by India Kells
When the door finally closed behind him, Ellie slid down the wall until she was huddled in a ball on the floor, certain she’d see that evil smile haunting her nightmares for the rest of her life.
Chapter Ten
“Hey, hey, hey! Easy, brother! Don’t crash my car into a building. That wouldn’t help Ellie at all, and us even less. With your reckless driving, I can’t even see straight. Unless you have a connection from your brain to my phone, I need to tell you where we’re going.”
Sam heard his brother but only grumbled in return. “If your little gadget had worked right away, I wouldn’t be rushing to rescue Ellie. Now there’s too much distance between her and us.”
Lazarus mumbled something unintelligible, his eyes riveted to his screen, but if he were honest, Sam was overwhelmed by guilt. Everything that had happened the moment Ellie had walked out of the kitchen was on him. It wasn’t logical to take the attack on his brother’s home on himself, but if she’d been by his side the entire time, he could have prevented her capture, or at least defended her.
What had he accomplished by antagonizing Ellie, belittling what they’d shared on the roof? Maybe he’d wanted to put some distance between them, force her to see the logic in his decision, not that it worked. Apart from being a complete bastard, nothing good came out of his screwy idea which only added to the burn in his gut.
Ellie had tried to reach him, bring him back to the land of the living even if it was clear she was teetering on the edge herself. On the roof? It had been bliss and agony. With her big, blue eyes and kind smile, she’d beckoned him like a siren, and after years of pain and loneliness, how could he deny his soul? Not in a million years, not when he’d wanted the strange woman with such force.
Sam remembered his mother’s words about a thing called fate. All around them, the desert, the moon, the sun, and the wind existed and evolved on their own accord, by a scripted law from the heavens that regulated all living beings. When he’d left the tribe behind, he’d never thought much about his mother’s words afterward, but maybe it was that same fate that brought the black-haired fairy on his path.
But then, when they’d stepped away from each other and the softness of her body was covered again, the haze of pleasure became but a quickly fading sensation. Fear took its place, exacerbated by the fact that his father had found him again. All his thoughts and concerns went to Ellie. No way in hell would he ever risk her life and what remained of her sanity and soul by having her close to the ugliest and most dangerous monster who still walked the earth.
Now, like with everything his father touched, his good intentions had turned against him. Bile rose as he pressed the gas pedal with more force. Maybe Ellie had been detained by the mercenaries his father had hired. Maybe if he drove even faster, he’d get to her before Jamieson Finch could get his hands on her.
“Sam! Goddammit! Slow down, you lunatic.”
With lightning reflexes, Sam blinked, returning back to reality quick enough to evade an impending crash and get the car under control.
“We can’t help Ellie if we’re dead! Now, listen and keep it together. I’ve got a better signal off Ellie’s tracker. I don’t know why the signal isn’t constant, maybe it’s something inside her bag. Anyway, I changed something in the encryption, and we should get a pinpoint in a few seconds.”
“Should? Is that the same ‘should’ you used when you told us we should be safe at your place?”
“Hey! Easy! Do I have to remind you that you’re the one who didn’t know you were being followed all this time? If I’d known, I might’ve been able to see it coming. Contrary to what you think of me, I’m not God, otherwise, I would’ve done things differently, believe me.”
Sam’s only answer was his fist striking the steering wheel.
When Lazarus spoke again, his voice was calmer. “One ‘should’ that I own is that I should have been there for you.”
There was so much unsaid in that sentence. What did his brother know of his state of mind just before he’d accidentally rung Ellie? Lazarus probably knew more about his past than anyone else on Earth, but that wasn’t something Sam was ready to discuss, and most probably never would.
“Take the next right and drive at a speed that won’t get us arrested, please.”
Sam’s brain switched to another state, one he knew well from his time as an operative in the military. Everything that could distract him was pushed deep inside his mind, and only the mission filled his brain, readying his body for action.
With his brother’s directions, they soon entered a residential area with small suburban houses and well-kept lawns. The inhabitants were probably all safe inside at this hour, oblivious to the danger that had entered their safe little haven.
“Slow down a bit. On the left, don’t take the street yet, but the signal is coming from that area.”
Sam did as he was told, and as they passed by, he noticed a gray van that had popped up on the security cameras Lazarus had checked when Ellie was taken.
“That’s a good sign. Now, drive around the block and I’ll find a spot for us to leave the car, one devoid of security cameras as much as possible. We have enough to deal with as it is without explanations to the boys in blue.”
His brother may have cracked a joke, but Sam wasn’t fooled. When Lazarus’ British accent thickened, it meant the game was on.
Twice more he drove the car around the block until they parked in a free parking space beside a closed shop. It wasn’t the most covert place, but at least they had one building between them and their target, and it had to be enough.
The weight of his gun tucked at his waistband wasn’t enough for Sam. He would’ve preferred to be heavily armed, especially when he guessed his opponent was waiting for them with a grin and a cocked weapon.
