When Night Falls (Complete)

58

JOSI

Now Josi sits in the penthouse with the TV at high volume. It's been four days since the failed attempt at her life. It's been three days since Dami left to find Domenico Ontario. To counter any more assassination attempts, she's taken it upon herself to remain confined. She will lock herself away within the safety of Idris's home until further notices.

How ironic the situation has become. Staying locked up was Idris's attempt at controlling her, but now it seems she's made the decision all on her own. In a sense, it makes him seem like the victor. Like he's somehow won. Like he's finally gotten his way. It pains her to give him this sense of satisfaction. What's worse is the uncertainty of it all. It could be weeks, or even months before the target on her head wears off. It could even be a lifetime. What happens then?

Still, this is the best option available. Stepping foot outside could solidify her death. Who knows where else the Toulours have their agents hidden. They could gun her down in the middle of the street. A sniper attack. They could even infiltrate a bar and have her drink poisoned. So many possibilities. So little countermeasures.

And yet, she refrains from letting Idris in on this misfortune. If he finds out she's been made a target, he will up the security around her. And security is not what Josi needs from Idris. Because they will get in the way of her plans. So she will survive this predicament all on her own. She's made it this far already. She has to see it through.

While it seems she has things all figured out, Josi still can't help but be outraged. She's been stunted once again. If it isn't Idris and his house arrests, it's some guard who overheard her secret. If it isn't Eavesdropper, it's a rival family with some vendetta against Idris. Now she's been roped into that same vendetta. It seems she's constantly walking on eggshells, because a step forward always leads to a couple more steps backwards.

A hair's breadth. The skin of her teeth. So close she'd been to witnessing her own death. It was pure luck Dami was there that day. Otherwise, she'd be six feet under. Deceased. Worm food. Dead.

Josi shivers and increases the TV's volume, as if it were equipped with the power to drown out that possibility. It's blaringly loud, but that's the purpose behind it. Josi wants the apartment swarmed. No silence welcomed, because silence has not been good to Josi. All thoughts and more thoughts. Nothing good from those thoughts.

Only when she receives a call does she turn the volume down. Not by much, but when she sees the caller, she decreases it down to zero. It's her mother on the caller ID, but the voice that greets her is her little sister's.

"Penny?" Josi smiles. "You're on mom's phone again?"

"Ssh, don't tell her I stole her phone." Aspen says. "I wanted to talk to you. I missed you."

Josi's smile stretches. How long has it been since she last heard her sister? "I missed you too."

Aspen audibly sighs. "Something horrible happened, Josi."

This gets Josi's heartbeat going. Something horrible. Could the Toulours have pursued her family all the way out in Virginia? Would they really go so far? She stands from her seat, but realizes she's grown weak in the knees and takes a seat once again. At the rate she's trembling, she may just collapse.

"Penny . . ." She gathers more strength. "Penny, what happened?"

"Daddy found the sweets I hid in my closet. He's mad, so he won't let me eat any for a while. This is prosperous!"

Josi blinks a few times and takes a second to absolve the information. The relief is so great, she has to lean back against the couch to regain her energy. "You mean preposterous? Why does dad keep teaching you these words anyway?"