Addicted{Brollins}

Chapter 33

Rebecca needed to get out of there and fast. She had no idea, no idea where her team might be. I was drugged remember? I never saw where they went... "Listen, I know my son and you had to come up with some sort of plan for when your team gets kidnapped. A base to run to after they escape? A house like this one?" Vanessa waved a hand. "Tell me, dear Rebecca, where have they gone?"

Rebecca swallowed. Her and Colby hadn't come up with a plan. They didn't have time to since Vanessa and her cronies attacked without warning. "I don't know where they are..." Rebecca spoke gently. Please don't ask me that again.

Vanessa chuckled. "I know why my son likes you, you're quite extraordinary. Just like your father." She put her papers down and stood up. "Your father is quite the man, Rebecca. A brilliant man, actually."

Rebecca scoffed. "My father is a joke, as are you." Shit. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything mean to her.

Vanessa just laughed. "I sense you are trying to change the subject away from your friends."

"I'm trying to figure you out." Rebecca said smoothly. "Why did you fake being the sweet mother at mine and Colby's engagement party?"

Vanessa smiled at her. "Well," she started but stopped. "Actually, nevermind—you wouldn't believe me if I told you the real reason you were chosen to be his wife."

Breathing. Rebecca has to remember to keep breathing. "Chosen? I thought my dad and Heath made a deal about combining empires?"

Vanessa gave her a smile that told Rebecca that was a lie. What else was a lie? "Rebecca dear, there are some things that are worth going unsaid." Her phone then started ringing. "Oh? He finally called back." She laughed and picked up the phone.

Rebecca looked at her surroundings while Vanessa stayed on the phone. It really was a beautiful home. She just couldn't believe there was a woman who was killed by another crazy woman trying to control Colby's life. Why didn't he tell me this? Is it even true? What the hell is happening?!

Vanessa cleared her throat. "Well, I was planning on returning to my headquarters." She took a deep breath. "But it's clear that my work here is not finished. Your people are making things more complicated and it's becoming harder and harder to simply kill all the civilians." A pause. "Well, no, actually, that's not true. It's not hard to kill them, it's only that it's becoming impractical." She looked towards Rebecca. "If I were to kill them all, I wouldn't have any left to rule over, would I?"

She actually laughs. Laughs as if she actually said something funny.

Rebecca sighs. "What do you want from me, Vanessa?"

She takes a deep breath. "I must admit, Rebecca— I'm throughly impressed. Your team was enough to over power my soldiers!" She laughed again. "Your father was right, you would be invaluable to us, especially right now. You know the inside of my headquarters better than Colby." Another laugh. "The idiot never realized whose headquarters he was marching into. I guess he didn't recognize it since we've remodeled."

"You," Vanessa says to her, "could help me destroy all of your little friends. You could tell me everything I need to know. You could tell me what they are capable of, what their strengths and weaknesses are."

Or I could spit in your face.

"I would sooner die," Rebecca tells her. "I'd rather be burned alive."

"Oh I highly doubt that," she says. She shifts her weight onto the other arm of the chair. "I think you'd change your mind if you actually had to opportunity to feel the skin melt off your face. But," she says "I am not unkind. I certainly won't rule it out as an option, if you're really that interested."

Horrible, horrible woman. She smiled, wide, satisfied by Rebecca's silence. "Yes, I didn't think so."

The front door flies open.

Rebecca doesn't move, she doesn't turn around. She doesn't want to know what's about to happen to her, but then Vanessa greets their visitor. Invites him in. Asks him to say hello to her guest.

Colby steps into Rebecca's line of vision.

Rebecca wants to cry, she's weak through the bone, sick and slightly mortified. Colby is still in his leather suit. The suit is a little dirty considering he's been searching for her since the day before. He's staring at her in a state of shock so debilitating his eyes look ill.

"You lovebirds miss each other?" Vanessa is the only one laughing.

Colby is breathing like he's hiked several mountains, like he can't understand what he's seeing and he's staring at her neck. Her ugly blotchy bruise on her neck and his face twists into something that looks like anger and horror and heartbreak. His eyes drop to her shirt, to her shorts, and his mouth parts open just enough for her to notice before he's wiping the emotions off his face. He's struggling to stay composed, but Rebecca can see the rapid motions of his chest rising and falling. His voice isn't nearly as strong as it could be, "What is she doing here?"

"I've had her collected for us." Vanessa says with a bright smile.

Colby stuttered. "For what?! I called you and asked if you'd seen her and you told me—"

"I told you," Vanessa says raising her voice. "I told you, that if you wanted to get her back, you needed to come to your old house, now tell me where I lied?"

Rebecca glanced at his hands, his hands trying to reach her. She met his eyes and wanted to melt. The way he was looking at her told her he had no idea what his mother was doing. "I could certainly benefit from having her around." Vanessa continued. "But, I've found a way to make everything go back to normal."

Something about her eyes made Rebecca want to step closer to Colby, but she stayed still. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"I'm surprised you even have to ask, my dear. I mean, honestly—did you really think I haven't noticed what's been going on at Lopez Enterprise?" Vanessa glanced at her son. "The flirting, the being the protective fiancé, the stupid trainings and missions, the idiots you call a team. The list goes on, Ms. Quin."

Rebecca turned to Colby. "Did you know about this? Where is our team? Did you—"

"No—Rebecca," He says. "I swear—I had no idea—"

"You are both getting agitated over nothing." Vanessa says waving a lazy hand in their direction. "We have more important things to focus on right now. More pressing issues to deal with."

Colby whirled his head towards his step mother. "What. Are you. Talking about?" He breathed out.

"Justice, son." Vanessa is staring at Rebecca now. "I'm talking about justice. I like the idea of setting things right. I rule my empire, you rule the other. We put order back in the world. And I was waiting for you to arrive so I could show you exactly what I mean. This," she turns to Colby, "is what I should've done the first moment we met. Are you listening? Pay close attention, son. Are you watching?"

She pulls out a gun.

And shoots Rebecca right in the chest.