Page 17 of Born into Darkness

“Dad,” I say in a shaky voice, “please do whatever they tell you to do.” I move my hand into an M before quickly clasping my hands together again like I’m just nervous and fidgeting. I do another quick A. “I’m really scared, and I want to come home.” I start to lose my nerve and dart my eyes to Max. His grey eyes meet mine, so much strength and courage in them, even with the knife threatening to cut into him.

Bringing my eyes back to the camera, I make a quick Y and scratch at my face, shaking my head as the tears fall harder. It’s not hard to act like I’m going crazy, because I feel like I am. I do the last A, and after I’ve spelled Amaya, I sob even harder. Risking everything, I yell, “You have to give them what they want, Dad,” while I make the sign for basement and then smack my hand against my chest. “They’re going to hurt me very badly if you don’t agree to their terms. You have one week.”

I didn’t mention the rape, but he’ll know what I’m referring to. I want to spare him the horror of having to hear me say it. I know I only have seconds left, so I quickly say, “I love you so much,” before Lorenzo ends the recording. I sob, letting my hands shake and fidget like I can’t keep them still. If they figure out what I’ve done, Max and I are fucked. The fear leaves me nauseated with the room starting to spin.

“Very good, sweetheart,” Lorenzo says, and I slowly let out the breath I’ve been holding. “Let’s see if that makes Daddy make the right choice.” Before he leaves, he cups my face again and gives a cruel laugh. “If he doesn’t, I’ll be first in line.”

He walks away, leaving Mateo and the others behind. I fall to the ground, too disgusted and scared to stay upright. Miguel laughs at my reaction and says something in Spanish that makes Jose and Juan laugh. Mateo stays quiet, his face the same unreadable mask he always wears.

When Miguel leans in closer to Max, forcing the blade of his knife to break skin again, Mateo barks out an order that has him dropping his arm. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to, but despite how stupid I think he is, he’s smart enough to not go against the boss’s son.

They let Max go before filing out of the room after Mateo. Miguel flicks the light off and then shuts the door, leaving us in darkness again.

“Max,” I whisper, barely getting the word out before his arms are wrapping around me and he’s pulling me in for a hug.

“It’s not going to happen,” he says, cupping the back of my head and holding me close. “I won’t fucking allow it.”

I don’t ask how he’s going to stop them. Deep down, I know that he can’t, but the words are still a comfort to hear, and the strength in his arms makes me feel safe. I cling to him, not wanting to let him go, and when he scoots us back against the wall, I only let go long enough so I can untwist my chain before I cuddle up against him again.

“Am I hurting you?” I’m trying to be gentle, but I know every inch of his body must hurt. When I start to move off him, he tightens his arms, locking me in place.

“Please don’t move,” he whispers. “You’re not hurting me, and even if you were, I still wouldn’t want you to move.”

I smile and lean into him again. He runs his fingers along my back and arm, soothing me as I relax into him even more.

“What did you sign in the video? Were you spelling their name?”

“Do you think they noticed?”

He hears the fear in my voice and cups the back of my head before gently kissing my forehead. I close my eyes at the sensation of his lips on my skin. Even though it’s not on the lips, it’s still the first kiss I’ve ever been given outside of my family. If bigger things weren’t at stake, I’d be mortified by how dirty I am, but my priorities have shifted since being kidnapped. The kiss is sweet, and instead of freaking out about my dirty hair and skin, I savor the touch and squeeze him tighter.

“I don’t think they noticed,” he murmurs against my skin. “I recognized some of the letters you taught me, though, and figured it out. What did you sign at the end?”

“Basement,” I whisper.

“Smart girl,” he whispers back, and I grin at his praise.

“Val probably already told them everything, but maybe he forgot my dad’s name or doesn’t remember that I told him. He was barely conscious when they dragged him away and so upset about leaving you.”

He’s quiet for a second before he says, “I hope he made it out, but if he didn’t, then your family will at least know who has us and where to look for us when they get here.”

I hear the pain in his voice, so I quickly say, “He made it out, Max. I know he did.”

“I’ll never be able to face my family again if he didn’t, especially Yelena. It will kill her.”

“He made it out,” I say again, “and they’re going to be parents and you’ll be their favorite uncle.”

I can tell by the sound of his voice that he’s smiling when he says, “You heard that conversation?”

“I did. You’ll make a great uncle, Max. I can’t wait until I’m an aunt, but I think that will be a while. Dima has no desire to settle down and choose one girl, and Bran has yet to meet anyone. He’s not shy, but he lets very few people get close to him. He was teased in school for being deaf. Well, he wasbrieflyteased at school.”

“Sounds like there’s a story there. What happened?”

“I punched the boy who was doing it and nearly got expelled. Michelle, the interpreter who helped Bran at school, told me that I should just ignore them, but I couldn’t. The kid was an ass and he deserved it.”

Max laughs and traces a finger along my jaw.

I continue my story while he lightly strokes my skin. “Dima was a few grades above us, so it was hard for him to get involved, but it didn’t matter because I made it very clear that no one was going to make fun of my brother. We’ve always looked out for one another.” I smile at the memory and say, “After that playground incident, Bran gave me my name sign.”

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