Page 111 of Hook

The thunder crashesabove our house, making me shudder with terror as I remain curled in bed. It’s not the storm that has me on edge, it’s the storm I’m awaiting when Da finally returns.

Kira and I did something stupid today, and the look on my ma’s face was what scared me most of all. We broke our da’s priceless antique vase in his study. A room we are explicitly restricted from entering, and yet we did anyway.

A flash of lightning illuminates my room for a second and then another crack of thunder shakes the windows. I can feel the vibration of the glass with each rumble, as if my whole house is trembling in anticipation. The wind is howling outside, like a lost soul searching for a path home.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and try to steady my nerves.

The sound of the front door slamming immediately snaps me out of my trance and I feel my stomach drop. I can hear my da’s heavy footsteps as he marches into the house, shaking the walls with each footfall. His voice echoes through the hallway as he greets Ma.

And then I hear his voice get louder than usual and full of a menacing power that leaves me feeling frozen in fear.

“Cillian!” Da shouts, calling only to me since I told Ma it was me who broke it to protect Kira.

My heart races faster and faster as I try to find the courage to answer him. Taking one last deep breath, I slowly make my way downstairs. I’m at the mercy of a crocodile. That is what his men call him, because he’s ruthless and unforgiving. He won’t hesitate carving a man up if he crosses him like a crocodile would. That’s what I’ve heard. Ma tries to shield me and Kira from the truth about what he does, but I’ve known for a while.

Walking into his study, I notice he’s pacing the room, his face red hot with anger. “Yes, Da?” Raindrops pound on the study windows, reminding me of the chaos outside.

“What the fuck is that?” He points at the smashed pieces of the vase we had picked up and placed on his desk.

“I’m sorry, I was playing in here and it was an acciden—”

He rushes toward me and lifts me off my feet with the collar of my shirt. “How many times have I told you not to play in here?”

My heart thunders and all I can hear is the heavy ticking of a clock in the background.

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock.

I bolt upright in bed, sweat covering my face. It’s been years since I relived that dreaded moment in my dreams. But every morning since I let Gwendolyne go, the same nightmare has woken me sometime after 4am.

I’m surprised I slept at all, considering today she’s supposed to marry Piero. What she doesn’t realize is that Piero is going to double cross her and Jovani like he did to me ten years ago.

If I have any hand in it, then I won’t allow history to repeat itself. The plan is relatively insane, but it has to work.

I rub my hand across my face and force myself not to think about what would happen if it didn’t. Horrific images of Gwendolyne’s lifeless body have plagued my mind ever since I learned of Piero’s plan. Two painful weeks of planning and scheming, making sure that whatever intention Piero has toward Jovani and his family is stopped before it’s too late.

Gwendolyne has been unreachable. I’ve tried to follow her and reach her, but the security team her dad and Piero have surrounding her is ridiculous. She’s barely out in public since I let her go, making catching a glimpse of her impossible.

It’s ironic. My first attempt at doing the right thing and it’s royally backfired. Letting Gwendolyne go was something I had to do, but now I fear it might have damned us both.

I get out of bed and walk to my closet, getting dressed in my finest suit, grabbing my favorite gun from my gun cabinet. I check it’s loaded and slip it into the inside jacket pocket. My heart pounds as I wonder whether to wear my hook today, as instinct tells me I’ll need it. But it makes me less conspicuous and easier to spot.

I grab it and screw it on, deciding that it will come in use if I come face to face with Piero. The satisfaction I’d get thrusting this hook into his gut and watching the life drain from his eyes would be unmatchable.

I stare at myself in my body length mirror. The darkness within me is evident as I look into my own eyes. When Gwendolyne was near, I felt like the darkness was tempered by her light. Ever since she’s been away... I fear that I’m going to be lost to it forever, drowning in it with no way out. And yet it’s worth it if it means I save her. I’d lay my own life on the line a thousand times over to keep her alive.

Men chatting echoes through the corridor from my study. I walk that direction to find the men I’d invited gathered, including Smyth.

“Morning, gentlemen.”

They all fall silent the moment I step into the room.

“Morning, sir.” They say in chorus.

“As most of you know, we’re going to try to pull off my most ambitious plan yet to stop this wedding and Piero’s operation in one swoop.”

I pause for a moment, looking around at each of their faces. They’re on board, but I can see the fear lurking in their eyes. This is no small feat we’re about to attempt, and failure means death.

“We’ve done our best to gather information on Piero’s plans and gather our resources. Today we strike, and we do whatever it takes to keep Gwendolyne and Jovani safe.”

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