Page 15 of A Game of Survival

“Write me a list.” I snarl through gritted teeth, barely containing myself.

Once Tom has given me an extensive list of everything he’ll need to work with I call Felix, because if anybody is going to be able to get all of this at the drop of a hat, it’s going to be him, and boy does he come through. Within the hour multiple deliveries are being dropped off at the back door to the club where Dario meets them to bring them, one by one, back into the now makeshift emergency room. In all my years in this business, I’ve never seen anything quite like it and I have to take my hat off to the doctor and what he has accomplished. There are monitoring machines, sutures, bags of blood, a massive amount of bandages and a weird looking hat with a light fixed to the front of it. The next few hours are a complete blur to me, all sense of time is completely lost as I watch the doctor work his way over Max’s body. He starts by cleaning and disinfecting all of the cuts and grazes, making sure to give stitches to the deeper wounds that won’t heal on their own, before he begins drawing blood and inserting cannulas into the crook of Costello’s elbow. I flinch involuntarily as the needles pierce the skin, bringing back haunting images of Alesso’s mother. I shake my head to rid them, running my hands down my face in frustration. Before long, Max’s body has been hooked up to multiple machines with bags of blood, antibiotics and other fluids slowly infusing their way into his system as they hang above the table. I daren’t think of Lucille right now, the look in her eyes has singed itself to memory. I can’t fucking leave this room until her brother wakes up, and I don’t plan to. I still don’t trust this prick to be alone with Max while he’s unconscious so I plan on staying for however long this takes. I had already shot out a text to Silas to let him know my plan on bringing the doctor in and suggested it best if Lucille remained oblivious of that piece of information too.

“There isn’t much more I can do for him here,” Tom sighs as he turns to face me, pulling my spiraling thoughts back into the room. “He most definitely needs a hospital.”

“Not possible, Doc, you’re his only hope right now.” I admit, trying to sound much more pleased about it than I feel.

“I have done all I can. He lost a lot of blood and has sustained some severe blunt force trauma to his head and body. I’ve hooked him up with some blood to replace what he’s lost but he needs to be pumped with fluid and antibiotics for a couple of days at least.” His voice is so matter of fact, like he’s talking to one of his patients and it’s pissing me off the more that he continues. “There really is nothing else I can do for him until he wakes up, and there’s no telling when that will be.”

My whole body stiffens at those words. “But hewillwake up, right?” I demand, suddenly feeling like I’m about to pass out as I stare down at Max’s body, having to brace myself against the wall. Dr Graves turns back towards the table and lifts up Max’s eyelids one at a time, shining the light from the hat into his eyes, checking his pupil reaction.

“His pupil reactions are normal, and he hasn't stopped breathing so I have no reason to believe he won’t wake up. But, Mr Rossi, I do not know the extent of his internal injuries. From the look of the bruising on his stomach, he could very well be bleeding internally, and without a hospital or a surgeon, he will die.”

I swallow the bile that’s rising in my throat. I will never be able to look at Lucille again if I am the reason her brother dies. I’ve failed already at being unable to retrieve her missing son. What the fuck am I meant to say? Dr Graves stares at me while I have my internal breakdown but he doesn’t say anything. Apparently he does know when to keep his mouth shut, because another snarky remark from his mouth and I’d have to knock his fucking teeth out and shove them down his throat.

Chapter 11

Lucille

Seconds, minutes, hours. I have no idea how long it’s been since Silas dragged me away from my brother's body. If I hadn’t managed to find his pulse before I was hauled into the air it would be impossible to convince myself that he wasn’t actually dead. But that’s all I can do. It’s all I can do to convince myself that I haven’t lost my son and my brother within a week. The thought is petrifying, so much so, that I don’t think I’ll survive it. Lincoln's face as I was forced out through the door was distraught, broken even. He looked completely helpless, but in that moment, I wished pain on him I had never thought possible. How could he do that to me? After everything we’d already been through, I thought he was the most reasonable.

“La mia luce?” Silas croons next to me, gently stroking his fingers against my arm. He had carried me kicking and screaming all the way to his office through a crowd of drunken men and women who all watched wide eyed as I fought against his restraint, and not a single one of them offered to help me or ask if I was alright. As soon as we entered he all but threw me onto the leather couch and locked the door so I couldn’t get out. I flinch away from him automatically and shrug his hand from my arm. “Lucille, don’t shut me out!” he snaps, keeping his tone low and authoritative.

“Fuck you, Silas.” I all but whisper into myself. I no longer have the fight in me after staring into the dark hardwood floor of the room for what felt like an eternity, praying that every time somebody knocked on the door, they were coming to tell me that Max was awake, but instead, every time Silas stepped out of the room and spoke in private before he returned, giving me little to no information at all. I bow my head and give in, the overwhelming guilt swallows me as I exhale, unable to stop the tears as they burn their way down my face. I don’t fight back this time as I feel the couch shift before Silas wraps his arms around my body and pulls me into his lap. He holds me, stroking his fingers up and down the length of my spine as I nestle my face into the crook of his neck.

