by Elle, Leen
She took one step backwards, her eyes still locked with his. Cleo hadn't noticed her presence, but it would be only a matter of time. Sophie continued to back away from Robert, until she'd reached the staircase. Without hesitating, she silently raced up the steps, bolting for her bedroom.
Downstairs she heard both of them moving around. It seemed like Cleo was still oblivious to the fact that they'd been overheard. She listened to the front door open and close as silence filled the house.
As if something inside her had snapped, Sophie began moving without thinking. All she knew was that she had to get as far away as possible.
She pulled out a duffle bag from the pile of moving boxes she'd been meaning to get rid of. Ripping open her drawers, she tossed heaps of close into the bag. She was in such a rush, she couldn't think clearly about what she would need. It was impossible to pause with her heart racing as fast as it was. Her hands were shaking so much she ended up dropping half of what she was trying to shove into the bag.
"You just now decided to listen?" Robert asked from her doorway. He was leaning against it casually, but his face was locked in a serious mask.
She ignored him, continuing to force piles of her things into the quickly expanding bag.
"It's too late to runaway." He warned.
The only thought in her mind was escaping. When she was satisfied she couldn't possibly fill up the duffle bag anymore, she turned on him. She didn't want to fight this battle, but he was in her way.
"Move." She ordered, her eyes spitting flames. She tried to shove passed him, but he braced his arm against the other side of the doorway so she couldn't get by.
"You're dead, remember?" He slipped his free hand behind him, pulling out a newspaper article from his back pocket. He tossed it on the floor, forcing her to pick it up herself.
She didn't bother to read the article, as the message was summed up by the title.
MISSING GIRL CONFIRMED DEAD.
Sophie's stomach sank in dread. Before, the idea of her missing had only seemed like a way to hide the fact she was working for Cleo. Now, the article seemed to predict her fate.
The memory of Cleo saying she wouldn't mind killing her was too fresh to forget. In the back of her mind, she heard Luke telling her that they were all pawns.
Pawns that could be sacrificed at any moment.
There wasn't a doubt in Sophie's mind that Cleo could murder her and get away with it.
"Didn't you want me to leave?" Sophie tossed the article back at him. "You're getting your wish."
"The time limit for making the right decision has passed. Your little mission with Luke sealed your fate."
Sophie closed her eyes, feeling the inevitability of what he would say next.
"Cleo's decided to make you an investment. She believes that Max has seen something in you worth scouting. Since he doesn't know who you are, she believes he sent Luke to encourage you to join him."
"Max doesn't even know we met!" She argued, though there was no fight in her voice.
"It doesn't matter. Cleo's made up her mind." He tugged the duffle bag away from her, dropping it loudly on the floor. "You won't last a day before she finds you."
"I didn't sign up to play this kind of game." Sophie hissed. "If you wanted me to leave, all you needed to say was that I could be killed for messing up."
"I thought after finding out about your parents you could put the pieces together." He answered calmly. "If you need to blame someone other than yourself, you can thank your parents. Without them, Cleo wouldn't have the incentive to hurt you."
"What could they've done that could be so bad?" She asked in desperation.
"What do thieves do?" He answered, crossing his arms.
"Who'd they steal from?" Sophie felt her energy draining out of her.
"Everyone who matters in this business." Robert's eyes narrowed. "I should let you know that if I tell you everything now, you have no choice but to follow Cleo's plan. Once she finds out that you know, there'll be nothing stopping her from forcing you to do what she wants."
"Don't act like I have a choice. If you don't tell me now, she'll only tell me later. I'm perceptive enough to know I've already become a pawn."
"True enough." Robert's eyes grew impossibly colder as he watched her. "Your parents didn't die in a car accident when you were three years old."
Sophie had already worn through the shock of his comment when he'd mentioned it to Cleo before. Now, she was naive enough to hope.
"They're still alive?" She asked, hoping he didn't catch the eagerness in her voice.
"They were murdered when you were ten years old." His eyes never left her face. "After leaving you with your grandparents, they spent their last seven years running away from Max."
"Except they weren't my real grandparents?"
"No. They worked for Cleo as artists that made replicas. Your parents met them through Cleo. They'd retired from this business for a few years before your parents gave you to them." His eyes dropped to the floor. "When they decided to quit, they vanished from Cleo's radar. Which is why you lived your entire life without encountering us."
"So, I was abandoned." The thought was even crueler when she put it into words.
"I assume it was to protect you."
"For seven years?" Sophie scowled up at him. "They lived for seven years while allowing me to be raised by strangers."
"It's not my job to judge them." Robert stood up from his leaning position. "That's all I have for you." He turned away.
