Free Love Lost by Maria DeSouza

desired nothing more than to see her dead.  Yet, another part of him still wanted her by his side.  He was still going to make her suffer.  A thought occurred to him and made him smile.  He would let her be with this cop.  He would even let her fall in love with him.  When she did, he would take it all away from her.  He couldn’t wait to watch her break down and beg him, as she did before.  She was going to be his again.

 
     
    When Jason told her they were going to his parent’s house for a few days, Selene thought he was joking.   When he drove her to her building to pick up some clothes, she realized he wasn’t kidding. The entrance was boarded up and taped off with yellow police tape.  She shuddered at the memory as she felt Jason close behind her.
    “You ok?”
    “Yeah.  I’m fine.”
    “Is there another way in?”
    “Behind the building, through the fire escape.”
    Vin led them to the back of the building as Jason stayed behind them. As they reached the back, Vin reached up and grabbed the fire escape ladder.  He yanked it down, and started up the stairs.  Selene looked up and saw her window open.  Her blood froze.  
    “Vin, WAIT!” 
    Vin looked down at Selene.  “What?”
    “My window’s open.”
    “Good.  It’s easier for me to climb in.  I don’t have to break it.”
    She looked at Jason. 
    “I never keep my window open.  I lock them shut.”
    “Are you sure?  Maybe you forgot.”
    “Jason, I’m sure.”
    Jason looked at Vin, who was already climbing down the ladder.
    “We need to see if someone is up there before we can go in there.”
    Vin and Jason both looked at Selene.
    “Don’t give me that look.  I’m going with you.  You need the alarm-” 
    An idea suddenly popped into her head, and she reached into her purse to pull out her cell phone as Vin tried to stop her.
    “Um, you don’t have to call the cops.  We’re it!”
    Selene gave Vin a look that was equal to a few choice words.
    “Daphne had a new alarm system setup.  We have video surveillance now and I should be able to access a live feed from my phone. Here , I got it.”  
    Jason and Vin surrounded her to watch the video.  It gave her snapshots of every room in the apartment. It was a shock to see her things thrown about.  Someone had ransacked her apartment, but whoever did it was long gone.
    “No one is there,”  Vin said as he started to climb up the ladder again.
    Selene was about to follow him, when Jason pulled her back. 
    “Whatever they want from you, they are willing to kill for it.  What are you working on, Selene?” 
    “Jason, I can’t tell you.  A life depends on it.  I just can’t risk it.”
    Jason remained quiet and she waited to see if he would let it go.
    “We are not done talking about this.” 
    With that said, he pointed toward the ladder and they made their way up to her apartment.  Vin was already inside, with his gun out.
    “It’s all clear.”
    Selene looked around to find everything she owned, along with Daphne’s things, thrown if not broken.  They were looking for something.  She walked toward her bedroom.  Jason started to follow her.
    “I need a few minutes.  I need to pack some clothes, and other things I would rather not have you see.”
    Jason raised his eyebrow at her.
    “Like what?”
    She went to the bathroom, and came back to throw something at him.  He looked down at a pack of tampons. 
    “Would you like to see some more lady things like that?”
    “Nope. Got it.  I will be out here with Vin.  Do you want us to call this in?”
    “No.  I don’t need more police tape in here.”
    He kissed her forehead and handed her back the tampons.
    “We will start to clean up out there while you get what you need in here.”
    She gave him a weak smile before closing the door behind her.  She needed to act fast.  She grabbed her travel bag and went to the hidden drawer under her bed.  She grabbed the file on Lucio and the gun Daphne