Twisted Wrath (Twisted Fate Book 2)

by Ashley Jade

  I can feel the rage slowly building inside. “That defeats the purpose of me even talking to you right now then. I need her to be protected while I'm in Mexico."

  I hear him sigh in the background. “Fine, I suppose I can send a few of my guys over there beforehand. Consider it done. However, after your part is done....consider yourself my business partner. I want half the cuts on everything...”

  I chuckle and cut him off. “I'll do you one better Antonio. You can have it all. I don't want any part of it.”

  I can smell the wood burning from how hard he's thinking over the phone. “What kind of person would be so willing to give all that up? It's your fucking family's empire. Are you pulling my leg? You gonna pull a fast one on me?" he screams.

  “No I'm not. And to answer your question...the kind of person who never fucking wanted it to begin with. Now, send your guys over. I have to leave soon."

  I hang up the phone before he can get another word in.

  I look up and find Moe standing in the doorway. “So what's the game plan? Am I flying you to Mexico.” he asks.

  Shit. I hadn't really thought about that.

  “I don't know. I mean, I can't exactly hop on an airplane packed and loaded. I'll never get through customs. I want to leave as soon as possible though...but I don't want to leave Dev alone."

  “I thought Antonio was sending his men over?”

  “He is. I need someone I can trust to stay back with Dev though.”

  He nods his head. “I have a friend that knows how to fly chopper's. If that's what you want. I would prefer to be going with you for backup, but it's your call."

  It was a no brainier.

  “Get your friend here. I'm going alone. I need you to protect her. I want everyone protecting Dev. I don't need the backup, I can handle this."

  “To be honest, I really don't think you should attempt to do this alone Tristan. I got this feeling in my gut.”

  I rub my face and look at the floor. “All the more reason to just get this done and over with. Can your friend be here in the next few hours?"

  “Yeah, I'll call him now,” he pauses. “Are we utilizing the secret room for Dev while you're gone?”

  I smirk at the thought. She's going to flip out, but it's the only way.

  “Yeah. Now, excuse me while I break the news to her.”

  Moe laughs. “Well...I still have a few tranquilizer needles left if you need them.”

  Hopefully, it doesn't have to come down to that...again.

  Chapter 13 (Dev)

  As per my usual modus operandi - I'm pacing the floors waiting for Tristan.

  When he finally walks back into the bedroom hours later, I feel the world collapse around me.

  Everything seems to happen in slow motion.

  He takes my hand and brings me downstairs into some type of room unlike any I've ever seen before.

  It's hidden behind a secret wall. Enclosed within the solid metal walls, there is a small bed, toilet, and refrigerator.

  “What is this Tristan and why are you bringing me here? What is going on?”

  He rubs his neck as his gaze drops to the floor. “I love you Dev,” he says. “I need you to be safe while I'm gone."

  “Where are going Tristan? Talk to me, please.”

  He lifts his head as his blue eyes swivel to mine.

  That's when the impact of what he's saying hits home.

  Oh god...no.

  “No. I won't let you do this Tristan. You can't...you'll die. Please, don't do this.”

  I turn to run as the metal walls of the room quickly close in around me.

  I'm trapped.

  I run over to the wall and start banging on it, but I know it's no use.

  I run back over to Tristan and attempt to slap him hard across the face, hoping to knock some sense into him.

  He reaches for my hand and brings it to his lips as a tear falls down my cheek. “It's the only way to protect you for good baby. I love you."

  I shake my head. “No Tristan. I'll give myself up to them. They can have me. I was planning on doing it anyway. I can't lose you. Please Tristan. I'm begging you."

  He brushes the tear from my cheek as fresh ones fall rapidly.

  “No baby. This is the only way.”

  I pound my fists against his chest. “No its not. They want me Tristan, not you. Let them have me, please.”

  He takes a step forward and wraps his arms around me. “Never baby. I will die before I let that happen.”

  I slump against him and fall to the floor in a hysterical sobbing mess...because I know that's exactly what's going to end up happening.

  “I love you Tristan,” I shout between loud sobs.

  He falls to the floor with me and wraps me in his arms.

  He then puts my hand over his heart...that action only causes me to cry harder.

  “I need you to breathe Dev...that's the only way this beats remember?” he whispers against my ear.

  “Then don't leave me Tristan...because I can't breathe without you.”

  He picks me up and lays me down on the bed before draping himself over me. “I don't have much time Dev. So please, just let me love you."

  He tilts my chin and kisses me with so much longing I can't help but continue to let the tears fall.

  I have to stop this from happening.

  He strips off both our clothes until we're laying against one another skin to skin.

  He tries smoothing my hair and whispering soothing words as he holds me close, but it's no use.

  The bolt of intuition is hitting me with such brutal force I feel sick.

  “Tristan please don't go. I really don't have a good feeling about this.”

  He clears his throat and sits up in the bed.

  He reaches down and picks up his pants off the floor. He pulls some type of key with buttons on it out of his pocket.

