C’est elle l’homme — et t’es la gonzesse.” Weak…not a man…no dick…you let her use you.
Magnus was quiet.
“Non.” No. “La réponse est non.” He turned to walk away. “Fous le camp de chez moi.” Leave.
My eyes immediately watered, but I kept my mouth shut…because I promised.
Magnus watched him go.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed, silently asking him to do something…anything.
He sighed before he pulled his hand away and walked after the boss. “Mon frère.” Brother.
I sucked a big gulp of air into my lungs, making a quiet gasp.
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
Now I noticed the resemblance. The hair…the eyes…the handsome features. Now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t unsee it. And everything made sense…everything. Now I understood why Magnus had powers others didn’t. I understood how he could come here without announcement and ask something like this without getting shot. I understood how he spared me from the Red Snow when everyone wanted me dead.
Magnus spoke again. “C’est ce que je veux… et je ne te demande jamais rien.” I never ask anything of you.
The boss slowly turned around, his eyes wild in disbelief.
“Je te le demande comme ton frère…pas ton associé.” Your brother, not your partner.
He stared at Magnus longer, his eyes unblinking, possessing the same intense stare his brother did sometimes. After holding his silence for seconds, he walked back to his brother, his eyes glued to his face. “Je ne veux pas la relâcher. Demande-moi ça, et tu ne me demanderas plus jamais rien. Compris?” I do this…then I owe you nothing.
Magnus gave a slight nod. “Oui.” Yes.
The boss walked away and headed upstairs.
Magnus remained still.
“Does—”
He flashed me his stare, telling me to shut my mouth, even though I’d only whispered.
I closed my mouth again.
He stared at me for several seconds before he returned to the grand foyer, where there was a tall staircase on either side. He stood and waited, his eyes down.
A moment later, a door opened and closed.
Then Melanie appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes visibly wet even from this distance. He gripped the edge of the stairs and looked down, right at me.
“Raven…”
It took all my strength not to speak. I started to heave with the breaths that wanted to escape my lungs. I went from stern seriousness to a sobbing wreck. Tears dripped down my cheeks like rivers, and I shut my lips as tightly so I wouldn’t make a sound.
Melanie was in a black dress, wearing a piece of clothing worth more than anything we owned in our closets. She took the stairs, gripping the handle as she quickly moved down.
The boss appeared behind her, looking at his brother.
Melanie reached the bottom then darted toward me, crashing into my arms, bursting into tears just as I did.
I held her tightly and cried into her shoulder, feeling my little sister once more, the only family I had in this cruel world. “Baby sister…” I ran my hands down the back of her hair and whimpered in pain at our reunion.
The boss reached the bottom of the stairs and stared down his brother.
I didn’t feel bad for the tension I’d caused between them, because I got what I needed.
Magnus turned to me and spoke in English. “Let’s go. Now.”
I pulled away from Melanie at his command, knowing I had to listen if I wanted to make it to the finish line and not trip. “Let’s go home.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me to the door where Magnus stood.
But she pulled her hand free.
I turned back to look.
Melanie stared at her captor.
He stared back, his expression cold.
She lingered, continuing the stare.
I had no idea what was happening.
Then he walked up to her, towering over her when he was close. The backs of his fingers grazed against her cheek, just the way they did when we were bound at the camp. “Goodbye, sweetheart.” He pulled his fingers away…then walked off. As if he didn’t want to watch her go, he moved to the other side of the house and disappeared.
For a second, I worried she wouldn’t leave.
But then she turned to me, took my hand, and we left.
22
Live Well. Be Happy.
We entered the apartment.
Melanie took a look around, examining every single surface, the laundry that had never been sorted on the couch, the open windows to reveal the brightness of the city lit up at night. “It’s the same…”
I’d had the exact feeling when I walked in. “Yeah…”
She went into her bedroom, probably looking at her