Page 16 of A Game of Survival

“You deserved it,” he breathes.

My breathing hitches in my throat at his words. I deserved what he did to me? To hurt me in such a way when I was already so vulnerable and then to leave me without another look back? I collapse to the floor as Cole releases me, my knees unable to bear my own weight any longer as my heart seizes in my chest.

I’m not sure how long I had been laying on the floor of the office for after that before Silas came back in and found me.

Chapter 12

Silas

I can feel Lucille's breathing change ever so slightly beneath me. I know she's no longer asleep, her body oozes tension. She's overthinking everything again, seeing Max and then Lincoln losing his temper in front of her really knocked her for six. She's used to seeing my temper getting the best of me, she almost expects it from me and on some level accepts that it is just how I am. In that regard I have never lied to her, I have always shown her my true self. Lincoln however hides that side of him. Out of the three of us, he has always been the best at being able to keep his demons at bay, only releasing them when he deems necessary. But tonight Lucille saw the Lincoln Rossi that our enemies fear.

I close my eyes and breathe in her scent of sweet roses and a hint of cinnamon, letting myself relax with her resting against my chest. My peaceful doze doesn’t last long though as a quiet but urgent tap sounds from the door. Fuck. Slowly removing myself from behind her, instantly missing the warmth of her body against mine, I pull the blanket back up over her body, half expecting her to open her eyes as I do, but she remains still and continues to pretend to sleep as I leave the room. I decide to lock the door behind me, the state Lucille has been in today, I wouldn't put it past her to run for the hills, and we have too many enemies around for that. Even if I would quite enjoy the chase under other circumstances.

Dario stands a little further away at the top level of stairs just outside of my office, raising a brow at me as the sounds of Lucille trying to open the door sound out from behind me, just about audible over the club music downstairs.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” he smirks.

“She hates me right now anyway so it can’t make it any worse.” I laugh. I feel relieved that she still has this fight in her with everything she is going through right now. She truly is the queen to my kingdom. “Is everything OK?” I ask.

“Yes…Well sort of. I’m getting worried about Rossi. He hasn’t stopped since the doc got here–”

I hold up my hand and Dario immediately pauses. “I’ll check on him. Thank you Dario” I nod, giving Dario the reassurance and sending him on his way. I know he means well. Linc is already running on less fumes than the rest of us, he’ll crash and burn if he isn’t careful. But I know how stubborn he is, and he will want to see that Max is OK before he gets any rest himself.

I make my way downstairs and silently enter the holding room. Lincoln is pacing the room while Max looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with multiple fluid lines hooked up to his barely alive looking body. I am pissed at Lincoln for letting his temper get the best of him, but in reality I am as much to blame as he is. I almost killed him earlier today, and I think I would have too if it weren’t for Lucille pulling me out of my trance. I shake my head, taking another look around the room and locking my eyes on the parasite that is lurking in the corner. Lincoln gave me warning of his plan to bring the doctor here, but seeing him in the flesh makes me want to set his fucking skin on fire. I can feel my blood beginning to bubble at the mere thought of the creep being in the same building as Lucille. He shouldn't even be able to breathe the same air as her. She still, to this day, doesn't know what he had planned for her that night and I will be forever thankful for my brother and the way that he protected her, at a time when she didn't even know how much she really needed him. That's what really confuses me about his sudden behavior. He wanted nothing more than to keep her out of harm's way, but now he is the one causing her all the harm. Cole is the one damaging her by staying away. I still haven't heard from him. I've tried countless times to contact him. But everytime he evades me.

“What the FUCK is going on, Lin?” I bellow, making my presence known. Dr Thomas Graves stills at my voice before he nervously shifts towards Max’s body.

“Si, he owes us, he owes Lucille,” Lincoln responds as he stops pacing, looking tense and immediately sensing how much I want to slit the man's throat as I ball up my fists. He’s trying to make me see reason before doing something I’ll regret.

“He does owe us, and if Mr Costello here doesn't pull through, he will pay the fucking price. I hope you’ve made him aware of that” I seethe through tightly gritted teeth.

“He knows exactly what will happen if Max doesn't pull through” he responds with a matter of fact tone, narrowing his eyes as the doctor fumbles nervously with his equipment. I glance over to Linc who eyes me warily, the dark lines of exhaustion hollowing out his usually sharply sculpted face.

“Does she hate me?” he asks, his voice betraying his previous aggression.

“No, she doesn't hate you. She’s upset and frightened, sure, but I don't think she could ever hate you, Lincoln.” I huff out before moving closer to the good Dr. Graves. “So Doc, are you going to live another day?” I ask with a menacing smirk on my face. If there is one thing I hate, it is when someone preys on a woman who is incapacitated.

“Whhhatt do you mean? You mean Max? He's–” He starts to stutter but I cut him off.

“No, Tom, I mean you. If Max here dies, so do you. Your fate is linked to his now. Isn't it ironic?” I taunt him.

Tom’s face has gone pale and I love it. He looks as though he might faint but he simply nods. “I have told Lincoln I’m sorry for what happened with Lucille…”

Before he can even get a word out of his dirty mouth, I grab him by the throat, tightening my grip around it until I can feel his windpipe crushing beneath my fingers. I can feel his panic, my desire to end him here and now is causing me conflict as he sputters and tries to get free, desperately clawing his nails into my hands and arms.

Leaning into his face a feral growl escapes me, “You do not speak her name, you do not think of her, she is not to entertain any of your thoughts. Because if she does, I'll take great pleasure in removing your vile tongue from your mouth then I will remove each of your fingers, slowly and painfully, for every person that you have ever preyed on, and when I finally run out of fingers to play with, that's when things will really start to get messy. Remember, Dr. Graves, I know all about your activities, so you will do well not to test my patience.” I release him before I cut off his airway completely and he immediately collapses to the floor, holding his neck and rasping heavily, trying to pull the air back into his lungs. “Now, tell me when Mr. Costello will be fit and awake for our questioning.”

“I told Lincoln, without going to the hospital, I cannot decipher all of his injuries. He might not survive without scans and equipment I don't have here."

"Well, Tom, I just need him to be awake for long enough to answer a few more questions." I smirk at him.

"Well, I would say from his vital signs, he'll be awake by morning. All the observations are looking good so far. But only time will tell." he explains.

“That's good news for you both then. I’ll be back later to check his progress. Don’t fuck this up, Doctor” I inform him. Then I turn to Lincoln, who’s sitting in the chair opposite glaring darkly at Dr. Graves.

“I'm going back to check on Lucille and the club. I’ll be back in an hour. If he wakes before that, ring me. I want to be present while you interrogate him again”

Before leaving the room I take one last glance at the scum that is Dr. Graves and nod to Lincoln. “Ensure he is gone before Lucille comes to see her brother, Lincoln.” I instruct him vehemently. I do not trust this doctor.

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