  “Do you see this right here?” he asks.

  I nod my head, even though I don't quite understand where he's going with this.

  “I'm the only person who has the key to open this room. This key will transmit a signal to open the wall from anywhere I am in the world. You are safe in this room Dev. No one but me will be able to come in here. Not even Moe...unless I allow it. If that wall opens for any reason it's only because the coast is clear and it's safe. Do you understand?"

  I roll my eyes. “Tristan I could care less about that. The bad feeling I have isn't about me...it's about you. Please, don't leave."

  Chapter 14 (Tristan)

  I knew this was going to be hard, but I never expected it to be so difficult.

  I'm trying my best to calm her fears, but I'm failing miserably.

  After I told her yet again that I was going, she hugged her knees to her chest and started sobbing hysterically again.

  She cried so hard she exhausted herself and fell asleep.

  The only thing I could do was lay next to her and hold her in my arms.

  Feeling her naked skin against mine was exactly what I needed.

  While she was sleeping, I studied every single inch of her beautiful body.

  All of her curves, the little freckles on her shoulder, the beauty mark on her right hip. The scar on her left knee.

  The way her chest rises and falls with every breath.

  The way her pouty pink lips form the perfect heart shape.

  The way her heart beats fast when I kiss that delicate spot behind her ear.

  The way she sighs my name as she sleeps while she reaches for my hand.

  The subtle hint of vanilla from her bodywash.

  I needed to surround myself in the beauty of her...just in case I never got the chance to again.

  She is the love of my life...and even if my life should end soon, I still consider myself the luckiest man alive.

  I'm so lucky that I was given the chance and the gift...to love and be loved by her.

  Then, ache fills my heart again. I hate that I lied to her about Alex.

&n
bsp; As much as I was trying to keep the truth about Alex from her to protect her...I also know that it was for very selfish reasons.

  I'm thinking about waking her up and telling her the truth, when a knock on the wall stops me.

  I know it's Moe's way of telling me that the pilot has arrived and it's time to go.

  With a sigh, I put my clothes back on and give her one last kiss.

  Dev instantly springs out of bed and rushes to put her own clothes back on.

  “I'm not letting you do this Tristan. I'm going with you,” she screams.

  God, I love how loyal and passionate she is.

  I try not to laugh because I know that will only make things even worse right now.

  “No baby. Look, I didn't tell you this before, but I had to enlist the help of the mob. Moe is staying here to watch over you, but there will also be some men from the mob here too. However, you don't have to worry because you won't see them. I need you to stay in here until I'm back. Remember, if that wall opens for any reason it's only because I activated it. Now, I really need you to try and relax...”

  I'm stopped mid sentence when she rushes over to me and kisses me so hard I almost lose my footing.

  I kiss her back with just as much devotion before she pulls away.

  “I love you and I'm going with you Tristan.”

  I close my eyes because she's given me no choice but to do this now.

  I press the button and the wall opens. Moe is standing there with the pilot.

  He walks over to us and I give him the signal.

  Dev attempts to run, but Moe puts her in a tight hold.

  She kicks him in the shin and tries to scratch him as he howl's.

  “No Tristan, please. I love you,” she shouts.

  I cup her face in my hands. “I love you too baby.”

  Then, I give her one last kiss as Moe plunges a needle into her thigh.

  I carry her over to the bed. “I love you,” I whisper, while silently hoping it won't be the last time I get to say those words to her.

  Chapter 15 (Tristan)

  We've almost landed when the urge to tell Dev the truth takes over my mind.

  She doesn't have her cellphone on her for obvious reasons, but I decide to leave her a voicemail.

  After she's safe and I take care of Alex, I have every intention of telling her the truth.

  In the event that something does happen to me...I still want her to know, just in case.

  I pull out my phone and notice that Antonio has attempted to call me about a dozen times already.

  Deciding to call him back later, I put the phone to my ear and dial Dev's number.

  “Baby it's me. Listen, there's something I wasn't honest with you about. I was trying you to protect you. I hope you don't hate me for this but...the man who's after you isn't my father. My father is dead. Alex is after you baby. He's alive and he wants you dead. I didn't have the heart to tell you before because I was afraid of what could happen once you found out. I was afraid that you wouldn't believe me, and if you knew he was alive you might put yourself in danger by running away to look for him. That's not the only reason though. I know you still love him and I was jealous Dev. I'm sorry, but I just didn't want to lie to you anymore. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. If you're hearing and finding out about this for the first time, then that probably means I didn't make it. If that's the case- please remember how much I truly love you Devonna. Remember, if you're still breathing then my heart is still beating...even in the afterlife. I love you more then anything...never forget that. I may not be yours, but you're my soulmate Dev.”

  After I take a deep breath, I decide to call Antonio back.

  “Why didn't you tell me you were leaving so soon!” he answers.

  That's strange.

  “What are you talking about Antonio?”