"There's more." She shot at him angrily. "You haven't told me everything."
"I've told you all you need to know. Your parent's stole from some very important people, and you've happened to inherit their punishment."
"There's no chance I could just walk out on this now?" Sophie clenched her fists. "I don't want to die for something like this." She hadn't wanted to admit it, but she was terrified. It was only now that she truly comprehended the danger she'd gotten herself into.
"You're not going to die." He replied confidently, turning his dark blue gaze on her face.
"Cleo said..." She began.
"Cleo said you would be punished if you failed. You're not going to fail."
"How can you be so sure?" Sophie whispered, searching his face.
Robert grinned, though again, his smile did not reach his eyes. "I might be going to hell for a number of other reasons, but I'm not going to have your death on my shoulders." He paused, looking like he was forcing out the last part. "What Cleo said just now was an empty threat."
"Why don't I believe that?"
"Probably because you know that even if she doesn't kill you, the threat is still out there." His words were becoming stronger "It's scary at first, but you'll get used to it."
"I don't get used to threats."
"Look." Robert glared at her, sounding exasperated. "I'm trying to tell you to trust me. Isn't that what you said you wanted? Someone to trust?"
"I thought you wouldn't turn into someone I can trust?" She asked, too tired to really feel awed by his declaration.
"The only people in this world that are allowed to trust me are those three kids. They've gotten attached to you, so now you're someone I need to protect as well. The moment we succeed in getting what Cleo wants, you'll be well on your way to that golden future of yours. If you need something to believe in, believe in that."
"Are you willing to risk yourself by helping me?" She asked doubtfully.
"It's a gamble, but everyone knows I'm lucky." He winked at her slyly. "The kids will be home soon, so clean up your mess." He motioned to the clothes strewn around her room.
"You...really think I'll be okay?" Sophie didn't mean for her question to sound childish, but she needed just a little bit more reassurance.
"I wouldn't be betting on you if I felt like you were going to lose. Keep your chin up, darling." He disappeared up the staircase leading to his room before she could reply.
As she stared at the empty hal
lway, Sophie knew she'd just become aware of an unavoidable darkness. All the facts she'd learned about her parents could be dealt with later, but at this moment she needed to accept her actions.
Yes, she'd joined on without knowing what it meant to belong in this business. Yes, if she made the wrong move it could end up killing her. This was a dangerous world, but it was no longer one she could run away from.
This development was just another challenge, another hurdle to overcome. As long as she saw it like that, it became easier to push forward.
After all, she wouldn't be facing it all on her own. She had Teddy, Gwyn, and Rylan to support her. Luke, despite who he worked for, seemed to want to help her as well.
Then there was Robert, who had just offered the one thing he'd sworn he would never give her.
Yes, she would have to embrace this life she'd chosen.
However, her fear had all but faded away.
* * *
"This is what you call a training session?" Sophie asked with mock disappointment as she entered the living room.
To help calm Sophie after this mornings events, Robert had offered to teach her the basics of self defense. While it didn't fix everything that had happened, it did give her something to look forward to.
Robert had told her to meet him in the living room at five o'clock, but the scene before her eyes wasn't anything like she'd been expecting.
Teddy was sprawled out on the carpet, his hands propping up his head as he stared determinedly at the TV. Disney's Aladdin was on, and Teddy was completely focused on the movie.
"This better not count as my training." Sophie narrowed her eyes, not putting it passed Robert to say it was.
"Why not?" Robert asked, a smile of his face. He was sitting on the couch, glancing through a book absentmindedly. When she entered the room his face lit up.
Sophie noticed that his expression was similar to a child that had just been given a new toy to play with. She stifled a groan, realizing this wasn't going to be as informational as she'd hoped.
"Aladdin is the best thief ever." Teddy mumbled, though he glared at them as if to tell them shut up.
"Where are the others?" Sophie asked as she sat down beside Robert. It was obvious that her training wouldn't start until after Teddy's movie was finished.
"Upstairs." Robert said, as if he didn't see any significance in his answer.
"Alone?" While she didn't want to be overprotective, she couldn't help but feel frustrated with Rylan. Before she could think about hesitating, she stood to go find them.
"We were actually in the kitchen cooking dinner." Gwyn commented from the doorway. "Thanks for trying to get us in trouble." She scowled at Robert.
"Why would you get in trouble?" He asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Never mind." Sophie scowled at him as well, exasperated with his inability to see the obvious.
Teddy gave a dramatic sigh as he clicked off the television.
"Is the movie over?" Gwyn asked, coming to sit down beside of him.
"You were being too loud!" He complained. "I couldn't hear it!"
