by Tabatha Kiss
“He’s unconscious,” I point out.
Aiden takes the empty seat to my right. “Clive, wake him up.”
Clive wanders back over and drops my drink down in front of me before rounding the table towards Tommy. He carelessly slaps my brother’s face to rouse him and I silently seethe at him.
“Evey…” Aiden waves a hand over my eyes, forcing me to acknowledge him. He smiles as we make eye contact, flashing me his sinister, crooked smile. “How does it feel in here? Too cold? I like to keep the air going. It keeps me alert.”
I don’t answer. I look forward at Tommy. Clive manages to jolt him awake and he nearly falls back to sleep again before he sees me sitting across the table from him. He jerks up as Clive rips the blood-soaked tape off his mouth and he takes in a large gulp of air.
“See?” Aiden gestures at him. “He’s fine.”
“He’s not fine,” I spit. “He needs a hospital.”
“I’ll be more than happy to give him all the medical attention he needs, but first, you’re going to talk to me, so…” He rests a stiff finger against my chin and nudges me to look at him.
I fight it. I don’t want to look at him. I don’t want to stare into the eyes of the man that has held my family hostage and tried to turn me into his own personal plaything.
“Evey, I feel like I haven’t made the best first impression with you.”
I flick my gaze at him and snort. “Ya think?”
“In my defense,” he lays a hand on his chest, “I have always done what was best for my family’s business — same as you, same as my father before me, and same as your father before you.”
“Don’t talk about my father.”
Aiden inhales a slow, steady breath. “Evey, I have treated you with respect since the moment I stepped off that elevator and I will continue to do so, but that is the last time you ever try to tell me what to do. Are we clear?”
I glare at him. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“I am a decent man.”
“You’re a mobster.”
“I still have feelings.”
I roll my eyes. “Give me a break…”
“Feelings that were hurt when you paid off your family’s debt in full.”
My mouth sags open. “What?”
“I enjoyed my monthly trips to your bar,” he shrugs. “I looked forward to seeing you.”
My chest trembles with laughter. I struggle to hold it in but it builds towards my throat. “You looked forward to seeing me?”
Aiden furrows his brow. “Yes.”
I press my lips together, refusing to let them curl but they break into a grin. “You can’t be serious.”
He shifts in his seat to look at me straight. “I brought you here today to make amends, Evey.”
Laughter bursts from my gut. I slap my hand over my mouth to hold it in but the damage has already been done.
Aiden frowns and deep blues of his eyes begin to boil. “What’s so funny?”
“You—” I pause to take a breath. “You want to make amends?”
“Yes.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“After making me and brother live in constant fear for months?” I ask as my laughter fades. “After bleeding us dry of every spare penny we had? After tying him to a chair and torturing him?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck off.”
Aiden lashes out and smacks me in the face. Pain burns through my cheek, firing all the way down my spinal cord. My eyes sting with fresh tears as I lay a hand on my face.
He leans in and points a finger at me. “I will not tell you again, Evey Ryan,” he whispers, enunciating every syllable.
I look across the table into my brother’s panicked eyes. He squints at Aiden and, for the first time in our lives, I think he might actually punch somebody. If he weren’t still tied to that chair, he probably would.
“Do not confuse my hospitality for freedom of choice,” Aiden continues. “Either you give me what I want or I will take it from you. I think you can figure out for yourself which option makes your brother’s survival more likely.”
I sniff, holding back tears. “So, when you say you want to make amends, what you really mean is that you want me to be your slave?”
He sits back and sighs. “I didn’t want it to come to this but you forced my hand when you involved that…” he turns up his nose in disgust, “baker.”
Tommy tilts his head at me with confusion.
“Leave him alone,” I say, prompting a sudden flick of Aiden’s brow. “Please,” I add.
His face relaxes. “I wish I could, but…” he glances at Clive, “he’s already made his bed.”
“He just wanted to protect me,” I argue. “Surely, you can understand that.”
“I do,” he nods. “But he could become a problem for me and I don’t care for loose ends.”
“Aiden, please.”
His voice twists into a growl. “His life is non-negotiable, Evey. I think you should focus a little more on you and your brother’s well-being.”
A tear falls down my cheek.
Aiden scoffs. “Oh, come off it, Evey. You barely know him.”
“I know more than you think.”
“You can’t possibly care about him that much.”
“I do.”
Tommy shifts in his restraints. “Care about who?” he asks.
“Vincent Silva,” Aiden sneers.
My brother gawks at me. “You’re dating the bakery guy?”
I stutter for a few seconds. “Ye… Yeah. Kind of.”
He blinks. “Since when?”
“Since…” I groan. “This really isn’t the best time—”
“Is that why you were glowing yesterday morning?”
I slap the table. “Tommy!”
Aiden leans forward in amusement. “Well, is it?”
“I wasn’t glowing,” I say.
He looks at Tommy. “Was she glowing?”
Tommy nods. “Yeah.”
I grit my teeth. “Tommy.”
“Well,” Aiden sits back, “it doesn’t matter either way. He’s a dead man. Best get used to that now.”
