Damned: Chapter 22) Glass

“He was here.” I breathed, unsure of how I should feel. My brother was here.

Vitaly’s eyes shot to the slightly opened balcony door and he neared it threateningly while keeping a hold on his gun.

Swiftly pushing it open, he frowned.

“Nothing.”

“Vitaly, what are we going to do now?” I sighed hopelessly as I sat on the chair, “Anthony was here. It feels as if we’re so close yet so far.”

“Time’s running out. I need that file.”

“What is it even about?”

“Nothing you should be concerned about.” He stated harshly.

“Fine. You don’t have to be so rude, dipshit. At least we got back Becca.” I smiled thankfully.

“I wouldn’t count that as a win, Angel. If Dmitri finds out that she’s not where he wants her to be then your friend over there would be shitting rainbows.”

“She needs to get out of here.” I panicked.

“The safest place right now for her won’t be with you.”

“Thanks, I feel so safe now.” I rolled my eyes, “She has family in Canada. Do you think that-”

“It’ll do for now. She should leave tonight itself.”

“I have to book a flight.”

“No need. I know someone. He’ll escort her to her family. Wake her up now if she wants to live tomorrow.” He finished and walked out the door.

There was something about Vitaly that seemed to be off. He was honestly acting like one of those moms who try to keep their chill with a problem child.

“Listen, I’m not a problem child.” I blurted, following him.

“What?” he turned to me with an arched eyebrow.

“Nothing.”

“I’ll call Leighton.”

“Who’s Leighton?” I asked, returning his arched eyebrow look.

“Marc Leighton. He’s the one who’ll take Banks. Well, to the airport. He’ll meet with Devereux and he’ll take care of her from there. As in, take her directly to her family in Canada.”

“Archer Devereux? The man who saved you?”

“Let’s not bring that up,” Vitaly stated quite annoyed.

“Who is he anyway? I have the funniest feeling about him, Vitaly.”

“He’s an ally, Katherine. I assure you of that. Stay here, I have to meet someone before I head home. I’d take you along but I can’t risk you.”

“What if Dmitri comes here.”

“Leighton would get here soon. Don’t worry that fat little head of yours.” He smiled wickedly.

As soon as Vitaly left, I locked all the doors and entries. I wasn’t risking putting Rebecca in danger anymore. She seemed so at peace on the sofa while she slept. Stooping next to her, I softly called her name to wake her.

“Becca,” I called a little louder until I finally saw her eyes open a bit.

“Kat?” she whispered in a soft aching voice.

“You have to get up Becca, you have to go to Canada.”

“What?”

My voice was apologetic and it felt painful to send my best friend away but I knew this was the only option for her safety, “Before Dmitri gets here. If he finds you, we’ll all be damned.”

Sitting upright on the sofa, she blinked her eyes tightly as if somehow hoping to wake up from a bad dream.

“It’s no use. I tried that so many times.” I frowned and gave her the glass of water that I placed on the table at the side of the sofa.

“If I have to go away to make sure you’re safe Katherine then I will. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Dmitri. This is all my fault.” She sobbed.

“Becca please, don’t say that. It’s not. Dmitri planned this entire thing.”

“What do you mean? And why does he want you? Kathy, you’re hiding things from me.”

“I can’t explain it right now.”

“Come away with me then. Let’s go to Canada until this entire thing dies down.” My friend pleaded.

“It isn’t that simple, Bec.” I smiled sadly thinking about her offering. I wished it was that easy. To run away, but this wasn’t a situation I couldn’t run away from. I had to find my brother. And I will.

There was a sudden knock on the door that alerted my attention. I didn’t open it at first until I peeked through the window and saw this tall slender tanned man with thin broad lips and neatly combed pitch-black hair.

‘Miss Donovan, I’m here on behalf of Vitaly Alecovich Rostov, my name is Marc Zane Leighton.” The stranger spoke behind the door.

I felt a certain tinge of caution rush through me until my phone beeped and I saw Vitaly’s message stating that Leighton’s here.

