Chap 8

Anya POV

The night I got home I went straight to lie in bed, I didn't even bother to take off the dress I was wearing. I was too emotionally and physically exhausted from everything that transpired to take the time it needed to unzip my dress. But since papa wasn't in the living room I'm sure he's aware that I'm home.

I text Becky even though I know she won't see it till the morning or afternoon, whenever she feels up to it. I just didn't want her to wake up and think I abandoned her, I would never.

Anya: Hey Rich Girl, Damian brought me home. Call me when you're up to it. I want to come by and make sure you're okay. I'll bring my dad to cheer you up. ;)

I'm going to have to talk to papa about it in the morning and if Becky says she feels up to it, it'll be the perfect time for him to question her before anyone else can get to her.

My fingers hovered over the message with Damian, I contemplated messaging him back. But though I'm against it for the time being, I just need some time to reevaluate what I'm going to do, before I go barking up any trees. Maybe I can ask papa for some advice.

I put the phone down, but sleep was difficult as I was still reliving the fight at Becky's or running from the screams of Donovan Desmond's latest victim. Rolling on my side facing my wall of photos, my eyes fall on our class photo, then wander to Damian with his serious face.

Reminiscing of the moments of dancing with him, the feel of our bodies together and that moment of peace, playing darts and hanging out. When we were alone together, the conversation felt… easy with him. Heat flooded my veins when I touched my lips reliving the moment we kissed, my first kiss.

I was in spy mode so deep I hadn't really thought about it till now. I close my eyes thinking back on the taste of him, it doesn't taste like lemon like mama said. But whiskey and Damian, I don't know how else to explain it and it makes me disappointed and want to do it again.

Thinking back to the kiss, I remembered I planted a bug on him. He might be home and asleep… should I even bother?

I grab my phone again and turn the volume down just in case it's loud. It takes a second for it to connect, I don't hear the roar of the bike engine so he must be home. What I initially thought was static I'm realizing is a shower.

My thoughts race and a deep blush creeps up my neck, picturing him naked in the shower. I should've closed it right then and there. But curiosity got the better of me, I didn't hear anything other than the shower. I close my eyes, leaning closer, turning it up more so I can try and decipher any noises. Possibly hiding a conversation in the event he knows of the possibility of bugs.

In the midst of the shower stream I hear this noise that I can determine. It's not the water, more like a slapping. The rhythm is steady but at times changes, I can't figure out what it is but minutes go by and I almost decide it's busted.

Then I hear him groan so deep I gasp myself as if it was to me. I can hear the rhythmic pace barely audible under the shower. He speeds up his movements and his panting gets louder, the slapping sound more frequent and erratic. Then he groaned loudly "ohhh Anya" I pushed the red button. Darkness falling back into my room screen going black, my breathing was just as fast as his was without even realizing it.

The heat is all over my body and I don't know what to do. What is sleep? Who needs it anyway…

I woke up early Saturday morning, checking my phone for messages. I saw one from Becky saying my dad can come over immediately. I laugh at her purposely leaving me out of the equation.

Damian wrote me a message but I didn't have the mindset to open and read it after what I overheard him doing last night. I shake my head visibly at the memory and I'm glad no one can read my mind.

I grabbed some clothes from my closet and tried to sneak to the bathroom for a shower. Papa was already up cooking breakfast when he waved good morning stating he'll whip me up something as if he didn't know I was already here. But I see he has three plates out which shows he already knew.

I groggily head to the shower and make it quick trying to wash off all the drama that was last night. I threw on some clothes that were nice enough to be seen in Becky's neighborhood, but didn't feel like me...

When I came out Mama and Papa were already at the table eating. They asked me how the party was, which was difficult but I was honest with them about everything. Well mostly everything, I left out the parts with my spy mission. But I did have to mention the guys that drugged Becky and fighting them with Damian who also brought me home.

Mama was glancing at Papa a lot after I had to talk about hanging out with him at the party and him taking me home afterward. Her blush is apparent since she's obviously thinking he's my boyfriend. Which I did mention multiple times, he's not. I'm almost afraid to peer into Papa's mind, so I choose not to.

I told him because of his training I was able to save my friend and that it would make me feel better to see how she's doing today. Papa nods and stands and says he'll change so we can leave immediately.

Mama clears her throat and says "So did you and this boy kiss?" I was really trying to avoid certain parts of the evening in the retelling. But I can tell Mama already knew without me answering anyway. My face was warm so I knew the blush gave away any chance of lying I could've tried anyway. I don't verbally respond afraid of father hearing and just nod yes.

She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me a bit tight, creaking in my ribs, but in the moment I needed to feel grounded.

"Was he nice to you?" She asked quietly, not wanting papa to hear. I nod again, thinking of how kind he was and how no matter what happened that night he put me first.

"Do you like him?" She asks in a whisper, I shrug at that even though my heart sped up a beat. I can't think like that, I can't get attached. She tells me "Be honest with him, if you do." releasing the hug so she's back in her seat

Honesty hasn't really been the Forger policy when it comes to anyone really. But I understand the sentiment nonetheless.