Under the cover of the duplex, Lazarus signaled to Sam to keep to the right, pointing at a window, and then at the door. There weren’t many entry points; buildings around this part of the city were old and close to one another and didn’t have underground garages, which was good news, but that didn’t mean his dear father, and whatever men he could hire, wouldn’t have a few tricks up their sleeves to make the rescue tricky.
Impatience nagged at him, and he didn’t have to look at his watch to know that several hours had passed since Ellie had been taken from him. The moment he thought about her, his mind was filled with images and sensations. Sam wasn’t used to processing them anymore, for so long he’d refused to think about his feelings and had banished them to the far corner of his mind. She was innocent, warm, enticing, and broken in mysterious ways he couldn’t wait to uncover. He had to get her back. He wanted her safe.
Could he really afford to lie at this moment? He plainly needed her. Maybe it had been the lack of female companionship for so long, as he only allowed women in his life for brief and very rare moments, and once he’d fucked them until his control was back, he disappeared. Women were for one night, and served a single purpose, but he always left them satisfied.
He’d had his mindless fuck with Ellie. His cock tightened at the memory when he should only feel a void, indicating it was time to let her go. Maybe he needed a second round of feeling her shatter under him, but if he really believed that he’d be telling himself another lie.
Lazarus moved and Sam followed, keeping both the building and his brother in his line of vision until they approached the main door. They’d discussed it. It was a get-in-and-get-her-out situation, and the front door, as it faced the street, could be less guarded than the hidden side door. It took skill and time to remain unseen, but it couldn’t be helped.
As Lazarus scanned the street, Sam knelt to work on breaching the door, but the moment his hand touched the knob, the door opened. Not only wasn’t it locked, it swung open.
Lazarus grimaced, and Sam agreed in silence, it was a bad sign.
“My sons, don’t stay outside in the cold. Come and greet your father.”
Hatred and disgust invaded him so f
ast, Sam swayed at the sound of a voice that reminded him of the worst parts of his existence. When Lazarus shook his head and signaled he’d walk around the building, their improvised plan was stopped short.
“I don’t like waiting. And I doubt your dear Ellie likes it either. So come in you two and let’s have a chat.”
There was no way around it. Gun still in hand, Sam took one last glance at his brother who looked grim, but nodded, before stepping through the door.
Inside, the entrance led to a living room. The layout of the house was old, meaning it wasn’t open plan like more modern homes, which played against them. If they couldn’t see who was in the other rooms, they couldn’t know how many men were inside, and they were at a clear disadvantage.
In the living room, Jamieson Finch was comfortably seated on one of the old couches. A fire was burning in the hearth, offering a cozy glow to the scene, but Sam knew better than to relax his guard.
“Ah! Two of my favorite sons. How nice of you to visit your father. Care for a drink?” Without waiting for their answer, Finch went to a small table where several bottles were placed along with a few glasses that glinted in the low firelight.
“Where’s Ellie?”
With a chuckle, Finch continued pouring. “Well and safe. That should reassure you. Don’t worry, she can hear everything that is said here. Along with her guardians, of course.”
Sam fought hard to keep his control, but it was a battle he was only winning by a thread; the reality being that if he killed Finch, whoever was guarding Ellie would end her life too.
Finch handed him a small glass and frowned at Sam’s silent refusal. Only when he quirked an eyebrow did he force himself to take it. Their father handed another glass to Lazarus before returning to his couch, gesturing for them to sit in the two armchairs. Once more, Sam rebelled, but when he saw Lazarus obey and sit, he knew they didn’t have much leeway, especially if they didn’t want to provoke him.
Finch took a sip and sighed. “Not the best I’ve ever had but having two of my sons to share it with me, makes it better.”
Sam gripped the glass almost to breaking point, wanting to throw it at his face.
“What do you want? You didn’t plan all this just for drinks.” Lazarus’ tone sounded almost normal.
“Ah! I would’ve planned such a party earlier if you all hadn’t tried to kill me over the last few years. Let me remind you that you’re not keen on your family as you also killed your aunt, my sister.”
His voice grew harsher, but it didn’t seem to faze his brother. “It’s only the law of action and reaction. She tried to kill one of us, we ended her life in reaction. It wasn’t personal and if you’d stayed out of lives instead of trying to destroy us, we would’ve gladly ignored you until the day you died.”
Finch seemed to consider Lazarus’ words, which made it all the more frightening than an explosion of violence from him. “Always the clever one. So full of promise, and yet pushing them away, denying yourself greatness.”
“There’s no greatness in making people suffer.” Lazarus’ tone deepened, and even if Sam was all for putting a bullet in the man toying with them, he had to think of Ellie.
Sam put his still full glass on a side table and leaned forward, gun still in hand. “What do you want? Because it comes down to that question.”
Finch beamed back at him with approval. “Indeed. When it comes to important matters, I don’t like to play around. I need you to stay with me.”
“Why?” It was the last thing he wanted to know, but he’d learned the more he knew about his enemies, the higher his chances were of survival, and he needed them as high as he possibly could for Ellie’s sake.
“I need one of my sons by my side and I choose you, Sam. What I want is simple. You stay with me, learn from me, listen to me. Maybe by staying at my side you’ll see that I’m not really the monster you remember, and everything I’ve done so far will make sense to you.”
