Twisted Wrath (Twisted Fate Book 2)

by Ashley Jade

  I can't hold back the hysterical fit of laughter that erupts.

  I can't believe he went through the trouble of preparing some kind of breakup slumber party for me.

  He smiles as he hands me a tub of ice cream. “Putter pecan still your favorite?”

  I eagerly take the ice cream along with a spoon. “Yes sir. By the way...let's go with The Notebook.”

  He walks behind me as we enter a room that looks like some type of giant home movie theater.

  “The Notebook it is...any reason why?”

  “Well. Mean Girls- puts me in a bad head space. He's Just Not That Into You- is just plain cruel, for obvious reasons. Call me an optimist, but I need to believe that there's still some good men in the world."

  He shakes his head and laughs as we plop down on the big leather chairs.

  ***********************

  “Mira...why are you crying? You picked the movie Bonita. I wanted to make you feel better...not worse,” he says as he hands me a box of tissues.

  I can't even answer him because I'm blubbering so hard.

  He lets out a sigh of frustration as he walks me up the stairs and into the pink bedroom.

  “You just don't get it Alex. He waited for her for 7 years. They almost didn't end up together.”

  He looks down. “Try waiting 13 years,” he mutters under his breath.

  “What?”

  He shakes his head. “Nothing. Look, the important thing is that they did end up together. It was a happy ending.”

  I stomp my foot on the ground. “They both died Alex.”

  He grins. “They were old...that's what happens.”

  A giggle escapes me. The man has a point. “I guess I'm being a little over dramatic. Thank you for tonight Alex. It meant a lot actually. You did make me feel better."

  He leans in closer to me. “Please don't cry over him, he's not worth those beautiful tears of yours,” he whispers.

  I stand there speechless as he leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

  “Goodnight Bonita. My rooms down the hall if you need me. I'll be here in the morning to make sure you get your ass out of bed tomorrow. I want to spend the day together."

  I'm crawling into bed when his statement causes me to shiver.

  Why the hell would Alex think my tears were beautiful?

  What a strange thing for him to say.

  Chapter 23 (Tristan)

  I haven't seen Alex since he had me make that phone call to Dev. I spend all my time hoping that she hears that voicemail and it won't be too late.

  She's going to be devastated when she finds out that he killed Aaron and Nathaniel. They were like family to her.

  They were the only people that she's ever let in...besides me.

  As the whip crosses my back for the 10th time today, My mind drifts back to the last conversation with my mother.

  ********************

  “I hate that this is happening. I fucking hate cancer. I wish I could save you. I wish I could just kill it,” I screamed.

  The blonde curls from my mother's wig turn from side to side.

  “No honey. Don't be a killer. You'll be just like him then. I didn't raise you to be that way.”

  “Can you tell me about him Mom? I mean, I know he's a horrible man...but there had to be some good in him. Somewhere.”

  She closes her eyes and reaches for my hand.

  “There was. Once upon a time your father treated me like a princess. He was sweet, and kind, and caring. I fell head over heels in love with him. He was my everything. He was my soulmate."

  “So what happened?”

  “He changed. Or rather, I failed to see the person he really was deep down inside. I failed to see that his soul was evil. I failed to see all the wrath his heart was covered in, until it was too late."

  A tear streams down her cheek and I silently kick myself for even bringing him up at a time like this.

  “I'm sorry Mom. I shouldn't have asked you.”

  She sniffles. “That's not why I'm crying honey. I'm crying because I'm thankful.”

  “I'm confused Mom. How can you be thankful that your soulmate turned out to be an evil monster?”

  She squeezed my hand. “Because I was gifted with another soulmate. He just happens to call me Mom. You're the very best parts of him and me."

  “Yeah, but it's only because you raised me,” I said as a tear rolled down my cheek.

  I never got emotional, but watching my mother die was catastrophic on my heart. It felt like I was dying right along with her.

  “I'm not so sure about that. You had every reason to turn out like him, but you didn't. You're going to make some woman very lucky one day you know."

  I shake my head. “Sorry Mom...but I'm never falling in love. I mean, look at what it did to you. Besides...what's the point of trying to find my soulmate anyway. I'm pretty sure my soul's about to die right along with you."

  She sits up in bed and looks me right in the eyes. “Don't you dare give up on love Tristan. There is a woman out there for you. She's going to fix your heart, she's going to take the pain away and make you whole again. She's going to change your life. You'll see. You're going to feel it. You'll know it," she said.

  Her breathing soon became labored and she had to lay back down in the bed again.

  I knew the time was near.

  “I love you Mom. I really don't want you to die. I don't want you to leave me,” I sob as more tears roll down her cheek.

  “I'll always be with you Tristan. I'll be with you during your darkest moments as well as your best ones. Nothing can separate us, not even death. I'll be with you every time you laugh. Every time you cry. I'll be with you when you fall in love for the first time. I will never leave you. Just promise me that you won't become him, please,” she said through scattered breaths.

  I crawl into bed with her and hold her in my arms.

  “I promise Mom. I won't become him. I love you.”

  I gave her one last kiss on the forehead as she closed her eyes and drifted off peacefully.

