fallin' out of love (stemxstud)

6

Anaela

I stared down at my hands shakily, and I was still staring at them after Brett had knocked on my door at least a dozen times then finally let himself in.

"Ms. Boss? There's a problem?"

My faithful henchmen entered my small office, his brown muscles shining with sweat.

"No. No. I'm fine, Brett," I cleared my throat, hiding my bruised hands underneath the desk.

He searched my face, clearly not believing me, but continuing on to whatever he had came in here to say. "I have news. Technically...I shouldn't be telling you this, per your mother. But I felt like you deserved to know."

Oh God, someone I love is dead.

"Dominique Thomas has died," he reported solemnly. My heart dropped. "Cause of Death: unknown. She was found in a basement of a factory...her body was severely mutilated."

I slammed my hand on the desk, pain rocketing upwards to my elbow. "Fuck," my voice cracked, "not Dom. Fuck. Are you sure?" my eyes flew up to hold his.

"Yes," he pressed his lips together.

"I- I need a moment," I waved him off, holding my head in my hand while the other periodically squeezed itself into a fist.

"Dom's gone," I shook my head, trying to make sense of all the pieces of myself and pull me back together.

I don't know what happened to me after I blacked out yesterday. I know the mysterious voice was gone...for now. But I don't know how I ended up with these bruises on my hands. How they got wrapped. The wonderful hickey at the base of my neck. The slight aching of my knees. The soreness...of my throat and the puffiness of my lips.

I'm falling apart.

And no one can escape themselves.

In an instant, I furiously unwrapped my hands, exposing purple and black skin across my finger tips and palms of my hands. "What am I doing? What am I doing to myself?" I whispered.

I heard two quick knocks on my door, and whoever was behind it let themself in.

"More info on Thomas' death. I know you said to give you a moment, but..."

"No. Thank you, Brett." I gave him a shaky smile, hoping it gave off some sort of reassurance as I picked up the thick stack of files he gave me.

"If you have anyone in the gang investigate it, it'll get back to your mother and..."

"She told me to separate myself from my past. I know," I nodded, with a sigh. "I have to look into this on my own."

"You're not on your own, Anaela. I'm here."

"My mother would kill you if she knew you helped me," I waved the stack at him, "Let me handle this. Dom might have crossed me but she was still my friend once. I owe it to her to find out who killed her and why."

"Be careful, boss."

"You know I will be," I held his gaze seriously.

His own briefly dropped to my injured hands, before he walked out of the room. Did he know how I got these? Was he the one who had wrapped my hands? Why is my memory coming up a big blank from yesterday in the bathroom...with the voice...to now?

I bit my lip, turning on my heel and going back to my desk. I will find out who killed you Dom. And I'll do exactly what you would have done to them.