Chapter 3
Izzy
I’m lying in bed, watching the sun’s rays start to creep through the window, thinking about what K.J. said. He specifically told me to keep my distance from Gunner. He has never been shy to criticize who I am seeing but he has also never given me a full warning using their names either. How he knows Gunner’s name will stay a mystery because he’ll never tell, but it doesn’t surprise me at all. For such a private person K.J. knows everyone’s business.
“Elizabeth are you home?” I hear my sister calling through the apartment. I must have been completely lost in thought because I didn’t hear her come in. I stay quiet hoping she won’t barge in my room to see if I’m home. Shortly after I hear her flush the toilet in the bathroom across the hall from my room, she comes bursting in my room.
“Why didn’t you answer when I hollered?” She asks.
“Maybe because I worked all night and I’m trying to get some sleep before I go check on Candice today.” I say, annoyed with her question. I’m a grown woman, I have no one to answer to anymore.
“Care to explain who the hot guy was that shooed me out of your apartment. He gave me a hundred bucks and told me to get lost.” She states walking over to my bed and squeezing in beside me, “He was really overbearing, but in a good way.”
“He’s just a friend.” I say, trying to sound as bored with this conversation as I can. On the inside I am screaming, “mine, mine, mine,” but I can’t let Kiersten in on my true feelings. It would only make K.J. all that more appealing to her.
“Well if he is just a friend maybe you could introduce us. It has been a while for me and this itch is only going to get worse until I find the right man to scratch it.”
“Can we talk about this in the morning? I really am tired.” I declare before rolling over on my side hoping she gets the hint to leave me alone. She apparently isn’t as dumb as I once thought. She rolls off my bed, quietly shutting the door behind her as she exits. I close my eyes trying desperately to get a few hours of sleep. Every time I lay my head down the thoughts I manage to keep at bay all day start running through my head. Why is someone threatening to kill off our group one at a time? How can I protect my friends while still trying to protect myself? Why does it feel like K.J. knows something we all don’t?
I somehow manage to doze off for a couple of hours before I am woken up from the sound of terrifying screams. Rushing out of bed I run down the hall toward the guest bedroom that Kiersten is staying in. The door slams against the wall when I open it with more force than necessary, “are you alright?” I ask.
Kiersten looks up at me with genuine fear shining through her bright green eyes, “there’s a mouse.” She shouts, her voice growing to an annoying high pitch.
“A mouse? “I ask, trying to clarify that’s the reason for this ridiculous behavior.
“Yes, Elizabeth, a mouse. As in something that could eat my face off in the middle of the night.” She yells.
Not at all in the mood to deal with this, and knowing I won’t be able to fall back asleep, I look at her one last time. “I’m going to get ready to go to Candice’s. Have fun with your new friend.” I state, before closing her door with a smile. She starts shouting nasty names at me through the door, making my smile grow bigger. I hope that rat is smart enough to stay away from her face. She’s had her lips on some pretty nasty things.
I walk into my closet and pick out the baggiest pair of pants and t-shirt I can find. Having to wear tight clothes for work only helps in the decision to dress comfortably throughout the day. As I walk into the bathroom I can hear Kiersten through the door, talking to someone, on the phone. I inwardly groan knowing I will soon be getting a phone call from my mom, reprimanding me on how I treat my sister.
Looking into the bathroom mirror, brushing my teeth, I cringe at the black bags under each one of my eyes. I would normally try to cover them up with some concealer but I’m in a hurry to get as far away from Kiersten as I can.
Rushing out the door and down the steps I make it outside just in time for the cab I called to pull up. I jump in the backseat and give the cabbie Candice’s address, thankful to be on my way to talk to someone that understands me.
Chapter 4
K.J.
I arrive at Jasper’s house soon after I talked to Sticks on the phone. He is helping me look for my estranged father that is now threatening to kill my family. While I have not been able to find his exact location I am aware of his second in command’s. He goes by Jack on the street, but I haven’t been able to confirm if that is his legal name.
