Page 100 of Hold Me Down
“More than ready,” I reassure him. He lets out a shaky breath and nods only once before he steps inside with Adrien and Carter. Everyone else steps up beside me, Zeke to my right, as eager to watch as I am.
Pride slithers its way through my veins as I watch Damien through the studio window. He’s quickly adjusting lights and walking back and forth between in front of the camera and behind it, making sure he stays concealed. The people have been looking to him for years, counting on him to keep them safe. They may not know what he’s done to ensure it, but I know the moment he calls upon them in return, they’ll answer. Damien can finally see himself the same we do—as our hero.
This isn’t just about stoppinghim. This is proving how strong we stand against anyone else who has thought to test us. His voice will be a warning to anyone who dares to threaten the masses again. Damien, and the rest of Devil’s Hands, will always stand against corruption. We won’t stop, no matter how hard it gets to fight, and our priority will always remain the people’s safety.
A notification pops up on my phone, signaling the start of Adrien’s podcast. I watch Damien through the window, gripping my phone tightly as honor inflates my chest. On the screen, he’s completely blacked out, with no way of making out any physical attributes, but as I look at him intensely, his bright blue eyes swirl before me. He stands tall, stoic, and proud—ominously proud.
“One thousand two hundred and eighty-three people died due to the mass poisoning attack that occurred on August thirteenth.” Damien’s modified voice booms through the speakers, and I know he instantly gains everyone’s attention. He speaks like a king, voicing a tone with authority and strength.“Many of our loved ones were either severely infected or unfortunately lost their lives.”
Zeke tenses beside me, and sadness rolls off him in waves. He’s been waiting for this moment since the second Taylor died, and everything he’s built up is threatening to escape. All of the anger, despair, and loneliness he’s put aside formysake is overflowing now, and as much as I want to take it all away, he needs to feel it. He has to take this moment for everything it’s worth, because my brother’s stubbornness doesn’t stop on the surface. He’ll convince himself that he likes this pain, and he’ll swallow it whole until he chokes on it. I lean against him, wanting to show him some type of support, and it kills me how tightly he wraps his arm around my shoulder. The touch alone sends that aching pain through me as well, so I sink into his hold to show him that I’m here.
“You wanted answers. We have them now,” Damien continues. Flashes on the screen draw my attention, pulling my gaze back down to the phone. Screenshots of documents, images, and texts begin to flood the screen, some with chemical compounds, official order slips from Avery’s pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and so much more. “Your beloved Senator, the one promising safety, has providedanythingbut protection.”
Carter and Adrien are typing away, pulling documents and photos like their lives depend on it. Photos line the screen one by one, sending shivers down my back. First is Popov, then Hugo, Saconne, and DeLuca, framing Damien in their evil appearance.
“He wanted your support. He needed the votes. He also dideverythinghe could to get them, including planting dangerous criminals into the streets and concocting the same poison used in this mass attack.” Damien pauses, allowing the information to sink in for those on the outside of it all. “Senator John Avery orchestrated this plan, using these criminals to carry it out in hopes to use its depravity to earn your favor. His bill, asinnocent as it seems, paves the way for him to earn millions, while leaving you vulnerable—using you, the people, as leverage. Fedor Popov…” Damien begins to list them. “Dranan Hugo, Gianna DeLuca, and Alessio Saconne areallwanted criminals. They have been on INTERPOL’s radar for years, wanted for heinous acts like human, drug, and gun trafficking, terrorism, and many more.” A list of their crimes scrolls down the screen, lasting much longer than it should. “They are not only enemies of the country, but of the world…of humanity. They have wreaked havoc for decades, destroying life after life, and promoting nothing but darkness and terror.” Large red Xs cover their faces, and then they fade away. “Westopped them.”
I look back up to Damien, meeting his piercing eyes through the glass. That ‘we’ was most definitely meant for me, and I can’t help but grin at the acknowledgement.
“This information is now in the hands ofeveryLaw Enforcement Agency in the world, including INTERPOL, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Central Intelligence Agency, along with proof of Senator John Avery’s involvement in their crimes. Unfortunately, it won’t stop here. This is where I ask foryourhelp. Demand retribution. Call for action. Scream for justice. Thiscannotgo unpunished, because it won’t be long before this happens again.”
Damien steps closer to the camera, thankfully still concealed. His eyes are glued to the lens, reaching through space and time to stare his enemy down.
“Iknowyou’re watching this, Avery. Iknowyou can hear me. Heed this warning.” His jaw tenses, but he forces himself to continue despite the hatred running through his veins. “Weare coming for you. We areallcoming for you, and if the government turns a blind eye to your crimes, thenIwill find you. Your corruption ends today…” He inhales deeply. “But we willneverstop.” He takes one menacing step closer. “We’ll be seeing you.”
The feed cuts out, and the only thing I hear next is their collective sighs from the studio.
“You’ve officially gone viral, D,” Adrien declares. “People are blowing up the comments and shares. We were up to five million live viewers, and the playbacks are already in the thousands.”
Beeping rings out from Carter’s computer, making him snap towards us.
“You just received a notification!” he shouts, looking right at Victoria. She frantically scrounges around her bag until she pulls out her phone, and then her face turns white as a sheet. I move to read what it says over her shoulder, but Zeke’s firm hand on my arm stops me. He jerks the phone out of her hand and reads it, then drops it in my palm.. His fingers curl around her arm so tightly that they dig in, and her eyes widen as he shoves his face within inches of hers.
“This doesn’t change a fucking thing,” he seethes, practically hissing through his teeth. I push my way between them, somehow pulling it off before Damien can reach us, and then I look up at my brother like I barely recognize him. I haveneverseen him act this way, and while I know he has some resentment towards Victoria, this seems completely out of line.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” I poke his chest, and he moves his heated stare to me. There’s so much fire behind his green eyes that it rattles me. I don’t back down, though, knowing my brother would never hurt me.
“Why the fuck are you standing up forher?!” he yells at me, making me flinch.
“She’s not the enemy here, Zeke.”
“Since fucking when?! Huh?! She’s a God damn Avery! You might be too hormonal and love-sick to see clearly, but I’m not letting this bitch walk free, and she’s definitely not stickingaround here! Get out of your stupid peace bubble for five God damn minutes and see that we still have a major problem here!” He leans towards me, like he’ll actually try and step around me to get to her.
“Zeke!” Damien yells, emerging from the shadows and grasping him by the shirt. “Get it together! Avery will get his!”
“What about her?!” he screams again and points towards Victoria with a shaky finger. Small cries draw my attention downward, and I watch as Elizabeth grasps onto Victoria’s leg in fear. Tears fall down her small cheeks, twisting my gut. I jerk back to Zeke, barely catching his remorseful eyes before they glaze over with hatred another time, and move to Victoria once again. He shoves Damien off with a strong grunt and storms away, walking with such force that his boots echo against the floor.
“Zeke…” I try to call after him, but he doesn’t stop.
“What the hell has gotten into him?” Alex asks, already stepping after him.
“Just calm him down and figure it out,” Damien demands and turns to me. “Are you okay?”
I nod softly.
“I’m fine.” I pat his chest and turn to Victoria and Elizabeth. “What about you two?”
“We’re okay,” Victoria answers and looks down at Elizabeth, who clearly doesn’t agree with Victoria’s statement. She’s looking up at the three of us with a curious and hurt stare, like she never actually thought that Zeke of all people could be aggressive. Damien leans down to talk to her, keeping one arm around my hips as I avert my gaze and read the message.
