by Ryan Casey
He was helping her.
Wasn’t he?
She stood there in the darkness, no hope of getting out of this room at all, when the door opened, and light crept inside.
She squinted. Couldn’t see who was there at first. Just a silhouette.
And then she heard Yuri’s voice.
“Just as predicted,” he said. “Thank you for proving everything we suspected of you."
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Aoife saw Yuri’s silhouette in the garage door, and she knew she was in deep shit.
She’d screwed up. Big time. She’d broken her way into the garage via the hatch on top. She’d risked everything to come back here and get Kayleigh out of this mess. Because she wasn’t playing on Yuri’s terms. If she was going to confront Harvey, she wanted to do it with Kayleigh by her side. She didn’t want to just blindly take him out or assassinate him. She didn’t see how that would work in the long run. It’d only lead to more uprising. More death. She knew Harvey. And she knew she needed to handle this sensitively, where the people of Sanctuary were concerned.
But she wasn’t going to get a chance. Because Yuri was standing in her way. And there were people around him.
And from the looks on their faces, they weren’t going to be too keen to let her out of this garage—or letting her escape—any time soon.
“You need to know why I did this,” Aoife said, sensing she had a fight for her life on her hands here and knowing full well that the only way she stood the remotest chance of getting out was by being honest.
Yuri walked into the garage towards her. His large stature blocked any way out. She looked up at the opening on the garage roof, but she knew there was no way she’d reach it.
“Did you really think we’d be so stupid?” Yuri asked, ignoring Aoife’s attempts to tell the truth.
“Yuri,” she said, backing up. “I did it because I—”
“Leaving her in a garage you knew the exact location of? And a garage with a structural defect, all the same? You walked right into it. You could have helped us. But even with everything you know about Harvey, everything you know about the kind of man he is, you just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
He walked towards her. More of his people joined him now, filling the garage, completely blocking the door.
Aoife carried on backing away. Searching for some kind of escape route. Some way out.
But there was nowhere.
She was trapped in here.
Completely trapped.
“We gave you a chance. A chance more than you deserved. A chance to really help bring about change. And look how you threw it away.”
“You didn’t give me a chance,” Aoife said.
Yuri kept walking towards her.
“You didn’t give me a choice. You sent me on a suicide mission. A suicide mission to satisfy some lust for revenge you have. All because of your personal shit with Harvey. You know for a fact Sanctuary will retaliate. You know damned well more people will die this way. But you chose this way anyway because of what Harvey’s done to you. You chose for people to die—your own people—because of him.”
He launched at her at full speed then, out of nowhere. Grabbed her hair and slammed her against the brick wall, started squeezing her throat. “I did what I did because my people’s survival is at stake.”
“So you keep saying,” Aoife shouted. “But the way I see it… the only thing at stake here is your grudge with Harvey. I’m not discounting your reasons for hating him. I’m not belittling those at all. I know what he did to you was awful, horrible, and wrong. But you’re not even giving me a chance to change things. Because… because I don’t think you want me to. Because you can’t bear the thought for one moment that we might not all be the evil monsters you’ve made us out to be. Just like you aren’t the monsters you’ve been made out to us. And you can’t bear that.”
She saw him staring at her. Right into her eyes. Could see the way his eyes were twitching, as he held on to her hair, as his hand around her throat tightened. As his grip on her neck got firmer, and she struggled to breathe.
And she could see the humanity in there, hidden beneath the trauma. Hidden beneath that lust for revenge—a lust that Aoife knew damned well could run so, so strong.
“Think of your kids,” Aoife said. “Is this what they’d really want from their dad? Really?”
She knew it was a risky one. Half of her expected him to choke her harder for that. To beat her to a pulp and leave her bleeding out on the floor.
But the other half…
She saw his eyes turning more and more bloodshot as her vision faded, as breathing became impossible.
She saw him shaking his head as tears started to fall from his eyes.
She waited for him to choke her, to strangle her, to finish her off, when he dropped her to the floor.
He walked away. Shouted. Screamed out, right in the middle of the garage, the rest of his people looking at him with confusion. With fear.
Aoife coughed. Spluttered on the floor in front of her. She kept on looking up as tears rolled from her eyes. Looking up at Yuri as he lay there in a heap, crying on the floor. As people approached him, only for him to shout at them, for him to scream at them to get away.
“I just want him to suffer,” he bawled. Showing more emotion than he’d ever shown before. “For what he did to my children. I just… I just want him to suffer.”
As much as she disliked the man, Aoife found herself following instinct and doing something she didn’t expect herself to do.
She got up and walked over to him.
She stopped at his side and put a hand on his back.
“I know,” she said, comforting him. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
And then, against all odds, Yuri softened, and he fell into her arms, and he cried.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Aoife had no idea how long she spent stroking Yuri’s back, comforting him as he cried.
But as she crouched there in the darkness of the garage, just the two of them alone in here now, she knew that things were going to be very different from here on out.