“Why do you always let yourself in? Can’t you use the doorbell like a normal person?” Jasper grumbles while pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“I’m not normal.” I reply before getting down to business. “Did Janice ever tell you the name of our father?” I ask.
“Yeah, she said his name was Marcus. Why?”
“Nope. Anthony Johnathan.” I reveal to him before taking a seat at the table. He walks over and joins me, “he is a major player in the drug ring around the Gulf of Mexico. He was in prison for twenty years for drug trafficking and organized crime.”
“Why would Janice lie?” He questions.
“Janice was a junkie Jasper. All they do is lie.”
“Why is he coming after us then and why would he kill Janice?” Jasper asks. The time for secrets is over. It’s safer if Jasper knows what I am.
“I work for a man named Lorenzo Alvarez. He is currently the head of the Cuban drug runners known on the streets as Marielitos. I believe he killed Janice when she refused to give him you. The only person he can use against me.” The moment the reality of who I am is out of my mouth Jasper’s demeanor changes.
“What the fuck K.J.? How the hell did you keep this hidden from us? We were supposed to be your family.” He shouts.
“It was none of your business until now.” I reply calmly.
“None of our business. We grew up together for crying out loud. I confided in you about everything and you felt the need to keep this shit hidden. I thought you just had a shitty childhood that you were ashamed of, I had no idea you were a drug runner.”
“Hitman.” I clarify for him. “I don’t run their drugs. I kill their enemies.” His face blanches, turning to a sickly shade of white, “You’re fucking joking.” He states, but looking into his eyes I know he can tell I’m being truthful. He stands up with such force his chair goes flying behind him before crashing to the floor.
“Dammit K.J all those times you went MIA you were off murdering some poor bastard for your drug dealer boss. I can’t believe you would put yourself and everyone around you in that much danger. Do you have any idea how close Candice came to getting hit by that car?” He bellows out.
“This was not something I did to you or your wife. In case you are forgetting I am not the only bastard son that Anthony is after. I grew up in this world brother. I’m here to protect you, not beg for forgiveness over something that is none of your business. When your done acting like a spoiled brat you know where to find me.” I declare before turning around and walking out of the kitchen. I didn’t come here to get grief about my job description. I came here to share the secrets Jasper always wanted to know. He can’t handle the darkness that is my reality. This was a mistake.
Chapter 5
K.J.
I burn out of Jasper’s drive way needing to get the hell out of there. I’m on a time crunch to get down to the peer and question the mother fucker that has been jeopardizing Lorenzo’s shipments for the past month. I have been putting this off hoping to find whoever was coming after me and my family, but Lorenzo is becoming impatient, and I am no closer to finding Anthony.
The property the storage sheds line is vacant with no one around for miles. Lorenzo had these buildings put out here when I was thirteen. He told me this would be the place I would train and eventually become a master at manipulation and torture. He was wrong. Living in that cell, for all of my chil
dhood, taught me all I needed to know about the two.
I march into the last building on the far left. The moment I open the door the man, tied to a wooden chair, lifts his blind folded head toward the noise. “Water,” he pleas. His throat must be sore and dry from hours spent screaming to no avail. Each one of these buildings are set up with a camera that feeds live footage to Lorenzo’s main office. Where he will mostly likely watch everything I do to this poor bastard.
Ripping the blind fold off, I watch as his eyes try to adjust to the little bit of light coming from the fixture above. When he finally manages to stop blinking he looks over at me, “water.” I walk over to the table already set up with my tools. Grabbing a few nails and hammer I slowly walk back toward him. He watches me with part curiosity, fear, and amusement. He knew the risk that came in being a part of this life. “Tell me who you work for.” I say, trying to give him one chance to end this painless. He spits at me, spraying me in the face, “WATER.” He shouts, just as I hammer one of the three inch nails into his knee cap.
