Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 183

183 The Flash Drive 

I pressed my back against the cold wall, glued to my phone as this stranger typed everything. 1 

Unknown: He rules the underworld, well, not completely. He has a fair portion of it, but it will all be his when his father hands the mantle. The Kings‘ likes class. 

The inheritance, Ares told me about. The one where his father gave him conditions. This was it… the key to the underworld. 

Unknown: Now, where were we? Ah, yes, the information I need. You’ll go to his laptop and copy everything. The flash drive you will use will be a special kind; just plug it in, and it will do the work. 50 minutes tops. It’ll be delivered by mail first thing in the morning. The moment it gets to you, you have 24 hours to deliver to this location. 

Another text came in, the location of where we would meet the moment I got everything. 

Unknown: One wrong move or a whisper to your husband, or he smells something’s wrong, I’m gonna put a bullet through your friend’s skull. You’re a clever person, stay 

clever. 

Blocked! 

I tapped against the screen in panic, and I even tried to send a text, but I couldn’t. 

I was scared out of my mind, not for me but for Tori. If I don’t do this, they will kill her in a gruesome way like they did Jenna. 

I can’t let that happen. I can’t. 

The last time Tori and I talked, I ended the call on her. I shouldn’t have done that, and now if I don’t do this, that will be the last time we see or talk. 

I sobbed, shaking as I seized my hair. Stay calm, Catherine. There’s no need for me to 

think too much about this. 

I knew what I had to do. 

~4~ 

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. There were bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, but that was the least of my worries. 

12:45 

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183 The Flash Drive 

I wore my glasses and pulled out my drawer slowly. My mails that came in this morning were inside, possibly the one that person sent was mixed with it. 

Whoever they were, they were smart. Smart enough to know about my mails and when I got back from my honeymoon. 

I have no choice but to do what they say. 

I called Troy, Tori’s work colleague, and he told me she had taken a leave. Tori never does out of the blue, it was too sudden. 

This confirmed that the picture was legit. She’s probably in god knows where and 

scared out of her mind. 

I have to be quick. 

I searched through the mail and found one that stood out, well, for me, because I knew the number I normally received. I tore through the envelope discreetly and took out a flash drive. 

It didn’t look like the kind I was familiar with; it was smaller and had a round slot. 

I clenched my fist, thinking of how I was gonna get to Ares office. He was yet to come back to the penthouse, but knowing there were cameras everywhere and the possibility he could be watching me, I needed to be careful so that I wouldn’t earn suspicion. 

I took a deep breath, fixing my expression, and rose to my feet. I walked to the bed first to carry Loki in my arms, and left the room. 

I stroked him as I strolled the corridor, moving around like I was bored out of my mind. 

I did this for close to an hour until I ended up in his office. Keeping Loki close, I neared the table, eyeing his laptop, neatly placed in perfect order. 

I’m sorry, Loki, but without you, this won’t work. 

I placed Loki close, patting his head when I clicked in the flash drive. It surprisingly went in the slot. I chose, and a muted click followed. 

I think it’s downloading, I just need to take it out when the time is right. 

The door creaked behind me, and I twirled in speed. 

Oh no. 

“Honey!” I pitched when I saw Ares at the door. 

12:45 

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183 The Flash Drive 

Ares was still fully dressed in yesterday’s clothes. Three–piece suit and a coat over it. 

I swallowed a lump in my throat when he tilted his head as if scrutinizing me. 

I gripped the edge of the table and picked myself up to sit, making sure I covered the laptop out of sight because Loki had leaped to the chair. 

“I was wondering when you would be back. You spent the night out.” 

Ares took off his black leather gloves as he came towards me, and I made sure I held his gaze so that he wouldn’t look away. 

0 

I parted my legs, and he stepped between them, gripping my thigh and yanking me 

close. 

I kept my smile fixed as his silence grew unnerving. 

Does he know something’s wrong? God, please, I hope not. 2 

“H–How was work?” 

It took a moment before he replied. “The usual…” 

I suddenly recalled what that person told me. Ares was a Don, and I could only imagine what that entails, but I won’t dive into it to spare my sanity. 

It’s almost time. The flash drive will soon be ready. 

“That’s nice to hear. I don’t know if nice is the right word to use.” 

When he placed his hand on my neck, I went still. It always had a way of bringing out a lethal air, but mixed with that spark of intimacy. 

“You’re shaking” 

“I–I’m still feeling jet lagged. I couldn’t sleep. Still thinking about the shit you pulled off 

with Tom.” 

His hold loosened, and I could tell there was an incoming annoyance. Good. I need to ward off his attention somehow. 

“He was my crush in high school, and as you know, things like that fade away, especially when there’s no setting stone.” 

“Why are you talking about a third party?” he asked in an icy tone. “Are you trying to ruin my mood?” 

12:45 

T 

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183 The Flash Drive 

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“Is it working?” 

My body tensed when he yanked me close, our noses pressing against each other. 

“Yes.” 

“Good.” 

He inhaled sharply, our lips almost touching. 

Suddenly, a muted click sounded behind me, and Ares‘ eyes moved in alert. 2 

 

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