Crushed (36 page)

After three hours of waiting, Sophie had forced Gwyn to lie down on the couch in the living room. If there was nothing for her to do, she needed to spend the time resting. In the days to come, Gwyn would need all the strength she could get.

Sophie's efforts were wasted, because Gwyn would not fall asleep. She stared at the ceiling with unseeing eyes, her face frozen in pain. While Sophie had been willing to stay with Gwyn for the rest of the night, the young girl only had one request.

"Please leave me alone." She'd whispered. "I just need to be alone right now."

Though she didn't want to obey, Sophie understood what Gwyn was feeling. She had never liked to cry in front of others either.

Reluctantly, Sophie left the living room for a new place to wait. Her decision was impulsive as she turned into Rylan's room.

She headed for his bed and curled up against his headboard.

There was something about a person's room that seemed to tell a story about them. Just like with Luke's room, Sophie felt like she was seeing a glimpse of who Rylan was.

He liked baseball. Posters of famous athletes surrounded his walls. He had half a dozen autographed balls sitting on his desk, and a dusty old glove lying next to his bed.

Sophie wondered if he'd ever regretted not being able to play for a team. He was a child without an identity...one who couldn't attend school, or get too close to outsiders.

The loneliness that surrounded the room mimicked the feelings she'd felt while in Luke's room. They were two different people, with two different backgrounds, but they were both trapped in lifestyle without a choice. Luke through threats, and Rylan through his father.

As Sophie sat alone in the darkness, she felt choked by the harsh reality around her.

The feeling remained with her until the early hours of the morning. For over six hours she hadn't moved a muscle, and though her legs were protesting, she didn't feel the urge to move.

The light outside Rylan's window was light blue, and gradually growing brighter. Soon the sun would rise and a new day would start like normal.

However, everything was not normal. Sophie suspected nothing would be normal for a very long time. Even when the sun rose and light surrounded them, she felt like it would still seem like she was surrounded in darkness.

The sound of someone opening Rylan's door did not startle her. She was too numb to react to seeing Robert walk into the room.

"So this is where you were hiding." She could barely make him out in the faint light.

He was staring in her direction, though she couldn't see the expression on his face.

"How is he?" Sophie's voice cracked as she spoke. She was barely managing to hold it all together.

"Alive, which is the best we could've hoped for, considering."

"Is it bad?"

"I don't know the details yet, but recovery's going to be hard. The doctor said the next twenty-four hours are crucial."

"We should've taken him to a hospital. Even if they'd ask questions, we owe him that much. If we truly love him, getting caught shouldn't matter." Her voice grew angry as she spoke. She hated not being able to do more for Rylan.

"The nearest hospital would've taken us longer to get to. If you see the kitchen, you wouldn't feel that way. It's a perfect replica of a hospital room now. The doctor really is the best there is."

Sophie sat in silence, processing what he'd just told her. A part of her felt relieved by the good news, but the hole in her heart wasn't healed.

A gunshot wound wasn't just physical, but would scar Rylan emotionally as well. He would never be the same again, no matter how long he had to heal.

"Gwyn?" Her voice was quiet, half-worried about what he would tell her.

"Asleep. I found her upstairs with Teddy."

"Oh." At least Gwyn had finally been able to rest.

Robert moved from his place by the door to the bed. He sat down on the edge, far away from her, but close enough to where she could see his face clearly. He bent forward, clasping his hands together as he stared at the ground.

As she watched him, Sophie compared him to Luke. If it had been Luke sitting in front of her, he would've said something reassuring. He would've told her it wasn't their fault, and that they couldn't have prevented Rylan from getting shot. He would say that the wound was an accident they would just have move on from.

Robert didn't offer her any consolation. His silence was a reminder that everything wouldn't be all right. It had been their fault that Rylan was shot. If Robert hadn't asked him to go, if Sophie hadn't distracted Robert, and if Luke hadn't pulled the trigger, they wouldn't be in this situation. Rather than feel angry towards Robert's silence, Sophie appreciated it.

She didn't want to sugarcoat this reality. It would've been unfair to Rylan for them to brush their mistakes aside.

"Do we know what happened yet?" Sophie lowered her voice.

"When Rylan wakes up we can ask him what he saw. Cleo's looking into who shot at us, but we helped to destroy any evidence that we might've had against them."

Robert was right. Their joint efforts had disabled the security system for the museum, so there would be virtually no footage of the gunmen.

"Do you really believe it was Max?"

"It's possible. Cleo hasn't ruled that out either. I'm starting to doubt it though. If the people who shot at us wanted us dead, then the security guards wouldn't have been kept alive. All we have now is the official police report, and the guards reported seeing hooded figures enter the museum. Assassins wouldn't have left so many loose ends."

"You think it was a threat?"

"It's the best theory I've got right now. It could've been someone else trying to steal the painting, but that wouldn't make sense. The moment they shot the case, every alarm in the building went off. Honestly, we'll probably never know."

Robert paused momentarily. Sophie saw him clench his fists, though he still wouldn't look at her.

