Page 46 of Her Dark Melody
Atlas nodded. “Come by the house later if you can. We should all be together.” Atlas couldn’t quite believe he was saying it, but there it was. He wanted his brother desperately right now, wanted to feel that comfort, and in Mateo’s absence, he would take evenCormac.
And he had to be fair – it was Cormac’s child Ebony was carrying. After Atlas had lost it in the courtroom, he’d calmed down enough to hear Cormac’s lawyer explain the circumstances of the conception and the dates, and facts, matched up. Stanley had talked to him when he’d gotten home after hours of searching Seattle’s streets for hiswife.
And now she’s gone, and the last words I spoke to her were angry and insulting. God, Ebony, I’m so sorry.I’ll make it up to you somehow, baby. I swear. Just beokay.
Atlas drove home now, to an empty house. He went to Bella’s room but found no one. He sighed. Bella had fucked up for sure, but he couldn’t believe she had done it out ofmalice.
His cell phone rang, and when he answered it, it was Carson Franks, telling him exactly what he would have to do to save the lives of the two people he loved most in theworld.
Ebony,realizing that Carson was keeping them drugged to prevent them from escaping, figured it must mean they were still near civilization. Drugging them would keep them from screaming or figuring out an escape route. She began hiding her food, instructing Fino to only eat the sides of the sandwiches and take tiny sips ofwater.
“We have to pretend we’re asleep, darling, so they think they’re safe to talk about stuff we’re not supposed to hear. Maybe they’ll say something we can use toescape.”
She couldn’t think of any other way to explain what was happening to them. Luckily, the small bites they took didn’t seem to beadulterated.
When Rex came in next, late at night, Ebony had her body curled around Fino’s, protectively, as she always did, and pretended to be unconscious. She became aware that someone else was in the room with Rex when hesaid:
“We keep them warm and fed, don’tworry.”
“Are theyhurt?”
A shock ran through Ebony, and she clamped her hand discreetly over Fino’s mouth as she felt him jerk insurprise.
Bella. It was Bella’s voice. She wanted to scream, to go for the girl, to beg her to tell her why she had betrayed them so utterly. A tear rolled down her cheek and Ebony struggled to keep up her façade ofunconsciousness.
“They look cold.” Bella’s voice shook, and Rexsighed.
“I’ll get them blankets, but look, come on, if Cormac knew you were back here, he’d killme.”
There was a silence and Ebony risked opening her eyes a crack. She saw Bella staring down at them, tears pouring down her face. “Look, Rex, let them go. I should never have agreed to do this. Take meinstead.”
“Ha.” Rex gave a snort. “You did it to protect your own skin so they’d never find out it was you who let that shooterin.”
“I didn’t know what he was going to do! He killed Mateo…” Bella began to sob. “Please let them go. I’ll get you money, enough to get away, live a life of luxury. Please, just, let’s get them away fromCarson.”
“No. Come on, get out of here before I kill you myself. You did this. Bella, rememberthat.”
“Wait. Just let me hug them one lasttime.”
Before Rex could stop her, Bella dropped to her knees and put her arms around Ebony and Fino. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” shewhispered.
Ebony, shielded from Rex’s view, opened her eyes and met Bella’s gaze. “Run,” she whispered, “get help, Bella. If you want to make up for this, save us. Save Fino atleast.”
Bella squeezed her eyes shut, disguising her nod as a sob, then let them go. She stood, wiping her tears away, and Ebony watched as she and Rex left theroom.
She let out a long breath and was about to tell Fino it was okay when she heard the gunshots.Oh god,no…
A second later, her worst fears were confirmed when Carson burst into the room, his face red and angry. “Fuckingbitch!”
Ebony somehow knew he wasn’t talking about her, but it didn’t stop Carson from handling her roughly, cutting her ties and pulling her and Fino to their feet. The gun in his hand meant Ebony wasn’t going to risk fighting him. If he had just killed Rex and,oh god no,Bella, then he would have no reluctance in killing both ofthem.
Carson pressed the gun against Ebony’s neck and stared at Fino. “One false move, kid, and I kill her,understood?”
Fino, terrified, could only nod. Carson dragged Ebony out of the small cell and along a musty corridor. At the end, Ebony saw Rex’s body, half of his head missing, and pulled Fino against her belly so he couldn’t see. As Carson yanked her arm, she glanced to her left and saw Bella, laying on her back, her hands clamped over her stomach, coughing up blood. For a brief second, their eyes met, and Bella mouthed “I’m sorry” then went still, her eyes staring blankly. Ebony fought back a wave of nausea mixed with grief andterror.
As Carson pulled them out into the daylight, both Ebony and Fino cringed, their eyes stinging. “Get in the car. You, beautiful, in the front with me. The kid rides in thetrunk.”
“No, please, don’t put him in the…please, he’ll bescared.”
