Elegance with Expense

69. Don't Trust Her

I had more blood coming out of me when I had a knife in my arm. Such a relatable problem, I can't wait to tell my scary brothers all about my nightmare yesterday. 

I always felt like I was doing something wrong when dealing with my period. I contemplated whether or not I should call one of the girls, and I eventually settled on Maria. She is the most friendly, she truly feels like every girls dream sister.

Besides, it has been Juliet who has recently been acting stranger. Earlier this week, I saw her go back into her and Marias overgrown garden alone, she hadn't been with Vince all day, and her arrival wasn't announced or heard of like it usually was. 

When I think about it more often, I get my suspicions that she may be somebody she hasn't claimed to be.

With the topic of suspicious activities, Izzy nor myself have gotten any threats or messages from Mordecai or the Russians. Liam hasn't been seen in weeks, the same with Andre, no, Andrew, and his father.

Just when I thought that the problem was rid of, I received the surprise of my life a few weeks later. Shattering a life long dream, and putting everyone in danger...

The dial tone didn't last very long until Maria picked up, sounding completely unlike what I was expecting.

'Alessa.' She forced through her broken, weakened voice. Her throat sounded hoarse, there were moments within our silence where she sounded as though she was struggling to breathe. 

'Maria, are you alright?' I spoke quickly, shaking my problem out of my head, trying to get to the bottom of hers.

'Get Michele. Please. Hurry.' She coughed something up, mumbling something as quickly as she could manage. 

My mind was a mess, I was a mess. My priorities needed to get straight, quick. I needed to find the eldest amongst the cousins, and I needed to do it before Maria's voice became any more drained. She needed to communicate with me during this time so that I could do my best to support her. I got up from my bed, racing out of the room, holding the phone close to my ear in case she said anything else.

'Wait, where are you?' I said, hurrying across the corridor. I hadn't even noticed that Claude was following closely behind, of course he was stationed at my door again. I agonisingly awaited a response, turning all the corners, looking into all the doors that were open.

'I'm in a warehouse, two blocks away from the hanger that holds their jets. Tell them not to trust her.' She took sharp breaths in between each few words. It really sounded like she was dying.

'Who, don't trust who Maria?' My voice had risen slightly. 'Who?' I repeated once again.

'Juliet.' 

***

It was late. I was told to pack an overnight bag. We were all making our way into the foyer as Vince had ordered us to. There were several black vehicles parked in a circle around the driveway. No lights were turned on, only the dim glow from a side lamp as the centrepiece. 

After I told Michele about the phone call, and how Maria soon became unresponsive, he went straight upstairs, not even giving me a clue as to what may have happened. Next thing I hear, are the instructions to pack a small bag, take essentials, and that we would be taking a short trip somewhere.

I was standing next to Gio and Armani, awaiting Vince's or Michele's next words, they seemed to be the most educated on this situation, so nobody made any objections or complaints. I was told that everyone knew the basics. Maria was taken, but she was found by one of Michele's men and taken to hospital, thanks to me. We are unable to trust Juliet at this moment, we are forbidden to speak to her until we know further about what happened. Most importantly, we cannot tell anyone that we are leaving the house today.