Elena's POV
We sit in the car for a while before Sam finally decides to drive off. Not in a hurried pace ,just normal.
We haven't said a word to each other. My gaze is outside the window as a million thoughts spike in my mind.
Who should I even trust?
Why would my aunt lie to me?
What else has she lied about?
My head pounds from a headache. I pinch the bridge of my nose, exhausted and so done with all this crap.
Sam's hand moves over mine as she drives.
"Hey, it's okay… we'll figure it out," she says with a reassuring but worried tone.
I relax a bit into the seat.
A few moments later, we're back in the apartment. I kick my shoes off and flop down on the chair. Sam walks to the kitchen to serve the food she cooked earlier.
My phone rings in my pocket. I grab it. An unknown number blinks at me, and I hesitate.
"Who is it?" Sam asks, placing a plate for me on the table and sitting next to me.
"Thanks," I say, referring to the food.
My phone is still buzzing in my hand.
"I don't know," I answer her question anyway.
I pick up. I press the phone to my ear.
"H… hello?" I ask, swallowing.
"Does it usually take you that long to answer the phone?" Hunter's voice booms from the other end, deep and raspy. I jump slightly. My heart drops to my stomach.
"What do you want, Hunter?" I ask, putting the phone on speaker so Sam can hear too.
"Was I right?" he asks with a sigh.
I don't respond immediately. I look at Sam, who looks at me, confused. I sigh and lean back on the couch.
"Yeah… you were ," I whisper. And Hunter breaks into a laugh.
I shut my eyes, giving him time to finish laughing. God, he's so annoying and creepy at the same time.
"O–oh God… I love how predictable these people are," he says mid-laugh before he finally stops.
"I want the truth, Hunter," I suddenly blurt out, because clearly everything is revolving around me and I have no clue about what's going on.
"Well, I knew that part was coming," he says, tone flat.
"Remember… I told you you wouldn't have a choice but to be friends with me. Partners," he says, and I remember the warehouse incident.
"I want the truth," I repeat, standing up now, running my hands through my hair. Sam places her plate down, invested just like I am.
"Fine. I'll tell you everything… but not on the phone," he says casually, and I stiffen.
Sam shakes her head, mouthing a "No."
"Fine, where?" I ask, and Sam facepalms.
"That is for me to know. You're gonna have to trust me," he says, and Sam grabs a pillow and screams into it in annoyance.
"I'll be outside the apartment in twenty minutes. Find a way to distract your security. I want you alone and not followed," he adds.
"Hold on," I say, muting the call for a second, hands shaky, breath uneven. I run my hands through my hair, thinking.
"Elena… don't," Sam says, standing up, and I lift my eyes from the floor to her.
"Sam… it's—" I start, but she cuts me off, shaking her head.
"No. No. No, Elena… that guy is crazy. He kidnapped us, remember? And now what? You're just gonna walk into his car like it's nothing?" she asks, her hands pointing everywhere.
"I know… I know. But he seems to be the only person who can tell me what I don't know," I say, trying to reason with her.
"Sam, my aunt—the woman who raised me—is lying to me. The man that I love is… is keeping things from me…" I say, breathing heavily because of the pressure of it all.
She sighs and sits back on the couch.
I squat to her level.
"But it's not safe, Elena…" she whispers, looking down at me, worry written all over her face.
I sigh, because she's right. But also… this might be my only shot at finding out the truth.
"I know, Sam. But… nothing has ever been safe in my life since I was born. I trust my gut, and Hunter might be a crazy psycho, but he's not gonna hurt me," I tell her, and she relaxes.
"I just wanna know what he knows. And I'll be back here," I say.
She nods. I grab my phone and unmute it.
"Hunter…" I call, and he groans.
"Took you long enough. So what do you say, Elena? You gonna risk it?" he asks, and I can practically sense the smirk on his face.
"Yes… I'll be out in twenty," I say, taking a deep breath.
"Alone," he says, emphasizing his point.
"Alone," I repeat, looking at Sam, whose knee is bouncing.
"Fine… see ya," Hunter says, and the line goes dead.
"Okay…" I whisper, taking in a deep breath and letting it out.
"I need a distraction to lose Rio's security on us," I say, and Sam nods, standing up already like she had a plan hours ago.
"You have an idea?" I ask, and she smiles over her shoulder as she heads to the bedroom.
"Yeah," she says with a smirk that screams trouble.
Minutes later, she steps out in a tiny dress and heels.
"Holy—what are you?" I ask with a chuckle, watching her adjust her boobs.
"I'll flirt with him, and you'll slip out. I'll keep his eyes occupied," she says with a smile, applying gloss on her lips.
"You sure it's gonna work?" I ask, putting on my jacket.
"Yes, Elena. He's a guy. He'll see this…" she purrs, pointing at her boobs that are almost spilling out of her dress,
"…and he'll forget what his duty is," she says confidently.
I smile at her and shake my head, hoping it actually works.
We wait the twenty minutes, and Hunter calls again, confirming he's outside. I take deep breaths again, and Sam holds my hand when we step out the door.
"Elena, please be careful," she pleads, hugging me. I melt in her embrace.
"I'll be okay, Sam… I promise," I whisper in her ear.
We pull back from the hug and take the stairs down to the ground floor. Sam checks outside, and sure enough, Rio's guard is standing outside, leaning on his car, earpiece on.
"Okay… wish me luck," Sam whispers, adjusting her dress and catwalking toward him.
I watch as she steps in front of him. The guy's eyes instantly move over her and stop at her chest. Sam is a tall girl, so in heels she blocks the guy's view from seeing the entrance of the building.
She steps forward, whispers something in his ear, and the guy's hand moves to her waist.
"Atta girl…" I whisper with a grin.
That's when I slip out. He's still distracted, so it's easy for me to round the building and get out of sight. I spot Hunter's car because he's leaning against it.
He sees me and immediately walks to the driver's side. I speed-walk to his car and open the passenger door. Once inside, it's silent.
"Bold…" he says with a smirk, starting the car. My hands shake on my lap, but the car's interior is dark.
"Let's just go," I whisper, leaning back, stiff.
"Oh, we are. But…" he says, turning to face me.
"What?" I ask, panic clawing at me.
"You don't get to see where," he whispers with a chuckle. My eyes widen slightly.
Before I can ask what the hell he's talking about, a hand appears from behind.
I open my mouth to scream or yell, but the hand presses a white cloth to my nose and mouth. My body goes stiff with panic as I claw at it. I kick my feet, but my body gives out. My vision blurs as the fight drains out of me.
The last thing I see is Hunter's face hovering over mine, and he whispers:
"Shhhh… go to sleep," he says, tucking a loose strand behind my ear. My body goes completely weak.
And if I'm not wrong, the last words I hear are—
"Little sister."