Page 129 of Inside the Sun

***

Every morning I wake up, I spend some time gloomily brooding.

I think it’s the third week I’ve been here… or maybe we’re heading into the fourth? And the awareness is starting to creep in: the clock’s ticking. I probably have until mid-September. If I don’t show up at school by then, my parents will report me missing, and Anzo will have to make a move.

Either return me, or get rid of me.

I have no idea what he’s planning. He doesn’t talk to me, he just wants me to fuck him hard, and that’s it. But he could getany other pretty boy to do that. One that doesn’t piss him off that much.

All of a sudden, a noise makes me sit up on my bed, alert.

I look out the window and see two black jeeps coming in through the passageway that connects the inner garden to the outside world.

A group of men steps out. They look like FBI agents, but I’m sure they’re not. The whole group heads straight into the main hall of the fortress.

I’m dying to know what’s going on and who those men are, so I decide to take a risk. I get dressed quickly and head downstairs.

I know the hallways are full of cameras, so I can’t just stop and eavesdrop, especially not near the dining hall or the living room.

Just as I’m getting close to the first door, it swings open and two men I don’t recognize walk out. They don’t see me, since they’re heading in the opposite direction. I follow about twenty feet behind, trying to look like I’m just walking toward the garden’s side entrance.

That’s when I catch a quick exchange between them:

"Danielson didn’t send the full plan. The little fucker doesn’t even tellhimeverything, so we’ll have to wing it a bit."

"If this goes wrong, Anzo’s gonna lose it. He’s really invested in this op. If it’s another failure, he’ll tear us apart."

"That little bug has unbelievable luck, gotta give him that. He’s already managed to survive a few assassination attempts."

"Maybe he’ll run out of luck. But to be honest, Danielson’s intel really sucks. That might be part of the problem."

Two guys open a door and slip inside, shutting it behind them, and just then, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and nearly crash straight into Rocco.

Fucking hell.

My heart jumps into my throat. I’ve just been caught wandering around and eavesdropping on Anzo’s soldiers. And whatever they were discussing sounded like a plan, maybe an op—an assassination? I have no clue.

Still, I try to play it cool, innocent even, with a hint of attitude.

"Look what little birdie got himself lost," Rocco says, stepping into my space. I’ve got nowhere to back up. My shoulders hit the hallway wall.

"Was birdie listening to things he shouldn’t?"

"I have no idea what the fuck you’re talkin' about, Rocco. I came out for some fresh air. I don’t know who those guys are or what your problem is."

"Sure you don’t. You’re always so fucking innocent, huh? Not this time, sweetheart."

Then he grabs me hard by the arm, shoves open the nearest door, and drags me inside. I fight him off with everything I’ve got, but it’s no use.

We’re about the same height, he’s maybe a little taller, but I’m eighteen. He’s in his thirties. He’s got experience. And intense combat training too.

He slams the door shut behind us, and that’s when I know I’m fucked. Bad.

He wraps an arm around my waist and yanks me against him. His lips goes straight for my neck gland, I scream, but his hand clamps down over my mouth.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch."

The place’s probably some kind of guest room, small, plain, with a bunk under the window. Maybe a guard sleeps here. Rocco’s hands are rough and fast, groping me like I’m just a body, and my stomach twists so hard I nearly throw up.

---