Page 75 of Rhet

“No, sir.” I look a Dante as he chews nervously on his thumbnail.

“Remember this, Zeeta. I’m your brother’s only chance of walking again. You need me to get into the Bio-N program. Don’t do the job, and it all ends. We clear?”

“Crystal, sir.” I say the words through clenched teeth.

“Good. I have another task for you. Look for a file it can be a soft or hard copy, it might be named Waterfront projections or something like that. Take a copy of it and send it to me.” Then the call ends.

I hate the fact so many people have power over my head. It’s becoming a heavy burden to bear.

“I wish I never signed up to do this for Mr. C.” I grab Dante clothes basket.

“He is my only chance of walking again. I need that treatment.” He turns his chair picks up his towel and hands it to me.

“You need a damn kick in your head. You spend more time on this game than in real life.”

He pulls his head back like he was offended. “You’re selfish and spoiled. Living in a mansion, having the best. I mean, look at you.”

I look down at myself in a pair of dark jeans and a yellow T-shirt.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“You look different, you smell different, you’re not the same,” he replies.

I look at him in shock. “I look the same, D.”

“Well, that and the badly concealed dark purple looking beard burn on your neck.” His eyes squint to see it was.

“It’s a rash I got from wearing fake jewelry. Look this all feels so dishonest and wrong. Doesn’t that bother you, Dante?”

He rocks his jaw. “No, what’s wrong was him taking my only chance to be rich and famous. My fucking life, Zee. Our life. He has to pay for that.”

I stay silent, knowing that he’s right.

“But what about me, Dante? What about the sacrifices I’m making for us?” I need to know where I stand with my brother.

“Don’t fall in love with him, Zee. He is a heartless man. Banner will leave you for dead if he finds out.”

Part of me hurts with the thought of lying to Rhet. I’ve lied about everything.

“Seduce the hell out of him, fuck him. But don’t fall for your boss, because he will kill us all if he ever finds out.”

I wonder if he will kill me when he knows.

“Hang in there a little longer. Get the information and leave. You got that?”

“Yeah, I do. But I don’t want too.”

A hard pounding on the door interrupts our conversation. In my gut I can tell its Rhet.

“Stay here.”

“Who the hell is that?” Dante questions.

“I don’t know.” I place the clothes basket on Dante’s bed.

Dante’s eyes open wide. “If it’s Banner, I’m not coming down. He will recognize me, and it will all be done.”

I laugh. “Please, it’s not him, most likely its Penny trying to get in.”

---