  I hear him sigh loudly. “Fuck...I fucked up Tristan. I thought you would still be in Alaska when my men got there.”

  I can see the landing platform for the helicopter on the horizon.

  Fear takes over my body.

  “What do you mean you fucked up Antonio? Fucked up how? I trusted you. We had a deal,” I grit through my teeth.

  “I thought you would still be there Tristan. I didn't expect you to leave already. I figured, I would help you out by bringing him right to you. I gave Alex the location in hopes that you would take care of him there. I purposely set him up. I figured, with the additional help from my men, it would be a one shot deal. I'm sorry. I was just trying to get it taken care of quickly. I didn't think you would be gone. I thought I was doing you a favor.”

  Some fucking favor.

  I've never had the urge to kill someone more in my entire life then at this moment.

  He just put the woman I love directly in the line of fire. The only solace I can take is knowing that the only person who can open the room that she's in is me.

  Hell, even if Alex bombs the place she'll still be protected.

  “I'm going to fucking kill you Antonio. I suggest you start planning your funeral now. In the meantime, when did you talk to Alex?”

  “A little over 6 hours ago.”

  “Thanks a lot asshole. You just fucked yourself. He'll be landing there at the same time I'm landing here. Which is right fucking now!”

  I hang up the phone and immediately dial Moe.

  The fact that he's not picking up only makes this feeling in the pit of my stomach worse.

  Turns out that I should have listened to Dev after all... I never should have left.

  We soon land, and the pit in my stomach grows into a full blown crater.

  I barely even have time to react before bullet's are flying.

  I duck for cover and pull out my own gun.

  I watch the pilot slump over as a bullet goes right through the side window of the cockpit at close range.

  Fuck.

  My only choices are to hide, or to fight.

  I have no idea how many of them there are, but I reach over the backseat of the helicopter and pull out my assault rifle.

  I take out 5 guys in under 7 seconds.

  I crawl and duck underneath the backseats.

  What I fail to take into account is that someone's already waiting in the shadows for me.

  I only have two options...shoot him or try to escape and see what awaits.

  I take my chances and shoot him right between the eyes.

  Less then a second later, the door to the helicopter is pulled open and I'm faced with 20 guys wearing gas masks.

  It throws me off, but I don't have time to rebound before my throat feels like it's on fire and everything becomes hazy as my body gives out.

  *********************************

  When I open my eyes...I come face to face with my worst nightmare.

  I recognize my surroundings immediately and I can't stop the bile rising in my throat.

  I look down at the multiple chains that keep me prisoner.

  There's no escaping.

  The sound of the cellar door opening demands my attention.

  For a second, I almost think it's the ghost of my father walking toward me.

  He's wearing a well-tailored suit, he smokes a cigarette with one hand and points a gun at me with the other.

  Even his stance is exactly the same as our fathers.

  One look into Alex's dark coal eyes tells me that death is in my very near future.

  “Betrayed by my very own brother,” he says before he takes a drag off his cigarette.

  I give him a smirk. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  He walks over and punches me across the face.

  He's bigger and stronger than he was 6 months ago, so his punch has some intensity behind it, I'll give him that.

  But I've been through worse, much worse.

  I spit at him and laugh.

  “You know how important she is to me. You know I needed my revenge. You know what I've endured all those years because of h
er. Do you have any idea what it was like to find out that my very own brother was the person hiding and keeping her from me!" he screams as his voice booms off the cellar walls.

  “It's not what you think Alex. She panicked after she killed Diego and she ran. She was just a scared 16 year old. She thought you were dead. She's fucking innocent and you know it!"

  His eyes shoot flames into me as he takes another step forward.

  “Well, I'll be damned.” He gives me an evil smirk. “You're in love with her, aren't you?”

  There's no point in keeping it from him.

  “Yes. I love her, more then anything. Even my own life. So, if you're going to kill me, then just do it.”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “I never thought I'd see the day.”

  “What the hell are you talking about Alex?”

  “It's quite funny actually, considering that fact that we both know that I was only born as a backup replacement for you. It was always you who was so important to him. Do you know how many countless hours I had to withstand of hearing him talk about how proud of you he was after you left? How proud of you he was for turning into a killer...for turning into him. How proud he was that you were going to be the one taking over for him one day. Clearly, what they say about being born the middle child isn't true when it comes to you. But then again...I guess that has something to do with your mother. We both know that even though she was nothing but a whore...he loved her."

  I stuff down the anger of his insult as much as I can. “So what Alex, you're still jealous of me? Is that what this is about? I never wanted any of those things. Fuck, I killed him for you Alex! I kept my promise to you! Don't take your hostility over me out on Dev. She's innocent!"

  He laughs again as I watch his jaw clench. “You know, sometimes karma really has a way of working itself out.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “I was always second best compared to you.”

  He pauses and gives me a chester cat smile. “Not when it came to her though. I was her first love...I was her first in many ways. And you know how that saying goes- 'You never forget your first love.' Not even when you think he's dead.”