Papa comes out in a suit and hat and asks if I'm ready. I grab my plate and clear it before I meet him in the car.

Papa has known most of Becky's staff for years since I've come over quite a bit, so he's developed the relationship to know how to get information from them from time to time. If they were to hear certain things among the walls, in an effort to keep me safe is the guise he uses. But I know it's for the mission, and hopefully they can tell him more about the men we caught and what they did with them.

"God I hate that I can't remember most of my night." Becky says into her pillow yelling in frustration. I rub her arm while I lie beside her in her massive bed, in an attempt to comfort her. I've been trying to get her to recall anything the men may have been saying to her when they were with her. But she keeps coming up blank, which frustrates her just as much as me. I wanted to be able to get any more information from her about these guys. Maybe yesterday I was overthinking everything, just like Papa does. Right?

Thinking back to an old Bondman episode I remember they were doing a cognitive interview with a witness to get more information.

I sit up and fold my legs on themselves and tell her to sit up as well, she whines but obliges. She faces me and I grab her hands and hold them into mine, and close my eyes.

"What are we doing Anya?" Becky asks but leaves her hands in mine. I peek my eyes open and tell her "Close your eyes, let's start from the beginning before the men approach you." she raises a brow at me showing she's skeptical.

Heck I am too, I'm hoping that doing this I can help relive her memories with her, and be able to pick up on anything she might not think anything about. "Take a deep breath." we both do, and close our eyes.

I prompt her "remember when we were dancing together?" I feel her nod but nothing is showing in her mind. "Think really hard about the moment, Becky. What did you feel, smell, everything you could remember in the moment."

Suddenly I'm flooded with the flashing lights of last night and seeing a vision of how Becky saw me dancing beside her that night. "Good. Do you remember anything else?"

I can feel her dancing to the beat that feels in sync with my heart…

Becky POV (Party)

This is my jam! I love Riri! The sway of my hips and the confidence I feel is just everything. I know I look sexy in my dress, I can see some guys looking over at me, some I make eye contact with. None really catch my eye other than the deep gaze of this muscular guy hanging around the dance floor staring at me.

I can feel Anya beside me as she clumsily brushes against me with her dance moves. When I look over at her, her movements slow as her eyes scan the crowd and her smile widens as I see her waving at what looks like Desmond over to us.

Bitterness flows through my veins, but seeing Anya smile like that dulls the flames momentarily. Anya leans over to me and says that she's going to dance and hang with Damian for a little and she'll catch up with me later.

I nod my head as I finish off the drink in my hand, and continue dancing to my favorite song as Anya wades through the crowd toward Damian. There was one man who I danced with for a little but he was super sweaty and handsy and I wasn't really feeling it so I graciously moved away once the song ended.

Once the song finished transitioning I found an area where I was more secluded closer to the bar, so I can keep an eye on Desmond. The large muscular man from earlier came into my view and said something about the creepy guy I was dancing with before. I laughed at his joke, as he slid in behind me and we fell in time with the music. I didn't really get a good look at him, but he was a really good dancer.

Before I realized it another man came in front of me, I was startled at first until the man behind me whispered that he's with him. I nodded and let the movements along the beat take us away. Before I knew it songs went by and we were all thoroughly sweating, "I'm going to grab a drink." I say breathless.

But when I went to take a step toward the bar, the larger man offered to grab some for all of us. I gladly took the offer, since another one of my favorites came on like I personally gave the DJ a set list by me. ;)

He returns and when he reaches out to hand me my drink I mention that his Hammer tattoo looks cool, my dad won't let me mark my body in a disgusting manner. He says it's for his brotherhood, "cool you guys are in a fraternity?" I ask before I guzzle the cool drink I needed since I was so parched. They say that they are and that we should party with them sometime.

We headed back to the dance floor before I finished my drink, and we went back to dancing. The room started to slowly shift which made me feel less in control of my body as I tried to move. I hadn't had that many drinks for me to already be feeling this drunk.

Eventually the large man had his hands on my waist moving them in time with the music as he murmured behind me to his friend to help hold me up as if I'm dancing. The man behind me says "The vans waiting outside" as he moves me in time with the beat.

I went to speak but no words could come out, I could barely form my own thoughts. My eyes suddenly feel very heavy as I fall further into this man's embrace. I start to think, Where am I? Who are these guys? Then it all fades out…

Anya POV

My eyes shot open as Becky's memory finished and I tried to recall what I could while she started sobbing uncontrollably as she realized what could've happened, but only it would've been worse if they had gotten her into the van.

She eventually went to sleep from having to relive the trauma, but it fueled me to find out what these men wanted from her and what the hammer tattoo could mean. I lean over and grab a stray notebook of Becky's and draw the hammer that I saw in the memory as best as I could recall.

But I realize that I can't do this alone, but I know that I need to tell Papa of what I found with Becky so he can see if they are related. I don't have the connections he does, so I'll need to monitor his thoughts for the answers I need so I can continue. This is going to be tricky, but I'm the only one that can do this.

There's too much on the line for me to back down now. My best friend is a target, Damian needs to be saved from his father, and I need to save my family and the world.