“It’s going to be alright baby, I promise,” Silas whispers, kissing into my hair and squeezing me tighter as it becomes a little harder to breathe. “Shhh, baby shhhhhhh,” he soothes, constantly running his hand up and down my back. I try desperately to concentrate on the movement, scrunching my eyes tight as I breathe in while Silas’ hand moves up, and exhaling as it moves down, blocking out every other thought from my brain. I will never come back from this if I let the dark thoughts win. I am more than this and I am stronger, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. As my breathing slows, Silas loosens his arms and shifts me carefully back onto the couch before laying his whole body across it and pulling me down with him so my back is pressed firmly against his chest.

“You need to get some rest sweetheart,” he instructs softly into my ear, pulling the chenille blanket from the back of the couch to cover my body.

“I can't,” I whisper, already trying to fight off the exhaustion as my eyelids become heavy and the room instantly becomes darker.

“I will wake you up if there’s any news,” I hear before my body gives in to what it needs.

The room is drowned in complete darkness when several taps at the door bring me back to semi-consciousness. For a moment I forget where I am until a large body shifts behind me and I instantly relax, taking in his distinctive smell. I’m in Silas’s office, I remember now. And then I remember why. Max. Silas carefully moves himself from behind me, trying not to wake me, not knowing I am already wide awake. Maybe I should just tell him and make it a little easier for him but I’m hoping he’ll be more inclined to reveal some information in front of me if he thinks I’m still asleep. I make sure to keep my breathing slow and steady as I hear him open the office door. I feel the light from outside hit my face but I try to ignore it as well as the thumping bass coming from the club downstairs. The door closes a moment later and along with the music, the light fades, pitching the room back to blackness. I jump up from the couch and tiptoe my way across the room, pressing my ear flat to the door to hear the conversation between Silas and whoever it was that knocked, but all I can hear is the low beat of the bass.

“Well fuck this!” I curse out loud to the room before opening the door. Only, it doesn’t open. Silas has locked me in, again! “Fucking asshole. Open the door!” I shout, but it’s no luck. If he wasn’t standing on the other side, nobody would hear me over the music, and if he was still close by, he wouldn’t have locked me inside. Prick. I glance around the room looking for something I can use to pry the door open with but instead I find myself sitting in his desk chair staring at his desktop. I nudge the mouse curiously, for the whole screen to light up just like I hoped it would. This fucker really should lock his computer when he’s not in here. I have no idea what I’m looking for but if they won’t give me any information, then I’ll just have to find it myself. I search through several different apps on the display screen and flick my way through tonnes upon tonnes of receipt documentation but that is no use to me. I know there won’t be much on here but I have to try. A small camera lens icon in the bottom right corner of the screen catches my eye but when I click to open it a security blocker opens, prompting me for a password. “Oh for fuck sake!” I groan, closing my eyes to think of anything at all that would have enough meaning behind it for Silas to use as a password. I type my own name in for it to be rejected and I all but laugh at the thought of it. Like he would have my name as his fucking password, we’re not in high school. No. This needs to mean something to him, something important. I pull open the desk drawers and filter through paperwork, typing in anything that seems like a possible option, but like my first attempt, they all get rejected. A sudden burst of anger has me launching one of the crystal cut tumblers into the bookcase on the opposite wall, smashing against a photo frame before exploding across the floor. “Shit!” I run across the room, bending down to pick the photo off the floor, feeling instantly guilty for my sudden outburst as I look down into the eyes of a beautiful golden eyed boy, nestled delicately into a woman's arms as she swaddles a baby into her chest. My heart palpitates rapidly against my chest as the woman's eyes bore deep into my own. She looks so happy yet she holds a certain sadness about her that makes me wonder what had happened to her. I flip the photo over in my hands. The names Valentina, Silas and Cole are all hand written in beautiful cursive black ink on the back with the date the photograph was taken underneath. I carefully place the photo back onto the bookshelf after staring at it a little longer then I sit back in front of the desktop willing for this to work. I type in Silas’ mothers name and press enter. It fucking worked.

The screen is divided into six sections, each playing a live video from the camera’s point of view. I’m so overwhelmed at the new power I possess as I’m able to watch what’s happening throughout the club that I forget I’m locked in Silas’ office until I hear somebody attempting to get in from the other side of the door. My body’s fight or flight response is truly fucked as I sit stoic in my position. There’s no way anybody could get up here without somebody seeing them. But my heart falters as the door opens and Cole steps into the room. His eyes immediately burn into mine as he stands in the doorway, looking just as shocked to see me as I am him. Our stare off lasts a lifetime as neither of us dares to move. He studies my face, his eyes flicking back and forth between my own. I can see the inner turmoil practically oozing out of his head as he questions what his next move should be. I take in his appearance, dressed completely in black from head to toe. His jeans pull tightly across his muscular thighs and the slightly low cut of his vest underneath the hoodie he has on makes me feel annoyingly uncomfortable. I’m not used to seeing any of them out of their suits and jackets but everytime I caught Cole in his casual biker gear, my brain seemed to lack the capacity to function properly, just like it is now. I take a deep breath and swallow my trepidation, bringing my gaze slowly back to his face.