The young boy he’d been screamed at him to run away, but Sam couldn’t, he was in an unbreakable trap that now closed around him. He scanned through his options and realized he only had one choice. “I’ll stay if you let Ellie go.”
However, his hopes of rescuing her were squashed when his father shook his head. “Oh, no. She stays. Otherwise, it will be like having a wild horse ready to bolt the moment the door opens. No, if you agree to the deal, she stays until I’m convinced you’re here of your own free will.”
Lazarus stood and paced the small room. “It’s madness. Sam, don’t listen to him. He can only give you empty promises.”
Sam knew that too well, but again, he didn’t see any choice.
Finch probably sensed that he was slowly gaining ground and winning the argument. “And you, my dear boy, who didn’t even deign to keep the name I chose for you, I’d be very careful if I were you. Ellie’s survival depends on you too. If you dare try to plot a rescue, send in any kind of help, raise your foolish brothers against me once more, it will be the signal that you don’t care about the woman Sam wants so desperately to save, and be enough for me to put a bullet in her head. I don’t want to be investigated, followed, or any hint that you’re coming after us, because once you leave, if I see your worthless face again, or any of your brothers, I guarantee I’ll act swiftly, and there won’t be a thing you can do about it.”
A loud crash sounded as Lazarus threw a table and punched the wall, but said no more. What more could be said, they were trapped.
Finch ignored all of this as he put his glass down and rose. “I’ll leave you two alone to talk about it. You have five minutes.”
Sam put his face in his hands as the sound of his father’s footsteps faded. His worst nightmare, one that had brought him to the brink was materializing once more and he didn’t know if he could survive it.
“Sam, we’ll find another way. I won’t, I can’t, let you do this, even for Ellie. I know how much you suffered at his hands.”
After rubbing his face a few times, Sam looked at the desperate face of his brother. “There’s no other solution. I know what he’s capable of, and I won’t leave Ellie defenseless at his hands. Her being at his mercy is my fault. I should have left her alone, not pursue her. I was so far gone I didn’t notice someone was following me.”
Lazarus crouched before him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you made that mistake, because Ellie is the one who brought you back to us, while I failed you.”
A faint smile ghosted Sam’s mouth. “You couldn’t save the young boy I was when you were also a kid yourself on the other side of the world. Nobody could save me and it’s still the case. But if I stay and protect Ellie until I can get her out... It would bring me peace, brother.”
Lazarus shook his head, hearing the words Sam couldn’t say out loud anymore, and it was his turn to grab his shoulder, leaning forward until their foreheads touched. It amazed Sam that he’d found men he could count on and they were his brothers. It messed with his mind how impossible he thought it would be, but he was grateful.
“Hang in there. I’ll find a way to get you and Ellie out. I won’t let you down, Sam. I promise. Just make sure Finch doesn’t get in your head. Keep it together and keep Ellie safe.”
Sam nodded, believing his brother, but not knowing if there was still enough of his soul to survive this at all.
Chapter Eleven
Sam watched the city landscape lighten under the soft sunrise as the car drove from the suburbs of Chicago to the posh side of the city. Sam wasn’t surprised that Jamieson Finch liked his comforts, and the high-end neighborhood of Kenilworth was an obvious choice. It was also less than 15 miles from downtown Chicago. On the other hand, one question pinged in his mind: how could Finch afford the place. Recently, his sons had worked hard to cut off every possible source of money and power from the man. They’d heard Finch had sold his assets, but there were so many, maybe they’d missed some. Or maybe it was owned by friends who’d offered him a place to stay.
Sam had blocked the fact Finch was sitting beside him in the back of the car. Once Lazarus had left, Sam demanded to see Ellie and discovered she wasn’t there. She’d been sent to the place where they’d be living together like a mad, dysfunctional family. No way he would reveal what he truly thought.
“I’m wondering if you told me the truth. If Ellie really is all right.”
Finch looked at his phone, unbothered. “Apart from her injuries from the explosion, she’s fine. I’ve locked her in your quarters until we arrive so you can explain the situation to her.”
A tiny bit of him relaxed at the knowledge they wouldn’t be separated. “And what is the situation... Father?” The word tasted foul in his mouth.
“Very simple in fact. I expect you to spend time with me, and for you and Ellie to remain here at all times. You try to escape, you die. But don’t worry, you’ll have enough space not to feel stifled.”
The car turned through an open gate, and after noticing guards roaming the grounds, Sam saw an immense house before them. The beautifully classic structure made of gray stone stood like a castle in a winter wonderland. Or the dungeon from a bad fairytale.
Many more questions were raised, but they’d have to wait as the car stopped and a man opened his door.
As discreetly as possible, Sam took inventory of the guards he could see, the cameras, and the tall wall surrounding the vast terrain. There weren’t enough trees for cover, and he wouldn’t be surprised if security wasn’t upped with laser and thermal cameras.
Finch climbed the stairs where a man was waiting for them. Solemn and dressed in a well-cut suit, it was clear that this man’s loyalty was solely to Finch.