***I am officially out of school and in summer break, thank hallelujah! I'm leaving this weekend for a vacation to visit with family, and will not be updating any stories during that time. I probably won't even have time to write any part of another chapter for any stories. Thank you to DemonsRelm, TheProlificWriterGirl, Nuuk, luciinwaters, , ilovesos9467 for reviewing chapter 6. Enjoy the chapter, even if it on the slightly short side –skd***
TheProlificWriterGirl: Glad I could make you laugh, dear. Got quite a few marbles rolling around in that head of yours, with a side of screws, don't you? As a smart man once said, "And that, kids, is when the fit hit the shan".
The bag dropped from my hands and hit the floor with a resounding thud and I tensed. On the logical side, my brain told me that they most likely wanted to question me about the situation with the apartment, but I wasn't listening to my brain. Adrenaline rushed through my body, my instinct leaning towards flight since I obviously couldn't take on two federal officers. Panic set in as I glanced around and realized that the only exit was the door which just happened to be blocked by men who had nearly a half a foot on me at least. Gallagher's eyes caught mine and recognition flared in them. He smirked at me before his eyes flicked back to Mr. Belikov.
Whispers broke out across the classroom like wildfire and a few people shot me glares. The taller of the two men –Winchester– eyed Mr. Belikov before his gaze moved to me. He glanced at Gallagher, whose eyes were roaming the classroom.
"May I see those badges again?" Mr. Belikov questioned, standing up and walking past me. Both men pulled out their wallets and flipped them open. Belikov stood there, arms crossed, studying the shiny badges intently, though there was no mistaking that this was the real deal.
"Is Miss Hathaway here? We don't have all day, Mr. Belikov," Gallagher snapped, knowing full well that I was directly behind him. Mr. Belikov turns and his gaze flicks to me briefly, and both agents played the part of following the gaze, and their eyes snapped to me.
"I'm Rose Hathaway," I gulp, stepping forward, past Mr. Belikov. His arm jerks, and he winces, obviously remembering what happened last time he grabbed me.
"Rose, wait."
I ignore Adrian's whispered protest and Gallagher reaches out, wrapping his hand around my arm, leading me out the door. I'm so tensed, I feel like a rubber band that has been stretched too far, and shift my weight on to the balls of my feet, even though I know that I can't do anything without having an assault charge put against me. Winchester follows him and I stare between the two.
"Wait." Mr. Belikov steps out of the room, following us. "Miss Hathaway is a minor and cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present."
"We will take care of that, Mr. Belikov," Gallagher shrugged him off and led me down the hallway and into an empty classroom, gesturing for me to take a seat. Opting to stand, I fidget with my skirt.
"Well, Miss Hathaway, we just have a few questions for you," Agent Winchester says, perching on the edge of a desk.
"What about the parent or guardian being present?" I interrupt innocently. "Isn't that the law when questioning minors?"
"Where are your parents, Miss Hathaway?" Gallagher asked me, glaring. The glint in his tells me that he already knows exactly where my parents are and I glare at him.
"They're not here anymore, but you already knew that, Mr. Gallagher, didn't you?" I question.
"Agent Gallagher," he practically growls. "As you have no parents that are alive, that rule is not important. Now, on to the questi-."
"But I have guardians. Eric and Rhea Dragomir," I tell him. "They count as my parents since they adopted me into their family when I was young."
"I was speaking, little girl," he snaps stepping closer to me. He leans downs slightly so that he was in my face and I clench my hands to keep myself from flinching away or backing up. "Show me some damn respect or I won't respect you. It's a two-way street."
"Do you honestly think that I am afraid of you?" I murmur. "So basically you mean that if I don't treat you as an authority figure, you won't treat me as a person?"
I can practically feel the fury emitting off of him and he jerks back, storming to the other side of the room.
"Last night, the apartment you share with Vasilisa Dragomir was broken into, correct?" Agent Winchester asked me softly.
"I'm not answering anything until one of my guardians show up," I cross my arms over my chest and Winchester sighs.
"Miss Hathaway, we–I–need you to answer these questions so that we can be a couple steps closer to solving this mystery and protecting you."
"I don't need protection from you two asshats. I can protect myself," I glare at him.
Gallagher whips around. "Really, Miss Hathaway? Because I seem to remember a case with you name on it not too long ago in which you weren't too adept at protecting yourself. Remember that?"
This time, I do flinch. "Shut up."
Gallagher grins, knowing that he has hit a nerve. "You know it's the truth. You were too weak to protect yourself then, and if wasn't for us, then you would still be her bitch or worse."
"That is utter bullshit, and you know it," I snarled at him. "If it wasn't for you, it would have never happened in the first place. If you would have fucking believed me-."
Gallagher leers down at me. "There was nothing to believe. All you told was lies."
"Miss Hathaway," Winchester intervenes and steps between myself and Gallagher. "Just take a seat and answer the questions. Then you can get back to class."
"God, you two have gotten dumber, haven't you? What part of 'I'm not answering anything' do you not understand?"
"Listen, Miss Hathaway," Gallagher snarls. "This is simple, routine questioning. You need to answer our questions. Or else."
"Are you threatening me?" I laugh humorlessly. "I don't need to do anything. You cannot legally question me without Eric or Rhea being here, and I will not answer anything until they are here."
