Breaking The Silence (Fatally Flawed Book 3)

by Dusty Lassetter

  Tucking my head into my chest, I tell him the truth, “you’re the only person I know that isn’t afraid of him, and the only one who would help me put some space between us.” His grip tightens on the steering wheel, “Did he hurt you, Izzy?” He asks with a clinched jaw. I Immediately jump to K.J.’s defense, in spite of everything I just found out, “NO..No..He would never hurt me. I am probably the only person who can say that.” I mutter out.

  “Then why are you running?”

  I never answer his question, instead I turn my head, deciding to look out the window. I’m almost certain I’m probably the last person in our group to know exactly what K.J.’s job title is. Knowing how horrible this sounds, but not being able to help it, I am more hurt that he kept me in the dark longer than anyone else. Growing up in the house I did, my mother being the maniac she is, I always thought of my friends as more of a family then my actual one. When I first met Candice I was ecstatic, so much so, I almost scared her off. Living in Florida you are surrounded by a lot of fake people, so Candice was a breath of fresh air.

  Once I was introduced to Jasper, Dalton, and K.J. I was over the moon with happiness. The boy that I had been silently crushing on was now a part of the group I hung out with. He was never the talker, but I could always tell that he was taking in everything that was said. Eventually I got brave enough, and tried to get a reaction out of him. Just when I thought all hope was lost, the Halloween party happened, and he showed me that there was more to his blank stares. Then Candice suddenly left town and I remember thinking I was once again on my own, but K.J. showed up at my house one night demanding I get ready to go hang out at the train tracks. After that night K.J. became my shoulder to lean on, he was my person when Candice was away. So to find out that this deep connection I thought we both felt is one sided, hurts my soul in more ways than I thought possible.

  “Izzy. Hello, are you there?” Gunner asks, grabbing me on the shoulder. The sudden contact makes me jump and let out a squeak of surprise. Turning my head in his direction. The small smile on his face falls as he brings his left hand to my face. With the pad of his thumb he wipes away the tears I hadn’t realized I was shedding.

  “Don’t cry, beautiful. I’ll help you figure everything out.” He breathes out. Taking his hand, I slowly lower it, not comfortable with his touch anymore. Part of me wants to lean into him, remembering what we once had, but my body and heart both agree it’s not his touch they crave.

  “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Gunner. I called you as a friend. Nothing more.”

  “I knew you were going to say that. Just like I also knew K.J. would end up hurting you one day. I just thought it would involve bloodshed.” He mumbles as he gets out of the parked car. I’m taken back by his statements, but have no time to dwell on it when I look up and see the house we will be staying in. I’ve seen Gunner’s apartment, so I am more than curious to find out who’s fancy mansion this is. Opening the door, to the Florida evening air, I walk to the trunk to help Gunner with my bag.

  “You must have friends in high places.” I state. He gives me a curious look, so I nod my head in the direction of the house, and his handsome face lights up with laughter once again.

  “That statement is truer then you think, but this is my house. Well our house for as long as you’re here.” He declares giving me a wink over his retreating shoulder. Closing the trunk, I rush after him, planning on getting answers to all the questions I have.

  “I thought you said you worked in sales? You must be a penny pincher to afford this on a salesman salary.”

  “Let’s just say I have a side job that pays more than enough for me to live comfortably.” The statement has me stopping in my tracks, the idea that I have single handedly bagged two men that live on the wrong side of the law, making me feel sick to my stomach.

  “Are you alright, Izzy?” Gunner asks.

  “Do you work for someone named Lorenzo Alvarez?”

  “Look at me, Izzy.” Gunner demands, now standing in my personal space. “I have never and will never work for a drug lord like Lorenzo Alvarez. Believe it or not, my parents raised me to be a law abiding citizen.” The clarification that he is not an overnight thug helps me breathe a little easier.

  “How did you know Lorenzo Alvarez was a drug lord?”