Nearing the door, I took a deep breath and opened it.

“Trust issues, I assume?” Leighton smiled.

“More than you can imagine.”

He laughed and entered, “It happens when you get involved with people like Rostov and Devereux.”

The sudden mention of Devereux made me feel uneasy but not in an uncomfortable way. It was like the sudden crash of a wave that broke along the waters and died when it hit the shore.  

“Where is she?” he asked, looking around.

“She’s packing. She’ll be here. Have a seat. Do you want anything to drink?”

“Oh no, Miss Donovan, we should be leaving now. Time is essential to us right now. After I leave your friend with Devereux, I’ll take you back to Rostov’s house.”

As soon as Rebecca came out of the room, we left the apartment and headed to Leighton’s car where he drove to the airport. Before Rebecca left, I hugged her and asked what I’ve been meaning to ask since the time she woke up.

“Bec,” I sighed, “Do you remember what happened after you escaped the apartment?”

A look of intense worry plagued her demeanour, “I can’t remember everything, Kathy. I just… all I remember is running out to get help when someone tried to hurt me and I blacked out.”

“You don’t remember anyone? Any faces?”

“No, I honestly can’t.” she frowned sadly and held my hand, “Come with me Kathy, it isn’t too late. We can get away from here.”

“No Becca, I can’t. Just take care of yourself, okay?” I smiled as I hugged her again.

Leighton opened the door for Rebecca and she left. I heard him telling her something but it must have been about meeting Archer after. On that thought, I saw him approaching them and gently placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort. I couldn’t hear everything clearly through the car window but she seemed very comforted by it. For some reason, I felt at ease seeing that expression on her face. What was it about Archer Devereux? Why was there this feeling I cannot explain when I look at him? In that instant, he flashed his gaze at me and I fell entirely succumbed to whatever my mind swallowed me in. My head ached for a moment trying to think about him.   

Let it go, Katherine.

The soft voice of my shadow calmed me. Devereux wasn’t important right now. My brother was. And I had to find him.

After they disappeared into the swarm of people, Leighton got in the car.

“You seem quite tense.”

As much as I wanted to deny that, I couldn’t help but inquire about Archer, “Who is he, Marc?”

“Who is who?”

“You know who.”

Marc smiled as if he knew I’d ask, “I wondered when you were going to ask this.”

“What do you mean?” I frowned.

“About Devereux. You know what the funny thing is Miss Katherine, I was going to ask the same thing.”

“What?”

“I thought you knew him.”

“For a brief minute or two.” I shifted.

“I’ll tell you this, Archer doesn’t do favours for just anyone. I was surprised when Vitaly said that Devereux would help you.”

“He must have just thought as it as helping Vitaly. I assure you it can’t be me that he’s helping.”

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps.” I frowned in deep thought.

For the entire drive back to Rostov’s house I fought myself to stop thinking about things that don’t need to be thought about at this time.

“This is where we part, Miss Katherine.” Leighton smiled as he unlocked the car door.

Getting out I smiled gratefully, “Thank you, Marc.”

As I was about to walk away, he called me,

“Katherine, be careful.”

I smiled at the sincerity, “It’s my mantra, Marc.”

“No, you don’t understand. These people are dangerous. You seem like a nice girl, Miss Donovan. For reasons I don’t know, you are involved with them, but just be cautious. Trust no one.”

“I thought you’re with them.” I frowned.

“I’m just a driver, Katherine. I have my reasons why I work for them but it’ll be a pity to see you have my fate.” He stated as he gave me a card, “If ever you need me, kid.”

With that in mind, I walked to the house feeling rather uneasy as he left. Even ringing the doorbells seemed like an arduous task. The night seemed suddenly colder than usual and the air seemed like it was carrying a deadly virus.

Nikolai opened the door to look at me with worried eyes,

“Katherine, are you alright?”

In that moment Natalia and Mikhail stopped across the hallway to look at me. Mikhail held a serious expression while Natalia held a tired one that for the first time I couldn’t understand.

“You’re late.” Vitaly’s voice echoed from behind them.

