Chapter 21
News of the four families youngest members all having their right hands brutally broken spread like wildfire. That same morning, was just going about her routine, about to head to work. She’d barely settled into her car when everything suddenly went black. When she came to, the room around her felt strangely familiar.
Lina
It took her a minute to remember. This was the same room she’d stayed in five years ago, back when Bruno had first brought her to the Moms estate 8
With that it was obvious who’d brought her here.
Lina got up and walked to the door but when she tried the handle, it wouldn’t budge. It was locked from the outside.
“Ms. Knotts, you’re awake? Please wait a moment, I’ll go get Mr. Morris, someone said politely from outside.
Before Lina could respond, she heard footsteps hurrying away down the hallway.
She glanced around the room, checking every possible exit, but all the ways out were blocked. With a sigh, Lina simply gave up and lay back down on the bed. Fine, she thought. Let’s see what he wants this time.
She didn’t have to wait long. Within a few minutes, the door opened and Bruno walked in, looking sharp as ever in his suit.
He paused when he saw her sitting there so calmly, a faint smile tugging at the comer of his mouth. The familiar room, the familiar face–if he hadn’t prepared himself for this, he might have been caught off guard by how much it all felt like the past.
“Lina…” he said softly, almost without thinking.
She turned to look at him, her eyes flat and unreadable.
Bruno pretended not to notice, and just smiled, laying everything out in the open. “Lina, I had this room restored to exactly how it was. Look–doesn’t it look just like when we lived here together?“10
It really was just the same.
Even the photo frame they’d once broken during an argument was sitting there, chipped comer and all, in its original spot. It was obvious how much care he’d put into every detail 2
But some things, once lost, can never really be repaired. No matter how hard you try, you can’t always go back to the way things were. “What do you want, Bruno? Lina asked, lips pressed together, her brows furrowed.
A heavy silence settled between them before Bruno finally looked away, his smile tinged with bitterness. “Lina, do we really have to keep fighting like this? Does it always have to be so tense between us?”
Lina didn’t answer, but her silence said plenty.
After a long moment, Bruno sighed. “I’ve been trying to prove myself. Those people who broke your hand back then–I found them. I made sure they paid for what they did.”
“And next is Kylie.”
He stepped forward, ignoring Lina’s struggle as he took her hand and led her out of the room, down to the basement.
The basement was nothing like the cozy room upstairs. It was cold and damp, with the heavy smell of mold hanging in the air. Lina wrinkled her nose in disgust
In the center of the basement, Kylie sat shackled, her hair a mess, her face streaked with tears and dirt. She looked up as the door opened, hope flickering in her eyes–maybe Bruno had come to let her go.
But he wasn’t here to save her
Someone else was thrown into the room–a man, just out of prison, now tied up and dumped on the floor.
“Lina, how do you want to punish them? Bruno asked, his voice gentle but unwavering. “Whatever you want, I’ll do. You don’t have to be afraid–il be right here with you. I promise, everyone who ever hurt you will pay.”
His words, so earnest and direct, echoed around the room. The newly arrived man broke down first, grabbing onto Bruno’s leg, sobbing and pleading, “Please, Mr. Morris, I didn’t do anything! Please, let me go-”
Bruno just kicked him away, disgust written all over his face
Lina recognized the man, and all those awful memories rushed back She instinctively stepped away, her face going pale as a chilt ran down her spine!
A moment Inter she felt Bruno’s hand wrap around her wrist–warm, steady, and full of regrat.
Tuna, I’m sorry I didn’t think this through Let’s get you out of here. Leave theralls
me i promise anyone who’s ever hurt you will
