get that much clientele. A half-eaten burger on a tray draws me closer, and I don’t even care that there’s ketchup smeared all over. I wrap it up in the wrapper and grab some napkins for later.

People are milling about, nobody paying me any mind.

I’ve made a mistake, though.

A crowded place like this lets me be anonymous—but it also means it’s easier for my pursuers to hide, too.

I catch a glimpse of Vortex, tall and overbearing. He stops to look around the food court, and I immediately duck down.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I can’t let him see me. If he does, he’ll drag me back to Caleb… and Caleb will hand me over to Raymond. I need to get out of the food court. I need to get out of the mall and back out onto the busy streets. I’d needed the chance to get clothes and food and regroup, but turns out, it was a bad idea.

How had he found me here?

I start to carefully make my way through the edges of the lines, trying to blend in. I’m just about out of the food court when a hand grabs my wrist.

I startle, spinning around to face Havoc.

Of course.

They wouldn’t have hunted me alone.

“Seven,” Havoc says, and he sounds relieved. “You’re safe.”

He doesn’t have any right to sound relieved, or happy, or anything. I choke back a sob, trying to wrench my wrist free. “Let go of me, or I swear I’ll scream,” I tell him as steadily as I can manage.

Havoc shakes his head. “No. Seven, whatever Grant did to you, you don’t have to worry. He’s taken care of.”

Taken care of.

Just like Caleb is going to take care of me.

“I’m giving you five—” I begin, but a shadow looms over me from the other side.

Vortex.

“Seven,” he says, his shoulders relaxing. “Thank fuck. Are you okay?”

“Why the fuck are you pretending to care?” I snarl. “I know what Caleb did.”

Vortex has the audacity to look confused. “What Caleb… What are you talking about?”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, okay. Pretend not to know what I’m talking about.”

“Come on,” Vortex says. “Let’s talk about this back at the Roi.”

I glance around us and realize we’re attracting an audience. Good.

“If you don’t let me go right now, I will start screaming,” I say as steadily as possible. “And don’t follow me, because wherever I go, you aren’t going to take me back. I would rather die.”

Havoc and Vortex share a look.

“You aren’t thinking clearly, Seven,” Havoc says quietly. “Let’s go back and talk it over. I’ll punch Caleb a few times for you if it’ll help.”

My eyes are drawn to his hands, which are already bruised and bloody. For a second, I think that maybe he would do it, but then I remember our conversation in the elevator. No, he cares too much about his paycheck to go up against Caleb.

“I said no!” I say loudly. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Havoc curses and pulls me closer, clapping his hand over my mouth. “Shh, Seven. Please. We want to protect you.”

I bite his hand.

He must not have been expecting it, because he startles and lets go of me. I go to run, but Vortex is right there, grabbing me.

“Seven, it isn’t safe. We don’t know who else they?—”

“I don’t care!” I tell him hotly. “I’m not letting you send me back to them.”

I can’t.

Havoc shakes his head. “Nobody’s sending you anywhere but back to the Roi. Right?” He glares at Vortex. “I’ll fight you if you try.”

Vortex looks bewildered and frustrated all at once, and his grip tightens on my arm. “We would never,” he protests.

“Tell that to Caleb,” I spit.

“Hey!” a male voice sounds from the crowd, pushing through the rest. “Let the kid go before I call the police.”

The police.

No.

I don’t want the police involved. They really would take me back to Caleb, and I don’t believe Vortex or Havoc.

Vortex looks down at the mall cop, who’s several inches shorter and nowhere near as jacked as Vortex. “Friend, you don’t want to get involved. This is way above your paygrade.”

Havoc nods and takes a threatening step forward. “We’re not going to hurt him… but I might hurt you, if you interfere. And I know you can’t afford to take time off for some broken bones. Not to mention the deductible…”

The security guard looks conflicted, and I realize he’s not going to push this. My shoulders slump, and I stare down at the floor. Just another person who’s worried about their own ass, their own money. But can I blame him? Who’s really going to stick their neck out for a stranger?

“It’s fine,” I whisper even though it’s not fine at all. “I’ll go.”

“Kid…” the guy begins.

I shake my head. “I said it’s fine,” I say, intending to sound sharp but sounding more pathetic instead.

I guess I’m going home.

“We’ll talk this out,” Vortex says quietly, his grip loosening on my wrist only a fraction. “It’ll be okay, Seven. They’re never going to touch you again.”

I almost laugh.

They drag me out of the mall and into a waiting car. Havoc keeps me close to him while Vortex starts tapping on his phone.

