Chapter 80
“I want to rip your throat out so badly, you have no idea.”
“But you can’t, because your boss hasn’t given the order.”
“How do you know I work for someone?”
“It’s obvious.”
wasn’t at Alexander’s place for you, if that’s what you think. You’re the least of my worries.”
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“I noticed, given the state you left his villa in. I wonder how Alexander is going to rip your guts out. He hates when people touch his
stuff.”
I wonder too–when is he going to show up?
“You think I’m afraid of Alexander? I was in the crime world when he was still getting spanked by his mom. You and him, you’re part of the new generation–so arrogant you’re lost.”
“You’re just jealous we’re still young and have our whole lives ahead of us, is that it? If you’re so brave, why did you panic when you found out he was coming? You could’ve faced him like a man, but you chose to run like a coward.”
He lets out a mocking laugh and strokes my cheek, leaning close to my ear. I smell the stench of cigarettes and weed from his mouth, making me want to throw up at his feet.
“Lhope you’re not stupid enough to fall in love with that man. He wouldn’t hesitate a second to sell you to a prostitution ring to keep his secret.”
What is he talking about? This makes no sense. I can’t piece together the puzzle. I was supposed to uncover Alexander’s secret when I went to prison to figure out what he was doing there, and now it feels like the more time passes, the more shadows spread.
Could Mr. X be linked to the secret Alexander is hiding from me? Or are these two things completely unrelated? I can’t say for sure, but the situation seems closely connected despite their differences.
“Stop fantasizing! Alexander saved my life more than once. He deserved for me to try and help him.”
“That man is evil incarnate. He’s a monster. He deserves to die for all the harm he’s caused in this world.”
“What did he do to you that makes you hate him so much?”
He’s silent for several seconds.
“Alexander cut out my son’s tongue That’s why he’s mute.”
Holy shit.
Just imagining that scene makes me want to puke.
“Why?”
Thear him sigh.
“Jared raped the daughter of a member of Alexander’s gang. She hanged herself afterward. Her father joined her by jumping off a
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Chapter 50
building. To make Jared pay for both deaths, Alexander broke into my house while we were all sleeping and used his knife to cut out Jared’s tongue like he was an animal. That day, it was the last time I heard my son’s voice–and it was to hear him scream.”
Just when I thought I knew all the horrors of this world, I learn something new. Jared might’ve kind of had it coming though.
I don’t understand why Alexander didn’t just kill him.
“What’s so precious that your son and you would risk robbing his place instead of killing him?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“want to understand.”
“If Alexander finds out you know the truth, he’ll kill you without hesitation.”
“Why all the secrecy? What has such value that it can’t even be spoken of? I don’t understand.”
My curiosity is at its peak. I’m about to ask another question when I hear the sound of a body collapsing to the ground.
“Jafar?”
No answer.
“What was that sound? What’s going on?”
Silence.
“Are you still here?”
I’m helpless, and it pisses me off. I keep trying to move while still calling out to Jafar.
I hear footsteps rapidly approaching.
“Who’s there?”
Someone violently rips off my blindfold. I set my eyes on the one who just removed it–it’s none other than Jared, glaring at me.
I understand how critical the situation is when I look at the floor: Jafar is lying motionless, eyes wide open, with a bullet right in the middle of his forehead.
I don’t get it–he was just killed, but by whom? Why did this person leave me alive? Why kill Jafar?
Judging by Jared’s look, he thinks I killed his father.
“I swear I’m not responsible for his murder! You can see I’m still tied up and that my eyes were covered!”
He doesn’t seem to believe me. He comes dangerously close to my face and removes his hood.
He’s a man in his twenties, with olive skin, almond–shaped dark brown eyes, a hooked nose, very thin lips almost nonexistent, and light brown hair with early balding
He seems too blinded by hatred and sadness to think. He puts his hand in his pants pocket and pulls out a Swiss army knife, which he uses to cut my ties. Then he violently grabs me by the hair.
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Chapt 30
I let out a groan of pain as I feel his strong grip.
“What are you going to do to me? Let me go!”
I know he can’t answer me, but I have to speak, not let the pain take over.
He drags me by the hair to an abandoned warehouse as I scream and try in vain to escape.
He stops in front of a sort of transparent cage. He presses a button and the cage opens. He shoves me inside violently.
It’s barely bigger than I am.
I bang on it with all my strength to get out, but it’s unbreakable.
“Why are you locking me in here?”
He gives me a triumphant smile and pulls a remote control from his pocket. After waving goodbye, he presses the red button and walks away without looking back.
Drips. hear the sound of water flowing, like from a faucet.
I understand immediately: I’m in a human–sized aquarium, my lungs are going to fill with water, and I’m going to die.
I scream, hoping someone hears me, and kick the walls violently, but nothing gives.
Fucking hell!
The freezing water slowly reaches my calves, then covers them completely.
Breathe, Inara, don’t panic.
Panicking won’t help me find a way out. It’s pointless to waste energy screaming. I observe the aquarium to try to find the mechanism. Looking up, my eyes fix on the large iron bar sealing the top.
I take off my shorts and tank top, now in my underwear. I tear them and tie them together to make a small rope that I twist on itself multiple times.
Then I get on tiptoe and jump to reach the top of the aquarium. At first, I fail miserably. I’m completely soaked by the rising water.
After several attempts, I finally manage to hook my rope.
Thanks to it, my body is suspended in the air even as water keeps rushing in. By hanging onto the bar, I can buy a few more minutes before the water completely submerges me.
But the water eventually reaches my neck and gradually covers my face.
The physical effort is intense. I let go. The water freezes my whole body.
My last thoughts go to Maria, Sam, Mathieu… and Alexander.
My head slams against the aquarium wall Water is filling my lungs.
My time has come.
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Chapter 80
I slowly close my eyes.
I hear someone screaming my name. I think I’m dreaming, but my eyes meet the gaze of someone behind the glass, pounding frantically on it.
Alexander.
He hits the wall violently. He lifts a nearby table and slams it against the aquarium.
A small crack forms in the glass, which starts to give way under the impact.
In a few seconds, all the water drains out, leaving my body collapsed on the floor. Alexander rushes to me and lifts my head.
I cough and spit out the water that almost killed me.
“Don’t fall asleep! Inara, don’t close your eyes!”
I feel him lightly slapping me to keep me awake while shouting at me.
He immediately takes off his jacket and places it over my body, then leans close to my face. He places his hand on my cheek.
“I’m taking you home. It’s over.”
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