“You know what happened?” How could she possibly know? There was no way a woman, even an elite woman, was privy to this information. It was highly classified. I didn’t even like thinking about it.
“Yes...and I know why. And now...more and more information is being exposed...It’s finally happening Liam.”
“What’s happening?”
“The take down. The movement against them. The group.”
This was huge. This was more than huge. This was a lethal and deadly position she was now in. How did she become a part of this?
“Delia, you need to tell me how you know about what happened in New York. How do you know about what was released to the authorities? How do you possibly know any...?”
“Liam,” she cupped my cheeks. “I helped make this happen.”
It couldn’t be true. This wasn’t happening. Not to us. I knew what she was talking about. The tycoon three killings were a reactive response from the New York City Mafia whose daughter and fiancé were being bullied by the Lappell. Hamilton Brooks was trying to force the kingpin of New York’s daughter to join with the Lappell because of her fiancé Joshua Hollows. When they tried to leave, the Lappell killed Hollows and the girl went into hiding.
But how was Delia tied to all this?
“Wait...” I said, realizing I knew the answer. I’d always known the answer. I’d known and pretended it wasn’t real. “The cottage...that night. Hamilton Brooks. Joe...from New York. It was Big Joe, the Mafia kingpin on your cell that night wasn’t it?” The rain hitting the pavement and the rooftops everywhere around us was the only sound between us as I let all this information sink in. “FUCK DELIA! What did you do?”
“I helped initiate change Liam. Like I said I’d always wanted to do for people like us.”
“But you’re free now...you can come back with me. We can be together. Me and you can have a future...a family. It’s what we’ve been talking about for months.”
“No Liam. I can’t go back with you. There’s more like us. So many more who want to bring them down from the inside. I need to be involved. And now people are looking to me for guidance. I’m part of something bigger.” Delia’s hands went to my waist. “Look Liam, I promised someone that I would watch help watch over his son. I need to make sure he’s safe. I need to make sure my brother and his lover are safe too. I owe him this. His sacrifice...his information...it set me free. And now he’s started the group that will bring them down. Can maybe destroy the Lappell. I have to be part of this.”
“Wait...that night at the cottage...the blood...the person who was shot...it’s...it’s...”
Her hand covered my lips. “Yes. It’s him. He’s supposed to be dead. But he’s not. He lived. He’s alive. But he gave up everything he ever wanted to do this. He gave up his life with his son...the woman he loves to protect them and bring down the Lappell in the shadows. He contacted me. Me. Because he knew I would understand and keep his secret. Help hide him. And I can’t turn away from this. He gave my brother the love of his life, and my brother doesn’t even know it. He just stepped aside, and gave him the woman he wanted. It was the ultimate act of sacrifice. And I promised him that I would help him do this. Out of respect. Out of a debt I feel I owe. He deserves my support. And I want to be part of this uprising. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me.”
“But what about me? What about our future? Because I still don’t understand Delia...are you saying you’re choosing this group...this promise you made to him...over our love?”
“It’s not like that Liam. You’ll always be my first choice. But I have to do this. For my family, for his son...for the others like us...For him too. The Lappell tried to kill him. He was shot. Everyone believed he was dead, even his pregnant fiancé he left behind. But he lived...and decided to dedicate his life in secret to changing this world. To protect his family’s life and their future. And never knowing his child to keep them safe.”
“I just can’t believe this is happening.”
“There’s so much more to the story Liam...but right now...I...”
The sounds of screeching brakes and voices rippled through the darkness as we stood in the wet cold.
“You have to go Liam. Now. Please. They’re here looking for me. They suspect I’m part of them. So I have to leave too. But I need you to do something for me.”
“Delia...?”
“There’s a warehouse over on Smithton Street. The keys are in the mailbox. My brother stored his lover’s painting there. Big Joe’s daughter’s painting. It means a lot to him and I promised I would keep it safe. But I can’t now...Will you take it back to the States with you? Please. It would mean a lot to me if you kept it...and it would mean a lot to him too. Having you on our side. Protecting his past. His legacy. His secret.”