I’d been in fancy cars like this a few times, when they’d transported me to important clients. She’d always spent the ride giving me instructions on how to behave, what to say, what to pay attention to.

“We took care of that guy,” Havoc says suddenly. “The one chasing you.”

I look at Havoc, feeling like I’m moving through quicksand as the despair slows everything down. “Doesn’t matter,” I say. “They’ll just send someone else.”

“We’ll figure something out,” Vortex says, eyes still on his phone. “Caleb says he’s glad you’re safe.”

I do laugh then, for all that it feels like so much effort. “Caleb is just glad he’s going to get his paycheck after all,” I mutter.

Havoc squeezes me and kisses the top of my head. “The only paycheck he’s getting is from all the casino patrons who get distracted and lose more money when they see you.”

I blink at him, trying to follow what he’s saying. “He didn’t tell you?”

Vortex exchanges a look with Havoc, and he somehow still looks confused. “Tell us what?”

“He’s been talking to them,” I say slowly. Maybe they don’t realize. Maybe they won’t bring me back if they know.

“Talking to who?” Havoc demands. “What the fuck is going on?”

I am so tired, so drained, and I rest hard against the seat as we get closer to the Roi. “Caleb’s been in contact with my family this whole time. That’s how they found me.”

Vortex grabs me by the chin, forcing me to look at him. “Who told you that, Seven?” he demands, his voice a low growl.

“Does it matter?” I reply, trying to turn my head, but he doesn’t let me.

Havoc tenses, and I wonder if I can sway him after all. But even if I do… there’s still Vortex and the rest of the Spade mafia.

I got lucky and was able to evade my family for all these months. I’m not optimistic enough that I could escape two organized crime families looking for me.

“If he sold Seven out…” Havoc starts.

Vortex shakes his head. “He didn’t! I know Caleb. He wouldn’t.”

I don’t believe him. I don’t.

But at the same time…

Vortex had asked me who’d told me that, and it had been Grant—Grant, who’d had every reason to hate me and sow distrust in me. Of course he’d tell me that Caleb had been involved.

Maybe… Maybe he hadn’t been.

I don’t dare get my hopes up.

“Okay,” I say.

Vortex hugs me tight to him. “We’ll clear this up. Caleb wouldn’t have done that. Ever. He doesn’t fuck around with human trafficking pieces of shit.”

I flinch at his harsh tone, but I don’t pull away.

The car parks in the hotel’s parking garage. Havoc and Vortex get out of the car, pulling me along. I go with them, trying not to stumble.

God, the misery is so hard to work through, and it’s hard to have a coherent thought.

They herd me to the elevator, but instead of going up, Vortex pushes the down button.

Two floors down, and we’re in an echo-y, concrete hallway. The ceiling is low, and it feels like it’s trying to press down on me.

Vortex leads us to a room with the door ajar.

It looks like an office, although there’s no computer. Dust tickles my nose.

So does the scent of blood, though I don’t see the source of it.

Caleb sits in the armchair, facing away from us. He’s holding a gun in his hand.

Kneeling on a tarp on the floor a few feet away is Raymond, arms behind his back and head bowed forward.

I freeze, the mere sight of him almost more than I can stand. Memories wash over me, thoughts I don’t want to have, and when he looks up and smiles…

His face is bloody and bruised, and I guess Havoc had a go at him. He doesn’t seem cowed, though. “We’ll always find you, little one,” he taunts.

Havoc gasps sharply. “What’s he doing here?”

Vortex stalks across the room, punching him in the face. “You don’t talk to him,” he snarls before turning to Caleb. “Caleb, we have a problem we need to clear up right away. Seven thinks you sold him out.”

Caleb sneers. “No. I’ve been keeping tabs on any chatter about Seven, but Grant… he put some pieces together and reached out to the Lockwoods.”

Raymond starts laughing. “You snooze… you lose.”

Vortex hits him again, but Raymond still keeps grinning at me after an initial grimace. “You shut the fuck up before I rip your tongue out,” Vortex growls at him. “I can do a lot more than just kill you.”

I’m still standing there, frozen, and I flinch as Havoc’s arms come around me from behind. Trembling, I let him pull me against him, and his lips brush my hair again.

“It’s over for you,” Raymond says, ignoring Vortex. “We know where you are. Kill me if you want, but you know it’s only a matter of?—”

Vortex punches him again. “Caleb, if you don’t fucking shoot him, I swear to fucking god I will beat him to death instead.”

