I hadn’t expected to come home to this. Anything but this. I had been so prepared to come home every day to find my husband waiting for me. Or even for any other family member to be waiting to take me back because something had happened to Zachariah.
Anything but this.
Oh God. Where are you? Please, oh please, come now.
“Well, don’t just stand there, child. Come in. Shut the door, too,” the man spoke in a demanding voice.
Slowly, I entered the house fully and shut the door behind me. I could have easily ran, but I didn’t trust the man that had a gun pointed at my head. He could easily shoot me before I took a step outside.
“Good girl,” he said, giving me a toothy smile. Most of his teeth were yellow from years of smoking and drugs no doubt.
I remained quiet. What did he want? How did he find me? Why was he here?
“Have a seat,” he said, nodding to the couch.
“Can I go pee first?” I asked, not moving. “Or I’ll pee my pants.”
“Fine. Make it quick,” he grunted out.
I nodded, taking steps backward, not removing my eyes from him. I didn’t trust this man. There was no way in hell I’d ever trust him. When I reached the bathroom, I shut the door and turned on the water slightly.
Oh, God. What was I going to do? Aaron was in my house. He was in the one place that I thought was safest from him. Safest from anyone that wanted to harm me. What did he want?
My breaths came fast and choppy. My heart beat in overtime. I forced myself to get my act together. I couldn’t panic. Not yet. I could when this was all over with.
Being seven months pregnant, I couldn’t afford to panic. I also couldn’t afford to let things get too far carried away.
Leaning my hands on the countertop, I looked at myself in the mirror. I mentally told myself to get a freaking grip. I could get through this. I had to.
My stomach tightened, causing my breath to hitch for a moment before the pain passed.
With shaking hands, I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed the one number that I knew would no doubt be able to help. I knew I had to.
“Hello,” Kent’s voice came through on the first ring.
“He’s here. Aaron is here,” I whispered hurriedly.
“In the house?” Kent asked, fully alert.
“Yes,” I whispered, my words filled with worry.
“Okay. Stay calm, okay,” he said.
Stay calm? Really? I was passed that.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Bathroom.” My simple answer.
“Okay. I’ll have someone there very soon. But I need you to listen, okay. You will walk back out there in in just a few minutes. Don’t give away that you called me, or have any way of calling me. I’ll be deactivating your phone after this call, so he can’t try to use it against you. When you walk out there, don’t say anything. Do whatever he wants. Just don’t leave the house with him, okay. Stay inside. My men will be there in less than ten minutes.”
“Okay,” I breathed.
“You’ll be okay,” he said.
“He has a gun,” I breathed out.
“So do you. Taylor has guns hidden throughout the house. Can you find one?”
“There’s none in the bathroom.”
“That’s fine,” Kent said easily as though it didn’t matter.
“Hurry up!” Aaron shouted out, causing me to jump.
“Go on,” Kent said. “Put your phone in a pad or something, then go back out there. Just hang in there, Avidya.”
He hung up, expecting me to do just that. Which I did, of course. I quickly stuffed the phone into a bag of pads that had gone unused. I had just turned off the water as the door swung open, an angry filled Aaron in the doorway.
“You done?” he asked.
I nodded my head, watching him in fear.
He moved his head to the side, indicating that I needed to go to the living room as he waited. Once there, I took a seat on the couch, my hands folded protectively around my stomach. I wished I had worn a shirt that didn’t show off my baby bump today. With my arms folded over my baby, I felt him kick a few times, more than normal. The ache in my gut was still there. Not sharp, but annoyingly so.
“Is he okay?” I asked towards Taylor.
“He’ll be fine,” Aaron said. “But you are one hard gal to track down, did ya know that?”
I shrugged in answer.
“Let me tell ya this,” he went on, swinging his gun around in the air. I couldn’t help but grimace at his actions. Did he even know how to use that thing he had in his hand? “I wasn’t sure what I want to do with ya. I knew that woman didn’t do as I had told her to do. I knew what would happen if I ever had a spawn with my blood. I knew what fate would be laid out clear as day.
“I always made sure that I had no one to keep the blood of my family going. I am sure you know about how powerful it had once been. Everyone wants to blame me for not doing my part or not selling the drugs that I was meant to sell. Does it really matter, though?”
He paused, seeming to debate on something as Taylor grunted in his seat as he came back to the real world.
“So, what do you want with me, then?” I asked. After all this time, he had to want something.
“I had planned to just kill ya. I had someone that was meant to do that, but apparently, he was on the payroll of your so-called husband. Stupid of him, but I guess someone took him out before I could for failing at doing his job. Where is that husband, anyhow?” he asked, rubbing his chin with the butt of the gun.
I couldn’t help but mentally laugh at how stupid he was. I may not know how to use a gun all that well, but I knew the basics. Never point it at yourself unless you intended to use to kill yourself.
“Not here,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected as I said the words. “He didn’t want me.”
“Why? He was so intent on keeping you safe,” he said, genuinely worried about that. He slowly pointed the gun at the floor. “His family is always here.”
