Page 48 of Hold Me
“What are you watching?” Jade asks, then sits next to Caleb, resting her head on his chest.
“Helen picked it,” he says. “Ouch. Can you move a little? My leg hurts.”
Jade shifts, giving him a long look, then settles herself so her head is on Caleb’s shoulder.
Glad that Jade still remembers their secret code for when he wants to tell her something without being overheard, Caleb lowers his head, planting a kiss on Jade’s hair, then focuses on the screen until his mouth is covered by her hair. One of the guards could see them, but Caleb might have just enough time to talk to her.
“Whatever I say, don’t move or react,” he whispers. “My client... Lilith... She claims she and Isaac made a deal to get evidence against Raphael. She’s working with the cops.” Caleb can feel Jade’s whole body tensing. “She says she can save Isaac.”
Jade moves only slightly, closing her eyes and pretending to rest on Caleb’s shoulder. When she speaks, her voice is so quiet Caleb has to strain his ears to hear it. “Are you crazy? She’s lying. It’s Raphael’s doing. Please tell me you didn’t agree.”
Caleb sighs. “I... I don’t know what to do anymore. We can’t live like this forever. He’s going to take everything from us. Heather, Isaac... Maybe it’s worth the risk.”
“Worth the risk?” Jade hisses. “Do you think Helen’s sons and Amber’s daughter deserve to pay for our mistakes? They and many others are living happy lives, unaware of any of this. If Raphael discovers you agreed to work against him, what do you think he’ll do? I know our lives are lost forever, and I’m not afraid to die, but others have families and children... I can’t... Remember what happened to Heather? I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s life. And even if we do get free? Then what? We’ll end up as street...” She goes quiet as one of the guards approaches and positions himself right behind the couch where Caleb and Jade are sitting.
No matter how much Caleb tries to focus on the TV screen in front of him, the actors’ faces melt away and he sees Heather in front of him.
Caleb screams as Raphael’s guards bind Heather to the table in the middle of the room. He yanks at the chains that are keeping him tied to the ceiling, his toes barely touching the ground, but he ignores the pain in his sore muscles.
Heather’s eyes are calm as she looks up at him. Caleb curses himself for being so stupid. It’s his fault they’ve gotten caught. He should have been more careful. He should’ve protected her and now...
Pain slices through his back, making him cry out, and he can feel his warm blood trickling down his back. Heather loses her composure and her eyes fill with tears.
“Heather, I love you,” he yells as another strike bites into his back.
“That’s so sweet,” Raphael mocks and comes to stand in front of Caleb with a bloody whip in his hand. “But you should’ve thought about that before you did something as stupid as running away. You should’ve known I’d find you no matter where you went.”
“Do whatever you want with me, but let her go,” Caleb pleads, and a wicked smile crosses Raphael’s lips.
“You don’t tell me what to do, slave.” He grips Caleb’s chin. “Your offense is serious and you both have to be punished. I won’t have it any other way.”
“I’m begging you. Please... It wasn’t her fault. It was my idea.” Caleb doesn’t know what else to say.
“Go on, Simon.” Raphael lets go of Caleb and turns toward the guard, who pulls out a knife and cuts through Heather’s clothes.
“You see, Caleb, I found a perfect punishment for the two of you,” Raphael says. “My men will have some fun with your love and then you’ll watch her die. How does that sound to you?”
“No! Please!” Caleb rattles the chains as hard as he can, but he can’t reach Raphael. “Take me! Spare her, and take me.”
“Nonsense.” Raphael slaps the whip lightly against his leg. “I’ve considered killing you, believe me, but it’s much harder to find a man with your face and skills. She’s pretty, but any girl can replace her.”
“No!” Caleb fights against his chains, but all that does is cut through the tender skin of his wrists.
“Gag him, and make sure he watches every second so he knows what he’s done,” Raphael says and goes for the door.
Caleb blinks back to reality, his arm tightly wrapped around Jade, the guard still hovering above them. The constantly existing threat that what happened to Heather could occur again with Isaac and Jade has been the only thing keeping him going.
And by agreeing to do as Lilith says, maybe he’s made another terrible mistake that could cost everyone their lives. But if he doesn’t do something, nothing will change. Raphael will get angry at all of them eventually, or just get bored of them. They will grow old and then what? What about the others and their families? Sooner or later someone will make a mistake. Only death awaits them anyway. And even if only one of them gets free, it will be worth it.
Closing his eyes and tightening his hold on Jade, Caleb hopes that Lilith isn’t trying to trick him and that at least Isaac will get a chance for a better life.
“Kat, hi,” I say quickly as soon as Katherine answers her phone.
“Hey, what’s going on?” she says, her voice drowsy. “You sound... nervous.”
“Are you home? I need to talk to you. It’s urgent, but you don’t have to worry. It’s something about my family... I don’t want to discuss it over the phone.” I’m afraid that Raphael has found a way to listen in on my calls, so I have to take all precautions because one mistake could ruin everything. “Can I come over?”
“Yeah.”