Sophie, Robert, and Gwyn hid their smiles. Teddy might've wanted to seem angry, but they couldn't take him seriously with his black curls continually falling in his face. The way he had to constantly keep pushing them back was amusing.
"Can I start training now?" Sophie asked, nudging Robert in the side.
He smirked, as if he had some kind of joke planned. "I thought you'd never ask."
"Training?" Gwyn watched them with narrowed eyes. "In here?" The way she said it was scolding, assuming they would break something.
"It won't be that rigorous. Just a few self-defense moves." Robert stood, holding out his hand to Sophie.
She took it impulsively, but realized her mistake a second after her hand touched his. In one swift moment he'd twisted her arm behind her back, placing her in a position that she couldn't move.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Sophie yelled in pain. "I get it! Let go!"
He released her at her command. She rubbed her wrist gently, glaring at him in fury.
"Lesson one." He bowed theatrically, though he was caught off guard by the pillow she pelted at him.
"Next time give me a heads up, jerk." Now ready, she stood up straighter, preparing for his next move.
Gwyn and Teddy had abandoned the carpet to sit near the edge of the room, where they'd be less likely to get involved. While Gwyn seemed annoyed at the two of them, Teddy was watching them with eyes filled with interest.
"I'll try." Robert grinned wickedly. "So, what would you like to work on? Offense or Defense?"
"Offense." Sophie pulled up her fists in a fighting position.
"Wrong answer. In case you haven't noticed, you're small." He emphasized his point by placing a hand on her head, motioning towards how short she was compared to him. "In a fight where strength is involved, you won't have a chance. I'm not a professional fighter, so I can't teach you how to use your size to your advantage."
"What can you teach me?" She dropped her fists and crossed her arms.
"How to deflect blows, how to escape when someone's grabbed you, and most importantly, how to run away."
Sophie felt disappointment wash over her. "That's it?"
"It's better than nothing." He lifted his arms, motioning for her to do so as well. "Let's begin."
The training session was truthfully more interesting than she'd thought it would be. While Robert hadn't been able to teach her how to take down someone with punches or kicks, he'd given her invaluable knowledge on how to escape.
She didn't want to admit it, but working with him was almost fun. For the first half of his instruction he'd seemed like he was playing with her. Though the deeper they focused on training, the more serious they'd both become. By the end, Sophie felt like she understood more about Robert on a personal level. He'd unknowingly given her a glimpse of how his mind worked, and she found that she was able to work better with him as an instructor.
She'd had teachers in the past that she'd worked well with, but she seemed to sync with Robert on an entirely different level.
They'd been committed to keep training until Rylan entered the room, his eyes daring them to argue.
"Dinner's been ready for thirty minutes." He began angrily. "If you don't come eat right now, I'm going to throw everything anyway."
Robert and Sophie wiped off the sweat from their foreheads, exchanging a surprised look. It hadn't seemed like they'd been working for so long.
Instead of waiting for them to come on their own, Rylan herded them into the kitchen.
"I spend hours cooking for you, and this is the thanks I get."
Gwyn and Teddy were already sitting at the table, having waited for them to join before they started eating. The moment they sat down, everyone began talking at once.
Sophie watched them in surprise, having been used to mealtimes being silent occasions. Then, she realized that the tension that had been surrounding them was gone. Now that everyone was comfortable with her, there was no reason to act unnaturally.
Teddy was busy quizzing Robert on everything he'd taught Sophie. He begged to be taught too, though he didn't give Robert an opportunity to answer. Gwyn was informing Rylan of how well Sophie was keeping up with the training. Sophie grinned to herself when she noticed how Rylan wasn't really paying attention. Now that his annoyance had faded away, he was free to stare at Gwyn like a lovesick puppy.
Sophie doubted Gwyn realized how hopelessly he adored her. She also knew that Rylan had no idea how much Gwyn idolized him. They were as close as best friends, but they still seemed to be one step away from expressing their feelings to one another.
She turned her attention back to Robert, who appeared the most natural she'd ever seen him. When he smiled down at Teddy, his eyes seemed to be smiling as well.
It seemed impossible that such a boyish man was twenty-nine years old. His handsome features took at least five years off his age. Sophie mo
mentarily did the math, realizing that he was eight years older than herself.
At first, it seemed like a huge age difference. She wondered if would be awkward to date someone that old.
Her last thought was so unnatural she ended up choking on the water she'd been drinking. Sophie's cheeks lit up a bright red as she tried to stop coughing.
"Are you okay?" Robert asked, his deep blue gaze examining her.
His stare only made her feel more embarrassed. "Yeah." She coughed again, covering her mouth so that the others couldn't see her face.