Free Blacklisted by Maria Delaurentis Page A

have known it would result in this; neither of us could have.
    "Brie, I'm so so sorry," he mumbled again, pulling me into his arms gently.
    "It's okay. You couldn't have known he would do this," I whispered, trying to keep the tears at bay. At those words, Michael pulled back staring into my eyes.
    "Brie… I…"
    "You didn't know this would happen, right? Michael?" My voice raised, realization slowly setting in. Everything had been planned so meticulously; he had found me without me having to do anything. How had he found me…
    "Gabriella, I told you I'd do whatever it takes…"
    "YOU LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME? YOU KNEW HE WOULD TAKE ME AND YOU STOOD BY?"
    "You said you wanted to help…" he mumbled, his voice becoming hoarse.
    "DO YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT I MEANT, YOU SICK FUCK. HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN? I TRUSTED YOU. YOU TOLD ME TO FUCKING TRUST YOU," I screamed, my arms flailing as I attempted to hit any inch of him that I could. He grabbed my wrists and held them tightly, trying to hug me again.
    "No. Don't fucking touch me. I'm going to clean up and you are going to take me home. I want you out of my life, for good," I spit out, my mind swirling as the reality came crashing into me over and over. He had let me get kidnapped, not knowing what Genovese would do to me. He had left me with him for a full day, just so that he could finish his stupid plan. He didn't care about me; he didn't care what happened to me.
    "I bet your parents are turning in their graves at how disgusting a son they have," I growled, delighting momentarily in the pain that crossed his face. He let me go and turned on his heel, leaving the bathroom.
    Once he was gone I slid into the bathtub and pulled my knees back into my chest, the tears rolling down my face instantly. As soon as I heard the main door close I let the sobbing commence. My body shook with the feelings that boiled over. I was scared, damaged, betrayed. I had finally started to believe in him; to believe in the possibility of us.
    But how could I ever trust someone that would throw me to the wolves that way? I swallowed thickly as I remembered Genovese's touch. But he killed him, he came for you, the little voice in my mind argued. No, he was the one that put me there in the first place. Genovese wanted you already anyway, you would've ended up in that situation whether you met Michael or not. No, I could've gone home to my parents. And what if he found you there? What if your parents ended up like Michael's? My breath caught at the thought. I whimpered and buried my face in my knees.
    I had nothing, now. I had no job, no money, and probably no apartment. I had no idea if I was completely safe from Genovese’s men as Michael had insisted I would be or if I had to consider that they might plan retaliation against me. And Michael… what could I possibly do about that? How could I ever trust him after this? I had somehow looked past the kidnapping, the stalking—all of the bullshit and now I find out that he KNEW Genovese would take me?
    But you agreed to help; you knew there were consequences, the little voice tried to reason. But why didn't he warn me? You would've given it away, you can't act. I sighed and leaned back against the tub, unsure of what I was supposed to do with myself at this point.
    By the time I heard the door open again I was dressed and waiting as patiently as possible on the couch. I didn't turn; I waited for him to come to me. I heard him shuffling about, as if hesitant to come near me, as if he could sense the emotions rolling off of me. Finally, he emerged from his office area and stood before me, his eyes lowered.
    He was covered from the neck down in dried blood, dirt, and tattered material. After giving him a once over I stood up, eyeing him harshly, completely unfazed by our height difference.
    "Brie, I…"he started, but was cut off by my fist flying at his face. He didn't move; he let my fist connect with his chin. It knocked him off his balance, causing