Trigger - Part 1

CHAPTER 34 - For A Reason

My heart drops seeing his eyes pained with worry.

"Then he needs to come get me! He killed her! He is not going to get-"
"-and he won't but you are not going to do anything. Leave this to us-"
"-you!? No Luke! You don't understand!"
"Then make me understand."

My breathing shallow, I quickly wipe the tears from my eyes. I see him reach into his pocket, selecting something and bringing it up to his ear.
"We have a problem. Meet at Sages'."

He drops the phone and looks over at Ian, Ash and Axel in the car. "Go get dinner and meet back here."
"Sure, but we are getting pizza." Ian states and reverses the car.

Luke wraps his arm around me and walks me up the few steps and opens the door. I enter and sit down at the kitchen counter feeling like my whole life is a hair thickness away from falling apart.

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"Thank you guys for getting us food. I'll get next time." I say while getting a few plates together. Ash nods and takes out the beers from the fridge.

I take a quick breath seeing Liam walking in through the kitchen. Although I said what I said, he still somehow has this hold on me.

"Liam..." I say and his eyes pierces through me. For some reason it almost looks like he has this look of pain over him.

Really did not picture him ever having feelings for another person...

"So?" Liam takes the beer from Ian.
"So?" I ask confused.

"Ivankov." He takes a swig and arches his eyebrows looking annoyed..

"Well-"
"-no bullshit." Liam demands.

"Okay... " I take a breath.
"I don't remember much about Nikolai. I don't know why I was with him. All I know is that Shane found me when I was in an accident that caused my memory loss. He pulled a few strings to keep me in some sort of protection facility and then made everyone, especially Nikolai, believe I was dead. But-"
"-why?" Luke takes a slice of Pizza.
"Because Shane believed that Nikolai was involved with Devans murder."

"Devan? Shane's brother, right?" Liam walks towards us and takes a seat.

"Yes. But it wasn't Nikolai who killed him. Shane did it."

"I don't understand." Liam puts his beer down and clears his throat. "Why go through all that trouble when he killed him? Something doesn't make sense..."

"I don't know... Shane and I were on the run and then some guy came to the house and he had a gun and Shane then admitted to killing Devan."
"And you believed him?"

"You were not there... I saw it in his eyes..."
"Hm." Liam lifts his eyebrow.

"Then why keep you from Nikolai and go to that extent?" Luke says, taking another slice of pizza.

"Well... Nikolai is a really bad and dangerous man. I remember him killing a guy in front of me and he...." I take a quick breath in and see the guys staring at me.

"He?" Luke mumbles while chewing.
"Let's just say that he did not treat me really well."

"But your memory... how do you know?" Luke continues.
"They did hypnosis and I kept recalling a memory where he treated me horribly." I feel my cheeks warm up. "Look. All I know is that Shane was adamant that I should not return to Nikolai. And I don't want to in anyway. But now he knows I am alive and where I am."

"How did he treat you horribly?" Liam's tone of voice deepens.
"None of your concern-"
"-Sage!"

"Forget it Liam!"
"How?"

"What does it even matter?" I stand up and am met with Liam's hand around my wrist.

"Liam!" Luke snaps and grabs onto his shoulder.

"What did he do, Sage?" Liam asks slower.
"He was abusive, okay!" I yell and push Liam back, making him let go of me.

Everyone stays silent and Liam keeps his gaze firmly fixed on me.

I take a deep breath and shake my head slowly. "I wish I had more details or memories but I don't. All I know is that I do not want to be anywhere near Nikolai especially now that he killed Sarah." I sniff and wipe the tears from my face. "It is my fault she is dead. He is so sadistic!" I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"We will find him."
"How, Liam? You still haven't found him and mind you why are you guys looking for him in the first place? What are you?"
I scan everyone looking for whatever hint of willingness to reveal the truth.

"Don't worry-"
"-Liam maybe it's not such a bad idea to let her know." Luke leans forward onto the counter. I see Liam shoot a look of confusion towards Luke.
"Safety wise I think it's best if we are all on one page. She has been honest with us. Maybe we should be with her?"

Liam takes a deep breath and looks back at me.

"We take care of people who do fucked up things." Liam takes a seat.
"Take care?" I follow and sit next to him.
"Yeah, like modern-day Robin hoods, just more uhm... Violent." Ian teases as he takes a bite.

"Please be serious." I command.
"He is." Luke answers.

"What? You guys are like hitmen?" I say with a slight scoff.
"Hm-mm." Liam confirms as he takes a bite of his food.

What the actual fuck...

I let out a small chuckle followed by a hearty laugh. I soon stop seeing everyone with serious looks plastered on their faces.

"Wait, you are being serious?"
All of them nod, simulation.

"You guys kill people?"
"Yes." Liam says with a serious tone.

Oh no........

"I don't know what to say... " I feel my mind throbbing.
"We hit the people that deserve to be hit." Luke tries to assure me.

"But you kill people?"
"Sage... yes we do but it is people who do unspeakable things... we do the world a favor-"
"-Favor! Luke, do you hear yourself right now!?" I snap back.

"Sage-"
"-No Luke... if she wants to judge us let her. Better if we all part ways actually." Liam stands up abruptly.

"Ag man Liam she won't judge us." Luke devends.
"Look at her face!" Liam points towards me and I feel the blood from my cheeks disappear.

Run Sage.....

"Sage? Are you okay?" Luke stands up and walks towards me.

You need to run far far away Sage!

"Sage!"
"Hm?" I snap out of thought feeling Luke's hand around my arm gently tugging me.
"Are you okay?" Luke searches for my eyes.

"I'm... " I take a breath. "Just give me time to process please." I feel my eyes filling slightly.

"Okay..." Luke agrees to my request and gives my arm a quick squeeze.

"So..." Ash clears his throat. "Guess that is our cue then." He stands up and Ian and Axel follow.
"Thanks for...." Axel stops mid-sentence and carries on walking with Ian and Ash in tow.

"Are you going to be okay?" Luke's tone sounding concerned.

I nod and give a quick smile.
He presses his lips together and looks at Liam keeping his eyes on me.
"Let's go." He demands and walks past Liam towards the front door. Liam keeps his stance.

"Liam." Luke's disembodied voice forces Liam to turn around. He pauses and turns his head to the side without looking at me.

"Before you judge, understand that we do what we do for a reason."