Chapter 9 Nine

Chapter 9 Nine

I slowly peeled my eyes open as the morning light dimly shun on me and the first thing I noticed when I fully woke up was the eerie silence and softness beneath me and this never meant safety, I looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling then I suddenly remembered where exactly I am and everything that had happened

The Genovese brother, I was still trapped in their caged

Letting out a slow breath, I push myself up, my body still sore but not as sore as it initially was and this alone told me how much time that had passed, the last thing I could properly remember is standing in that cold room with Asa watching me like a hawk and Ezekiel looking at me like I was something he couldn’t wait to destroy

“Great,” I muttered under my breath as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment trying to steady myself, “from one nightmare to another” I mutter to myself

Suddenly a knock came at the door and my body tensed instantly but this time I didn’t panic because I already knew what this place was about and reacting blindly would only make things worse

“Come in,” I said, my voice rough but steady

The door opened as Oliver stepped in, hus presence a bit suffocating, I remember from the moment I was captured, his eyes scanned me like he was accessing damage before he spoke

“You’re awake,” he said blankly

“Clearly,” I replied dryly

His gaze didn’t change, “Get dressed you’re expected”

“By who?” I asked even though I already had a feeling who it was

“The brothers,” he answered calmly

Of course.

“Do I get a choice?” I added, standing up slowly, my waist aching a bit

“No,” he said sharply

I let out a quiet huff, “Figured”

I watched him step aside slightly then I noticed the clothes laid out neatly on the chair beside the dresser and for a second I just stared at them because nothing about this felt normal and nothing about it made sense because people like me didn’t get clean clothes and warm beds after being dragged into a place like this

“You have five minutes,” Oliver added before turning toward the door

“Wow,” I muttered “You guys really know how to treat your guest” I said cheekily then then he paused for a second before glancing back at me

“You’re not a guest,” he said flatly then closer the door behind him

I stared at it for a moment before letting out a breath and turning toward the clothes because whether I liked it or not I didn’t have the luxury of refusing anything right now and if Asa wanted to play games then I needed to be ready for whatever came next

Five minutes later I stepped out of the room all dressed up

Stepping outside I noticed Oliver waiting by the door with two guards. Without saying a word he gestured for me to walk ahead which I did because again there was no point fighting something I couldn’t win

“Where are we going?” I quietly asked as we moved through the hallway

“You’ll see,” he replied flatly

“Love the mystery,” I muttered

We walked in silence after that until we reached a large set of doors which Oliver pushed open revealing a wide room that looked more like a training ground than anything else with polished floors and weapons lined neatly against the walls and in the center of it all stood Asa and Ezekiel

They were already there waiting. Asa stood relaxed with his hands in his pockets like he had all the time in the world while Ezekiel stood beside him with his arms folded and his expression as unreadable as ever

“Ah,” Asa said as his eyes landed on me, a small smile forming on his lips, “There she is…”

I stepped inside slowly, my gaze moving between them, “you called,” I said eyeing both of them

Suddenly Ezekiel scoffed softly behind Asa, “Don’t sound so eager” he said folding his arms over his chest, his muscles popping out

“I’m not,” I shot back with a frown

Asa chuckled under his breath, “Still sharp, I like that”

“I’m not here for your approval,” I replied also folding my arms as I rest half my weight on one of my leg

“No,” he agreed “You’re here because you don’t have a choice” he points out with smug look

My frowm deepen at this cause he was right

“So what now?” I asked “You going to explain this whole ‘work for us’ situation or just keep staring at me like I’m your new toy?”

This made Ezekiel’s jaw tighten while Asa smile widened

“Straight to the point,” he said “Good” then he took a step close

I stared up at him, my heart beat increasing a bit at the closeness, then he spoke, “You’re going to prove your usefulness”

I raised a brow, “And how exactly do I do that?” I retorted then Ezekiel stepped forward this time, “by doing what you do best,” he said coldly

“And that is?” I challenged with a raised brow “Stealing,” he replied with a frown

Without thinking I let out a short laugh, “So you dragged me here just to hire me?”