  He looks taken back by the question before eventually answering, “I saw a story about him on the news about two months back.”

  “Well, Mr. Law Abiding Citizen, will you kindly show me to my room. I would love to unpack and take a shower before I go to bed.” I state. With a slight nod of his head, he gestures for me to follow him, and we continue to make our way into the two story house that could easily fit four of my apartments in it.

  Chapter 29

  K.J.

  I pull the throttle back, eating up as much asphalt as possible, trying to get to Izzy’s apartment. Deep down I knew it was not the time to leave her alone, but under the circumstances it couldn’t be avoided. Sticks had called to let me know that Anthony has just been spotted in Florida. Looking at the photos, that Sticks was able to get, proves he has come out of hiding. That could only mean one thing, Anthony has a plan. Something bigger than just going after my family.

  Turning in to the apartment complex I know I’m too late, and she is gone. Scanning the parking lot, around her building, I see nothing but clueless people walking to and from their vehicles. Pulling into my normal spot I retrieve my phone from my jacket pocket and start dialing Stick’s number. Walking toward the building’s entrance, still dialing the number, something on the ground captures my attention. Strolling to the object, that is catching the sun’s rays, I don’t bother completing my call.

  Bending down, with my back to the building, I pick up Izzy’s crushed phone. There is no way she dropped it and someone just happened to run it over. The location of the phone makes that impossible. It looks to me like this was no accident. Putting the pieces of the phone into my jacket pocket. I straighten back up, pissed off that her GPS tracker will now be useless, and it will take longer to find her.

  The walk up to her apartment does nothing to calm the rage that is currently taking residence in the deepest part of my soul. I knew she would take the news about my life worse than the others, but the thought that she would run never occurred to me. Knowing she is out there, where Anthony or Lorenzo could possibly grab her, send a feeling of panic through my system. The childhood I had makes it impossible to feel much of anything but hate and anger, but Izzy changed that. She is a part of me now, and I will not stop until I get her back.

  The guard that I hired to watch Izzy, is not like the ones Jasper hired for everyone else, this is one of my guys. He was one of the best collectors on Lorenzo’s payroll until I offered him this job. Lorenzo was beyond pissed that I snatched away the only reliable person that would go collect the money owed to him, but when it comes to me he knows he needs to choose his battles.

  I don’t bother asking any questions right now, just stare into his eyes, wanting him to realize this could be the last conversation he ever has. His pupils being dilated, shoulders staying slumped, and the sweat on his brows lets me know he’s aware of his fuck up.

  “I swear I tried to stop her. Then she threatened to call the cops and I panicked. They have been trying to make a case on me for working with Lorenzo. They wouldn’t have bat an eyelash if she hollered rape.” He states nervously.

  My only response is to tilt my head, remembering all the times he has beaten people within an inch of their lives over some drug money, thinking he is the biggest pussy I have ever met. He let my woman, all five feet of her, threaten him with fake accusations. This man that is over six foot, linebacker shoulders, and hands the size of baseball mittens.

  “I made it down stairs just in time to see her get in and drive off. I didn’t get a chance to see who was driving but I did see the plates on the car. X63TP2.”

  “What was your job?” I ask in a deathly calm voice.

 
He takes a step back, visibly swallowing down his fear, before answering. “To protect and watch Izzy.”

  “When you took the job what did I tell you?”

  “You warned me that I would suffer unimaginable pain if she were to ever get hurt.” He states, “but she isn’t hurt. I will help you find her; I swear on my life I will help you find her.”

  “I only give one warning.” I declare before rushing in, hitting him so hard in the temple he goes down easily. It’s not going to please Izzy if she were to ever find out the horrible things I will do to this mother fucker in her apartment, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

  Grabbing the key out of my pocket, I turn to unlock the door, to find out it’s already open. Standing there in a silk rob, riding up her bare thighs, is Kiersten. I am surprised to see her there, which never happens. I must have been so caught up with my anger towards this asshole, now lying unconscious in the hallway, that I didn’t hear the door open. Kiersten lets her blue eyes graze over the situation in front of her, before getting an evil smirk on her lips. “I’m pretty sure that would be considered assault.” She states.

