Page 108

Story: His Hell Girl

"You're right. I've been keeping in touch with Nero and he's been sending me information about his time with Miles and whatever he could remember. Based on that, I put together a couple of places where Miles could have had his headquarters. Of course, I doubt he'd still be there today, but it's a place to start."

"If he's part of such a huge network, then I doubt he'd be so untraceable," Sisi comments.

"And yet he's been eluding me foryears," I reply absentmindedly before I still, my eyes widening. "Shit," I mutter.

"What?" Sisi frowns, stepping away from me.

"Let's do a quick recap." I stand up, pacing around the aisle of the plane. "I found out about Project Humanitas from your brother, Valentino, right around the time I realized Vanya had died. So that's about fifteen years ago," I start, feeling a small bubble of excitement build inside of me as I always do when I'm on the brink of a discovery.

"Then Misha's attempted coup happened around ten years ago, when Miles took Katya," I continue and my eyes widen as I remember the events.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" I curse out, suddenly everything dawning on me.

"What? What is it?" Sisi stands up, coming to my side.

"I got it all wrong, hell girl…" I shake my head. "When Bianca and I were ambushed, there were maybe six people total. If Miles was involved in the planning of it, then he should have known that six people would have never held me back. Let alone the fact that Bianca was with me too."

"You're thinking they weren't sent to kill you?" She narrows her eyes, but I see her features light up slowly as she gets it too. "They were sent to delay you," she finally says and I nod.

"Miles didn't want me dead. He just wanted me away so he could get to Katya. Just like he probablyknewthat Misha stood no chance once I got back."

"He played your brother. But why? All this worknotto kill you and just take your sister?"

"Miles' mind doesn't work like regular people," I say, gritting my teeth. I should know because I've been emulating his way of thinking for the better part of two decades. "He needed Katya to continue his experiments in-house. But for me," I shake my head, smirking, "he had other plans."

"I don't understand." Sisi frowns.

"Think about it. Valentino found me in an abandoned place, with Vanya dead by my side. There wasno oneelse around save for Nero. Now, why would Miles let me go if I were hismiracle?"

Sisi blinks twice, and I watch as the wheels slowly turn in her head. My little nun may have grown in a convent, but there's no denying her innate intelligence and sage judgement. From the very beginning I've been in awe of the way her mind works, her keen senses of observation almost unparalleled.

Few people I've met have managed to surprise me as much as her, and that's one of the highest praises I could give someone. Of course, also one of the reasons why I love her so much.

"He did it on purpose. Hewantedyou to be found. But why…" Her brows furrow, her head tilted to the side asshe ruminates. "God, he wanted to…" Her eyes widen at the realization and I nod.

"Exactly. He wanted to study me in my natural habitat so to speak. This means that I must have passed his tests, and I was ready to be let loose into the world. Nero too, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were Miles who got Nero his new bionic pieces through an intermediary. He's been observing us."

"My God! That's why he's always been a step ahead of you," she whispers, now getting the full picture. "He's been watching you this whole time, hasn't he?"

"That's what I think." I nod.

"Then why would he want you dead now?"

I smirk, suddenly the entire thing looking a little different.

"What if he doesn't exactly want me dead? What if it's just another test?"

"Damn," Sisi mutters, rubbing her arms. "That would make sense."

"But also, it might be that Miles is not personally behind the attacks," I add, offering another angle. "It is a business at its core, and me going after it full force would affect a lot of people."

"That's true too," Sisi sighs. "We have our work cut out for us, don't we?" She makes a feeble attempt at a smile.

"We'll figure it out, hell girl. Now if only I could remembereverythingthat happened while I was with Miles… I could at least understand the entire scope of his research."

"Don't force yourself." Her hand reaches for mine, squeezing it in comfort. "The memories will come. When you're ready for them," she says and I grunt.

"There's another thing that's been plaguing me for a while," I tell her. "There was a third person involved with Misha. It's just circumstantial evidence, but based on the circle of connections, itmusthave been another syndicate person. Someone with interests in New York."

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