“…Then come get me.”

~*~

"What?"

"I thought you knew him."

"For a brief minute or two."I shifted.

"I'll tell you this, Archer doesn't do favors for just anyone. I was surprised when Sinister said that Devereaux would help you."

"He must have just thought of it as helping Sinister. I assure you it can't be me that he's helping."

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps." I frowned in deep thought.

For the entire drive back to Sinister's house, I fought myself to stop thinking about things that didn't need to be thought about at this time.

"This is where we part, Miss Becky." Leighton smiled as he unlocked the car door.

Getting out, I smelled gratefully, "Thank you, Marc."

As I was about to walk away, he called me.

"Becky, be careful."

I smiled at the sincerity, "It's my mantra, Marc."

"No, you don't understand. These people are dangerous. You seem like a nice girl, Miss Grey. For some reason, I don't know if you are involved with them, but just be cautious. Trust no one."

"I thought you were with them?" I frowned.

"I'm just a driver, Becky. I have my reasons why I work for them, but it'll be a pity to see you have my fate." He stated as he gave me a card, "If ever you need me, kid."

With that in mind, I walked to the house feeling rather uneasy as he left. Even ringing the doorbells seemed like an arduous task. The night seemed suddenly colder than usual, and the air seemed like it was carrying a deadly Virus.

Nikolai opened the door to look at me with worried eyes, "Becky, are you alright?"

At that moment Nadia and Mikhail stopped across the hallway to look at me. Mikhail held a serious expression, while Nadia held a tired one that for the first time I couldn't understand.

"You're late." Sinister's voice echoed from behind them.

"There was an accident. We got kept back. It's life. Deal with it." I retorted.

"Go to the room, Maria will get you something to eat." He instructed both me and Maria.

I didn't want to argue, so I did as he said.

Sitting on the bed, I felt uneasy thinking about all that happened. I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the dressing table and frowned. I was frowning too much. I didn't like it at all. This wasn't me. It's funny how a situation can change a person.

From the corner of the table, I noticed an odd box that drew me in. Getting off the bed, I neared it and trailed my hand along the antique look of it. I knew I should open it, but it felt as if I had to. Denying my warning, I opened it to look at these letters that were handwritten specifically to Sinister.

Beneath the letters, was an odd sliver chain which felt so beautiful in the hand yet so mysterious.

The doorknob suddenly shifted, and I hastily put everything back in the box and jumped on the bed where I originally was. I am such a snoop, it's so embarrassing.

"Miss Grey, I made you some soup. Please do have it." Maria smiled.

"I will. Thank you." I replied gently.

"Maria," I stopped her before she left, Where's Sinister?"

"I believe he is in his office."

When she left, I looked at the soup and lost my appetite. It's not that the food was not delicious; it's just that I was not hungry with all that was going on. I walked towards the office but stopped when I heard Mikhail talking to him.

*You're taking the wrong approach here, Alecovich."

"I know what I am doing."

"Do you? Since when do you take pity on people? Family is family. That's the only exception,"

"We just need time," Sinister stated yet the frustration slipped out of his voice.

He looked uncomfortable when he sat at the desk and clasped his hands together while resting his elbows on the desk and chin on his hands.

"We don't have time anymore." Mikhail dropped an envelope harshly on the desk, "You need to stop playing now. That girl is an asset to us. Nothing more."

"What am I supposed to do, Mikhail? Kill her?"

"You know damn well that her brother won't come if we do!" Sinister raged as he stood from the chair and slammed his hands on the desk.

"We can't kill her but keeping her as a hostage here is a much better option."

Sinister frowned at his words.

"That means no hospitality from us. Lock her in the basement. No food. No water. Hit her and bruise her. That should send the message out to her brother. I'll make sure he knows about this,"

"She's fragile, Mikhail, she won't be able to sustain the injuries that you would carry out. At least not for long.

"

"Then you do it. You know her limits."

"This isn't a good idea," Sinister turned away, "The brother's a coward. There is a chance that he might not come."

"We have to take that risk. There is also the chance that he saw you with her, unharmed. That is not the message you want to send out to him. He'll take us for granted and all hope of getting that file is lost."

Sinister stayed silent for some time and Mikhail placed his hand on his shoulder, "You're like my brother Salvatore, family is all we have. You're becoming weak, distracted, lost. If Ded finds out…"

"No." Sinister's voice went hoarse, "I won't disappoint him. This family is all we have. You're right, I have to put aside these sickening feelings. I'll have to do this for Ded."

"That is more like my brother:" Mikhail finished.

This couldn't be happening. Sinister agreed to betray me like this? I should have known from the beginning not to trust a filthy man like him.

I quickly went back to the room and locked the door.

This was it.

This was the last straw.

My anger flared so much I was in a state of utter shocking

calmness. I wasn't even sure how possible this was, but this was the damn last time. It hurt to know that I put my trust in someone, and they would break it that easily. I sure in hell wasn't going to play wounded lamb for them. I am not anyone's asset and the fact that they consider me to be one is so disgusting.

I knew that my brother was nearby, but I needed time, time that Sinister would not give me anymore. Somehow I knew I could find my brother on my own. I had faith in myself. I knew what to do, it was risky, but I had to find my brother. I will find Daniel and Sinister will regret this decision of his.

I took one of the letters and stared at myself in the mirror.

His betrayal shattered me, but the pieces were sharp.

Now it's different, Salvatore. Now it's personal.

"If you want me, come and get me."