“Because they don’t trust me to not blab my mouth,” I lied. “I wasn’t the girl he wanted after he found out I wouldn’t bow to his wishes.”
“Then who’s kid?” he asked, glancing at my stomach.
“It’s mine,” Taylor said before I could answer. His voice was low and hoarse, but still powerful as he shifted in his seat.
“Huh,” Aaron hummed. “Whatever floats your boat. I didn’t know you liked to be an inbred fucktard.” His voice darkened in disgust.
“Will you answer my question?” I asked softly, looking at the man in an almost pleading way.
“What should I do with ya?” Aaron asked. He began to pace. Did he even know what he wanted to do? He seemed so unsure of his own actions.
“He won’t do shit,” Taylor said. “Always a man of threats, but never fucking follows through. I know you all too well. It’s always the same thing.”
“Shut up,” Aaron seethed towards Taylor.
“Or what?” Taylor laughed. “You’ve had the chance to kill me, and yet you haven’t. I don’t think you have the balls to do it. You want something.”
“I want many things, brother,” Aaron laughed. “None of which I will get.”
“Maybe I can help,” I spoke up, hoping to get the man to calm down. My heart beat too fast in my chest.
Where were the men that Kent said he was sending? Shouldn’t they be here by now?
“I wanted a family, ya know,” Aaron sighed out. “But that was so long ago. Now. Well, now, I want the Melendez family to pay for taking my family down. I want them to beg for your life, which they will never get in the end. Because I will control your life.”
“Just like what Cody did? Are you that sick in the head?” Taylor said, clearly amused.
“I am nothing like that man!” Aaron shouted in rage.
“Then act like it!” Taylor returned just at hotly.
“So, what will you do?” I asked, hoping he’d ju
st freaking answer me. I may have fear consuming me, but I had to keep him talking.
“I don’t know,” Aaron muttered out. He placed both hands on his head, the gun still in his right, as he pulled at his hair. “I don’t know. I don’t fucking know!”
“Are you okay?” Taylor asked me as Aaron paced the house, muttering to himself.
“He hasn’t touched me,” I whispered. I gathered that was what he wanted to know.
I wanted to know how long the man had been in our house, and how the heck he even got in. I knew Taylor wouldn’t let this man into the house by any means.
“Good,” Taylor said. Louder, he asked, “Can I have some water?”
“Get it,” Aaron nodded my way as he peeked through the window.
Quickly, I got up and got a class of water for him. My hands were shaky as my eyes landed on the knife that sat on the countertop next to the chopping board. Glancing behind me, Aaron had returned to his pacing.
Praying that I didn’t get either of us killed, I took ahold of the knife and cup of water, making my way back to Taylor. He gave me a knowing nod.
Purposely, I dropped the glass on the carpet, watching as it bounced and made a wet spot. At the same moment, another cramp bit through my lower body, causing me to huff out a painful breath.
“Shoot,” I muttered, bending down behind Taylor to pick up the glass.
Aaron didn’t notice, nor care. He seemed to be fighting with his thoughts on what to do. Were mental issues a common thing in this family? Was he insane?
Quickly and quietly, I used the knife to cut through the thin rope that forcibly kept Taylor’s arms behind the chair before slipping the handle of the knife into his hand.
“You okay?” Taylor asked quietly.
“Fine,” I whispered, knowing I wasn’t.
“Did you make a call?” Aaron asked me harshly, causing me to freeze.
I shook my head, my eyes wide in fear.
Did someone finally come to save us? Oh God, please.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he marched to the bathroom. I could hear the banging of doors as he looked in every little nook and cranny that could possibly hide a phone.
I met Taylor’s eyes, and he looked way too calm. Was this something he’d expected after all these years? Why was it always me that had to be forced into such situations?
“Then who would be here?” Aaron asked as he stormed out of the bathroom.
“No one,” I answered slowly. “Please.”
“What should I do? I can’t just let you both live. I can’t be found here. I can’t die. I should. I’ve skipped that way too many times already. How can I get out of this?” he mumbled to himself. Finally, he met my eyes. Would he answer my question?
“I am sorry you were born. Ya know, if Racheal would have just did what I told her to do, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this. I just didn’t want any kids then, but now that I see how much you look like her, I think I’ve changed my mind. I didn’t want to feel like this. I’m so fucking out of control.
“I didn’t know you were alive until Cody called me, though. He needed money, and wanted to know how to get money, fast. He knew that you would be married off. It was just a matter of time, and to whom you’d be tied to for the rest of your life. He hated the fact that he had to have you, but it came with keeping his name protected.
“He was always a good actor; I’d give him that. But he could only act for so long. Lynn, for whatever reason he married that slut, was a pain in his ass. And mine. She had gotten the Melendez family involved. I warned him, but he didn’t consider what would happen if he kept it all up,” he rushed to get everything out.
What did this all have to do with me?
“I told him I’d take you,” Aaron laughed. “I told him I’d keep you safe. But I had other motives for that. But that was only to cover up my own needs. I could use you as a motive to get my money from the men that owed me. I wanted to use you as a way to prove that money would be nothing without a pretty thing to back up my claims.