  I say nothing to her, my mind screaming at me to leave no witnesses, but the fact that she is Izzy’s sister saves her from my usual thinking. Taking a step in her direction, staying as far out of her personal space as possible, I offer up a solution. “You need to forget anything you just saw and find somewhere else to stay.”

  She swings her long blonde hair over her left shoulder before taking the steps needed to be mere inches from me. With her left index finger, she tries to make a trail from my chest to my jeans. “How about I help you get him inside then you fuck my brains out and help me forget everything I just saw.” She says biting her bottom lip. Yanking her hand away from me, by grabbing her wrist, I twist her arm turning her around. With her back now to my chest, she wiggles her ass, thinking she is going to get what she wants. Placing my hand over her throat, feeling her fast pulse, she lets out a small moan.

  “If you ever fucking touch me again I will make you regret it.” I whisper into her ear, before shoving her off me and further down the main hallway. She lands on her hands and knees, looking up at me with wide eyes, finally understanding I am not someone to fuck with. Walking back toward the asshole I have plans for, I grab his ankles, and proceed to drag him through the open door. Before I close it all the way, I make sure to inform Kiersten about my one kind rule, “I only give one warning.” I state before shutting the door in her, now blood drained, face.

  Chapter 30

  Izzy

  I’ve spent the last two nights crying myself to sleep, craving K.J.’s touch. Then I close my eyes and see the look on his face when he told me he murders people for a living, and any doubt I had about making the wrong decision instantly vanishes. There was no remorse in his eyes and his body language showed no sign of shame. It was like I was in a twilight zone. How could I be so clueless?

  I stayed in this bed all day yesterday while Gunner brought me lunch and dinner that went untouched. My stomach is screaming at me to get out of bed and follow the smell of pancakes coming from somewhere in the house.

  Standing in the bathroom, looking in the mirror, I see a sad excuse for the girl I used to be. My hair is tangled, eyes swollen and red, and my nose is raw. Bending over the sink, cupping my hand under the cold water running from the faucet, I splash some on my face. Although my body will protest with every step I take and my heart still feels like it will never be whole again. I have to get out of this room and at least try to start the long journey of getting over K.J.

  Fully dressed, in a frilly pink skirt and an old Backstreet Boy’s t-shirt, I make my way down stairs letting my nose lead the way. Gunner is standing over the counter top stove, flipping pancakes, none the wiser I am now watching him. This makes me think of the many times I have tried to sneak up on K.J. only to be the one that got surprised.

  There is one particular time when we were at the gym, after one of our defense classes, that he got me really good. I had snuck into the men’s locker room, where he was taking a shower, to not only scare him but also get a glimpse at what he had been denying me. Jasper, Dalton, and Liam had already left so I knew it was only him still in there. Trying to be as stealthy as possible, I tip toed to the shower that was running, pulling the curtain back only to find it empty. With a disappointed sigh, I turn around, bumping into a large body now blocking my path. Judging by the look on his face I can tell he isn’t happy about my sneaking around. K.J.’s not the type of person that likes pranks, yet I couldn’t give up until I at least got him once. When he started questioning me, I did what anyone would have, I started retreating backwards. The problem with that was, the shower was still on and I ended up soaking wet. He looked a little to smug for my liking, so I started stripping out of the soggy clothes. His eyes went from their usual darkness to midnight black, and I thought he would finally take what I was offering. When he turned around and walked away without so much as a word, I remember calling him a pussy, right before the door slammed shut to the locker room.

  “… Izzy. Where did you just go?” Gunner asks, looking at me with a spatula in his left hand. “You zoned out with a goofy grin on your face.”

  “Sorry.” I say shaking the memory from my thoughts. “Those pancakes smell delicious.” I announce just as my stomach makes a sound of appreciation from the smell alone.

