Chapter 104

**Hadassah POV**

Torin and I stand within the vast space of the foyer with a double-height ceiling that soars above, adorned with a magnificent crystal chandelier that casts a warm, golden glow across the varnished floors. Eventually, the guards open the doors and Ellis marches inside with his grip dead-bolted around Calum’s bicep as he leads him inside until they both come face to face with us. I summon his eyes with the force of my stare, a silent plea infused with intensity, demanding his gaze as though my very will could draw him near.
His eyes flit away and lock with mine. Our eyes meet—a collision of fire and ice, igniting and freezing all at once. Torin reels me flush against his side like we’re a newlywed couple inviting guests to a house-warming party. Ellis rips his gaze away, and he shoves Calum forward like a hound presenting his hunt to his master. And Torin smiles triumphantly, relishing in Calum’s tangible discomfort that bellows a sense of defeat.
“Welcome home,” he says mockingly and he gestures to the walls that are lined with rich, dark wood paneling, intricately carved with French motifs. “Hadassah’s home,” he clarifies. “I just have the privilege of staying in it.”
“It’s not a privilege when you’re forcing her to stay with you.”
Torin looks around theatrically, as if searching for the person Calum thinks he’s talking to. “Forcing who? Hadassah had ample chances to escape—in fact, even when you pulled her out, she came right back again. How do you think we discovered a way to track you?”
Calum’s eyes spring to me, swelling with an expression of unutterable betrayal.
“I had to,” I say quickly. “Santos already has the second book, and I’m sure he’s close to finding the third. We have to work together because if we get all five. He becomes untouchable. And what do you think he’ll do with that fathomless power? He hates me just as much as he hates the Moons because he believes it all began with me—I started this and he wants to end it.”
I can see an outburst clawing up Calum’s throat, lodged in his throat like a lump, but he swallows it. No witty response, no act of mischievous nonchalance. He simply concedes a no-choice nod and says nothing.
“House tour?” Torin says gleefully, savoring his unrequited surrender.
Torin turns away and captures my hand as he draws us away. Calum appears cast under a spell with his eyes on our entwined hands. Ellis gives him a belligerent push, making him stagger forward as he begins to follow after us from behind dazedly. A sweeping staircase with a balustrade of wrought iron and mahogany curves gracefully upward, leading us to the upper levels of the château. The balustrade’s design is ornate, featuring delicate scrollwork that adds a touch of artistry to its sturdy structure.
“What do you think, Calum?” Torin asks, to twist the dagger further. “I chose this baroque architecture and neoteric interior design based on how I see our Hadassah. A classy exterior with an… edgy feel.”
Calum didn’t respond, and that made Torin smile even brighter.
Torin enters through a set of heavy, double oak doors that opens to the computer room, a stark contrast to the traditional elegance of the interior. The room is a fusion of old-world charm and modern technology. The walls are lined with dark wood bookcases filled with leather-bound volumes, but the centerpiece of the room is sleek, high-tech workstations.
A massive, curved monitor dominates the room, its vivid display showing multiple screens of data and digital interfaces. The desk is crafted from polished walnut, its surface clutter-free, except for a wireless keyboard and a series of touch-sensitive panels embedded directly into the wood. Seated on the ergonomic plush leather chair is Derek. He leans back, forcing the seat into a slant as he eyes us down curiously.
“Immediately no,” Calum objects. “I’m not working with him.”
“You’re so cute when you’re mad,” Torin jeers, “and you’re about to be real adorable because you don’t have a choice.”
“I have more than that,” he says with calm and collected confidence. “My brain is big enough to compensate for the loss of one. I have a proven track record that I actually get things done unlike Derek here, who was unable to detect the piece of malware I had in your systems to monitor all your movements.” He grabs Torin’s gaze with a self-satisfied look of a checkmate. “How do you think I discovered a way to track you?” he repeats to throw his words back in his face.
My eyes dart to Torin who fixes on an indulgent smile, still unshakeable.
“What are you proposing, Mr Taylor?”
“I work alone,” he says, uncompromising. “I already have a lead on Santos’s master key.”
A flicker of an imperceptible look passes over Torin, a twitch of an emotion that I barely catch myself. Torin adjusts the lapels of his suit blazer and nods pensively. He glances at Derek and motions him to stand with a careless wag of his fingers. He consults me with an inquiring look and I nod meaningfully to express my eternal faith in Calum—we only need him.
