Read Learning to Trust: Curtain Falls for Free Online

s, a bizarre juxtaposition of the underground with the top floors of skyscrapers . It was a meeting of the executives and the guys that did the dirty work.
    "Ah, my friends!" Roland shouted, his voice perpetually echoing through the hollow space. "So glad you could join us. My, you look lovely, pet!"
    I scowled at Roland as Frederic kept me moving forward. We got close to the circle, but never actually entered it. He let go of my arm and I straightened out my shirt. I recognized some of the thugs that I had seen coming and going at the mansion. I'd keep my distance from them, that was for sure.
    "Pet, why don't you come join me?" Roland asked.
    "No, I'm just fine here, thanks," I said, staring down at my feet , hiding my rage from the group .
    Roland paused. "Very well then." He smiled. "Big things are happening here, my friends . Things that will change our lives forever."
    "Shouldn't we wait for the others?" Frederic suddenly piped in.
    "We'll get to them in a minute," Roland said, shrugging off Frederic's concern like it was nothing. There was no response, so Roland continued. "We've brought together some great men here. It's unfortunate that it's taken so lon g to make this happen because of certain... obstacles ." The way he said it sent chills down my spine. It didn't seem to faze anyone else.
    The monologue continued, despite the fact that no one seemed to be paying attention. "As you know, Roland Starland doesn't do business unless everything is impeccably planned out. Precise and consistent. Working out the kinks until there is a perfectly working machine. We've had to make some adjustments—and there will be more very soon—but things ar e functioning very smoothly now, especially thanks to the brilliant efforts of my dear pet over here. Won't you take a bow, Marisa? "
    "No," I said. "I won't. I still can't believe you used me for—"
    "Where is Dallas?" Frederic suddenly shouted. "Where the fuck is Dallas and the others?" Who was Dallas ? Whoever he was, Frederic was pretty serious about him being here. Yet another significant person I had never met.
    "Ouch," Roland said. "So feisty tonight. That hurts." Roland's wicked smile, the one I remembered from our many times together, spread across his face. Circumstances were totally different, and now I loathed it. "They've been dealt with," he said matter-of-factly.
    "What the fuck, Roland?" Frederic was noticeably upset. "Those were good people! What the fuck were you thinking?"
    The smile seemed to be permanently etched on to Roland's face. He was deriving incredible amusement from this " Business is business," he said nonchalantly. " Ah, but there's still a traitor in our midst. A dirty little rat , even after we've done our spring cleaning ."
    Oh my god! I was cooked. This was it. Everybody was about to turn and face me, a relentless firing squad prepared to carry out their execution. Should I run ? No, I couldn't outrun these bullets, not these trained killers. My body would vanish and my parents would never hear from me again. My heart pounded so hard that I feared it might burst out of my chest and tumble to the floor . I was totally frozen.
    "Someone I thought I could trust has been working for someone else. My, so bold to think that you could pull a fast one on old Roland!"
    After so many flare-ups of paranoia, this was it. I was actually about to die , to be riddled with bullets and torn to pieces. These would be my last thoughts, my last flashes of consciousness before I faded to black. Yet, here I was, thinking about thinking rather than anything that mattered. It had been a good run, one that was—
    I felt my body being pulled abruptly to the side by Frederic, cold steel against my head. Wait, what was this ? "Don't fucking come any closer or the girl gets it!" Frederic had taken me hostage— he was the rat!
    "Fuck!" I shouted, suddenly overcome by nervous rage. "Let me go!"
    " Shut the fuck up !" he hissed. Frederic had pulled me back and was keeping me