  “Have a seat.” He states. Walking to the bar that overlooks the kitchen, on his left side, I pull out a swanky looking metal stool. This kitchen reminding me of a page out of, Modern Magazine. I don’t like it. All this metal and white makes me feel like I am in a doctor’s office.

  “While you were sleeping the day away yesterday, I went to the market. The refrigerator and pantry are completely stocked. You can help yourself to whatever you want.”

  “Thank you, Gunner.” I whisper. He places a full plate of pancakes in front of me. “You don’t have to thank me, Izzy. I could never deny you anything. Let alone food.” He jokes.

  “Not only for the food. Thank you for everything you’re doing for me.”

  “I don’t want you to worry about any of that. Just know that you can stay here as long as you need.”

  Giving him a small smile, I take a huge bite of my syrup drenched pancakes. Barely taking time to chew my food, I am halfway done when, Gunner, breaks the silence that has settled over us. “There is something that I need to deal with at the office today. It shouldn’t take long. Why not spend the time exploring the house? When I get back we can go over the dinner plans.” He states.

  “Are you not going to eat?” I ask.

  “I ate before you came down. I’m actually late to my meeting. I just wanted to make sure you tried to eat something today.” He declares.

  “Since you made breakfast. It’s only fair that I make dinner.” I declare, “what time will you be home?”

  With a huge smile on his face, that lights up his eyes, “it’s going to be nice coming home to a hot cooked meal. I’ll be home at six.” He states, placing all the dirty dishes in the sink, before walking toward me. “I’ll see you later, beautiful.” He whispers, bending down, giving me a soft kiss on my cheek. Watching his retreating back I feel guiltier now more than ever. By coming here, I feel I’ve given him false hope. Letting him think we may still have a chance at a romantic relationship.

  Chapter 31

  K.J.

  Sticks meets me at my apartment shortly after I have tied Sal to a chair and left him in Kiersten’s room. There is plenty of time for me to deal with him later. Right now my first priority needs to be locating Izzy. Thankfully the license plate came back registered to someone I know, the bad news is Gunner now has what is mine. I had already made plans for him, since he didn’t take my warning to stay away from her serious, now they will involve more pain and blood.

  “He isn’t at the house you had cameras and microphones placed. I looked through all the camera feed. He hasn’t been there all w
eek.” Sticks says.

  “I want to know anything there is to know about him that we apparently missed the first time.” I demand.

  “I’ve already been searching for any relatives we may have missed. This may take a little longer than you like, but I’m positive I will find her.

  “I DON’T HAVE TIME.” I yell out. For the first time, in my life, losing my temper. The longer she is out there, without me to protect her, the easier it will be for my enemies that I’ve tried to keep her from to find her before I can. Looking over at Sticks, seeing the expression of concern and fear on his face, I decide right now may be the perfect time to pay an old friend a visit. Throwing a wad of cash onto the table, I turn to leave the apartment, yelling over my shoulder. “Call me when you get a lead?”

  The house is locked when I get there, and by the looks of the security system it might take me a while to let myself in. I parked my bike in a wooded area, two miles away, so the owner doesn’t get suspicious before he even arrives home. This isn’t my first time, with precise movements, I’m easily able to break into the back window without setting off the alarms. I walk around the unfamiliar house, memorizing the layout of the rooms before finding the perfect spot to lay in waiting.

  The sound of someone opening the front door, then punching in a code to the alarm, can be heard throughout the house just before I let my presence be known. Walking out of the dark corner, I clear my throat, trying to get Barbara’s attention. When she turns around, her bright red hair swings with her movement, and her smile turns into a look of fear and confusion. Her husband Kyle, seeing the change in her body language, sits down the baby seat.

  “Hello Agent Marks. Nice family.” I state, looking between his wife and new born son still in his car seat outside the door. He is smart to not bring him in, if someone of my nature showed up at my door, I would put as much distance between them and my family too.