I had always been an advocate for this cause, but this was so real now. It had spilled into my life. It was changing my future. It was something I’d always wanted too, but now that it was happening, I was scared of its cost.
“This isn’t our goodbye is it? This can’t be the end...of us...”
“I don’t know Liam. But right now you have to run...and I’ve got to run. I will try and contact you soon...When you’re safe...back home...”
“I...” Delia reached for me, her eyes pleading for me to understand what she had to do. I wanted to understand...I wanted to help her. I knew her need to destroy them went a lot further than my own. The things she was made to do...and her family. I couldn’t ask her to choose me over something that would haunt her for the rest of her life if she didn’t do this. She was still so broken inside, even with our love, and now she had a chance to change the future for other girls like herself and families like her own.
It was her lips I felt next. So full of love and passion and they were on mine before I had a chance to ask more questions, to change her mind about leaving. I kissed her back, with every ounce of love inside me. She was the only girl I had ever loved. I didn’t think I’d ever love again the way I loved Delia Weston. She was it for me.
Her hands were on my chest like she was trying to reach in and hold my heart in her own hands. God, I wanted to tell her it would always be in her hands. That no matter of time would change that. But she pulled me towards her body, desperately, like she wasn’t sure if I would forgive her for doing this...for choosing something she knew she had to do.
“I love you so much Delia. It will never change. No matter if a year passes. No matter if ten years pass. You are part of me. I know that. I’ll wait for you.”
“Liam...I...I...” She was crying. Delia never cried. I held her in my arms. We could hear more voices in the distance. They were getting close.
“One day Liam...we will...” She broke out of our embrace, knowing we had mere minutes to spare before we were discovered.
“I will always love you too.” She whispered. “There will never be anyone else.” Her palms were on my chest again. I lifted her face up so I could see her rain-soaked face in the moonlight. I wanted to see her cry. I never wanted to forget. I wiped away a tear rolling down her cheek. I rubbed it onto my fingers like it was a gift she had given me from her heart that I had opened up because I knew it was supposed to be closed. I believed...like she said...we would be together again.
This wasn’t a goodbye. I wouldn’t allow it. This was just the end to a chapter of our story.
{24}
Present
ANAIS
I couldn’t stop the tears from falling onto my cheeks. I was terrified about so many things all at once. For both myself, and for James. I couldn’t believe what I had learned about James and who he really was. And that story he told while under the flashback. The terrifying and tragic story about his parents and what he did. My body wanted to convulse with sobs. Like an extension to James. All it wanted to do was let out all the pain I knew was imminent for him. A punch to the heart for the deception. A kick to the face for all the years of lies. His soul sliced and gutted when he finds out
what he did to that man with his own two hands. The same hands that were shaking in mine as I held them tight. They’d always known — didn’t they? There’s no such thing as perfection. His innocence and youth already taken by the Lappell. Soon he’ll remember…or be told. His whole world was going to be turned upside down and inside out. I couldn’t imagine the kind of blow it was going to have on him…and on us.
I heard the buzz of Deacon checking his cell again. I patted my eyes, not wanting to give him anymore of myself. He didn’t deserve to see me cry. Deacon Elliot. The only son of Senator Lance Elliot, who was of course, an elite member. But being a son of an elite member, doesn’t guarantee you that status — you have to earn it. Greedy, power-hungry, sadistic Deacon. A product of the older version of himself. He was on a mission to become just like his Dad who was dedicated to the Lappell. He was the one who forced me call to James yesterday. He had found me at James’ apartment waiting for him to get home. He had taken hold of me and threatened to hurt James if I didn’t do exactly what I was told. Deacon even held my cell to my ear as I told James to go with Byron. They were making sure we didn’t see each other before tomorrow so I couldn’t tell him what I knew. What he should know. After what James revealed in the tent, it was no wonder they were guarding him. Byron was going to claim this as a win for the Lappell. Use it to make a move against my uncle. Reveal to everyone who James really was and that Liam was trying to keep him hidden.
