Papillon

Chapter 35: A Cage

Francis

A car was waiting for us when we landed. It took us straight to the address I rattled off.

Damon and Christian hardly said a word other than the occasional question and phone calls they picked up because someone somewhere was giving them information.

The Hale name carried a lot of weight on its own–Anthony was ruthless and feared all around the world and Damon could get far with just his name.

Christian had money–a ridiculous, exorbitant amount of money. I knew from a young age that money was power. It was everything.

When Mama and I lived with Moreau, we were surrounded by wealth and servants and more money than I could possibly dream of. I was also surrounded by more blood, bruises, and burns than I could dream of as well.

We lived in a cage, Mama and I. Beautiful, gilded, and stunning but a cage nonetheless.

"I didn't say it before because honestly I didn't know what to say but I'm sorry," Christian said quietly. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"No one should ever have to go through what you did," Damon echoed. "I'm sorry."

I didn't think I'd ever heard those words come out of either of their mouths before.

"Does anyone else know?" Christian asked.

I shook my head but then paused. "Bella knew my father wasn't a good man. Knew he put his hands on me. But that was it."

"Bella, huh?" Christian let loose a tired smile.

I sighed. "Can you possibly wait until later to kill me? If my father hasn't gotten to me first, then I'm all yours."

Damon shook his head, a small smile on his face. It was a long drive and we needed something to get our minds off my pathetic life anyway.

"How long have you been dating?" Christian asked.

"We're not dating," I flinched.

"But you're together?"

"Not... really. I don't fucking know. It's complicated." I ran a hand through my hair.

"So, she's basically single?" Damon asked with a taunt hidden in his voice. "I think she mentioned a football captain was interested in her. Maybe he can—"

My eyes flashed. "She's fucking mine."

Damon looked at me, running a hand through his hair.

Christian blinked at me unenthusiastically. Then, he bit out a curse.

"If you break her heart, I will obliterate you," he warned, not a trace of humor in his voice.

I shifted uncomfortably. "I don't have her heart to break."

Damon shot me a caustic look. "You're kidding, right?"

I threw my head back into the seat, hoping to avoid this awkward ass conversation. As much as I loved poking and prodding Damon about his love for Ariadne or Christian for his fuck-up of colossal proportions with the only girl he ever cared about, I didn't like when it was directed at me.

I was always untouchable. Cold. Nothing ever bothered me. I used to like that.

But now, I wanted the one girl who got under my skin to be around me all the fucking time. I needed her like I needed air.

It didn't last long when Christian threw a water bottle at my chest.

"You fucking idiot. Are you in love with my sister or what?"