“What should we do, Seven?” Caleb asks, his voice toneless. “Should I shoot him? Should Vortex break his neck? I know there are knives here somewhere. We could stab him. However you want him to die, you can have it.”

I stare at Raymond, not comprehending what Caleb is saying. “You… You can’t. He’s right. They know where I am now. If you don’t give me back, if you kill him… It’ll be… It’ll be war .”

Caleb meets my eyes. “Seven… I have vast resources. Let me worry about the consequences of this. I will kill this man, and anyone else they send after you. I will make sure they know that you don’t belong to them anymore. You’re ours .”

My mouth is dry as I stare at Caleb, as I try to steady myself with Havoc’s arms around me, with Vortex glaring down so hatefully at Raymond. “But I’m not,” I say hoarsely. “I will always belong to them. They’re… They’re my…”

Havoc hugs me tighter. “If I was willing to go against the fucking military leadership, you can fucking bet your ass I can handle some mafia wannabes. They don’t get to claim you, Seven.”

“But they’re my family,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes.

Raymond’s wild laughter sounds in the room, but everything else is silent for a long moment.

“What do you mean, they’re your family?” Havoc asks unsteadily. I can feel his breath against my ear, but his arms are still warm and tight around me.

Vortex grimaces, but he doesn’t seem to need an explanation. He glances at Caleb, and they share a look.

I don’t answer Havoc.

I can’t.

“Just make it quick,” I whisper, bile rising up in my throat.

Caleb nods and gets up. He walks over to Raymond and gets behind him.

This is why the tarp is here.

“You’re going to regret this,” Raymond barks.

Caleb smirks. “I will not.”

He pulls the trigger. The gunshot is so loud, and I shrink into Havoc’s arms. My eyes blur with tears, and I turn around, pressing my face against his shirt.

He smells like blood and sweat, but I can’t bring myself to pull away from him. I just want his arms to stay tightly wrapped around me, to feel safe.

I hear Vortex and Caleb talking quietly behind me, but I’m only focused on Havoc.

“He can’t hurt you anymore,” Havoc whispers as he rubs my back. “He can’t take you from us.”

“But they can,” I whisper back, tears spilling from my eyes. “And they will. It… It doesn’t matter what Caleb says. They’re powerful, Havoc. And I don’t know what will happen when they get their hands on me again.”

Havoc cups my face and gives me the fiercest look. “I don’t give a fuck how powerful they are, Seven. If it comes down to it, we’re crossing into Mexico and I will personally kill everybody who so much as looks at you.”

Caleb scoffs. “You’ll fight off all of the cartel allies they have? No. Seven is safer here, where we have more resources and a better network.” He walks over to us and stands beside Havoc. “I promise, Seven, that I had nothing to do with today’s events. Grant wanted to hurt us, and he found leverage to do so.”

Arms come around me from behind again, and I recognize them as Vortex’s. “We will keep you safe.”

“But I don’t…” The tears come quicker, faster. “I can’t stand being locked up all the time. I just can’t.”

They all glance at each other, sharing information in that one look.

They’re deciding my fate.

It’s never up to me. I don’t get to choose what I want.

Maybe I’ll end up going back, or maybe I’ll stay here, but either way, it’s not my choice.

“We’ll figure something out,” Caleb says slowly. “The casino should be safe enough for now. But we can’t count on them not trying again.”

“They will,” I say quietly. “Now that they know where I am…” I shudder, biting my bottom lip. “They’re never going to let me go.”

Caleb tilts my face toward him. “Then I’ll just have to remove their limbs, one by one, so they can’t grab you anymore.”

I look at him, and Caleb gently wipes tears from my eyes. “Why? Why do you care? It would be… It would be so much better for you if you gave me back.”

Death would be better than going back, though, and I don’t want Caleb to hand me over to them.

“No one is giving you back,” Vortex says firmly. “Not now, not ever. Don’t you get it, Seven? We care about you. How could we ever let you go back to that hell?”

Havoc nods fervently. “I’m not going to let anyone bully you anymore. We’re going to make damn sure you’re safe with us.”

We love you, baby. This is for your own good .

I shudder, but I cling to Havoc. “Okay,” I whisper because I don’t know what else to say.

“All right. I apparently need to call the cleaners, again.” Caleb steps away and pulls out his phone. “Take Seven upstairs. I’ll follow once I’ve taken care of our uninvited guest here.”

I nod, and I let Havoc wrap an arm around my waist and lead me toward the door. Vortex follows on our heels as we leave the basement, and I know I should feel safe.

But I don’t.

I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe again.