Chapter 15

Kay "Shut up and start talking " Carl angrily snarls at him. I don't want to feel pity, but I do. "Can I talk to him?" I ask the men in the room, but they silently stare at me, " alone," I add when they don't make a move either. I want to know where the roses come from without my dad knowing someone out there is threatening me. "Of course not." "No" Carlos and Dad grumble simultaneously. They fear he may harm me if they leave us alone. "Tie him up then," I tell them because I know they won't budge, and they finally agree after much contemplation. "I am right behind that door," Carl softly says, pointing to the bathroom door. Does he care for me, or he only feel obligated because of the arrangement? "Are you willing to talk now?" I crouch down to Thomas's level. His bare body squirms on the cold floor. They tied up his hands and legs. Looking at his teary face, I feel bad for him, but then I remember what he did to Theo, and him pointing his gun at me. He only had to pull the trigger, and I would be writhing in pain on the floor or probably dead. "I can't, even if I wanted to." He is dragging this; we both know he will eventually talk. "Where do the flowers come from?" I ask calmly, trying not to be mad. "He sends them and orders I put them in your room," he says with shaking lips. "Who is he?" That is my main concern. "I can't say he is being stubborn, and I'm not a patient person. "Who is he? " I repeat, putting the sharp end of the dagger on his thigh and slightly pushing it, drawing a little blood. "I can't say, " He pants out, breathing heavily," he will kill my family." his teary eyes are begging, but my family and I are in danger too. "Where is he keeping them?" I ask, taking the knife away from his body. "I don't know, okay? I wouldn't be here if I knew. I was forced into this," he exasperatedly cries. What are we going to do with this one? "If you cooperate with me, I will help you find your family. Just tell me," I continue coaxing him. If he doesn't take this offer, then I'm afraid he won't be able to save himself, let alone his family. He looks at me with hopeful eyes, and I nod, encouraging him to say the stupid name. Just like I thought, he chooses loyalty over the deal, and I am left with no choice. I open the door to usher the others in because I honestly don't feel like torturing him. I know Carl will happily do it, though. "He refuses to talk, "I say, standing beside him. Carl motions for my dagger, and I hand it to him without hesitating. He squats to Thomas's level and stares at him with a stoic expression. I see fear cross Thomas's eyes. I hope he says something. "Who sent you?" Carl asks calmly, and Thomas looks away, sticking to his resolve. Carl flattens Thomas's palm on the floor and places the knife across his fingers, ready to slice them. "I will ask again, Thomas, who the hell sent you?" Thomas fearfully stares at Carl with trembling lips but says nothing. Carl wastes no time slicing the four fingers, causing Thomas to scream his lungs out. That must be damn painful. "Are you going to talk now?" Carl asks again, his tone softening slightly. "No, please, he has my family, and he will kill them." What he doesn't understand is that, whether he talks or not, whoever it is will still kill his wife and the kid. If he told me the truth, I would have helped him look for them because I always keep my word. The man screams again, and I look over to see Carl slicing the other fingers. I don't understand why people allow themselves to suffer that much before finally talking. If someone tortured me for information, I would rather die than give it out and still have them kill me. Thomas is not strong. That's why I know he will eventually break. Someone who wouldn't talk doesn't contemplate when you give them choices, nor do they cry before you even touch them. I wonder how he got himself into this shit. Some of us were born into it, others joined because they love it, and some were forced. Speaking for myself, if I had a choice, I would opt out, but the mafia doesn't work that way. No matter how you got yourself in, there is no out. The only out you have is through death. We survive to live because we don't know when an enemy will strike and whether we will be killed or not. No matter how strong or fierce one is, when death comes, there is no escape. We take a day at a time, and most especially, we live for our loved ones. Watching each other's backs is the only thing we do to ensure our safety. I wonder how my life would have been if I had lived a normal life. Wake up every morning after a good night's sleep, and go to work, maybe in a cafe or something simple. Ride bikes with Dean and a bunch of other friends, and go on dates with my boyfriend. Laugh at silly things and just be the free girl I wanted to be. Not waking up to nightmares after little to no sleep, making sure I'm armed before I leave the house, looking behind my back every second in case I'm being followed or kidnapped, I do all that, but I am still in danger. Just like we have been living with an enemy under our roof, unknown to us.What if we didn't suspect him, or what if Theo didn't call Sam? he would be dead by now. Just like that. "Okay.. okay I will talk, fuck." his voice brings me back to the present, and from what I see, Carl has done a number on him. It appears his balls were his breaking point. "I heard there is a traitor. "Grandpa pushes the door with force, startling everyone. " You," he shouts, pointing his gun at Thomas's head and shooting him instantly. The whole room becomes silent, and everyone looks at my grandfather with fright. We were just about to find out who he is working for. " Shit," Carl curses, looking at the useless dead body on the floor in resignation. "What have you done, Dad? he was about to fucking talk!" Dad angrily shouts at the old man, and for the first time, I feel infuriated by just looking at him. "Well," Grandpa looks at everyone in the room and back at the dead body and shrugs, " My bad." It's all he says before walking away. I feel like shit. He was my only lead, for fuck sake. "Are you okay? You seem off," Carl whispers as he gently looks into my eyes. I'm not okay, I have never been okay. Everything causes my heart to ache deeply, and I don't know what to do. I sadly sigh, avoiding his gaze. " Yeah," I mumble. I hate that I always have to appear strong. Sometimes I just wanna break down and cry, have someone hold me and tell me it's going to be okay, even if it won't be. I want someone to see through the tough face I always put on and help me take the pain away. "I'm okay, " I clear my throat, assuring him. Carl skeptically stares at me as if he is trying to read me. At least for once, I slept, and I don't know when I will again. Thanks to him. "You are not, baby, what's wrong?" he whispers, gently caressing my cheek, and I let him. Looking into his eyes, they softly stare back at me. His eyes hold a lot of secrets, but one thing is clear in them: Care. He cares for me. "Can I hug you?" I whisper in an almost breaking voice. I don't even know why I asked, but that's what I want. A hug. I feel like being held and assured everything is going to be okay, even if it's just for a moment. I have to start from Zero again. Theo's accident was worth nothing. "Of course, baby, come here." The man opens his arms, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel safe in someone's embrace.