Another guy steps forward and does the same to her right, before the guards pull the chains and hold them out. Stretching her arms wide, as she begs, screams, and pretty much screeches over the music playing on repeat.
“Did you think it would work?”
“Where are you? Are you here?” Her eyes search us frantically, but we don’t react, just as our instructions said.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen, you promised,” she screams, before the lights go on and Sir steps up before her.
“Who promised?”
“Uh, I-I-I…”
“How did you contact the police?” He stares her down as Luna looks at me. I wouldn’t want to watch this either, not if I was her.
“They gave me a phone.” Her head drops as she stares at his feet.
“Who did?”
“I-I never s-saw their face. They said if I didn’t do it then I would be next, I didn’t want to die like the others.” The guards release the chains as she falls forward, and clings to his ankles.
“Get this thing off me, and I think we’ll be tripling the amount she will owe when she leaves. Simon, be sure to show her out. Oh, and that outfit belongs to us, be sure to remove it.” He steps back as the lights fall once more and the music changes to Five Finger Death Punch.
The music changes once more, and a spotlight shines down over Twenty, as a different guy steps forward brandishing a sharp knife.
“Hasn’t this gone far enough?” Seven shouts out, and One backhands her across the face.
He passes it to our apparent leader, it has to be Emmet. After all of this, no one else would take it this personally.
He runs the blade across the tip of his finger before stepping up behind her. He pulls her head back hard, as he presses the blade against her throat. No one moves, even I don’t know what is about to happen.
“Was it worth it? To frame me? Did they give you everything you asked for?” the voice sounds over the music once more. And I scan the room.
Okay, seriously, when the fuck did he make this recording? Unless… shit, it isn’t a recording. It can’t be, not with how well Emmet is responding to what she says. Which means that the guy with the knife could be anyone.
“Nearly, I just wanted a better life.” A dark chuckle fills the room at her words, before the blade cuts through the straps of her dress.
The knife wielder leans over her, and presses his mouth against her lips. I don’t know what he says, but she screams hysterically, even before he drags the knife down from the shell of her ear to the edge of her chin.
He pushes her down before he walks through the crowd, he seems to look at Luna for a second before he disappears through one of the back doors.
“That was weird, and a little pointless, if you ask me.” Tom shakes his head before he pulls off the wig. I do the same, but it doesn’t matter, Luna could tell who I was anyway, how does she do that?
“Aeron, with me,” Sir orders, and I take one last look at her before I follow Sir out into the hall.
His fist scores the underside of my face, hitting the edge of the mask, and sending it to the floor.
“We do not raise and train you, so you can walk away as soon as your inheritance clears. If I ever hear of you even humoring the idea again, I will destroy you. There is nowhere you could run that I would not be able to find you, Aeron.” His nostrils flare as he straightens his suit, and shakes his head at me.
“I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t know who told you that, but they lied to you.” My face is calm and composed, the perfect poker face.
“What do you mean?” The vein in his neck thrums as he steps closer to me, grips my shirt and holds me up so I’m barely standing on my own.
“I remember what I said, I was having a bad time after my birthday and I said that I was sick and tired of my mother collecting her secrets. That as soon as I knew she could no longer control my trust fund, I would tell you the secrets I have on her. She would no longer be in charge, and I’m sure you can agree that she isn’t exactly a great example of the Harkwright name. Too many enemies, if you ask me.” I smirk up at him and he drops me back down, and brushes his hands out to straighten my shirt.
“Very well, son. You keep your secrets until I free your trust fund from her greedy hands. I’ve been waiting for the chance to remove her from her seat of power, maybe you’re ready for it after all. Enjoy the party, Aeron.” He pats me on the shoulder before he walks away.
The party is in full swing as I step back in, and my eyes fall on Luna instantly. Why the fuck is Thallon allowing her to dance with Tom? That traitorous bastard, by the time this party ends, every fucker is going to know the kind of guy he is.
“You okay, Aer?” My head snaps up as I look at Emmet, still in his wig and mask, and I shake my head at him.
“We need to get Luna away from him.”
“Thallon will release her soon enough, I’ll make sure of it.” He stares at her and I know he’s going to go berserk when he finds out.
“No, we need to get her away from Tom. He’s the reason your father knows everything that happens in this place. Emmet, Tom is Arthur’s spy. He’s been telling him everything, it’s just been confirmed.”
His eyes harden as the vein in his neck pops, and his fists clench at his side. One minute he’s next to me and the next, he’s running through the crowd and pulling Tom away from her.
“What the fuck?” Tom shouts, as he lands a punch on his face and his mask falls to the floor. “What the fuck, Emmet?”
“Stay the fuck away from her.” His voice is deathly calm and I just smile as I place the joint between my lips and spark up.
“You’re not in charge of her, so as long as Thallon doesn't say no. I’ll do whatever I feel like. You’re not in charge, Emmet, and if you ask me, you should never be in charge,” he shouts into his face.
Luna pulls at his arm, and he doesn’t even look to see who it is before he sends his fist flying, catching her in the cheek and sending her falling to the floor.
“Luna!” I’m running in an instant, and I’m there right as Thallon drives his fist into the back of Tom’s head, picks him up, and shoves him out of the room.
Luna stares after him, her eyes wide and full of questions that I don’t know if we should answer.
“Sin, please, he could be hurt.”
“I hope he is, I hope he’s drowning on his own blood by the time we’re through with him.” She whimpers at my words as she tries to climb out of my arms.
“Trust me, Luna, he doesn’t deserve your tears. But I think you need to see this one for yourself, maybe it’s better if I don’t shelter you from it.” I carry her out and lock the doors behind me.
This is between us, if only Tucker was here. He deserves to finally know the whole truth too.
24
Broken Hearted
Luna
“We need to wait for Tucker,” I say harshly, as I hold my hand against my cheek. I know Tom didn’t mean to hurt me, but why are they fighting again?
“Little Zero, Tucker isn’t here. He’s with that… calling her a bitch is an insult to dogs,” he throws back, as he strokes a head over my hair.