“No,” Asa cut in smoothly “We dragged you here because you stole from us”

“I didn’t even know it was yours,” I argued instantly

“That doesn’t change the fact that you did,” Ezekiel snapped but I didn’t flutter instead I held his gaze, “Then maybe you should’ve secured your assets better”

The tension in the room shifted instantly and for a second I actually thought he might hit me again but Asa quickly stepped in front of him, “careful” he said softly, “confidence is attractive…until it becomes stupidity”

This made me tilt my head a bit “Guess we’ll find out which one this is” I pressed then a small pause passed through between us before Asa let out a quiet laugh

“She’s going to be fun,” he murmured but Ezekiel didn’t look amused one bit

“Enough games,” he said sharply “Tell her”

Asa nodded slightly before turning his full attention back at me, “there’s a shipment arriving tonight,” he began, “Important, discreet and currently…compromised”

This made me frown as I said, “Meaning?”

“Meaning someone knows about it,” Ezekiel answered almost immediately

“And you think I’m that someone?” I asked with a raised brow

“No,” Asa corrected, “But we think you can help us find out who is”

I stayed silent trying to process everything , “And what does that have to do with me stealing?” I asked slowly

Suddenly Asa’s eyes darkened slightly, “Because the way you got into Kronos…” he said, stepping closer, “wasn’t random”

My chest tightened, “You were led there” he points out but I didn’t respond , “You were set up,” he continued

“I already know that,” I said quietly

“Do you?” Ezekiel cuts in , “Because from where we stand, you walked straight into a trap that connects directly to us” he says as I clench my jaw

“So what?” I said “You think whoever set me up is coming after you too?” I asked dropping my hands to my side

I noticed Asa’s smile fade slightly as he spoke, “We don’t think,” he said “We know”

Then silence falls between us again, this time it was and suffocating, “and you want me to what?” I asked “Walk into another trap?”

“Yes,” Ezekiel said without hesitation as I scoffed, “You’ve got to be kidding” I said in disbelief looking between both brothers

“No,” he replied coldly then looked at Asa “ and you expect me to trust you?” I asked

“I expect you to survive,” he corrected as I shook my head slightly, “and what do I get out of this?”I blurt out, there was no way I’d risk my life for them without getting something in return at lest

I noticed Asa study me for a moment then he suddenly spoke up , “Freedom”

I stared at him for a second then laughed bitterly,“Restricted freedom isn’t freedom” I scoffed

“Then earn more,” he replied simply with a grin

“And if I refuse?” I asked unable to wrap my head around the whole concept

This time Ezekiel stepped closer again, “then we go back to where we started,” he said wit my an evil grin making me shiver slightly

I looked between both of them again, my mind racing because this was exactly what I feared being used as bait, thrown into something dangerous just to see what would happen and yet a part of me knew this could also be the only way I get closer to the truth on who set me up and ruined everything

So I straightened up slightly, “Fine,” I accepted confidently but Ezekiel eyes narrowed

What was his problem !

“But,” I added quickly and they both paused, “i do this my way,” I said firmlyNo interference, no last-minute surprises, and if I say something’s off you listen”

Ezekiel scoffed, “You’re not in a position to make demands”

“I’m the one walking into the trap,” I shot back “So yeah, I am”

Asa watched me carefully thrn slowly nodded his head, “alright” he said simply this made Ezekiel turn to him sharply, “You can’t be serious” he snaps

“I am,” Asa replied calmly

“That’s a mistake”

“Maybe,” Asa said “But I want to see how this plays out” he smirks

My eyes slowly moves to Ezekiel as he exhaled sharply but said nothing else then I looked back at Asa , “when do we start?” I asked

“Tonight,” he answered shortly

Of course.

I nodded slowly

“Then I’ll need details,” I said.

“You’ll get them,” he replied.

Suddenly he stepped even closer, his voice dropped just slightly as his eyes locked onto mine in a way that made it impossible to look away, “don’t disappoint me, Rebelle,” he said softly as I held his gaze

“Or what?” I asked quietly then a small smile formed on his lips but before he could answer, a voice cut through the room

“Well… this is interestin”

All three of us turned toward the door at the same times standing there was her…

My breath caught in my throat as my heart slammed against my chest because I knew that face and I knew those eyes and for a split second everything else in the room disappeared

“Waverly…?” I whispered

Instantly her expression changed into a frown as her head slightly, her grey eyes scanning me from head to toe like I was something beneath her, then she spoke coldly

“I think you have the wrong person,” she said simply

And just like that everything inside me shattered