Now I was here in Deacon’s car being held prisoner. On some road, somewhere. I didn’t know what was happening but we were waiting…just waiting for him to get the call and be told the initiation was over. I didn’t know what was worse. Being trapped in this car with my ex-betrothed who I was sure was capable of violent acts against women…or knowing James was completing initiation without knowing the truth about who he really was.
Deacon put his cell back into his jacket and then turned my way and continued to watch me. His eyes constantly diverting to my chest. I knew I had to be very careful. I could see his thought process. He was always watching me like I was an object to him. Never a real person. Just something to use and own one day. I never understood why some guys thought it was their God-given right to treat women as if they were pieces of meat. Did some men just inherently keep the caveman gene? Or perhaps it was how they were raised. I knew Deacon had about as good an upbringing as Byron. Their fathers were cut from the same Lappell cloth. It wasn’t an excuse, but definitely an explanation of why he was this way. Being men and products of Lappell fathers, it’s no wonder their perceptions and treatment of women were askew. And if philosophy had taught me anything, it was that the power of an idea, a belief, can be the greatest power in the world. How far would a person go for what they believed in? If the Lappell was any kind of indication, then it was limitless for the hardcore members. And it was because of that knowledge I couldn’t hate Deacon or Byron or any of those guys like them in the Lappell. I could never truly condemn them for this behavior when it was all they knew. I wasn’t sure if that was me being stupid, or smart. I could only try and separate myself as both a woman and a member as best I could. I didn’t want to hate. I didn’t want to be scared. But that was hard in this tiny confined space with a guy I knew had a monster inside him just waiting to come out and play.
“We know you’ve already fucked him,” Deacon said out loud. I didn’t turn from staring out the window. I wanted to avoid engaging Deacon in anything, including conversation. We’d been seated in this car in the quiet for far too long already. I knew he was going to break. He could only restrain his normal persona for a short period of time. He was trying to find a reason to have a go at me. The time, or the abundance of time I should say, would lead to greater risk.
The hairs on my arms sat straight up. “You don’t know anything,” I said back. I tried to keep my tone calm. I didn’t want to ignite Deacon further by playing into his beastly side. I had seen that too many times before. I had seen him in fights. Dishing out punishments for Byron. I knew he enjoyed exercising his power and using his fists. And I had seen how little he respected women. Those images I tried not remember were quickly surfacing up from the deep dark waters in my mind where I kept them locked.
“I know you and your body language. I could tell at initiation by the way you touched him. You were different.” He snickered. “I bet you couldn’t wait for it. I bet you begged him for it. Your fucking knight in shining armor to give it to you.” He shifted closer to me in the car. I could smell the cigarette he had had earlier on his breath. “Is that who you really are Anais? A girl who’s just begging for it?”
I felt my body pull into itself. Like it was trying to find a shell I could hide under. I was a fighter, but when it came to Deacon, I knew it was best to walk away. He was stronger and he played dirty. Two things that worked against me.
“What I do with James is none of your business.” Again I kept my voice composed. Monotone. Not raising it or showing emotion. Deacon was waiting for me to bite. He wanted an excuse to attack.
“You really think this guy is special? Can save you? Wake up Anais. You’re one of us whether you like it or not. You’re not special. You’re not pure. You’re a dirty little slut like the rest of them. And soon…you’ll be my dirty little slut to play with.” I went quiet once more, not giving Deacon any ammunition. He was implying James wouldn’t be around soon. That his place and position among us didn’t exist for the future. I shuddered at the idea.
“Say something.” He pushed me. He wanted a reaction. Anything to justify what he wanted to do. What he was about to do. “C’mon Anais.” I felt his finger trail up and down my arm. “Get angry for me. I like it a lot more when you’re angry.”