There are three ways these things always go. You have your tough guys that scream and yell before finally breaking down and begging for their lives. Then there are the pussies that can’t handle pain that always end up passing out after the first blow. Lastly, you have the rats. The ones that will spill their guts hoping for the best possible outcome, freedom. Lorenzo hates that I end their suffering quick, but they always take my warning serious and tell me everything I want to know. This trash here is a tough guy but I will break him. I always do.
I take another nail and drive it into the opposite knee cap, watching as he starts shaking from the pain. His body will soon go into shock. Taking several more nails I embed them into his shoulders, thighs, and feet. He has stopped screaming by now, his voice too hoarse. “Tell me.” I demand. “Waters.” He rasps out. Pulling his hair back I look him in the eyes, “who is it?” He gets a smirk on his face before whispering the one name that should never pass the lips of a dead man such as himself, “Elizabeth Waters.”
He starts laughing hysterically, coughing every so often. “He knows about her. Knows you watch her.” I stride over to the table and pick up the pair of channel locks. I don’t say anything to him. Just start prying his mouth open, and one by one rip every tooth from his skull. After the third one he passed out from the pain, but I have all the time in the world to wait for him to wake up. He is on borrowed time, but first, I will make him suffer for just uttering her name.
I know without a doubt that this is Anthony’s doing. If he’s trying to bring down Lorenzo why is he coming after my family, why not go after Lorenzo’s. I may be the best hit man on Lorenzo’s payroll but surely that is not the only reason. It makes no sense, so until I figure it out I’ll keep this information to myself.
I grow impatient waiting for this pussy to wake up on his own. Walking over to the chair I slap him across his face and watch as he comes to. The laughter and joy that was once in his eyes is replaced with fear. I can smell it coming off of him in waves causing my blood to start pumping faster. This is the shit I enjoy doing, he will die knowing he fucked with the wrong man. “If you think this is going to be painful just wait until we meet again in Hell. I will make you suffer an eternity for speaking her name.” Then I take my knife and start to skin this mother fucker alive.
Chapter 6
K.J.
My burner phone rings just as I’m stepping out of the building. The gloves I wore helped to keep the blood off my hands but the clothes I have on are drenched in it. That is one of the main reasons I only wear black.
I take the phone from my pocket and click the accept button, “yeah.” I spit out, knowing it is Lorenzo. He is the only one that calls me on this number, the only one in the organization that I talk business with.
“What did he say?” Lorenzo asks.
“Nothing of importance.” I reply, walking to my bike.
“That was a lot of blood shed for nothing of importance. Even for you.” He states, letting me know he was watching. There are no speakers hooked up to the camera feed so there is no way for him to know whether I am telling the truth.
“I’ve had a bad day.” I state as my reasoning.
“If I find you’re lying K.J. there will be serious consequences.”
“Don’t threaten me Lorenzo, I would hate for us to become enemies.”
“Speaking of enemies, have you found out who is going after your friends?”
I know he’s not asking out of the kindness of his black heart. I have started to suspect he is hiding something from me and the constant questions about Anthony is just building my suspicions. Not wanting to show him my cards just yet I give him the same answer I have every other time he asks, “not yet.” Then I hit the end button on the call not caring that he will be pissed I hung up on him.
I get on my bike and rev the engine enjoying the vibrations running through my hands. I have to make a surprise visit to Sticks’ house and together we need to figure out exactly where Jack and Anthony are. I know Anthony is nowhere near Tampa right now but there has to be a way for me to get his attention. A weakness he has that will bring him out of hiding.
Sticks is a skinny bald guy, with a baby face, that wears bottle cap glasses over his green eyes. He doesn’t look like a threat, but don’t let that fool you. He can do anything on a computer that could just as easily break you as my brute force.
“I need to know something by the end of the day.” I say to him leaning over the computer he’s working on. We’ve been at this for over an hour now and my patience is nearly gone. “Got it.” He cheers, in a joyful voice, looking up at me with his glasses falling down his nose.