“Nothing personal,” Torin says to Derek. “I’ll call you if I need you.”
“You won’t,” Calum affirms assertively.
Derek has no choice but to comply. He rises grudgingly and makes his start for the door as Ellis moves to stand at the side. The moment Derek passes between Torin and I. He whips out one gun and shoots him in the back of his head—a jet of blood splatters on the door—the resounding crack makes Calum flinch back and my hand leaps to my mouth. Just when I think I have this man figured out he does jump scares like this—things that remind me that who is will forever mirror his brother. Ellis remains impassive, he didn’t even blink—not even the most miniscule of physical reactions. He merely bends down and heaves his heft over shoulder with well-exerted throaty grunts. He goes for the door and hands him over to the other two posted outside before he assumes their stead whilst they dispose of the body. Ellis closes the double doors, sneaking a glance at me before he closes the doors. Torin sheathes his gun and glances back at Calum with a tantalized expression like he’s aroused by his unconcealable fear.
“I trust that you will deliver, Mr Taylor. And if I foresee any more tricks, I will put you in the ground.” His eyes point to me. “She is the only reason why you are not dead. Not your skills, not that big brain because contrary to what you believe there is always someone out there you can do it better and faster than you. Hadassah loves you, so I tolerate you but fuck with me again and not even that love will protect you. Are we clear?”
Calum submits a nod, the confident air around him dissolved.
Content, Torin reaches for my hand and I jerk it away.
“I’ll think I’ll stay here,” I say, easing away from him. “Keep Calum company for a while.”
Surprisingly, Torin nods casually. “If you want to play catch-up that’s fine with me. I have some things I need to work on so I’ll see myself off. If you need anything, you know what to do.” He turns his back on us and sees the fresh spatter, the running streaks of red and the droplets dribbled out to see where he was carried away to. “And I’ll get someone to clean this up.”
He leaves the room and closes the door behind him. I turn to face Calum and I go to him to wrap myself around him, my soul needing comfort only his warmth can spare me. He returns my embrace but he’s the first one to draw away and I can see it. He can’t hide it. Resentment rimming his eyes, something he cannot rein back, it's there and neither of us know what to do with it.
“Calum, I’m sorry.”
He nods solemnly. “I know.”
He moves away abruptly. The lighting in here is soft and diffused, emanating from recessed LED strips along the ceiling and floor. Calum claims the vacated seat, settling with uneasy caution. I go up to him, not knowing what to do or say but I feel like I have to say something.
“Calum, please—”
“Hadassah, I know you only do what you believe is the right choice. I can’t fault you for your intentions.”
I wince at the ambiguity—the words behind the words. “But you can fault me for my actions?”
“All that will do is cause a rift between us and that’s not what we need or what I want,” he explains without looking back at me. “You made your choices and we must both live with their consequences. It is what it is. The only thing we need to focus on is getting out of this mess and far from the Moons. That is what you want?”
“Yes,” I nearly cry out. “I know you doubt that but getting this entangled was never what I wanted. I know you think I fell for Torin and that I’m all wrapped up. Nothing surpasses you and my mother.”
“But it did,” he snaps and he launches to his feet and I fumble back. “You made a conscious choice that you knew, deep down, you knew the risk would endanger all of us. You put the objective over us before but I hope I know you better than to think that you would do it again with both eyes opened.”
Tears burn behind my eyes and a few leak out. And I shrug helplessly.
“I made a mistake,” I confess. “I made a conscious risk, not a choice. You make it sound like I deliberately chose the objective over my family. It was a high-stake, fast-paced situation and I made a call—it was a bad one because I was just thinking short-term. Please, I don’t want to lose you over my mistake.”
Calum shakes his head in reproach. “Hadie, nothing you could make me hate you.”
“But a part of you blames me?”
He opens his mouth but any sentiment of sympathetic denial lag behind his will.
I nod unsteadily. “I see. And you’re right, it is my fault and I accept that. You have every right to be upset about what I’ve done and put you through.” A sob tightens my throat and I flick a glance behind me. “I’ll go get you something to eat.”
He lurches to reach for me but I slip out of range.
“Hadassah, wait—”
“No, it’s okay,” I say with a broad smile despite tears streaming down my face. “I’ll be right back.”
I exit the room and Ellis catches a glimpse of my face. Calum follows me out and Ellis stomps a hard, halting hand on his chest to stop him. I keep walking briskly, leaving them behind me before I take a sharp corner.