Yuri hadn’t said a word to her for God knows how long. She hadn’t said a word to him, either. Just stroked his back and told him it was okay. That she was sorry. That she understood.
She didn’t want to say anything else. She got the impression he’d been bottling his emotions for a long, long time. The loss of his sons, Ross and Ben. The way Harvey had taken them from him so cruelly. The festering revenge, building up inside him ever since that day.
Aoife knew what it felt like to want revenge. She knew exactly what it felt like. She thought of Max, and to this day, her blood still boiled when she thought of Grace and what she’d done to Max. How she’d killed him so ruthlessly.
But at the same time, she’d done awful things to Grace, too. So she understood. She completely understood.
That said. Losing two kids… that was a whole other level of savage.
“Ever since that day,” Yuri said, the first thing he’d said in a long time. “All I’ve wanted is to see Harvey burn for what he took from me. For what he did to those poor boys. And—and even though deep down I knew he had to be lying to you people for you to do the things you’ve done… you have to see things from our perspective. From my perspective.”
Aoife nodded. She did. She really did. She got it. And she was probably one of the rare few people who would get it.
“They were such good kids,” Yuri said. “I mean, it goes without saying. But they were. They were so sweet. They were so… wholesome. Losing them in the way I lost them, took an innocence out of the world. A goodness out of the world. And knowing that Harvey was out there, building this community of his, basking in the light, totally untouchable… it pained me every single day.”
Aoife didn’t say a word. She just nodded. Nodded and listened.
“I’ve done bad things, Aoife,” Yuri said. “Bad things to turn my peop
le against Harvey’s. I hold my hands up. I’ve provoked the people at your place. I’ve—I’ve written the headstones of far too many graves of my own people.”
“Revenge can be blinding,” Aoife said. “I understand. I really do.”
Yuri nodded. Sighed. “I know you do. That’s what has made things so… difficult. When it comes to you. And your friend. Less so your friend. She seems more… single-minded. But definitely you.”
Aoife half-smiled, forcing it anyway. “Funny you should say that.”
“Why?”
“Kayleigh always says I was the one who was blinkered. I was the one who had my head in the sand. Who was too afraid to see the cracks in the paradise at Sanctuary. But now… now I don’t think I could see things any other way.”
“It’s hard, isn’t it? When everything you thought you believed in comes crashing down.”
Aoife nodded. “Tell me about it.”
For a moment, they just looked into one another’s eyes. Stared at each other. Aoife saw that humanity to his gaze, now. The man underneath the monster he’d made himself out to be.
“I want to help you,” she said. “Truly. I… I believe you. I believe what you’ve said about Harvey. About what he’s taken from you. And I believe deep down that you want the best for your people. But the way you’re going about it. The way you’re both going about it… there has to be another way. And I can help with that. But you are going to have to trust me, too.”
“That’s not entirely up to me.”
“Yes,” Aoife said. “Yes, it is. You’re your people’s leader. They believe in you. They follow you. And if I know what loyalty is like, they’d die for you. But they don’t need to. They don’t have to believe in me. There’ll be people who don’t agree. There’ll be people who hate you for any kind of decision that paints any ‘Sanctuary scum’ in a good light. But you know what you have to do, deep down.”
He looked at her. Intently.
“What do you think needs to be done?” Yuri asked.
Aoife took a deep breath. She looked out of the darkness of the garage and into the fading light outside.
“I know it’s asking a lot of you. But I need you to trust me. And I need you to be patient. Not to be ignorant or stupid. Be prepared all you like. But I do need you to believe in me.”
“Then what is it you intend to do?”
She stood there, heart racing, jaw clenched, and she took a deep breath.
“I’m going to go back home with Kayleigh. And I’m going to speak to Harvey. I’m going to make him answer to what you’re accusing him of. And I’m going to force a truce between our people. Once and for all.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Aoife and Kayleigh walked back towards Sanctuary, fully aware of the magnitude of the task at hand—but still no idea how anything would turn out.
It was late now. Dark. Fuck, the thought of it made her shudder. If they were sticking to the original plan, Harvey would be dead now. Or Kayleigh would be dead. In both circumstances, she’d probably be dead either way.
But she’d managed to bargain with Yuri. She’d managed to convince him to at least let her and Kayleigh try getting through to Harvey. Getting through to the people of Sanctuary. Of making Harvey answer for what Yuri accused him of and trying to reach some kind of truce.
It all felt odd; she had to admit. Something still didn’t feel right about any of this. She wasn’t sure who to believe. She wasn’t sure who to trust.
She just kept twiddling with the necklace Yuri handed her, kept on walking, and kept on hoping there was some kind of solution to this within reach.
But she felt doubtful.
She wished they had more to go on. Wished they had an ace in the pack, so to speak. As far as evidence went, she was pretty much acting on hearsay right now.
And what was Harvey going to do? Outright admit to what he’d been accused of? She had no idea.
But all she could do was try.
She looked around at Kayleigh, who walked alongside her. Kayleigh hadn’t said much since they’d been released from Yuri’s camp. Since Yuri granted them a rare pass to leave and attempt things their way.
