“I wish I could have come with you when you left. I was their personal sex slave. Look.” She dug into her cleavage and pulled out a picture of two kids. “These babies are mine and his…maybe Kellan’s. I don’t know for sure.”
Henry took the picture, and stared at it for a moment. He closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the ceiling. He needed a moment to gather himself. Once he felt in control of his emotions, he focused back on her. “Sophie, I’m so sorry. If I knew... Why didn’t you tell me?”
“There’s nothing you can do to fix it now. My two babies will be trained in the program.”
“Not if we can stop this madness.”
“And how do you plan on doing that? He’s way too powerful. The only way to stop him is to go back to the complex and take him out. We need to go back. You and me.”
“No, I’m not going back there. I already said that. I will figure it out.” Henry paced, rubbing his beard that was starting to fill in.
“You know he’s lining the pockets of parliament.”
“I know.”
“They won’t let you do anything to him.”
“I’ll find a way. And we will get your children out. He will pay for everything he has done to us. To all of us. All the hell he put us through. I promise you.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks. “But, until then, you need to cut the shit. Okay?” He lifted her chin.
“I love them, but I barely know them. They were whisked away after their birth. I’ve only seen them a few times. He keeps them from me. I can watch through those bloody two-way mirrors, though. This is all I have had to hang on to.” She clutched the photograph. “They don’t even know me.” Sophie cried in her hands.
“He will pay.” She nodded. Henry held Sophie for a few minutes until her crying settled. “Come on. Let’s make amends with Elaina, yeah?” She nodded again and tucked her picture safely back in her cleavage. Sophie wiped her tears away, and then Nick turned around and opened the door.
“After you...” Nick waved Henry and Sophie out. They headed back to the living room.
***
They came back down the hall. I was still miffed at Sophie. Then she approached me, tears still hanging on her fake lashes. I glared at her, trying to keep my anger contained.
“Uh, listen, Elaina. Can we have a chat in private?” I wasn’t sure if I liked that idea. I looked to Henry and Nick for disapproval or encouragement. Neither one gave me a signal. I was on my own. I chewed my cheek for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess.” I have to admit, I was nervous about being alone with her. We walked down the hallway. Before we made it to the bedroom, she turned around and gave me a half-smile. I couldn’t tell if she was being sincere. My skepticism was beyond the limit.
“I would like to apologize for my behavior.” She reached for me, and I reluctantly let her take my hands. Her hands were so cold, like Henry’s. “I’m pleased Henry has found someone that makes him happy. And I will no longer be a bitch to you. He and I have been through a lot together, and I’ve missed him dearly while he was gone, for reasons that I would rather not get into right now. A lot of terrible things happened to me while he was gone. He wasn’t there to protect me, like he used to be.”
Whoa. I wondered what happened during their little chat. I looked back down the hall and saw both Henry and Nick keeping an eye on us. They seemed to be waiting for my reaction and were ready to pounce, if need be. It took me a few seconds to think about it.
“I accept,” I quietly said.
“Great! Thanks!” She hugged me. It was weird and brought awkward to a whole new level. “Just one thing,” she added, and I was waiting for the jab. “He loves you more than he ever has loved anybody else. Don’t ever hurt him. It will crush him. He’s less emotionally stable than you think.” Her voice cracked. Great, just what I need…relationship advice from someone like her.
She grabbed me and squeezed me tight against her bursting chest. The awkwardness continued on. I was a bit disgusted, but I was doing it for my Henry. I kept reminding myself over and over again: anything for my Henry. He smiled at us hugging, even if it was fake. Yay. I was thrilled to pieces.
Thrilled. To. Fucking. Pieces.
“Okay, ladies,” Henry waved us back to him. “Let’s sit and plan.”
Henry turned and headed back toward the living room. Sophie tried to hold my hand as we followed behind him, but I swatted her away. What the fuck was wrong with her? She stuck her tongue out at me and my lip curled into a snarl. Henry took his seat back on the couch, not seeing what was transpiring behind him.