No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 36

"How do you have the address?" Gabriel asks, tapping my shoulder and signalling for me to stand up.

I stand up and let him take my seat, standing beside Ari who puts an arm around my shoulder.

"On my laptop at home, in my office," Simon groans, his hand cradling his jaw.

"How do we know you're not lying?" Gabriel asks coldly, "Do you know what I do to liars?"

"I-I swear," Simon croaks, his eyes darting to me, "I'll take you to it, just don't let her near me again,"

"God you're fucking pathetic," I spit out, wrinkling my nose in disgust.

Gabriel looks back at me, "I can take care of it from here," he says. I nod and thank him before I walk out alongside Ari and the twins.

"What now?" Everett mutters.

"Wait until we know he's telling the truth and then go from there," I say, looking at my phone to see it's 10pm.

"I'm heading in for the night, goodnight Ana," Ari says as we reach the main level of the house again.

"See you tomorrow," I smile, heading through the house and up the stairs to my room.

I push the door open and go straight to the ensuite, peeling off my now bloody clothes. Who knew one little tooth could produce so much fucking blood?

I put my clothes in the laundry chute and wrap a bathrobe around me before walking out to my suitcase.

I put on a pair of silk pyjama shorts and one of Dad's old t-shirts, deciding the lousy excuse of pyjamas will be good enough for tonight.

I pull my suitcase off my bed and crawl under the covers, reaching up to turn the light off before closing my eyes. 

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"Stop it!" I screech, tears running down my cheeks as I try to wrangle myself out of the harsh hands holding me back.

"Leonardo enough!" Dad shouts frantically, trying to get out of the chair he's tied to.

"Please," his voice cracks as a single bullet shot goes off.

My world stops as I watch Mom shudder, a soft cry leaving her lips as she slumps into the chair.

I'm not sure if the scream I hear is mine or Dad's as tears begin to run down his face, his eyes glued to Mom as his expression falls to one I've never seen before.

"Penelope," he cries softly, "Please my love," he says, his head falling as his shoulders shake.

"I'm so sorry my love," he says again, his eyes closing.

"Mom?" I say, my voice trembling as I shake my head, "What happened to her?" I ask frantically, looking at Dad as he looks at me.

My Grandfather laughs, a sick, cruel sound as he points his gun at Dad.

"Dad?" I ask, my breathing picking up.

"I love you Ana, so much baby," he whispers, giving me a small smile before another bullet shot goes off.

A piercing scream rips through my throat as the guards let me fall to the ground, Dad's body shuddering like Moms' did as he slumps in the chair.

"What did you do?" I scream, looking at my Grandfather as he just laughs.

"Take her," he says, looking over my head to the men behind me.