Chapter 14 DEATH SENTENCE
CHAPTER FOURTEEN | DEATH SENTENCE
LYRA
I'd been sentenced to death by the Valentino brothers.
I thought they'd make my punishment lighter since I was their mate. Maybe banish me or something. I didn't know they would give me the same sentence they would give anyone else.
I found my fate funny. I must have a death wish hanging over my head or something. That could be the only explanation for the fact that this was the second time in one week that I had been sentenced to death.
Unlike what they ordered, I wasn't treated like the rest of the prisoners. They actually sent Hailey to bring me food three times daily. This was my second day there and the pile of smelly rotten food sat by the side of my cell.
I had never eaten the food. Heaven knows what Hailey had put in it. Also, what was the point of feeding me when they planned to kill me?
“Hi, please eat something,” Hailey's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
It was evening, and she had brought my food for the afternoon. She looked nervous and fidgety, as if she was hiding something and scared anyone would find out.
I ignored her completely. I just wished she would leave me alone. She was simply gloating that she could walk freely while I was caged and awaiting doom.
“You need to eat something, Lyra. Something might happen to you and the baby if you don't.” She whispered, setting the food on the floor.
I rolled my eyes, guessing the twins were around the corner and she was putting on an act to keep up the facade of being a good person.
“Fuck off, Hailey. You've gotten what you wanted. Just leave me alone.”
Instead of leaving, she brought the food closer so she could whisper something into my ear. “I found a way to get you out.”
I stared at her like she had lost her mind, wondering what trick she was up to now.
“I promise you, I didn't want to harm you. I wouldn't have done everything I did. The boss made me do them,” she whispered, looking back frequently as if expecting the twins to pop out any minute.
I sat up hastily, interested in the conversation. I would be crazy to believe her after everything she'd done, but given the situation she put me in earlier, I understood what it was like to have your hands tied so tightly someone else controlled you.
“The boss changed his mind. He decided the best way to punish the twins was to make them do something they'll regret for the rest of their lives. I don't know what vendetta he has against them, but whatever it is, he hates them to the bone. He doesn't just want them to die, he wants them to suffer before they die. He has eyes everywhere, but I've found a way for you to leave here alive.”
I squinted, suspicious. As much as her words made sense, she had given me more than enough reason not to trust her. Why should I suddenly trust her now?
“And why should I trust you? After everything?” I asked aloud.
She looked around to make sure no one was listening and whispered, “Because I know you care about the twins deeply, even if you won't admit it yet. I care about them too. They are my brothers. I wouldn't be alive if they hadn't taken me in. I think we should work together to achieve our goals.”
Every nerve in my body screamed at me not to trust her, but I decided to. The worst she could do was kill me, and since I'd already been sentenced to death, staying here meant the same fate either way.
“Okay. What is the plan?”
“I need you to eat the food, pretend to have been poisoned, then act unconscious. I'll take it from there.”
I nodded my head, easily agreeing. She got up and pretended I'd slapped her, putting on the same facade she always used.
“I'm so sorry. I just thought we could make amends before you’re executed,” she murmured, tears sliding down her cheeks.
I took the cue to also pretend to still hate her. “Go to hell.”
My voice sounded too loud and unnatural, obviously staged. I cringed, impressed by Hailey's ability to keep up the act.
I waited a few minutes to make it believable before picking up the food.
I smelled it a couple of times, trying to detect any hint of poison and also to make my acting believable. I knew someone was watching.
When I picked up the spoon, my baby kicked for the first time, shocking me and making me drop it.
I was overjoyed by the sudden kick, and I took it as a sign that something wasn't right. I don't believe in coincidences, and I certainly don't believe that of all the times my child could kick, it had to be now, when I wanted to take a bite of the food.
So I took it to heart and decided it wouldn't be best for me to eat the food as planned.
I turned to the side, pretending to eat a few spoonfuls, but all I did was secretly pour the spoons I took into a bowl of water close by and cover it back up.
When I had eaten enough to make anyone watching think I had eaten my fill, I dropped the plate and lay down. I let a few seconds pass before jumping into action.
Clutching my stomach, I groaned in pain, calling out to anyone nearby. “Is there any guard there? My stomach aches. I think something is wrong with my baby.”
As expected, no one came to help. All the guards who had watched over me since I arrived had suddenly disappeared. If I wasn't suspicious before, I definitely was now.
I clutched my stomach tighter, letting my face show pain even though I felt nothing. “Please, someone help. I think something was put in the food.”
No one came, so I crawled to the cell door, pretending I couldn't stand.
I banged on the door for a while before collapsing, playing dead.
A few agonizingly long minutes passed before I heard footsteps approaching.
My body was picked up easily and I was carried away. At first, I believed Hailey was telling the truth until the sound of her laughter drifted into my ears.
I pretended to be dead, trying my best to make some small movement unnoticed.
“I can't believe she fell for that dumb trick. She is so gullible. Set her ablaze.”