Page 20 of Restitution

Bernadette crosses her arms and smiles at Base. “I’m sure you probably already know who has her. It’s quite bizarre that your own family would buy you from me yet easily traded the woman you care for – I wonder why? Maybe they saw that she was significant to you. You are sickeningly obsessed with her, and it got her recognised by someone even I wouldn’t like to stand in front of.”

I narrow my eyes at her, looking over at a very silent and pale Base, then back at Bernadette. “Who?”

“Shut up. You’re not involved in this.”

I take a step forward with clenched fists, but I’m stopped by a gun to my head. “She’s my fucking sister. Who has her?”

“Blood is just that… blood. Meaningless. My daughter decided to fight for you and hit her father the night of the auction – even though you were only sleeping with her because you wanted me to pay you less attention and not because you cared for her. Poorlittle lamb is probably in a worse position than your whore of an ex.” She chuckles dryly, her eyes on me. “I guess there’s no wedding on the cards now. Don’t be too disappointed – you’ll still be mine.”

I flinch away as she tries to tap my cheek with her palm.

“You’re insane,” Base says blankly.

“And impatient. We have an important matter to attend to. Take him to the medical wing and have his injury seen to. I can smell the infection from here.”

“I’ll find her,” Base says to me as someone grabs him. “I’ll need to go back to my gramps and agree to whatever his terms are. I’ll… take up my position and find her.” Then my friend scowls at Bernie. “Togda ya ub’yu tebya.”

Her eyes light up as she translates his words. She knows some Russian.

“I’m sure you will try to kill me. So, before the Prince family causes me any more trouble and gets in my way, you will leave tonight, after we have dinner. We’ll send you to Moscow on the jet Kade oh so nicely gave us, and if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.”

Base doesn’t respond – he’s staring at me, his eyes wide as he’s slowly taken out of his cell. “Fuck. I’m sorry, man.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I say, shrugging away from a guard who attempts to take my arm again and walking out of my own cell on shaky legs, trying my best not to appear weak and on the brink of passing out. “Just find my fucking sister.”

Once we wash, sharing the shower room while guards watch us, they hand us clothes. I wait in the medical wing for Base to get treated, downing bottle after bottle of water before we’re led to the main dining area. I glance out the window on the way instead of taking in the fancy decorations – it’s just trees upon trees upon trees.

We’re in one of Bernadette’s many properties.

But not far from my apartment – I could escape here and run there within half an hour, once I get my strength back. I could get on my bike and start searching for Stacey. Fuck the consequences.

It’s around midday, going by the height of the sun, and my eyes struggle to adjust to the daylight after being locked away for days in darkness. Minimal compared to past punishments.

One time, Bernadette buried Base in her yard and I had to find him. If I was even a minute later dragging him out of the soil, he would be dead now.

I beat Archie up for that. I think Bernadette gets off on seeing him bruised and bloodied. She gave Base a week off because he was so fucking traumatised and put all his duties on me. I think I killed more than my usual body count that week.

They’re sitting in front of us, workers and guards standing along the walls as servers bring in food in silver dishes. All fancy and ridiculous. Just the way Bernadette likes it.

She was born into wealth, a silver spoon in her mouth. So was Base.

Fuck, so was I, in a way. But my mother never let us be brats about it and made me and Luciella work if we wanted something.

A waiter lifts the lid of a dish in front of me and my stomach growls painfully.

I’m past caring about being drugged through ingesting food or drinking poisoned water. My stomach aches just looking at the steak and mashed potatoes – everyone can probably hear it growling. I devour it all, Base doing the same – we’re like fucking animals after being starved so long.

The first time she starved us and locked us up, I thought I wasdying by day three. Eventually, I just got used to it. But right now, as I swallow each bite and down more of the water, all I can think about is what’s for dessert.

I’ve lost a lot of weight over the past few months. My muscle mass is still decent, but I’m not anywhere near the same shape. More lean than bulky, I’m not working out as much as I was, since she refuses to let us half the time, and of course, our eating habits have been fucked up. Not to mention the drug use.

I doubt Stacey would even be able to look at me and feel the same way. I’m trash, tarnished, and my mind is broken – why would she like me anymore?

Bernadette smiles at me when I look up. I know that smile. I’ve become haunted by it. As soon as I finish, she’ll order me to go to her bedroom, Archie will probably follow and Base will be sent to Russia to his family.

At least he’ll be safe. I think.

If Luciella is with the Russians, then where is Stacey?