Chapter 13
Bellis looked at Monroe where the Dominant sat behind his large, opulent desk. Monroe’s cold gaze turned accusingly to where King stood with arms crossed beside his desk. “You sent her to the North Fortress?”
The Chief of Security shrugged. “Made an executive decision. Seemed right.”
“Look,” Bellis’ growl drew the Dominant’s attention back to him. “I need to know, if this is real or not.”
Monroe simply stared at him.
“How in the fuck can I save her if I don’t know if she’s with us or against us?” he snarled, finally at the end of his patience. “IS SHE ONE OF YOURS OR NOT?”
He’d been questioning the Dominant for twenty minutes, and all he’d gotten was bored looks. Even now, Monroe still simply stared at him, his cold blue eyes blinking slowly. The Dominant had no tell, and Bellis couldn’t scent anything. Without words, there was no way to know, and clearly Monroe wasn’t going to answer that particular question.
All the way back to StoneCrow, something was niggling him about Sam. She was so adamant about speaking to Monroe, and when she found out she’d be transferred without that meeting he’d scented more on her than just anger, she’d been hurt. Her actions in shoving Bronx out of the way of a bullet and taking it herself also spoke volumes. Those weren’t the actions of a Skin Walker or Keeper enemy. No, it had been a split second decision, acted on instinctively. She could’ve died today protecting Bronx and that went against everything he’d been told about her.
Back at StoneCrow he’d gone straight to the Monroe’s quarters and waited two hours to speak with the Dominant. Finding out that Sam was moved without Monroe’s direction or consent, and his obvious displeasure with the fact, had Bellis’ suspicions sky rocketing.
“Leave us.” Monroe commanded, and King exited the office with a put-upon sigh.
Once he was gone Monroe and Bellis stared at each other in a silent battle of wills.
Bellis was the first to speak. “If you won’t answer me, at least tell me what made her like this. How is she so…so broken?”
Monroe’s hard expression softened. “One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do in life is to grieve the loss of a person who is still alive.” He twisted the pen he held in his hand, his eyes dipping to watch it. “Sam has suffered much.” The corner of his mouth ticked up in a humorless smile. “More than you’d think one person should be able to handle. Betrayal, abuse, pain, loss. She’s no stranger to any of it, and yet it all still keeps coming.” He dropped the pen and leaned forward, folding his hands together over his desk. “Like brutal waves crashing on the shore. and you just keep waiting for them to ebb, waiting for a break in the incessant battering. There has been no reprieve for her. It’s been years and years of heartache and misery, and just when I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for her that tunnel caves.
There was a time when I thought I could help. Thought I could pull her from the fire.” His head ticked with one shake. “But no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I did, things only ever got worse. There is no fucking end for her. Do not get attached. She cannot be saved.” He turned his head to stare distractedly out the window. “I’ve thought about her a lot. I’ve wondered why she’s been called on to carry so much when others endure so little. It’s been painful to watch, and it’s taken me this long to realize that she wasn’t born for rescuing.” He turned to lock eyes with Bellis. “She doesn’t need my help, or yours. She is strength and darkness in equal measure. She’s an Angel that will drag you to hell. Trust me when I say that I’ve studied this thing from every angle, and trust me when I say that, no matter how it looks, it isn’t Sam against the world, Bellis. It’s Sam against herself. She’s carrying this weight because she can, because she has to…because she chooses to.” His eyes turned distant. “You ever been hauling ass, driving fast through pouring rain and come to a bridge? You get under it and everything goes quiet. For a moment you can breathe again, regroup, and not worry. You’re safe. Seconds later you’re back in the storm and it hits you harder than before, louder than before, faster than before. She had a bridge once, and he betrayed her. She won’t let herself have another bridge, Bellis. She knows what comes after.” His eyes narrowed on the dark Walker. “She won’t subject herself to that again. Let. This. Go.”
Bellis’ jaw clenched. He wanted to rage against Monroe’s words, against what he thought of Sam. He knew better. Monroe was the Dominant, and believed he knew what was best for his Keepers. Still, the mere admission that Monroe knew so much about Sam, the fact that he tried to help her, had Bellis coming up short. Why? Why would Monroe attempt to help an enemy unless she wasn’t?
Monroe was wrong about Sam, but Bellis knew that arguing the fact wouldn’t change his mind. His words didn’t sway Bellis, though. On the contrary, Bellis now wanted more than ever to be Sam’s champion. Everyone had given up on her. He would not! He would see this through and determine for himself whether she was redeemable or not.
Monroe’s gaze narrowed on Bellis. “I mean it, Sentry. Be careful of that one. She may not be a Walker, but she can shift too, from beautiful to treacherous in the blink of an eye.” He dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair. “You did your job, and while I’m not yet finished with Ms. Michaels, you are. Mission complete. You’re dismissed.”
His tone and words were grating, and Bellis fisted his hands. He wanted to know what Monroe meant when he said he wasn’t finished with Sam, but getting a straight answer from the Dominant was like getting honey from a bee hive. He’d need preparation and careful planning if he had any hopes of gleaning any information from the Dominant, so he offered a curt nod and left office, and then the Estate.