There’s only that drain and my end.
Chapter24
Emilio
The waves lap gently against the lip of the cave. The boat rises and falls, softly scraping the stone, stuck in its mooring.
Dirk crouches nearby, crying.
Dom and Nathan loom behind me. Neither shows any emotion. We didn’t go through the rigorous and brutal training of our parents, but we learned how to control ourselves when doing what’s necessary. This is painful and ugly, but it’s what needs to be done if we’re going to find Kaye and bring her home.
Terrence lies on his side, gasping for air. He’s a foot away from the water and shivering in the chilly cave breeze. His hands are tied behind his back and his ankles are bound. He wretches once, spits up water, and groans as he tries to curl into a ball.
“Again,” I say and Nathan and Dom move to help me. We lift Terrence as he struggles, moaning, and we shove him down into the water. Dirk’s crying intensifies, and we hold Terrence under until he begins to struggle, only pulling him out after counting to thirty.
He gasps when we drop him onto the stone.
“Where is she, Terrence?”
He gags and spits up more water. He coughs, moaning. His skin is pale and his eyes are bloodshot. He looks at me with real sorrow, and it nearly breaks my heart.
I don’t want to hurt him. The last thing I want is to cause someone I called a friend any pain. Even after his betrayal, I want to help him—that’s the worst part of all this. Terrence is a decent man in his heart, stuck in a shitty position, and he did what he thought he had to do.
I only wish he’d come to me first.
“I remember the first time we met,” he says, his voice a low rumble, scarred from the repeated saltwater dunks. “Do you remember, Emilio?”
“I saw you on campus and asked if the college started a football program.”
He chuckles then coughs and nearly throws up again, but manages to control himself. “I told you no, but I was thinking about getting one going. You thought that was funny and invited me to the house, back before it was renovated. We spent the rest of the day together looking at that rotted-out building and dreaming about what it might be one day. The proudest I’ve ever felt was the afternoon you called it finished and showed me which room would be mine. I’ve never felt so good in my life and I doubt I ever will again.”
“Terrence,” I say, struggling to keep my voice calm. I won’t let him get to me, not right now. “Tell me where she is.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
I sigh and stand, exhausted and sickened. Dom and Nathan join me, and together we stoop to pick him up—
But Terrence groans. “Wait. Don’t.”
I nod and we lower him down. “Where?”
“Cask.” He closes his eyes and sighs. “In the lower floor. Back room. There’s a window, but it’s barred. You’ve got to go through the front.”
“I’m relieved you finally told me.”
“I didn’t want this,” he says, meeting my gaze.
I pat his arm and stand up. My back’s tired from lifting him over and over, and I want this to be finished. I turn away, facing toward Dirk, who sits there with red-rimmed eyes watching me, his heart broken.
“Terrence, I want you to pack a bag. We’ll cut you free. Dirk will help you. The ferry is coming in two hours, and I want you on it. You’ll drop out of school or complete it online or whatever the fuck you have to do, but you’ll never come back here. Do you understand?”
Terrence releases a long breath. “I understand.”
I gesture at Dom. He walks over and cuts Terrence’s bonds and helps him stand. Dirk comes over and takes some of Terrence’s weight. The pair of them shuffle toward the cave path, but I call out before they can leave. Terrence looks back, pure sorrow in his eyes.
“I’m setting aside money from the society’s fund to pay for your sister’s treatments. Dirk will act as the intermediary.”
Tears slide down Terrence’s face. “You would’ve done that if I had just asked, wouldn’t you?”