“Jack is just a street name Anthony’s guy is going by. His real name is Sabastian Knight. He recently checked into a retirement home for the elderly. He visited a Maggie Knight.” He gives me the address before I leave, “if you find anything else let me know.” With that said I walk out his apartment feeling some relief that I’m one step closer to finding Anthony.
Chapter 7
Izzy
My phone rings in my pocket for the tenth time in a matter of minutes. I’m nearly finished with my shift at work so I justify answering with that logic. “Candice what is so important that you have…” She abruptly cuts me off, “Bethany and K.J. are in the Emergency Room at the same hospital Dalton’s dad works in. Someone attacked her when she was leaving work for home.”
“I’m on my way.” I mumble before hanging up the phone without waiting for a reply. I walk over to Tracy, the other waitress on duty tonight, and give her a quick explanation to give our boss before leaving in a rush. This has to be the same person that has been after us for months. I just hope Bethany and the baby are alright.
A short cab ride later, and I’m walking toward the emergency entrance. Candice and Jasper are outside waiting for me, “how are they?” I question walking up to them. I know it must be bad news when Candice looks down at her feet, leaving Jasper to answer my question. “They won’t tell us anything on Bethany.” He murmurs. “K.J. is getting stitched up right now. He got stabbed just above his right shoulder blade.”
“Which room is he in?” I ask already starting to walk away. “I’m not sure.” He yells out, “he didn’t want any of us back there.” Like that would ever stop me. I march into the emergency room determined to get the information I want. Strolling up to the receptionist desk, I make eye contact with the woman in pink scrubs. “I’m here to see Kade Johnathan.” I announce.
“And you are?” She asks.
“Here to see Kade Johnathan.” I declare once again for the ignorant woman.
“Yeah I got that part. What I need to know is how you are related to him?” She says starting to get an attitude. I look the heavy set woman over before stating, “I’m his wife.”
“Listen, lady, we have actual family members here for other patients. You can take a seat and see him when he is released.” Just when I am about to let my loose
tongue fly, and probably get thrown out of the hospital I hear his voice behind me, “Elizabeth.”
Turning around, so fast that I nearly give myself whiplash, I throw myself into his arms. I just need him to hold me long enough to know he is alright. K.J. may be strong but the steel of a blade is stronger. “Are you alright?” I mumble into his chest.
“Yes, so will you stop harassing the staff.” He replies back with a little bit of laughter in his tone. I give him one last squeeze before taking a step back. I immediately miss the warmth of his arms and the lingering smell of his cologne mixed with motorcycle oil. “What happened?” I ask. Hoping against all hope he will give me an answer.
“Where are Candice and Jasper?” He asks instead. He always does this, never wanting to tell me anything. It frustrates me so much that I just walk away before I punch him in his now fucked up arm. I walk back up to the receptionist desk, “I wanna know which room Bethany Myers is in.” I tell her.
“Let me guess, you’re her sister.” She responds in her snotty little voice, “she has been moved to the OB floor.” She says this like I should automatically know which floor that is. She must see the confusion in my eyes, because she takes pity on me, and changes her tone, “it’s the fourth floor.”
“Thank you.” I say in my fake sweet voice that I usually save for K.J.
I follow the signs to the elevators and eventually find them tucked away in a corner. K.J. is directly behind me, not touching, just close enough to feel his presence. We are standing at the elevator, waiting for the doors to open, when a gentleman walks up and pulls out a badge. “K.J.?” I whisper not at all trying to hide the concern in my voice. There is no way he could get into trouble for protecting a pregnant woman.
K.J. grabs my waist, making sure I only pay attention to him, “I’m going to go answer some questions. Do not worry and do not cause a scene, Elizabeth.” I shake my head without replying because I know if I open my mouth now that detective, behind him, will get an ear full. “That’s my girl.” He whispers before placing a kiss on my head. The happiness those words bring me is something I have tried to figure out countless times but gave up eventually. I just get a feeling of complete satisfaction.
Breaking The Silence (Fatally Flawed Book 3) Page 2