But Aoife wasn’t totally sure where Kayleigh stood. She knew Kayleigh was always sceptical about Harvey and the idyllic illusion of Sanctuary. She always said nobody got to the top without getting their hands a little dirty.
But at the same time, she didn’t exactly seem the biggest fan of Yuri and his people, either.
She needed Kayleigh fully on her side if this was to succeed.
“So what’s the plan?” Kayleigh asked. As if she was reading her mind.
Aoife swallowed a lump in her throat. It was a good question. The way she saw it, there were no tricks about it. No catches or anything like that. It was about looking into Harvey’s eyes and asking him the question. Posing the accusations to him. Seeing how he reacted and whether he was willing to entertain any kind of truce with the insurgents.
And only then could they start thinking about moving forward.
“We speak to Harvey,” Aoife said.
“And you’re fully convinced he’s gonna just let us wander back in?”
“He’s… I know Yuri’s accused him of things. Of awful things. But, like, this is about ego. It’s about revenge. It’s about two men fighting each other. Two men who have hurt each other. They’ve done awful shit. Unforgivable shit. Harvey, more so, I know. But I… I want to believe that he’ll answer to what he’s done. That he’s not just a power-crazy narcissist like so many others. That he’ll see the fault in what he’s done. And stand down if that’s what it takes. Because he has to answer to what he’s been accused of.”
Kayleigh shook her head. Smiled a little.
“What?”
“Just still getting used to the new you. Used to be so deep in Harvey’s bullshit. Now you’ve had your world shook, and you’ve gone completely the other way. Proud of you, sis.”
Aoife nodded. “It’s not about blindly following Harvey or Yuri or anyone. It’s… it’s about what’s right. And ending this conflict. Securing some kind of truce. If we can get Harvey to accept what he’s done and stop the attacks on Yuri’s people… Yuri has promised he will follow. As long as Harvey is brought to justice, one way or another. As long as he answers for his crimes.”
Kayleigh snorted. “All seems good on paper. But let’s see how it goes down in practice.”
Aoife knew she was right. It all seemed like a good idea. But the reality of the situation was a whole lot harder to navigate.
There was no knowing how easily Harvey would accept what he’d done.
There was no knowing whether Harvey would just willingly accept any kind of truce—or if the people of Sanctuary would be willing to accept some kind of truce.
There was no knowing whether Harvey had even done the things Yuri accused him of.
And there was no knowing just how much Yuri’s word could be trusted going forward, either.
She just didn’t know what was real or who to trust.
“We’re in the middle of an ego war between two vengeful men,” Kayleigh said. “The most dangerous place to be sandwiched.”
Aoife laughed at that. Despite whatever shit the pair of them were going through, Kayleigh always had the ability to make her laugh.
“We’ll get through this,” Aoife said. Smiling at Kayleigh.
“You’re not gonna start one of your motivational speeches again, are you?”
“Shut up. I don’t do motivational talks.”
“You definitely do. Every time we’re approaching some big moment… seriously. If the world ever gets back on its feet, you should set up some kind of YouTube channel for people with low self-esteem or something.”
Aoife shook her head again. Smiled. It felt like a rare shining moment amidst the darkness. A moment to savour. “You’re the one who reads all the self-help crap. Anyway. I’m just looking forward to giving Rex a cuddle again. Poor thing.”
&nb
sp; “Tell me about it,” Kayleigh said. “Although maybe not a cuddle. He stinks.”
“He… has a distinctive aroma.”
“‘Distinctive aroma.’ You really are full of it when you’ve convinced yourself about something, aren’t you?”
“That’s how love works, I guess.”
“Tell me about it,” Kayleigh said.
There was a way she looked at Aoife when she said those words. The way she held her stare a little longer than was comfortable.
And then lowered her head.
Cleared her throat.
Blushed.
And Aoife felt it. She felt the weight of what Kayleigh had just said. She felt the implications. Heard them, loud and clear.
She wanted to say something back to her as her heart pounded. As her cheeks burned. She wanted to address that awkward moment because how the fuck could anyone let a moment like that just slip by?
But she didn’t get to.
Because Kayleigh turned around and pointed up ahead.
“Shit,” she said.
Aoife looked around. “What?”
Kayleigh didn’t have to tell her.
In front of Sanctuary, right up ahead, she could see a mass of armed troops heading right towards them.
Rifles raised.
“Looks like we’re getting quite the welcome party,” Kayleigh said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Aoife saw the mass of armed guards from Sanctuary walking towards her and Kayleigh, and she started to have second thoughts about coming back here.
There were so many of them. All lined up, all illuminated in the moonlight. Seemed far too many for just the two of them. All marching towards her and Kayleigh.
She wanted to tell herself it was just because they’d been missing for days. And maybe Harvey was worried they weren’t alone. Maybe he was worried they were being held captive by Yuri or something like that. Maybe he wanted to search them to make sure they weren’t bringing any nasty surprises back with them. Explosives, or anything like that.