Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Lan

Chaos.

That's the only word I can use to describe the mess of social media. What’s worse is that the videos of a bloodied Willa are nearly everywhere. People are sharing and reposting the video over and over in seconds. It’s making pinning down the source difficult. I need to delete every trace of the videos but it’s not just one post it’s hundreds. Sure there are programs that can sweep through all this and delete everything involving us, but this is more complex. Not only do I need to delete the originals and by extension the shared ones. 

The issue is finding the downloaded and reposted videos used in outside programs. If it’s posted using a collage app or something similar it can cause an issue for the software to spot it. Which means I need to design an algorithm to find those as well. I might make this all look simple but there are challenges that are difficult even for me. In fact I might need help with this one. 

I pull up a secure message window and send a message to one of the best hackers I know. It doesn’t take long for her to reply. 

Indio_1573: Long time no see

Me: I’ve been busy. I need assistance.

Indio_1573: It’s going to cost you

Me: What do you want?

Indio_1573: You know what I want.

Me: Absolutely not

Indio_1573: I guess I can’t help you then

I take a minute to debate the price of their help and decide it’s worth it.

Me: I agree to your terms. I’ll send the payment as soon as the job is done.

Indio_1573: How can I trust just your word? I need half now.

Me: you are seriously testing your usefulness 

Indio_1573: Come on cousin…

With a sigh I pull up the video, and cut it in half before sending it. It takes a second before she repies. 

Indio_1573: Hahaha…never gets old. Alright, what do you need?

Me: I need to delete any video or photos of us and Willa from today.

Indio_1573: I’ve seen them. This is an easy job brother, so why do you need my help?

Me: the program I have can’t cast a wide enough net and time is of the essence. This is a two person job and you’re the only person I trust with this. 

Indio_1573: Alright send the program and I tweak it.

I send the code to her and I watch her start adding code to it in real time. She’s more than capable of handling things from there, so I activate my program and watch as it works. As it does I check random posts to see if it’s working. Immediately people start to repost the video in an effort to keep the story alive. It only takes seconds for those to disappear as well. My cousin works fast. In this moment I couldn’t be prouder. 

Something catches my eye and dread settles in my stomach. There’s a video of the gunfight at the house. Willa and the guys are shown firing weapons and taking bullets but not one of the attackers is shown. This is going to change the narrative. People will see us as dangerous instead of protecting ourselves from an attack. One of the men who ambushed us must be responsible for this. 

Me: New problem

Indio_1573: worse than this?

Me: someone filmed the fight at the house.

Indio_1573: crap…the code we’re using might not be able to weed that out.

Me: I’m aware. My program is running, so I'm going to work on it but you’ll have to shift over once you’ve finished.

Indio_1573: copy that

My attention deviates from my work when the door to Willa’s room opens. I hadn’t expected to see her or Maxim until at least tomorrow. He might want her for tonight but he wasn’t going to keep her locked up all day with properly feeding her. 

Maxim quickly heads to where we store the med kits. Worry has me on my feet.

“What’s happened? Did you hurt her?” My voice is almost unrecognizable as I storm into the room.

Maxim turns to me with a look of disgust. “What the fuck man! I’d never hurt her.”

I know he wouldn’t but that thought had gone out of my mind for long enough for me to say something so stupid.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

He gives me a scowl and rummages for bandages. “I need to rebandage her arm.” 

I’d forgotten about that in the mess of the last couple of hours. 

“I’ll help you out.” He opens his mouth to object but I turn on my heels and head for Willa’s room. 

She isn’t on the bed or anywhere else when I step inside but I hear the sound of running water coming from her bathroom. I follow the sound and find Willa standing in front of the running faucet in nothing other than a pair of lace underwear. She’s trying to clean off her wound with water and a small towel. I watch her face scrunch up in pain and roaring anger hits me. All I want to do is hunt down the man who did this and hurt him ten times worse. 

Her eyes catch mine in the mirror and the look of pain on her face changes to a smile. “Hey. Did Maxim cause a fuss?” 

I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to act tough, but she never has to do that with me. Her safety is my top priority now and I never want her to be ashamed to let herself feel.

“No. I saw him grabbing supplies and might have accused him of hurting you.” I step closer and keep my head lowered so she doesn’t see the shame I feel for accusing a man I've come to know and trust as a friend.

“Lan.” Her voice is soft and concerned.

When I lift my head to look at her she gives me a compassionate look. She’s not angry with me. Instead she reaches out and rests her other hand on my chest. 

“Maxim wouldn’t hurt me. None of you would. I know that and so should you.” 

“I do. It was a moment of doubt. The idea of anyone hurting you-“

“I can protect myself you know Lan.” She gives me a small smile but I don’t return it. 

“You don’t have to always be strong Willa. It’s okay to show weakness. Especially with us.” 

Her eyes become glossy and I watch a tear run down her cheek before she looks away from me. I gently grab her chin and turn her head so I can see the tears. 

“Why are you crying?” 

“It's just hard to turn that side off. To not want to fight…prove myself. That’s all I've been trying to do my whole life. My mom is this amazing strong woman running an entire empire. I have always wanted to be just like her, but I never could.” She sniffles and I can’t resist brushing a tear away and pulling her into my arms.

“Did she make you feel like you weren’t enough? Did any of your family?” I ask her.

She shakes her head against my chest. “Never. It was just my insecurities. My parents have always been amazing, but we’re always our hardest judge. You know?” 

“You accused me of hurting her and now I come back to see her crying!” Maxim storms in and slides his arm around Will’s waist and pulls her away from me. 

“He didn’t make me cry. Calm down.” Willa smacks his arm but he narrows his eyes at me. 

“Stop growling at Lan and help me clean up.” She says sending me a wink.

She’s wrong. She’s one of the strongest women I've ever known.