Page 10 of Requiem

Tati… it’s me. I’m fine.

Seconds later the phone rings in my hand.

“Hey.”

“Is it really you?”

“Yeah.”

“Where the hell are you? I’m so pissed at you. You just up and left. Your house looks like a tomb. Most of your things are still there. You even left dished in the sink. I thought… you’d been abducted. I filed a police report.”

I twist the ends of my shirt and take a deep breath. “I can’t stay on long. I just wanted to you to know that you were the best. I’ll never forget you, Tati.”

“Tell me where you are.”

“He has your phone tapped, doesn’t he?”

She goes silent for a few beats. “I’

Did never betray you. But he says you’re in danger.”

“Only from him,” I retort.

“No. He’s going loco trying to find you. Sebastian said he hacked into every surveillance and Ring door app within a hundred miles.”

“He’s not as good as he thinks he is,” I smirk.

“What happened?”

“He married a mafia princess. Tried to kill me when I was a tween and ripped my heart out…”

She inhales sharply. “I knew there was more than you ever said. I think the two of you are fated.”

“Ill-fated. Whatever. It’s done. Over.”

“not of he has anything to say about it.”

“I have to go. I’ve been on the phone too long already as it is.”

“Do you want me to give him a message?”

My eyes drop to the smoldering ash. “Yeah. How about go fuck yourself?”

“Ah, Little Red. I can’t wait to fuck you instead.” His voice is smooth in my ear, catching me off guard.

“I’m sorry, Romina.”

“You told her my real name?”

“I told her everything.”

“Seb has a way of seducing everything out of the girl.”

“That’s sick! Twisted! Let her go!”

My mind races as I recall all the photos of her looking up at Le Blanc with nothing but sweet adoration.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. I wanted it. Want him. He’s a drug.”

---