Hidden

*Sandra*

After we all finished breakfast I told them I would clean it up. I walked into the kitchen and rinsed all of the dishes off putting them in the dishwasher. I washed all the counters off and went to clean off the table. I felt an arm wrap around my waist and turned around to see Joseph smiling at me. "I will have a busy day today Sunshine, I will be down in the cells, we are going to talk to all the members from the property to ensure there are no leaks on the inside. No one is helping Ryan." I looked at him confused. I didn't know he had cells here. "I can show you if you'd like." He reached up and brushed the hair away from my eyes. "I promised I wouldn't lie to you. You need to know about all of what staying with me is beautiful." I shook my head yes. He grabbed my hand and led me out of the kitchen to a little closet behind the staircase. When he unlocked it I saw what looked like another door in the back. He pushed a button I would have never seen on my own. When the door slid open I saw 3 little round buttons beside the door. It was a small elevator hidden in a broom closet. "Fancy," I said looking up at him nervously, He laughed softly. I think he was nervous too. Maybe he thought what he was going to show me would change something for me, but it wouldn't. "When we step off the elevator you are going to see some cells to your right, I don't want them to see you, so we will head to the room on the left at the end of the hall. There is a monitor in there, and you will be able to watch along with me." I squeezed his hand and the door slid open. He ushered me forward and made sure I was covered by him as we walked to the small room. When we got inside he turned on the monitor and 6 smaller screens popped up. I looked closer at the smaller screens, each one had a chair, and some kind of stand with drawers and a stainless steel top. Something was hanging above the chairs, but it was too small to make out. In two of the screens, someone was sitting in the chairs. It looked like they were tied at the wrists and feet. I looked up to Joseph and he must have seen the questions in my eyes. "These are members who have been here outside in the past few days since we got here from the city. They only get to see me for minutes at a time and never up close unless they do something that warrants more time. They need to fear me, darling, it ensures they will follow the rule of the brotherhood." he looked into my eyes looking for a response. I tried to smile. "It isn't always pretty Sunshine, running an empire, I have a part of me that I would never want you to see, but I won't hide this from you either. You have to know all sides." He continued to tell me about the cells, and how he has Henry and Zeus interrogating today. They aren't causing pain right now, just asking questions.

He said it so easily. It was normal for them, all of this. It was how they handled their world. I looked up at Joseph as he stared at the monitor trying to decide how to wrap my head around this. He noticed me looking at him and smiled leaning down and kissing my forehead. He was so gentle with me. They all had been. Maybe this was how they had to handle it. Maybe I was making excuses for them because I wanted to stay here with him. I wasn't sure. But right now looking up at him, I still didn't see how he could be bad. I heard Henry talking to a guy in the chair. He wasn't very old. He was a thin guy with very black hair that matched the goatee on his face. His eyebrows were thick and furrowed. "He's Worried," I said softly. Joseph nodded his head and smiled at me. "They usually are when I bring them down here darling, it's part of the intimidation." I could see the humor on his face. "You're enjoying this huh?" I asked him. His face darkened a little. I put my hand on his shoulder and pulled him down toward me kissing his cheek. "I am not judging you Smoke, this is your world, I am just learning." I smiled at him. He stood up straighter and watched the screen "I enjoy it when they are scared, I know it's wrong, but I think it's funny." I grabbed his arm and squeezed. We sat and watched as they questioned the man. He was repeating himself. I watched as Henry smacked the guy, and I flinched. It was weird seeing Henry like that, he was usually all smiles. I heard Joseph say something into the comm in his ear. "Got to watch that one" He shook his head. He was talking about Henry. His anger turned to violence quicker than the others. Zeus appeared on another screen with a tall man. He looked young. Zeus was much calmer talking to the guy. Sitting in a chair in front of him. I heard him say Bram and it caught my attention. I was looking at his face now, thin and smooth. He had a long crooked nose which I assume had been broken before. Thin lips and big eyes. They got wider anytime Zeus mentioned Ryan. "If you saw him where were you at?" He told Zeus he heard that Ry was staying at a cheap motel not far from the house. That he had an old friend listening to us in the house. He said he went to the motel and waited to see him and when he did he followed him. He was driving a black vehicle. He said he believed he realized he was being followed and intended to lose him. It worked.

I saw Joseph getting more mad as he spoke. He told me to stay and walked out of the room. About a minute later I saw him enter the room that Zeus was in with Bram. I didn't think that guy's eyes could get in bigger, but I was wrong. "Why? I am telling you the truth. I know what happens if someone sees you down here boss, I know what happens if someone sees you up close who isn't in your inner circle." He was looking at the floor rambling on. He was terrified. I watched as Joseph punched him in the stomach. "Calm the fuck down you idiot. I have my questions." What did he mean by what happens? "Why didn't you call us as soon as you found out where he was?" Joseph was pacing back and forth and I knew he was angry. "I didn't want to give a false lead boss." He said still looking at the floor. "Why didn't you call when you saw him?" When that question left his mouth I heard it again, the difference in his voice. "I wanted to grab him and bring him in." I saw Zeus look at Joseph and shake his head. "You wanted to be the fucking hero, you let him get away because you wanted the credit?" Bram didn't respond. I watched as Joseph walked over to the cabinet and grabbed out some sort of blade. I looked frantically around the room for another comm, but I couldn't find one. Zeus grabbed his shoulder and looked back toward the camera. I think he was reminding him that I was watching. He shouldn't have stopped him. I was so mad, I was going to tell him to take him out. How could he risk letting that monster go to make himself look good? What kind of selfish asshole does that. I know he probably doesn't know about me, as Joseph kept me well hidden and protected. What about Mason? What about the ladies he kept strung out and hurt in the South? He has to know about that. He could have called and had an army of Brotherhood guys take him out. Stupid selfish son of a bitch. Before I knew it I was walking towards the room. They must have heard the door open because they all came out to stop me.

"We could have had him! This could be over!" I was so angry. Joseph looked at Zeus and told him to punish him and let him go, he wanted to see if he would go running to him. I heard Bram Scream as we were getting on the elevator.