“There was an accident. We got kept back. It’s life. Deal with it.” I retorted.

“Go to the room, Maria would get you something to eat.” He instructed both me and Maria.

I didn’t want to argue so I did as he said.

Sitting on the bed, I felt uneasy thinking about all that happened. I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the dressing table and frowned. I was frowning too much. I didn’t like it at all. This wasn’t me. It’s funny how a situation can change a person. From the corner of the table, I noticed an odd box that drew me in. Getting off the bed, I neared it and trailed my hand along the antique look of it. I knew I should open it but it felt as if I had to. Denying my warning, I opened it to look at these letters that were handwritten specifically to Vitaly. Beneath the letters, was an odd sliver chain which felt so beautiful in the hand yet so mysterious.

The doorknob suddenly shifted and I hastily put everything back in the box and jumped on the bed where I originally was. I am such a snoop, it’s so embarrassing actually.

“Miss Donovan, I made you some soup. Please do have it.” Maria smiled.

“I will. Thank you.” I replied gently.

“Maria,” I stopped her before she left, “Where’s Vitaly?”

“I believe he is in his office.”

When she left, I looked at the soup and lost my appetite. It’s not that the food was not delicious; it’s just that I was not hungry with all that was going on. I walked towards the office but stopped when I heard Mikhail talking to him.

“You’re taking the wrong approach here, Alecovich.”

“I know what I am doing.”

“Do you? Since when do you take pity on people? Family is family. That’s the only exception.”

“We just need time,” Vitaly stated yet the frustration slipped out of his voice.

He looked uncomfortable the way in which he sat at the desk and clasped his hand together while resting his elbows on the desk and chin on his hands.

“We don’t have time anymore.” Mikhail dropped an envelope harshly on the desk, “You need to stop playing now. That girl is an asset to us. Nothing more.”

“What am I supposed to do Mikhail? Kill her? You know damn well that her brother won’t come if we do!” Vitaly raged as he stood from the chair and slammed his hands on the desk.

“We can’t kill her but keeping her as a hostage here is a much better option.”

Vitaly frowned at his words.

“That means no hospitality from us. Lock her in the basement. No food. No water. Hit her and bruise her. That should send the message out to her brother. I’ll make sure he knows about this.”

“She’s fragile, Mikhail, she won’t be able to sustain the injuries that you would carry out. At least not for long.”

“Then you do it. You know her limits.”

“This isn’t a good idea,” Vitaly turned away, “The brother’s a coward. There is a chance that he might not come.”

“We have to take that risk. There is also the chance that he saw you with her, unharmed. That is not the message you want to send out to him. He’ll take us for granted and all hope of getting that file is lost.”

Vitaly stayed silent for some time and Mikhail placed his hand on his shoulder, “You’re like my brother Vitaly, family is all we have. You’re becoming weak, distracted, lost. If Ded finds out…”

“No.” Vitaly’s voice went hoarse, “I won’t disappoint him. This family is all we have. You’re right, I have to put aside these sickening feelings. I’ll have to do this for Ded.”

“That is more like my brother.” Mikhail finished.

This couldn’t be happening. Vitaly agreed to betray me like this? I should have known from that beginning not to trust a filthy man like him. I quickly went back to the room and locked the door.

This was it.

This was the last straw. My anger flared so much I was in a state of utter shocking calmness. I wasn’t even sure how possible this was but this was the damn last time. It hurt to know that I put my trust in someone and they would break it that easily. I sure in hell wasn’t going to play wounded lamb for them. I am not anyone’s asset and the fact that they think of me as one is so disgusting.

I knew that my brother was nearby but I needed time, time that Vitaly would not give me anymore. Somehow I knew I could find my brother on my own. I had faith in myself. I knew what to do, it was risky but I had to find my brother. I will find Anthony and Vitaly will regret this decision of his.

I took one of the letters and stared at myself in the mirror. His betrayal shattered me but the pieces were sharp.

Now it’s different, Rostov. Now it’s personal.

“If you want me, come and get me.”

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