"Miss Hathaway, please," Winchester says as Gallagher backs up. "We would really appreciate your cooperation. It's just a few simple questions."
"Good cop and bad cop?" I laugh again. "This isn't my first encounter with police, gentlemen, and it's not my first encounter with you."
"But we aren't the police," Gallagher snaps. "We're a lot worse than the police."
I glare at him. "I refuse to answer any questions. May I go now?"
"When were you made aware of the fact that someone had broken into your apartment?" Gallagher pushes.
"Goodbye, gentlemen."
"You cannot go anywhere until we finish our questions," Gallagher fumes.
"Actually, I can. When you brought me in here, you were supposed to read me my Miranda rights, which you didn't do, and inform me that since I am a minor, I am legally allowed to leave at any time I wish," I tell him, walking over to the door. They both look at me with wide eyes. "I've studied since the last time we talked."
I'm halfway out the door when Gallagher speaks. "We know that the Eric and Rhea Dragomir are dead, Miss Hathaway, and we know how they were killed."
I walk out of the room and let the door slam behind me.
The door to room 211 was cracked open, and I walked into the classroom as quietly as I could, which wasn't easy in spiked boots. Sliding into my seat in front of Adrian, I ignored Belikov's stare. My encounter with the Gallagher and Winchester took up most of the class time, and left me slightly shaken. I really wish I could deal with anybody but them. By the time I was back, the class was mostly talking amongst themselves while Mr. Belikov filled out a few papers.
"Rose."
I flinch as Adrian taps me on the shoulder and slowly turn and face him.
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked back, putting on a fake smile.
"Because those assholes practically dragged you out of here," Adrian whispered. "And I know full well that they know exactly who you are."
"I couldn't exactly stop them, Adrian," I whispered back. "Didn't have much of a choice."
"Miss Hathaway," Mr. Belikov called as the bell rang. "May I speak with you for a moment?"
"She can't," Adrian answered for me, glaring at him.
"I wasn't asking you, Mr. Ivashkov," he glares right back.
"Both of you stop it," I stare down each of them. "You are acting like damn fools. I'm tired and I have a lot to do."
"Rose, are you okay?"
I spit out the same response that I gave Adrian and walked away before he could say anything else. I stormed out of the school, not stopping by my locker or acknowledging Lissa, and started walking the familiar route home.
I stood outside the apartment, the yellow caution tape still in place and part of me wants to duck under the tape and go inside. Instead, I just stand there, staring at the building that I've called home for the past few months. Gallagher's words replayed in my head, and, not for the first time, I heard the unspoken words, and it's all your fault.
"Rose, what are you doing?" A black truck pulls up next to me and engine is shut off. Ivan hops out of his truck, walking around to my side.
"Why are you here?" I ask him, still staring at the apartment.
"Dimitri asked me to check up on you," Ivan shrugs. "You're friendlier towards me than him."
"You know why that is, Ivan," I say, still not looking at him.
"I do," he agrees. "Come on, I'll take you back to the hotel."
"Hell no," I growl, facing him for the first time. "I'm not spending another night with him."
His eyebrows arched. "Rose, you didn't spend the night with Dimitri. I watched over you last night and Dimitri got there around five and I crashed back at my apartment for a few hours before going for coffee."
"He let you spend the night with me? I sincerely doubt that."
Ivan studies me, debating something over in his head before turning away. "Let's go, Rose."
"No."
"Fine, I'll take you to my apartment," Ivan compromises.
"I need new clothes, Ivan," I point out, ignoring his statement. "I can't wear this every day, and the fact that it just appeared in the closet makes me itching to get out of this getup."
He sighs and gives me a look. "Then I'll take you shopping. Now, let's go. Someone might be watching the apartment."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll walk."
Silence follows me as I start walking down the sidewalk.
"I see the way you look at him."
"Excuse me?" I freeze.
"You heard me."
"You don't know anything," I say through gritted teeth.
"But I do," he says. "Since I first saw you at the high school, trapped against the wall by him. You weren't exactly resisting or trying to get away, now were you?"
"Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about. You know nothing.
"I know a lot, Rosie."
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, such a naughty girl. And naughty girls deserve to be punished.
Fear grasps me in its clutches as the words sear my brain and my breathing turns rapid. "What did you just say?" I gasp out.
He stares at me for a moment before answering. "Are you feeling okay?"
He steps towards me, and I stumble backwards, one arm in front of me, warding him off.
"Rose?" His brow furrows.
"Stay back," I whisper. "Get away from me."
He freezes in place. "Hey, Rose," he says gently. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
"Don't. Call. Me. Rosie," I whisper.
"I didn't. I called you Rose," he murmurs. Slowly, my breathing starts to return to normal, and he takes small baby steps forward. "Are you okay?"
I nod shakily, wrapping my arms around myself.
"I can help you get what you want," he whispers a few seconds later.
"How do you know what I want?"
"It's obvious. I'll help you get Dimitri, even though I don't think that he is in any manner good for you, in exchange for one thing," Ivan tells me, lacing his arm through mine, subtly directing me towards the truck.
My eyes narrow as I look up at him. "What do you want?"
"One date. One chance to prove to you that maybe the one you want is right here in front of you." He stops all together and cups my face in his hands.
"Ivan."
"No, no arguments. One chance," he whispers. "What do you say? Do we have deal?"
