The Loudest Silence

Isabella

"Stand in the corner, until I come and get you. And don't bother trying to pull anything. Everyone in here has an extra eye open for you and your little friend." Tyler addressed me in a low voice. I clenched my jaw at the way he was speaking to me, but didn't give him the satisfaction of a response as my eyes scanned over the warehouse. 

He had brought me down to the first floor where all of Rick's men stood. They were all having their own conversations with one another, just waiting for Rick to call the next move. 

Rick and Tyler had kept me bound to the chair for the entire day, and each time the door opened, I had hoped it was Roman. I hadn't seem him since we had been separated at the door, and just wanted to make sure he was okay.

Considering how Rick had been treating me upon discovering our plan, I was nervous to see Roman's condition. I could only hope that his uncle being one of Rick's right hand men had done some damage control on his behalf.  I don't know what spell Rick had casted over everyone, but it seemed like he had everyone at his beck and call. Roman was simply an anomaly when it came to his loyalty, and a part of me knew it was because he was forcibly immersed into this lifestyle. He had kept quiet about a lot of his upbringing, but in the small hints he did provide, it seemed like this world had been unfair to him as well. 

I guess it made sense why he showed me kindness when he could have been done anything but. 

I had lost track of how long my eyes remained glued onto the door. I had nearly memorized every crevice, crack, and disfiguration on the wood, and yet it still remained stagnant. A delusional part of me was hoping that somehow, I could find a way to get out of this drug heist tonight, and make my way to Mason. I wanted to explain everything to him, ask him to help me, and finally end Rick's reign on my life. I no longer cared about the repercussions of Rick's men coming after me. 

It was a risk I was willing to take. 

I could feel an ugly feeling emerging in my chest at myself for taking so long to finally come to that conclusion. Although I hated to let these thoughts get the best of me, I couldn't help but wonder whether Roman or I would be stuck in this situation now if I had just let Mason in.

But I also knew that the last thing I wanted to do was drag Mason into a lifestyle like this one. I could handle the consequences of Rick's anger, but I wouldn't forgive myself if I allowed anything to happen to Mason. 

The room fell quiet suddenly, and the sound of footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door. I held my breath as the slow croak of the door echoed in the room. Rick was the first to walk in, followed by Roman's uncle. I felt a gasp release from my throat as my eyes landed on the figured who limped a few feet behind them. Roman's hand was pressed firmly against his abdomen, and although his face was cast downward, I could see the shadow of bruises lining his face. My heart sank in my chest at the thought of Roman suffering on my behalf. As if he could hear my thoughts from across the room, I watched as he lifted his head before slowly scanning it across the room. It didn't take him long to connect gazes with me, and I hoped that my apology was written clearly on my face. 

To my surprise, I saw the smallest flicker of a smile on his mouth. His hand remained pressed against his shirt, and I could tell from the outline underneath it that it was bandaged up. I returned his smile with one of my own, but I kept it brief, knowing that there were wandering eyes around. I watched as Roman gave me a small nod of his head, before heading in the same direction as Rick and his uncle.