  Chapter 24 (Dev)

  I've been in Mexico for 11 days now.

  Alex and Maria have been by my side non-stop.

  The weight of crushing pain in my chest is far from gone, but I'm finally able to breathe a little easier.

  Besides Tristan breaking my heart, I now have another concern.

  I still haven't heard from Aaron or Nathaniel since I've been here.

  I've left them countless messages with a return number where they can reach me.

  They haven't.

  Every time I suggest going back to New York, Alex swoops in and plans something else for us to do.

  Oddly enough, he's been my rock through this.

  I'm not quite sure about my feelings when it comes to him though. One one hand, it feels just like old times between us. He's charming, caring, attentive. He's exactly the same person he was when he was a teenager. It's surreal.

  He makes it easy to love him...or rather, to bring the love I still have for him up to the surface.

  On the other hand, I know we're going to have to talk about everything soon.

  It can't go on like this forever between us. We can't keep running from what happened in the past.

  As if sensing my thought's I hear his footsteps approaching.

  “Get dressed Bonita. I want to take you someplace special,” he says with a big grin on his face.

  I glance at the clock on the nightstand.

  “Alex, it's 10 o'clock on a Tuesday night. Where in the world are you taking me?”

  “You'll see. Meet me in the backyard in 5 minutes,” he says before leaving.

  What an odd request.

  I shimmy out of my pajamas and throw on a pair of denim cutoff shorts and a white tank top.

  I walk over to the mirror and put some lip-gloss and mascara on.

  Then I stop myself.

  What the hell am I doing?

  I'm still heartbroken over T
ristan.

  He broke my heart into a million pieces. He broke more then my heart...he broke my soul.

  I shouldn't be putting on makeup to go hang out with Alex.

  But, then again, 'Everything happens for a reason,' I remind myself.

  Maybe Alex is the person I was meant to be with, despite our horrible past.

  I can't deny that I'm attracted to him. Any straight woman with a pulse would be attracted to him.

  I also can't deny that he was my first love.

  He was my first everything- my first kiss, my first time, my first heartbreak.

  No one can ever take that place.

  I close my eyes as the thought hits me.

  Even if Alex and I find our way back together....what Tristan and I had was different.

  It felt different. It was more then love...I know that.

  It felt like he was the missing part of me, and I've never felt that before.

  I'll never feel that again.

  No one can ever take that place.

  I don't even realize that I'm sobbing until I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around me as they hold me against their chest.

  “Shhh, Bonita. It's okay...it's okay,” Alex whispers as he rocks me against him.

  I let myself cry for a few more moments before I remind myself to be strong.

  I sniffle as I raise my head to look at him. “I'm never wearing mascara again. I probably look like a raccoon right now,” I say, attempting a smile.

  He looks into my eyes as he brushes his thumb along my lips. “You look beautiful Dev. Just like the very first time I saw you.”

  I suck in a breath and look down. His words shouldn't have this effect on me. Especially after all that he's done.

  But every time I look at him...I still see the boy I was in love with.

  Before he hurt me, before he betrayed me.

  I still see the boy who risked his life to save mine.

  I still see the only person in the world who's ever really loved me.

  Dammit get it together Dev.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, trying to get us back on neutral territory.

  He takes my hand. “Follow me.”

  We walk out to the backyard and he leads me to...a golf cart.

  I raise a brow and look at him. “We're going golfing right now?”

  “No Bonita. The grounds surrounding the mansion are huge. It's at least a 15 minute walk to get to where I want to take you. A golf cart will get us there in 5 minutes."

  I take a seat beside him and look around.

  He wasn't kidding. This place really is huge.

  “What's that?” I ask, pointing to what looks like a huge warehouse of some sort.

  I feel his entire body tense. “That's someplace you will never see.”

  “Geez Alex, could you be a little more vague?”

  He looks straight ahead and clears his throat. “You don't want to know what that place is Dev, trust me.”

  I let out a sigh of frustration. “Try me.”

  He shakes his head. “Fine. You asked for it. That is someplace where the Cartel takes care very serious matters.”

  “What kind of serious matters?”

  “Violent things Dev...get the picture?”

  I shift uncomfortably. “You mean like murders?”

  “Yeah Dev. See why I didn't want to tell you?”

  I nod my head softly. Then it dawns on me.

  “So Alex...if your father isn't the head of the Cartel anymore...who is?”

  I watch his jaw clench. “Well, technically it's supposed to go to the first born son. Once he's dead, it eventually passes down the line of son's."

  An uneasy silence lags between us then.

  “So does that mean that Tristan is supposed to take it over now?”

  He grips the wheel and I see his knuckles turn white.

  “Yeah,” he grits through his teeth.

  I can't stop my mouth from dropping open. “You mean, he's actually going to do it? Oh my god. I never thought he would ever do something like that. I mean, I know that in the past he did...but it was only because he was forced and he had no choice."

  I hear him let out a breath. “I'm sorry Dev.”

  “Alex you don't do those kind of things...right?” I whisper.

  He stops the golf cart and turns to face me. “I work for the Cartel Dev. I have no choice, it's my family's business. However, I try and remain far away from those aspects of it."

