𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄 ━━ 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴

⠀⠀𝟬𝟲. ❛ FILIAL OBEDIENCE: AS A SACRIFICE ❜

     However, regardless of all the hard work we put into building our empire in British Columbia, it was time to move onto new territory. Such as the territory of Arizona. Arizona was our soon-to-be home.

     Correction: It was their soon-to-be home.

     "They're in the States?" the blonde asked and I blinked, nodding ever so slightly as my eyes racked over her appearance. She looked restless and stressed—it was clear by the droopiness in her eyes and the bags underneath that shone through her concealer that she had not slept at all in the past twenty-four hours.

    Walking toward me, the dark-brown-haired man had a mildly irritated expression painted across his cheeks. "Why didn't you tell us this right away?" the Unit Chief asked; his voice raised.

     "Hotch," Dr. Reid said lightly, in what was meant to be a warning tone, and the man turned his head slightly towards him.

     "I had to follow the plan," I stated bluntly, my eyes resting on the good doctor for two seconds before moving back to the man in front of me. "I was going to get to it at some point, I just had to wait," I explained, noticing how Agent Morgan was glancing at Dr. Reid questioningly.

     "Where in the States?" Rossi asked, and my hands clenched together tightly. There was this back and forth battle taking place between two opposing sides in my mind. One side wanted to keep quiet and stay as loyal as I could to the Red Scorpions. However, the other side wanted to keep talking; wanting to keep opening up to these agents who'd promised to keep my father, and I, for the time being, safe.

     "Cara, we can't keep your father safe if we don't know everything," the brown-haired woman said after I'd answered them with nothing but silence, and I felt a quick wave of anger hit me. They now had something over me and I was the one who gave it to them. He was my weakness.

     Breathing out slowly, I closed my eyes as it took every ounce in me to utter the word, "Arizona."

     It was tensely silent before someone cleared their throat. "Where in Arizona?" Hotch asked, sharing silent stares with Morgan and Rossi.

     Opening my eyes, I shrugged, growing enervated. "I'm not certain of the exact location, but I do know that it's somewhere in the middle of Flagstaff, Safford, Yuma, and Yucca. I wasn't supposed to know the exact location until they came and got me."

     Hotch crossed his arms. "And how were they going to get you if you're in here?" he asked cryptically, and I tilted my head. He asks too many questions.

     "I don't know the details. All I was told is that two men stayed behind to get me out discretely. My escape is the next plan. However, I highly doubt it's going to happen now―"

     "It won't." Dr. Reid said suddenly, cutting me off, and I looked over at him.

     Looking over at the doctor, the blonde frowned. "Spence..." she said slowly, and I took a step forward. I could sense the apprehension.

     "She has the right to know. It wasn't only addressed to us," he said, shaking his head.

     They sent them something. "What did they leave you?" I asked, and all eyes snapped away from Dr. Reid.

     Morgan breathed in steadily before making eye contact with me, "A note."

     "Show it to me," I said, and Morgan left the room; the door shutting the door behind him.

     The room was frozen in silence as my mind was racing wildly. My stomach was twisting itself in knots as everyone waited for the dark-skinned agent to return. Sweeping my eyes around the small group, I bit back a frown. I don't like this. I don't like how I feel around these people. I don't like how they make me feel. My gaze soon landed on the brown-haired man, and I felt my heart stop for the world's smallest second. I don't like how he made me feel.