“No,” I say, feeling my blood boil beneath my skin. “He’s a better man than you are. Better than you’ll ever be. You’re nothing but a spoiled, rotten, psychotic man-child.”
He raises his brow. “That isn’t very nice.”
“Oh, boo-hoo,” I spit. “What happened? Did your mommy not shower you with enough attention? Did your brothers pick on you too much? Guess what? No one gives a fuck. Get over it.”
“Do you love him, Evey?” he asks me. “Is that what this is about?”
“Yes!” I shout, letting the tears fall. “I love him. I love him with all of my heart; with every piece of me. I love him so much, it hurts. He’s everything. He’s my hero.” I shake my head. “And you’re just a fucking asshole.”
Aiden’s face hardens more with each passing second he stares back at me. I shudder in my seat, blissfully terrified and ecstatic at the same time. I’ve never admitted to loving anybody before now. My heart sings with it, pounding harder than ever and I don’t want it to stop.
“You know, Evey,” Aiden says, calm and collected, “I’m starting to think that you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
I sit back. “Good.”
He stands up from his chair and buttons his suit jacket. “Clive, take them out on the balcony and throw them off.”
My guts churn. “What?”
Clive smirks at me. “With pleasure, sir.”
“I’ll be in my office downstairs.” Aiden shifts away from the table towards the elevator. “Let me know once it’s been taken care of and bring me Silva’s fucking head.”
“Wait!” I shout, tugging my arm from Clive’s grasp.
I look across the table at Tommy. He sits there in silent fear, staring back at me for help but I don’t know what to do. I had my chance to get him out
of here alive but I blew it. Now we’re both dead.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice so low that even I can hardly hear it.
The elevator dings and all eyes turn towards it. The doors slide open on their own, revealing nothing but an empty lift.
Aiden looks down. “What’s that?”
Clive steps closer, shifting out of the way to give me a better view. My breath catches in my throat as I recognize the small pastry box sitting in the center of the elevator.
He bends down and picks it up, finding a small card lying on top. “A tiny surprise from your favorite bakery,” he reads aloud.
Tiny?
Oh, god…
Aiden turns on his heels to look at me. “Like I said… a loose end.”
I swallow hard, unable to move a muscle. Fear locks me in place as I stare at the box in Clive’s hand. He moves to open it and I cower even deeper in my seat.
“Wait…” Aiden says, eying me closely. “Let her open it.”
I tremble. “No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”
Clive marches over and lays the box down in front of me. I look at it, terrified of what will happen if I even touch it.
Aiden stares me down. “Open it.”
I hold my breath. It’s either take this risk or be dragged outside and be thrown off the balcony.
I move with quivering hands to grip the box. Aiden takes a step back from the table, reacting to the fear on my face and I don’t blame him at all.
Tommy swallows. “Evey—”
“Shut up,” Aiden barks, his eyes twitching with anger.
I break the seal and fold the lid back to look inside.
A muffin sits inside. Large and blueberry. My favorite.
I exhale. “It’s just a muffin.”
Aiden flexes his jaw and turns to Clive again. “Have them search the building. He’s here somewhere.”
I stare into the box, breathing in the sweet scent of fresh blueberries. My fingers fill with warmth, tingling with sparks of adrenaline as I remember the feel of Vincent’s arms as I caressed the ink on his shoulder.
Sink or swim.
Do or die.
I meet Tommy’s eyes and gesture silently to the floor. He squints at me but there’s no time to make sure he understands. I wait one more second until Clive turns his back before snatching the muffin from the box.
I flex my arm over my head, calling on every last bit of strength I have to throw it at him.
The muffin strikes his shoulder, crumbling to pieces on impact and unearthing the tiny, black capsule hidden inside.
I dive to the floor as it ignites. It pops loudly and my ears start ringing. I shield my head from the sudden wave of warmth. I cover my eyes to shield myself. Whatever is about to happen, I sure as hell don’t want to watch.
Tommy follows my lead and jerks to the side, forcing his chair to tumble down with him still strapped inside. I reach out for him, ignoring Clive’s screams of terror as I try to tear the tape from his wrists.
Clive tumbles to the floor in a ball of fire, stiff and unmoving. Aiden acts quickly and throws a blanket over his shoulders to snuff the flames out.
“Come on…” I growl, peeling at the restraints. I finally free one hand and Tommy moves to pry his other wrist free while I reach for his feet.
“Evey!”
Fingers grip the back of my head and yank me back, hard and fast enough to rip hair from my skull. I shriek and fall backward into Aiden’s monster grip.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he spits in my ear.
“Leave her alone, you bastard!” Tommy shouts, still struggling to free himself.
Aiden throws the balcony door open and drags me outside with him. He slams me against the railing and I grip it tightly, willing myself not to look down but my eyes instantly fall to the grounds. Vertigo twists my guts into knots as I stare down at the parking lot abyss below.
“Help me!” I scream as loud as I can, hoping that someone will hear me down there but even if they did, it’d be too late.
Oh, god. I’m going to die.
Aiden grips my throat and pulls me up, leaning against me so I nearly tip over the railing. “Look at me, Evey,” he says. “I want my face to be the last thing you ever see.”