"Sophie, if I'm going to keep you safe, I need to know the truth. I need to know why you're with Max and Luke, and I need you to be honest with me." His voice was hard. "I know you haven't forgiven me for not telling you my past, but I can't apologize for who I am."

"I never asked you to apologize for you're background. You can't change that, but I can't change the fact that I feel betrayed. The reason I'm with Max is...complicated."

"I'm trying to be here for you, but you're being very difficult." He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "There is a reason...a reason I left that life. It's a long story, and I'm not ready to tell you just yet. When I am, I will tell you. I promise you that, so please trust me."

She didn't trust him. She'd be lying if she said that she did. He'd messed with her too much for it to be easy to believe in him again. However, she wanted to believe in him. Like always, she wished that she could have faith in his promises. It was that wish that gave her hope.

"I can't tell you everything. There's something I need from Max, and I have to steal it from him." Sophie knew his first argument before he could voice it. "It has to be me who steals it, not you or Luke. It's my mission, so I'm going to take the risks."

"Does Diana Apell have anything to do with this?"

Sophie hesitated for a moment. "Yes," she finally answered. "I'm still figuring out the details, but the mission shouldn't take long. I'm planning to return home after I get my target."

"You want to go back there?" His voice was shocked.

"Right now, what I want and need are the same thing. Max's home is like a prison, but I need this next clue." She paused, watching him carefully. "You think I'm insane, right?"

"There are a thousand names I could call you right now, and insane would only be one of them." His voice was strained. "You don't know what you've gotten yourself into. If I had known..."

"Your input wouldn't have changed anything. Even if you'd demanded I'd stay here, I would've gone."

"This target is that important?"

"I was that pissed at you, and that driven to succeed."

Robert sighed heavily. He didn't seem the least bit relieved at her answer. "The questions will start tomorrow. Rylan's captured the attention for now, but you can't escape the kids forever. With him like this, leaving them will be twice as cruel."

Sophie's heart felt like it broke a little inside. He was just stating the truth, but it was so much harsher hearing it aloud. Thinking about leaving Rylan while he was injured made her feel sick. She was needed here more than ever, but Max wouldn't give her more than one night away.

"We also don't know if Max was behind the shooting. I can't guarantee your safety with him." Robert turned to look at her, and his eyes were burning with fear. She'd never seen him like this before.

"I knew it would be dangerous going into this mission. I don't need to be protected. Maybe instead of me having faith in you, it's time for you to trust me."

"How can you be so stupid?" Robert whispered. "Seriously, he could kill you, Sophie."

"I want this to be over." She replied with a confident tone. "I want to be done with this world so much that I'd do anything."

"You're planning to leave us again?" Robert's shock was evident on his face.

"I can't do anything for you or Luke. The chains linking you to Cleo and Max aren't something I can erase. However, the kids aren't the same as you. If I give Cleo what she wants, then she'll give me back my identity. If I play my cards right, I could give the kids back their identities too. They could go to school, make friends...they could actually live life. The plans' a work in progress, but..."

Sophie was cut off Robert moving towards her. He closed the distance in seconds, leaning into her and capturing her lips with his.

She was too stunned to react, but he kissed her with purpose. This wasn't an accident, or act to fool someone else. In many ways, it was another promise.

He kissed her until she felt like she couldn't breathe anymore, but still she didn't want to let him go. She knew it was wrong to kiss him. Out of all the people in the world to love, he was the absolute worst. He was selfish, manipulative, insincere, and cruel. He'd played with her since day one, and he had heartbreaker written across his face.

Even with all of these thoughts racing through her head, her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. It was as if her heart were reminding her brain that she couldn't rationalize her way out of loving him. If this was love that she was feeling after all.

When he pulled back, his eyes searched her own. "I'm not going to apologize."

She felt like it was wrong to feel this happy with Rylan in so much pain, but for a moment she cracked a smile. "I didn't ask you to."

As she watched him, her momentary happiness turned to sadness. She hated crying in front of people, but he'd just shoved his way into her heart. Now that she'd passed through the numb-phase, she felt herself crumbling back into an emotional wreck.

His kiss had woken her up, but not solved anything. Guilt overwhelmed her as she thought of how everyone in the house was hurting, and how wrong it was for her to feel the least bit happy at a time like this.

Tears began to slip down her face. Robert was there to capture the first few with his hands, but the rest were two fast for him to brush away. He instinctively pulled her to him, hugging her as close as he could.

"I swore I would never do this again." He whispered into her hair.

"I'm sorry." She replied, trying to control herself without success. "I'm sorry, I just need you right now. I'll be fine it a few minutes...just give me a few minutes."

"If this is what you need, I'll be here for as long as you want."

His words sent chill-bumps up her arms. She'd heard Luke say the same thing so many times in the past, but it had never made her feel this way. Sometimes it wasn't saying the right thing, but having the right person say the right thing that mattered the most.

"Why are you so supportive all of a sudden?" Sophie asked, hoping she could joke away her tears.