Masked Facade

Chapter 33: The Plan

Alice's POV

"I'm not doing this, Alice."

I hang my head between my shoulders in defeat, rubbing my face repeatedly to get a grip on the situation in hand.

"I'm not asking you." I looked up and held her eyes as I delivered the blow, "I'm telling you. If you ever have loved them, you'd do this for me."

"Don't play that card. You know very well I'd give up my life to protect theirs." She moved to stand in front of me before adding, "But what you're asking is too much on my part and it gets on my nerves that you're turning into the very same person as that of six years ago."

I saw my error there. I should have never said anything to her in the first place. Confiding in her felt relieving but now it'd come to bite me in the ass. He was coming for me, and I had only a little time to design my plan without any flaw. I knew Katie loved us too much to give up on us the same way I was asking her of. But if anyone, I expected her to understand the dilemma I was in.

"When I last met him, I did whatever I could to protect my family." I stood right in front of her and challenged to back off.

"That's what you like to think, Raelyn. You wanna know what I think?" Leaning in a bit, she said in a threatening tone, "When presented with a threat, you just up and bolt. You did the same thing then and you're doing it again."

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Throwing my hands up in the air, I scratched my mind for every possibility to get this shit done. I needed her help and she knew it. Yet, she was still playing games with me. Lives were on stake and I was in no way ready to let anyone get hurt for my existence.

"Hey, what's going on?" Thea interrupted us right at that moment, and I looked at Katie, mouthing a small no. She gave me a barely-there nod.

Letting out a huge sigh of exhaustion, I played Thea for what it was worth. "Thea, who told you about me?"

"Ryan. Why?" I feigned innocence when, in reality, I was feeling mixed emotions. He gave me something to hold onto while I was on my own. I was mad at him and at the same time, felt a strong surge of emotion to kiss him.

"Thought so. Please tell me he didn't involve others too."

"I, uh, don't..." Thea's hesitation gave me what I desired. He did tell everyone about me.

That son of a bitch!

"Damn it, Thea! Just tell me."

"What the hell is up your ass, Alice?"

"Why can't anyone give me straight answers to me? This is getting me nowhere."

Storming to my study room, I took my purse and made a beeline for the main door.

"Where are you going? You shouldn't put much strain on your wounds." I tried to hide my smile at her words. After everything, she was still scared for me.

"If you guys won't help me then I'd have to do it another way, don't I?" I needed confirmation for my suspicion, and the only way to do it to seek Ryan.

"Wait, Alice." Voices called out for me, but I didn't pay any heed to whatever they had to say.

I was done waiting.

******

When I stood at his doorstep, Ryan buzzed me in without giving me a hard time. I was a bit surprised but then we were talking about the most volatile person, so everything was justified. I was led by a man in his late thirties to a room adjacent to the living room. The entire place echoed with silence and I wondered if I'd have to go through Carol like the last time I was in here.