AWAKENING

Torturing The Truth

"Have you disposed of that girl yet?"

"Carmen, really now isn't the time.".

With that said, I hustled on out leaving her standing in my hall. No sooner than I sat behind my desk and switched my computer on to skim my e-mails my earpiece went off again. Knowing it was Tallon, I answered with a question.

"Where was she?"

"Umm, I think we may have a issue Severo".

I didn't like the sound in his faltering tone. "What do you mean by issue. Explain?" I hissed.

"She can't be found anywhere. Not inside nor the grounds. No one's seen her since yesterday".

"The fuck you telling me? I have a fortress here. No one can get in or out without being spotted".

Slamming my pen down, I ran my hand through my unruly hair and huffed. "Meet me in the security room in five".

I slung my earpiece off and it landed somewhere on the floor. Slamming out of my office I took the stairs two at a time. A few men nodded or spoke but I ignored them in my race to check my surveillance cameras.

Busting into the security room, Pete, my head of surveillance jumped from his chair knocking his coffee over. Rolling my eye's, he spoke hurriedly as he looked for something to clean his mess up. It was rare for me to enter this room so he knew my presence wasn't a good sign.

Putting aside the pleasantries, I got straight to the matter at hand.

"Seems there's possibly been a breach in security. Pull up footage from last night and I'll start from there". I demanded rather harshly as Tallon rushed into the room winded.

We scoured the video but didn't see anything amiss. I reran a second time and caught a odd glitch. "Zoom in and slow the feed down" I barked out.

Peering closing I growled. "Son of a bitch. She's out, she did it".

Rewinding, I pointed it out to them. "Watch, she darts from the secret door, ducks behind the car and follows it out".

Slamming my fist down on the table I seethed. "Tallon, gather a team and scour the desert and roads. Also send me the guard's that was so careless last night as well as that maid a d chauffeur who was so careless as to reveal that door".

Breathing in, I pointed my finger at Pete. "As for you, I'll deal with you later. There is no excuse as to why you didn't catch this on cam last night".

Stalking from the room, I needed to release some steam so I made my way to the basement. Walking right up to Darius, I delivered a blow to the side of his head.

Snarling, I spat. "Seems your little accomplice has ran off, but don't fret, I'll have her returned then you both will have hell to pay".

Seeking out a wood burning device, I heated it up and slowly approached him. Immediately he started wirthing around in his restraints. "Now pray, tell me how much you paid her?"

"Severo, I would never betray you. You must believe me. I have no clue as to what your saying".

Not liking his reply, I inched the heated tip toward his pretty face. As I was about to make some artwork upon his clear skin, I heard a chuckle from one of his men. Turning my attention to him I sneered. "What's so funny, your next".

I moved toward him and could see that he was near his last breath from the beatings amongst the other atrocities that had been forced on him from my men. Taking what strength he had left he smirked and choked out.

"Your a fool".

"Why is that you piece of shit?"

He gave a weak laugh. "My boss is innocent. He knew nothing of this. It was I, working with a few other's to bring forth your demise. There was never some girl watching over you. When word reached us that your death hadn't been confirmed, we spent every hour hunting you. No, there was no girl babysitting you, if anything she saved you from us. Never was Darius in on this".

Feeling as if someone had punched me in the gut, I stared at him trying to digest what all this meant. I could here Darius cursing this bastard for getting him mixed up in all this sordid craziness. Jerking him up by his bloodied collar, I demanded.

"Who the fuck are you working with?"

He grinned and gurguled. "You'll never know". Then his body fell limp as his vacant eye's stared into nothingness. His soul had left his body and I was still left with so many unanswered questions. The main one was standing out like a sore thumb... Avery, what have I done.

Phoning Tallon, I ordered him back immediately. Ten minutes later he entered. "See to it that Darius is released and sent to our doctor as well as compasated for his time and our misjudgment".

Looking at Darius I apologized and promised to make amends but that I needed him to help uncover who his guy was working for.

Flexing my neck to relieve some stress, I asked Tallon. "Any word on the girl?"

"No. Not a trace".

"She's innocent". I mumbled and recivied Tallon' s I told you so look. Brushing it off, I stated. "Have the men continue the search and no harm is to come to her. That is a order".

Trudging back to my office I carried the weight of a thousand world's or was that guilt. I wasn't sure because I wasn't accustomed to feeling guilt or any sort of remorse for that matter. Before I could reach my office my phone buzzed and I readily answered.

"Yes".

I said no more as I heard one of my connections ramble on, giving me the news I wanted to hear. Wasting no time, I ordered a car to be readied for me in five.