Secrets Untold

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 31

**Max's POV**

𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇 hurt like hell. Even after spending four years in this hell of a prison, I still hadn't gotten used to the workings. A few feet away from me, Akira was sprawled on the floor, her body looking beaten and frail.

I stared at the person who had knocked her out, an emotionless expression on my face. If there was one thing that I definitely knew, was that emotion was a weakness here. The man sneered at me, before walking out of the cell, his hand hovering over where his hidden gun was strapped to his leg.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, I made my way over to Akira, rolling her onto her back. Bending down, I picked her up, carrying her over to where I sat in my usual corner.

When I sat back down again, I shook her shoulder, pinching one of her cheeks, "Akira."

As she stirred, I held her hand, giving it a squeeze. It felt weird to touch another person after so long. Mindlessly, I traced patterns on her skin, a habit that I clearly had not grown out of after all these years.

"I thought it was a dream," her voice cut through the noise of my thoughts.

My hand tightened on hers instinctively as I looked down to meet her honey brown eyes. "Tesoro, you're not dreaming. What happened?"

"I..." she sat up, rubbing her head, "I was calling Julio, and this car came out of nowhere and hit me. What happened to you? How are you alive?"

She paused for a second, her eyes narrowing before she slapped me. My hand flew to my cheek, "What the fuck?"

Akira shook her hand, mumbling something to herself under her breath. "Okay, explain."

**Victor's POV**

My hand swept everything off my desk, as I looked at my incompetent employees, my eyes probably throwing daggers. I hadn't even said anything and most of them looked terrified. Honestly.

"You will fucking find her within the next 24 hours, or you'll all be buried six feet under the ground," my voice boomed through the silent room, "Trust me, that is a kindness. Go. You are dismissed."

They all hurriedly left, acknowledging me before they disappeared from the room.

Sitting down in the chair behind me, my head dropped into my hands. I hadn't felt this helpless since the twins had been taken away and Dad died.

A knock sounded outside of my office door before it was kicked open. If I was wondering who it was before, I definitely was not anymore.

"Vodka, big bro?" Cameron deposited the bottle on the desk, pouring himself a glass.

I ran my fingers through my hair, deciding to take him up on his offer. As the liquid steadily flowed into the glass, I took a good look at my younger brother. Dark circles sat underneath his eyes, his shoulders hunched, and lips pulled in a rueful smile.

Closing the bottle, I took a deep sip from my glass, feeling the liquid burn my throat on the way down.

I replayed Akira's words over to myself again and again. How could she be so foolish to assume that we didn't trust her? I took another sip. Sure, I didn't really pay as much attention to her as I did with Lila, but that was because I knew she was an independent kid and could take care of herself.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized the rest of my brothers had filed in. Cameron cleared his throat causing my head to snap up. I glared at the twins, "Aren't you two supposed to be at school right now?"