  I nod my head as he continues driving.

  “So are you like on vacation right now or something? Because we've been spending every day together practically. I mean, not that I'm not happy or grateful. I'm just wondering."

  He arches his brow. “Vacation? Yeah, you can say that I guess. That's certainly a way of putting it.”

  An odd sensation works it's way up my spine, but I ignore it when we stop driving and we come face to face with an exact replica of the lake we used to go to back in Arizona.

  “How in the world? This is insane Alex. It looks exactly like where we used to go,” I say in awe.

  He grins and takes my hand. “I know Bonita. That was kind of the point.”

  I close my eyes as he drapes a blanket over the dock.

  We sit and twirl our feet above the water.

  “This is so surreal,” I whisper.

  “Yes, it is,” he says looking at me.

  “I feel like I'm a teenager again.”

  He grins as he pulls out a bottle of wine, pours it in a glass and hands it to me.

  I giggle. “Okay, maybe not quite a teenager.”

  “Do you remember the first time I kissed you?” he asks.

  I take a deep breath. “Of course. I mean, you were my first kiss.” I close my eyes. “You were my first love Alex. I could never forget you."

  He tilts my chin as I open my eyes. “I could never forget you Bonita.”

  I feel my cheeks flush and I look down. “Look at me Bonita,” he whispers.

  I glance up as his lips softly brush against mine.

  I'm enclosed in a cage of memories as I feel his tongue sweep across mine and I sigh.

  Then, like a bolt of lightening...I'm reminded of Tristan.

  I pull away from him. “I'm sorry Alex, I can't. I'm not ready. It's too much.”

  He looks down. “I understand. I'm sorry. ”

  “I mean, I liked it,” I say, surprising myself with my brutal honesty.

  “I just. I need some time.”

  He squeezes my hand and gives me a smile. “Let's go for a swim.”

  I shake my head. He stands up and rolls his eyes. “The waters filtered Bonita,” he says.

  I bite my lip. “It's not that. I just...I don't have a bathing suit.”

  He turns his lips up in a mischievous grin. “You have your birthday suit.”

  I stand up and slap him playfully. “I'm not getting naked in front of you Alex.”

  He strips off his pants until he's standing in his boxers and a wife beater tank top.

  He raises a brow. “It's nothing I haven't seen before.”

  Before I can argue, I feel the splash from him diving in the water.

  “I won't look, I promise,” he shouts.

  I shake my head. “Fine Alex. You win. Close your eyes.”

  I strip off my shirt and pull down my shorts, until I'm standing in my bra and underwear.

  “Black g-string...nice,” Alex taunts.

  I feel my cheeks heat up until I look down. I'm not wearing a black g-string. I'm wearing red lacy boyshorts.

  “Nice try jerk. Try red boyshorts,” I shout.

  I hear him chuckle. “Even better. Now get that red lace covered ass of yours in the water,” he shouts.

  I plug my nose and jump in. “You said you wouldn't look,” I sputter when I come up to the surface.

  He smirks as he swims over to me. “I didn't look. I just tricked you into telling me what your panties looked like. Thank you for that by the way."
>
  I poke him in the chest. “I never told you they were lace.”

  He bites his lip. “Okay. So I had a peak. I couldn't help myself Bonita.”

  I roll my eyes and smile. “I swear, you haven't changed one bit Alex.”

  He swims closer to me and puts his hands around my waist.

  “I was thinking the exact same thing.”

  A current of heat streams between us, and before I know it- I'm the one kissing him.

  He groans as I reach for his neck and pull him deeper into the kiss.

  Then, I see Tristan's face and I stop breathing.

  I push him away. “I'm sorry Alex. I can't.”

  He sighs. “Why?”

  I decide to be honest with him. “It's Tristan. Every time we kiss... all I see is him. I really loved him Alex.”

  He tilts my chin up to look at him. “I know you loved him, but he didn't love you Dev. He will never love you the way that I do. You were mine first Dev. I loved you first, I will love you last. I will love you forever."

  He leans his forehead against mine. “Para siempre...remember?” he whispers before he leans in to kiss me again.

  I wrap my legs around his waist and grind against his erection as we continue kissing.

  Then, I stop.

  Only it's not thoughts of Tristan causing me to stop this time.

  It's Alex.

  It's the past. It's what he did.

  I push him away from me again.

  I hear him grunt. “You know Dev. I'm getting really sick of this shit. You either want me, or you don't. I'm not just something to use."

  I feel the dam begin to break. I couldn't stop myself even if I wanted to.

  I glare at him before I lift myself out of the water and stand on the dock.

  He follows me, but I step away from him.

  “Something to use? You really have some fucking nerve Alex.”

  He looks at me, confusion and anger swimming in his eyes...and for a second I no longer see the beautiful flecks of gold in them.

  I lift my chin and stare him down before I continue. “Look, I was trying to keep my emotions in check about that night, but I can't do it anymore. You hurt me Alex. You broke me. I almost died because of you. You were the one who used me, I was a a fucking set-up!" I scream before I start running toward the house.