Page 71 of Retaliation
“Sara…” Levi’s quiet voice felt too loud in the dead silence after my outburst. He tried to take my hand, but I snatched it away.
Andras turned his back to us, and Ty drove out of the garage and into the daylight. The bright, cheery sun only angered me further. I wasn’t paying attention to the roads as we sped through the city. Of course they had nothing to say to my outburst. How could they? The Obscuritas had no problem hurting people when it benefited them.
The rage was building inside me, and I needed to punch something. My skin felt hot and everywhere Levi’s and Dev’s bodies brushed against my own was torture. I bit into my tongue, drawing blood, just to keep from shouting.
Ty’s eyes snapped to mine in the rearview mirror. “She’s bleeding.”
Levi snatched my chin in his hands and turned my face to his own. “Why are you hurting yourself?”
“Why do you care?” I sneered back.
His grip on my face tightened almost enough to bruise, and I relished the feeling of pain. I needed it. My eyes burned as I held back tears for my continued failures to save my family.
Levi’s dark-blue eyes softened as he stared back at me, his gaze piercing through the cage of ice wrapping around my heart.
“We were too young to understand what was going to happen that night. Too young and too broken down. The days leading up to that night, our fathers kept us apart. Starved us, tortured us. When it began, we were given drugs to slow our minds and bodies so we couldn’t fight what was to come.”
My mouth dried out as I listened to Levi’s words. I didn’t want to listen, didn’t want to hear his side of the story, but it was impossible to turn away from him. I could see things from his point of view. A scared and confused teenage boy caught up in something so strange and violent. The others remained silent as he continued.
“When they brought the woman and the girl out, I knew something bad was about to happen, but I couldn’t stop it.” Levi swallowed, his eyes distant as he recalled the memory. “I will never forget the screams your sister made as she died.”
Tears did fall from my eyes then. My vision blurred, and I sucked in a breath as I cried. Levi’s rough hands cupped my cheeks as he brushed away the tears. He kissed my forehead with such care as the ache in my chest made me sob harder. Dev’s hand squeezed my thigh, letting me know he was there too.
Andras continued the story. “When we woke the next day, everything had changed. We were not only powerful, but the four of us were connected, our minds linked. Our hearts were filled with fury at what our fathers had done. We vowed then that we would stop them.”
“And why haven’t you?” I whispered, unable to raise my voice as the emotions swirled inside me.
Levi brought his hands down and twined his fingers with my own. “Our fathers are more powerful than you can imagine and willing to destroy anyone who stands against them. Even their own sons.”
Ty suddenly stopped the SUV, bringing the storytime to an end. “We’re here. Let’s go.”
I brushed the salty tears from my face. I probably looked like shit, but for this situation, I didn’t really care.
The neighborhood was obviously full of wealthy people. The homes were massive and spread out between perfectly manicured lawns. The professor’s home was modern and dull, nothing cozy about it. I hated it. Ty stalked up to the front door and banged loudly. Andras came up the steps next and waited. A small window popped open in the wood door, and I tried to look around Ty’s massive frame, but he kept me tucked behind him.
“Professor Lehmann,” Andras spoke first, his tone clipped.
“Andras, ah…Mr. Blackburn. What a surprise,” the man stuttered.
“Indeed. I have some news from my father,” Andras lied, his voice even and professional.
“Oh of course. Come in.” The professor stepped back to unlock the door.
As soon as he turned the handle, Ty shoved through and punched the man in the face. Blood spurted from his nose as he cried out in pain.
Levi and Dev remained protectively by my side as Ty continued to beat the man until blood splashed all over the white, polished floors of the foyer. Andras crossed his arms and watched for several minutes before ordering Ty to stop.
Professor Lehmann coughed up blood and groaned, unable to move. He turned his head slightly to stare up at Andras, one eye swollen shut. “Why?”
Andras flicked an invisible piece of lint from his jacket and stared down at the man with disgust. “Because you deserve it. You’re pathetic. Exactly the kind of trash my father would recruit, and the type of male I abhor.”
Ty pulled out a blade, and before the piece of shit could say another word, the sharp knife was plunged into his heart. He was dead instantly.
I was glad of it, but still confused. “How do we find Danielle now?”
Ty wiped his blade clean on the dead professor’s pants and turned to me with a grim face. “She’s in the basement, locked in a meat refrigerator.”
My mouth dropped open. “How do you know that?”