“I only wanted you because you are my daughter. I wanted you Avidya, so I could finally get a foot in to places I couldn’t before.”
“You are one sick bastard,” Taylor seethed. I couldn’t agree more on that front. Was Taylor the only man that was sane in this family?
“Well, so are you, dear brother. So are you,” Aaron said with a glare. “You wanted that slut of a girl that I had, so much so you tried to have me killed.” Then turning back to me, “I would have given you such pleasure, you’d never want to leave, Avidya. You see, I wanted you for myself. And when Cody didn’t show up with you in toe, I threatened him how I saw fit.
“He had as yet to get you to me, and now I’m not waiting any longer. So, to answer your question, Avidya. You are mine. I will take ya from this house, let you keep that thing, and you can play house all the while, and I’ll have everything I ever want.”
I shook my head. He was sick and twisted. He would never get me to leave this house unless I was dead.
Before I could react, Taylor sprang from the chair, knife in hand. He charged at Aaron, stabbing the knife deep into his gut.
“Fuck!” Aaron shouted as a gun went off.
Bang.
Both of my hands covered my mouth as I watched on in horror. Taylor’s surprised face paled as blood instantly seeped from his chest. His legs gave out and he fell to the floor.
Aaron simply looked at him in disgust from where he stood, his own wound bleeding.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh my God.
Within seconds, the front door was busted down. Three men stormed into the house as though they owned it. They each had guns drawn.
I sat in horror. I didn’t move. I couldn’t as fear ran down my spine.
“Ah, about time you came inside,” Aaron said, his face beginning to pale from the pain and blood loss. “I knew that girl called. Someone had to. I saw you three out there, talking. I knew you would come in. Just a bit too late.”
As he went to raise his gun, I knew he was going to shoot me next. I saw the dark look in his eyes. If he couldn’t have me, no one would.
Before he was able to pull the trigger, all three men fired at Aaron, shooting him in the chest.
He fell in slow motion to the floor. His blood seeping into the carpet right along with Taylor’s. One man kept his gun pointed at Aaron as he gasped for air on the floor as the other two men cleared the house. No one else was here, but I couldn’t get my brain or mouth to work as I sat frozen in shock.
Chapter 16
Avidya
“Avidya?” asked a voice. A voice that I knew and hadn’t heard for many months. Although he repeated my name at least three times, I couldn’t get my eyes to move away from the two dead bodies.
Oh God.
Taylor was dead.
He was dead.
He couldn’t be.
No.
Please. No.
“Avidya, honey,” the voice spoke again. He moved, blocking my view of the bodies. I’d never get the view of them, the view of the blood, from my memory. How much more did I have to witness in my life?
I blinked my eyes, making his face come into focus.
Before me kneeled my brother. His eyes, dark with lack of sleep and worry, met mine. He looked at me as though he was afraid I’d fall apart.
I felt like I could.
My body was rocking slightly back and forth as panic consumed me. Or was it shock? Shocked panic, maybe?
“There you are,” he smiled sadly. “Are you okay?”
Was I okay?
I had no idea. How could I be after everything I’ve been through?
A sharp pain along my stomach caused me to groan out, folding over as the shooting pain took my breath away.
“Avidya?” Travis’s voice reached me. He was worried, and rightfully so.
“I’m okay,” I mumbled out as the pain passed.
“No, you aren’t,” Travis said as he stood. “I think you need
to get checked out.”
I shook my head as I sat fully back up. I was okay.
“We are at least going to go outside. I’ll give you thirty minutes to prove me wrong, then,” Travis stated, holding his hand out for me.
Slowly, I let him help me up. I was numb to everything; it was the only way I knew how to deal right now. After everything that had happened, I just didn’t want to deal anymore.
Travis led me outside and helped me sit on the porch. He took a seat next to me, not saying anything. Was there anything that could be said?
I didn’t think there was.
“Avidya?” Krissy came running across the yard to me. Her voice frantic. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“Pretty sure she’s in shock,” Travis answered for me.
“I heard gunshots. Are you okay? Where’s Mr. Shantez?” Krissy fired off.
“He’s . . . .” I was unable to finish as my tears fell.
“Oh, honey,” Krissy said, instantly wrapping her arms around me. At the simple comforting touch, I burst into sobs. The kind that wracked my body with each passing second.
“I’ll leave you two for a moment. Don’t go anywhere,” Travis said, standing up and making his way back into the house.
I don’t know how long I cried against Krissy, but by the time I was able to get my emotions under control, a dull ache made itself known in my stomach once more. Pulling back, I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Krissy said. “You okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“I’m okay, I think,” I sniffed.
“How far along is she?” Travis asked, appearing back as quickly as he had left.
“Just about seven months,” Krissy answered for me with a frown. “You would be?”
“Travis,” he answered.
“Not the baby’s father?” she asked.
“No,” I answered right before another pang of pain grabbed ahold of me.
“I think she needs to be seen by the doctor,” Travis said, watching as I fought against the pain.
“I agree,” Krissy said. “But what about the police? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”
His to Know (His to Own Book 3) Page 7