Run

C H A P T E R N I N E T E E N

Vincent's POV

"Get me outta here, Leonardo." I've been stuck in this stupid hospital room for two days now. And it's infuriating not knowing where Leah is or what's happening to her. It's even more infuriating not being able to do anything about it.

"Sorry boss, I can't"

"And why the hell not?"

"You got shot, sir."

"So?" I say. "You did too. But you're up walking around like nothing happened "

"I got shot in the arm. You got shot in the side. Your injury is much more serious then mine."

I know he's right. I should just stay here and wait for the shot wound to fully heal. It's what's best for me. But how am I just supposed to sit here while Leah's out there with the Tallios doing God knows what? I can't bare the thought of her getting hurt because of me; I'd never forgive myself for it.

"Maybe you're right," I sigh in defeat. His eyes widen as I agree with him, but he quickly masks it with a neutral expression. I don't admit to being wrong very easily, so it usually catches him off guard when I do.

"I need to do what's best for me." He nods and a small smile traces his lips.

"I'm glad, boss. All you've been doing lately is putting other people's lives before your own, you deserve to think about yourself."

Again, I voice my agreement. There's no use in trying to fight with him to get me out. We're both exhausted and incredibly sore, the best thing for us right now is some rest.

He stays in my room just a few minutes longer to update me on the situation with the Tallios. He says most of the Tallios who were part of the ambush that took place at the house have been apprehended and are being questioned as we speak.

Just that alone should be able to reassure me, but it can't. Leah's still out there somewhere. I don't know where, but I know the Tallios have her. And I will do everything in my power to keep her safe.

Leah's POV

I've never been more relieved to be away from Vincent.

Those videos; those horrible videos. I sat through every single one. It was horrifying, but I couldn't force myself to turn away. It was just so surreal.

It makes me feel so guilty for ever feeling sorry for him. I cursed my father for killing Vincent's dad. But then he turns around and does it over and over and over.

He killed innocent people. And I defended him. I defended him to my father; defended him to those men. But he doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve my sympathies. I was wrong to think that someone like him could ever be capable of compassion and mercy. He's exactly how people describe him. Cold, heartless, cruel, and undeserving of any love or kindness.

The warehouse door creaks open and my mother steps inside. I instantly feel a pang of regret for leaving her the way I did. I can tell she hasn't handled it well. She had heavy dark bags under her eyes and she sported a deep frown on her lips.

She approached me with her hand resting on the side of her ever growing baby-belly. She had to be a little over seven months by now. I almost pitied her. Having to bring a child into this mess of a family. It'll just be one more person to lie to. One more person to keep secrets from.

"Leah," she says, her voice soft. I can see in her eyes the battle she's fighting with herself. All those secrets are sitting on the tip of her tongue; if only she'd let them out.

She takes a deep breath before speaking again. "I haven't been honest with you."

Yeah, no kidding.

"I can't bare lying to you anymore. I shouldn't have in the first place, but we had to to protect you."

"Protect me from what, mom? Because as far as I can tell, you and dad are the only ones putting me in danger. All these people that you claim are trying to hurt me, are actually ones protecting me. Not you."

She gasps slightly at my words, her dainty hands coming up to cover her mouth in shock.

"Leah, we never meant to hurt you. You have to know that."

"How can you say that to me while I'm sitting here, tied to a chair with bruises on my face?" I spit malice in my words. Every single one of them comes out full of hatred and despise. And it makes me feel good. I need to be able to let this out. All these feelings I've been holding in are being let out.

"You and dad both come to me and tell me that you love me and that you'd never hurt me, but what do you call this? Tough love? Discipline? It's torture. So don't even try to defend yourself. It's no use."

Tears well up in her eyes and a few drip down her cheeks. She quickly swipes her cheeks and takes a few deep breaths. I can tell she wants to cry; to let it all out. But she doesn't she's holding it together; she's holding it together for me.

"I know that I am not the victim here," she takes another deep breath "but know that I've been affected by this too. Your father has become relentless. He's been trying to do everything he can to bring Vincent down, and it's taking a toll on all of us."

"How dare you say that," I yell at her. "you are not being affected by any of this! You're not the one who has been kidnapped by your own father and harassed by his men, so don't you dare say that you are being affected, because you're not."

Her demeanor changes almost instantly as I finish talking. Gone is the timid, soft spoken woman that entered this warehouse.

I watch as her eyes turn hard and her fists clench at her sides. I've seen my mother angry before, but never like this.

"Listen to me Leah; I go to sleep every night wondering your father is, or whether or not he's alive. I have to struggle with bringing a child into this dangerous world that he created. But he is still your father, still my husband-"

"Your husband's a murderer."

She stares at me with an emotion in her eyes that is so foreign that I can't recognize it. I would never describe my mother as a hateful person, no, she's the exact opposite of that. But right now, that's the only thing I can use to describe this look. Hatred. Whether it be for me, my father, or for the world.

"And Vincent is no better." She turns around and leaves without another word, leaving me in the dark once again.

I wish they'd just leave me alone. It's doing any of us good for them to come in here and try to defend themselves when they know that they're in the wrong; not me.

And it's not doing me any good to just sit here and take it. I have to get out of here. And if that means hurting the people I once loved, then so be it.

******

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^^That's literally how I feel after not updating for that long. It literally makes me feel like trash. But that doesn't matter now, all that matters is that I finally DID update and all you beautiful readers won't hate me anymore (hopefully)