Page 149 of Dark Duet: Platinum Edition

Caleb looked toward the imaginary spot containing Rafiq’s memory of his sister and he wished he had one of his own.

“Do you miss her?” Caleb asked in a whisper.

Rafiq’s expression turned grim and he returned to his papers. “Much of the time. My hope is that once Vladek is dead, I can give my sister and mother some peace.”

Caleb nodded. “Do you think…? Never mind.” Caleb pulled at the rug with his fingernails, at a loss for what to say.

“Ask, Caleb. There is no room for secrets between you and me. We are in this together,” Rafiq said. He smiled at Caleb warmly.

“I wouldn’t keep secrets from you. I promise. You saved my life and I owe you everything. It’s just…do you think…I have a family? I mean, I must have had one…before.” Caleb’s face felt hot.

Rafiq sighed. “I don’t know, Caleb. I’m sorry.”

Caleb shrugged and picked at the carpet some more. “It doesn’t matter. You’re the only one who came looking for me. If I have a family, they must not care very much.”

Rafiq stood from his desk and got down on one knee in front of Caleb. He lifted Caleb’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “We are orphans, Caleb. We make our own families.”

Caleb’s chest swelled with emotions he didn’t understand. He pressed his lips together and nodded. He felt relieved when Rafiq let him go and ruffled his hair. Caleb didn’t want to cry in front of Rafiq. He wanted to make him proud.

“Let us see what sweets are in the kitchen, Caleb.”

Caleb smiled brightly and jumped up from the floor, trailing behind Rafiq.

His first impulse was to throw open the door and start stabbing anything within arm’s reach, but he’d made enough mistakes to last him a lifetime. He was determined to get it right this time.

“Hold the gun steady, Caleb. It’s very powerful,” Rafiq said. He smiled and lifted Caleb’s arms parallel to the ground.

“I can do it!” Caleb whined. He tried to shrug Rafiq away.

“I’m trying to teach you, Caleb. Listen.”

“You’ve been talking forever. I just want to shoot.”

“Patience,” Rafiq said. “Widen your stance and try to pace your breathing.”

Caleb scowled. He was tired of talking. He pointed the gun toward the tin can in the distance and squeezed the trigger. The force of the gun bent his elbows. The gun cracked him in the forehead and threw him toward the ground.

“Ahhh! Damn it!” Caleb rolled on the ground while holding his head. He kicked with his feet as he tried to assuage the pain. He could hear Rafiq laughing uproariously.

“I told you! You silly boy!” Rafiq stomped his foot as he laughed.

Caleb shut his eyes again and tried to breathe through the pain. He would give anything to return to the moment Felipe had offered him the truth and deny he wanted to hear it.

You knew it could come to this, Caleb. Only now, you don’t have to feel guilt. It’s a gift.

Caleb shook his head but gripped the knife tighter. He couldn’t lie to himself. He had known it might come to this. He had hoped to sacrifice his own life, but in the back of his mind, he knew the survivor in him would fight to the bitter end. Rafiq had to die.

He took a deep, steadying breath and knocked on the door.

The beating of his heart swayed his body by the barest of degrees, building his adrenaline and his anxiety.

Caleb heard cursing, followed by rapid steps toward the door. He braced himself and a shiver ran down his spine.

The door opened and Jair stood in the doorway naked. His swarthy chest was slick with sweat.

“What do you want?” Jair sneered.

Caleb tried to remain calm, but all he heard in his head was:Kill.