“Cole.” Is all I manage, like a breath of wind, my voice sounded so damn weak when I wanted it to be strong but I don’t miss how Cole’s eyes shut for the briefest of seconds before he strides towards me. I move back in the chair, unable to read the situation and needing to give myself some space before he gets too close. His steps falter immediately, a flash of uncertainty burrowing into the harsh lines of his face as he comes to a stop. He’s close enough now to see what I’ve been looking at on Silas’ desktop but he remains silent as he stalks around the desk to stand between me and the screen. My inner devil is screaming at me to touch him, but I refuse. I won’t be the one to make the first move here, not after the horrible things he said to me at the hospital and the way he’s abandoned us all, especially me when I need him the most. The memories of his spiteful words make it hard to look him directly in the face without wanting to slap him.

“Somebody’s been snooping,” he says, tilting his head to the side while his eyes rake lower over my body. He leans himself back against the desk, placing his hands behind him as he leans against the wood, apparently having no intention of leaving any time soon.

“I wasn’t snooping,” I say quietly, looking down into my lap. I all of a sudden feel very miniscule in his presence, like he’s here only to belittle me some more and cause me more pain. I hear him tut at my feeble lie before his finger is under my chin, bringing my face back up to look at him.

“Now, now Lucille, don’t lie to me,” he mocks, squeezing my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I don’t like liars.” How dare he.

“Get your hands off me!” I snap, jumping from my chair and knocking his hands away from my face. “You don’t get to fucking touch me, Cole. Not after what you did to me.” I hurl, throwing my hands in the air. “You don’t get to fucking do that to me.” I add, my voice cracking slightly at the end. I can feel my eyes burning again, a sure and familiar warning that I’m going to cry. But I won’t let him get the satisfaction, even if I have to turn around, I won’t let him see me cry.

Cole’s demeanor shifts, and like those horrible films I’ve seen where somebody gets possessed by the devil, his eyes turn almost black, painting him in his most menacing form. I take a tentative step backwards, only for him to counter and take one forwards, taunting me. My eyes involuntarily flick towards the door and I know by the cruel smirk now pulling at his lips that he caught the action. I launch myself forwards, aiming straight for my exit but Cole is much faster and stronger than I am. I’m certain he let me get so close on purpose before I felt him grab onto my wrist. Before I know what’s happening, Cole spins me to face him and slams me back into the door with both hands secured above my head. The movement was so quick I have to close my eyes to regain my balance. I can smell the spiced whiskey on his breath and feel the warmth of his words as he leans into my body.

“Open your eyes,” he orders. The words are so loud in this empty room that he could have whispered them and they still would have been loud enough to make me startle. I scrunch up my face, and turn my head to the side. Unwilling to look at this unfamiliar creature, because this was not the Cole I had grown to know, and it most definitely wasn’t the Cole that I loved. “Look at me, Lucille.” He snaps, losing his patience as he secures both wrists with one hand and brings the other down to caress my cheek. Not long ago there was a time when this would have been everything I could ask for, but right now this isn’t what I want. I open my eyes and bring my face back to look at him, earning a satisfied grin in response. “Still so obedient for me,” he smirks.

I was always taught that it was un-lady like to spit, but fuck it if I’m a lady. I lean my head back and spit into his face, though the satisfaction it gives me is short-lived when Cole immediately presses my body further into the door, digging his fingers into my cheeks as he holds my head in place.

“That wasn’t nice Lucille,” he goads. “After everything I’ve done for you, you just spit it all back in my face.”

“You left me,” I choke, fighting hard not to let the tears spill. Cole closes his eyes as the deep contemplation that haunted him earlier returns and his fingers loosen ever so slightly on my face. I’m not sure whose heart is beating faster but I can feel them both fighting to break out of their cages against my chest as his body is flush against mine. Cole looks back up at me, anger, confusion and regret swimming through his eyes before he forces his lips to mine, slamming my head back against the door and taking me completely off guard. I try to push him away from me but he only kisses me harder, biting and sucking on my lower lip until I relinquish my restraint and open my mouth to his. His tongue is on mine in an instant and I relish in the way that he tastes. With a mind of its own my own tongue fights back for dominance as I descend into the depth of hell right alongside him, using all of my anger to sink my teeth into his lip. I feel his smile against my mouth as the coppery tang of blood seeps onto my tongue and I can't help the ache that's materializing between my legs. I never want this to end, I’ll forgive him for everything right here right now if he just gives me more of what my body is craving, but Cole breaks away, leaving me gasping. I catch my breath for a second before his body tenses, putting me back on edge and, bringing his lips to my ear he whispers three words that rip my still beating heart from my chest.

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