I avoided looking at him, keeping my voice cool. “Deacon…don’t do this. You’re better than this person. I know you can be a good guy. Don’t be like him.”
I felt his hand stop, his grip tighten around my wrist. “Like who exactly, Anais? My Dad?”
“You’re better than this,” I kept repeating over and over again. “You can be a good person. You won’t hurt me.”
“Sss...Sss...Stop saying that!” Deacon stuttered. He stuttered? His grip even loosened on my arm for a second as my words surrounded us. As much as he was evil, I also knew that when I had my uncle break our betrothal, Deacon was upset. He liked me. Maybe even more than liked me. There was a tiny part of him that felt something more than an arrangement. He had given me a rose when our parents had first decided our future together. And let me tell you, Deacon Elliot doesn’t give out roses. The gesture alone told me that there was a real human being inside him...somewhere. Perhaps if he hadn’t been brought up this way, I could have actually liked him.
“You’re a good guy,” I said, knowing it was the only way I could try and save myself. “You gave me a rose once.” I paused, showing him my sadness for him, trying to draw on his real feelings for me. “And that rose Deacon...it was beautiful.”
“Shut up Anais! Just shut up!” His nails dug into my skin as he fought with his own demons. Maybe his feelings that were once real for me would be enough to stop him. His other hand was on my thigh now, his hand sliding up my dress. His feelings weren’t enough. Not against a life of Lappell servitude. My hands and my body tried to push him away. He didn’t say anything now but he pushed against me more. Then, because it was the only thing I could do, I screamed. So loudly. And at the same time, trying to wriggle free from his vicious grip. My body thrashing to get away. My fighting instinct kicking in. I would go down fighting. That I knew. I would fight for myself and for James. I wouldn’t regret a thing.
Then his body was suddenly ripped away from mine. The horror vanished into thin air. Someone had opened his car door and pulled him out. I saw his feet lying on the ground from where I was seated. Grunting soon followed, then silence. His feet twitching for a few seconds before going still. My body was still shaking from the surge of adrenaline of Deacon’s attack when a face appeared in the open door.
> “MARCUS!”
“Are you okay Anais? Did I make it in time?” His hand outstretched to me. The other hand holding a now empty syringe.
“Huh?...What?...You?...How?”
“Look, I know the sight of me makes women speechless, but you really need to come with me now. We don’t have much time.”
I crawled across the seats and got out of the car. I saw a lifeless Deacon passed out on the ground and Marcus’ Mustang parked behind us. I didn’t hear him arrive through all my screaming.
“What did you do Marcus?” I said walking behind him and towards his car.
“I just injected him with something to knock him out. He’ll be fine. But when he wakes in a few hours, he won’t remember anything, especially me.”
I started to cry again. The adrenaline and the weight of what could have happened to me, hitting me hard. I couldn’t feel strong when my body felt so weak.
“Anais...Anais...please don’t flip out. You’re okay now. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” He opened his car door and helped me in, patting my back in a show of concern. “Look, I’m not good when girls get all emotional. I’ll explain everything, just don’t scream or cry anymore. Please.”
I tried to stifle my own sobs that felt never-ending. But as soon as we started driving away from Deacon and back to town, I was able to quiet my cries. I could even see Marcus relaxing as he turned to me and saw that I had calmed down.
But it was Marcus here in this car? It was Marcus saving me from Deacon?
IT WAS MARCUS?
“I know what you’re thinking Anais. I know what you’re wondering. So I’ll just lay it out for you. I was sent to follow you by your uncle.” I opened my mouth to say something, but Marcus silenced me with his own voice, already anticipating my questions. “Yes your uncle. C’mon Anais. Are you really that surprised? He’s part of the movement. As are my parents. We are part of a group that fights against the Lappell. When James came to Cloverley, I was given the task to watch over him and report back to my superiors. Let them know if he was being coaxed into doing anything he wasn’t supposed to. His family are friends to our cause.”
Fiendish Play Page 22