I stare into his boiling eyes but something behind him catches my attention. Legs dangle down from the elevator’s roof hatch across the penthouse. He slides out of his hiding place and lands softly on his feet in the elevator without making a sound.
Vincent.
My heart jolts in my chest but he raises a finger to his lips to keep me quiet.
Aiden’s pungent breath fills my nose. “Do you have any last words, Evey Ryan?”
“No,” I answer, stalling, “but I think he might have something to say.”
He pauses, deepening his frown as he realizes what’s to come.
Vincent grabs his shoulders from behind and pulls him off of me. He throws Aiden back with all his strength, sending him crashing through the windows back into the penthouse.
Aiden crumbles to the floor in a broken heap, surrounded by glass shards.
“Evey…” Vincent drops to a knee and cups my face. “Are you okay?”
I throw myself at him and he wraps his arms around me. Fresh tears burn my eyes as I cling to his jacket. I breathe in his scent. I hear his heart thumping in his chest. I fill all of my senses with him as if this is the last chance I’ll ever have.
He lays a soft kiss on my brow. “Come on,” he whispers, sliding me away from the balcony’s edge.
I look up at him and I smile. “I love you,” I say.
Vincent holds me tighter and pulls me in to kiss me.
“Hey…” Tommy groans from inside. “A little help here, please?”
The kiss lingers a little longer before we pull away and stand up. Vincent reaches into his pocket and withdraws a knife to slice through the tape around Tommy’s ankles.
Tommy breathes a sigh, relieved to be free of that chair, as I pull him to his feet.
“Can you walk?” I ask.
“Yeah, I think so.” He looks at Vincent for a moment and then down at me as he shakes his head. “So, this is your new boyfriend?”
I bite my lip. “Yeah…”
He nods. “I like him.”
“Silva…”
We stop and look to the floor beneath the shattered window.
Aiden sits up and stares at Vincent through blood-soaked lashes. “We’re not finished yet.”
Vincent steps over to him. “No, I think we are.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Any minute now, Boston’s finest will be here to take you away. For good.”
A smirk curls Aiden’s face. “We’ll see.”
“Torture, kidnapping. You’re not going to be able to sneak out of this one. I’ll make sure of it.”
“The only way for you to make sure of that is if you put a bullet in my head right now…” Aiden spits out a bit of blood, “but something tells me you don’t have it in you, Silva.”
Vincent pauses.
A chill runs through me, tearing me in two. I don’t think I’d shed a single tear if Aiden Shank weren’t in this world anymore but I don’t want Vincent to carry that weight. Not after everything else he’s been through.
I step over and take his hand. “Vincent…”
He looks down at me from his towering height. His chest rises and falls with a slow, pensive breath. Finally, he shows a small smile. “You know, I think you’re right, Aiden. I don’t have it in me to kill you.”
Aiden chuckles to himself on the floor.
Vincent releases my hand and takes a step closer to him. “But…” he leans down, “I don’t have an issue with doing this.”
He jabs Aiden in the nose, knocking him back down to the floor and he stays there, silent and unmoving.
The elevator opens again and Vincent goes tense, yanking me around to stand behind him.
Anna steps off alone with her g
un drawn. “Vin!” She looks around and takes in the scene as worry covers her face.
“He’s alive,” Vincent says as Anna kneels over Clive. “But he’ll probably need a hospital.”
She gestures at Aiden. “And what about him?”
“Yeah, he’s breathing, too.”
Anna paces, slightly shaking her head. “You need to leave,” she says, staring at Vincent. “You can’t be here. You were never here. Okay?”
He gives her a thankful nod and grips my hand. “Okay.”
“Now, go. Others will be here soon.”
We take off without questioning it, moving slowly so Tommy can keep up with us.
Vincent smiles down at me and the reality sinks in.
We don’t have to worry about the Shanks anymore.
I’m finally free.
Chapter 15
Vincent
The news broke already. Aiden Shank. The last of the Boston crime family not rotting in a concrete box… taken down at last on an anonymous tip. The cops tore his penthouse apart and discovered plenty of evidence to put him away for a thousand years.
Just long enough for me and Evey to live happily ever after.
I grip the bakery’s front door and hold it open for her. “After you.”
Evey smiles as she steps inside, filling her lungs full of that sweet air and I do the same.
Monica stands behind the counter with her concentration focused on counting the money in her hands. “We’re closed!” she shouts.
“Then, you should lock it,” I tell her, turning around to flick off the open sign and set the lock.
She pauses mid-count and turns up her head. “Oh, hey, boss…” Her brow furrows at my bruised face. “What the hell happened to you?”
I wave a hand. “It’s a long story…”
“I’ve got time.”
“Maybe later.” I take Evey’s hand and lead her towards the counter. “You can go home.”
“I still need to clean the cases and finish the paperwork and—”
“Monica,” I stare at her across the counter, “you can go home now.”
Her eyes flick from me to Evey and back again. “Okay, then…” She bites her lip to keep her smile in check as she lays the money back into the cash register and closes it.
I look at Evey and my heart races. “Also, take tomorrow off. We’ll be closed.”