Page 17 of A Game of Survival

Leaving the room, I walk down the corridor back towards my office where I left Lucille. As I approach the door, I notice that it's slightly open. I know full well I locked this door when I left. I frantically panic that Lucille has been taken, but when I push through the door my stomach bottoms out as I find Lucille slumped on the floor, shaking with silent cries while tears fall endlessly down her cheeks. Before I know what I'm doing, I'm on the floor in front of her, pulling her into my body. “Lucille, it's okay. Max is fine. He's just resting.” I tell her, trying to reassure her. I gently place my hands on her cheeks and lift her face to mine. Her green eyes are full of sadness, broken and dull, lacking that emerald green glow they once held.

What she says next shocks me.

“Your brother was here, I don’t know how he got in here but I think he came looking for something. I’m sorry, I don't know what it was,'' she shakes her head trying to contain her emotions. Her shakes turn into trembles and I can't tell if it’s through anger or sadness, but maybe it's both. She wipes away her tears and continues, “I let him get to me again, I just want him to come back to us. This is not him, Silas. I refuse to give up on him even if he's given up on us. But this is breaking me even more”

“It's okay la mia luce, we won't give up on either of them. Teddy or Cole. If I have to beat some sense into Cole, I will. But he will come back to us and we will find Teddy. I promise you, everything will be okay.” I assure her, hoping that I can keep to my word.

“I just want to wake up from his nightmare, Silas,” she whimpers. It feels as though hours pass as I hold her close to me, in that exact position on the floor, and comfort her the best way that I can, when eventually a knock at the door startles us both.

“Boss, Lincoln sent me to inform you that he’s awake,” grunts Dario at the door, he knows better than to come in whilst Lucille is here with me.

“Tell him I’ll be right with him,” I instruct Dario, not making any attempt to move from Lucille. Her eyes search mine and she's about to ask for something I would normally deny her. I can see the determination in her eyes.

“Please, Silas, let me see him. Let me come with you. I know he's got a lot to answer for. But please don’t leave me here alone again.”

Her eyes are wide and hopeful waiting for me to give her exactly what she wants. The thought of her on her knees begging me pops into my mind. I tell myself it is not the right time for that. But somehow my cock doesn’t get the message as I feel it harden beneath my trousers. I choke slightly as I reply. “Okay la mia luce, but just promise me that you’ll let us do what is needed.”

She moves so fast wrapping her arms around me tightly. “Thank you, Silas” she all but whispers. I smile as I kiss the top of her head, then lead her from the room to where Max is being treated.

As we enter the room I hear Lucille suck in a gasp as she locks eyes on Max laying on the table, taking tentative sips of water from Lincoln as he helps him to lean forward. I chuckle at the sight.

“New occupation, Linc? Suits you. Maybe Lucille can lend you her uniform next time you play nurse.” Lucille pushes past me to get to the table, she immediately takes the drink from Lincoln’s hand and continues to assist Max, leaving Linc redundant.

“Fuck off! I’d prefer to be the patient, and Lucille be my nurse.” Lincoln grunts, not making eye contact with her.

Lucille glares at him before scoffing at his comment. “You’ll need a nurse if my brother doesn't make a full recovery, Lincoln. You have a lot of groveling to do.” I smirk at Lincoln as I see the side of his mouth lift up in a smile, but he adjusts his face quickly. He loves her sass as much as I do and it’s pleasing to see she hasn't lost it..

I watch him as he turns to her and places his hand gently over hers. “I’m sorry, Love, I let my anger and fear get the best of me. I will spend the rest of my days proving to you that I can be better, I will be better for you.” Lucille does not respond in words but she doesn't have to, her hand squeezes his hand and then she directs all her attention to her brother once more.

“Max…” she starts to say before he cuts her off.

“Luce, I’m okay. I’m not sure you should be here though. I know what they need to do. It's what I would do.” his voice crackles as he glances at me.

“Well they aren't you, Max. They will give me a choice to be here or God help them.” Lucille says assertively. I can't help the smile that forms on my face at that. My girl may stumble but she rises to any challenge put in front of her.

“She's right, if she chooses to be here for our chat, then she can be. I won't hide her away any longer. She deserves to know the truth more than any of us.” Linc replies. Max glances over at Lincoln and then at me again.

And as the penny drops, he frowns and looks to his sister. “Both of them? Really Luce?”

She giggles and turns to me and winks, I can't help but beam at her. I haven't seen her look like that in awhile. “Not that it's any of your business Max, but yes.” She tells him firmly.

Max closes his eyes and mutters “fuckers” under his breath which only makes me laugh out loud causing him to glare once more in my direction.

“What we really need to know, Max, is what happened? Where is Teddy?” Lincoln asks, getting us back on track. I can tell he’s beginning to get impatient. He wants answers, as do we all.

Max coughs and I can tell he must have some broken ribs, or at least severe bruising from the way he winces as the motion, placing his hand onto his chest.

“Like I already told you. I don’t know where Teddy is. All I know is they came like thieves in the night. We were asleep when they ambushed us. My men, men I trusted, turned on me and decided to do their dealings with the devil instead.” His voice shakes with anger at the betrayal and he pauses for a second, gazing directly at Lucille before grasping her hands in his own. “I woke up alone in a cellar, Teddy was nowhere in sight. Ronan and his men arrived after and he admitted to the break in. He admitted he had worked alongside Theo in Theo’s plan to use you as bait with Vinny to enable him to take the head spot in the club once he snuffed out the three of you” he adds, casting his eyes to Linc and me before he continues. “That was until he betrayed Theo and took off with Teddy to groom him to take over the family business in my place.”

Lucille gasps, her bottom lip trembling slightly as she asks “How did you get free?”

“I... I don't know exactly. Someone helped me. I think… unless I was too delirious at that point. Ronan had given his order to finish me off but I was knocked out soon after. As soon as I came round, I found my way to your apartment, needing to know that you were safe.” Max’s eyes begin to close as his words become more and more drawn out. Lucille must notice too as she turns to me with a fierce and meaningful look in her eyes.

“Get some rest Max, we will pick apart your story in more depth another time. You have your sister to thank that it’s not our usual form of interrogation.” I tell him with a light chuckle. He barely nods before closing his eyes completely.

“What are we going to do?” Lucille asks with desperation in her voice.

“Lincoln and I need to check on a few business issues, you need to rest, la mia luce.” I inform her.

---