Page 195 of Fractured Future

“Hyland,” Warner scolds, his posture slumped in consternation. “We have to make this work. Finding Gael is more important than anything else.”

“More important than the rule of law?” Hyland spits in disgust. “Madden is a fugitive!”

“I don’t care!” Warner shouts back. “The decision has been made. He will help us to secure Ember’s future. Nothing else matters.”

The communicative stares shared between them cause the hair on my arms to raise. While Axel remains silent at the table, watching Blaine with intense concentration, it seems Hyland and Warner are coming to a collective realisation.

“Ember.” Kade ignores the posturing at the other end of the table. “Mind calling your brother? I’d like to get this tied up.”

“Oh, sure.”

I’m all too glad to turn my back on my teammates… plus one. The sight of London’s urban skyline, draped in beams of smog-tinted sunlight, provides a welcome break from their antics.

Dialling Tom’s number, I wait for him to answer on the hands-free I know he has built into his Mercedes. When the line rings out, I frown at the screen and redial.

It’s several more rings until the line connects with a click. The stressed voice I was expecting to hear as Tom navigates the traffic never arrives.

“Apologies, 768. Big brother is a bit preoccupied right now.”

Horrified turmoil slashes into me and opens a gaping wound, leaving me feeling like the blood has drained from my body. With each icy wave of panic, my heart speeds up into an erratic sprint.

“Luis?”

“Sí, señorita.”

Bracing a hand above me on the window, I let my head tip down, unable to withstand the dizzying numbness that tightens every limb and muscle.

“Where is my brother?” I shout into the phone.

Not even the sound of arguing behind me suddenly ceasing can break my spiralling terror. Razor-sharp spikes of dread have already sunk into my chest and taken control of my whole body.

“Thomas is just fine,” Luis singsongs through his lilting accent. “For now.”

“If you dare touch him?—”

“You’ll what? Kill or kidnap my best men? That ship’s sailed,chica. You have no bargaining chips left.”

The pressure of hands finding my shoulders and back fails to revive me. All I can see is that damned rusted cage, echoing with endless screams and sobs. Only now, I see my brother confined in it.

“I’m not particularly a fan of Señor Gael, if that wasn’t obvious before,” Luis reveals. “However, I am a fan of his money. He’s willing to part with a significant amount in exchange for you.”

“Let Tom go! He has nothing to do with this!”

“He is what you love, hm? That’s relevant.”

“You fucking…” My teeth grind together as I try to find a speck of sense. “I will end you.”

“Such spirit. It’s not hard to understand why he chose you to invest such time and resources into. I’ve enjoyed imagining how Gael broke you, over and over, to create such savagery.”

Battling past the horror sinking its claws into me, I spin around to locate Axel. I should’ve known he’d be one step ahead of me. He’s already placed a laptop on top of the evidence-littered table to trace the call.

My tear-blurred eyes bouncing between each person watching me unravel, I clench the phone in a death grip.

“What do you want from me?”

“I’m not stupid enough to think you’ll merely surrender, 768. You already proved that once before. If only you’d set a better example for the poor virgin girl, she’d still be alive.”

My vision narrows, darkening at the edges as ringing overtakes my ear canals. Reality is drowned out by the memory of the day I was sold. And the fragile life I left behind.