Xavier waves them off as he runs a hand through his hair, dismantling it. Seeing him so distressed gives me a flicker of hope that after all of this is over, we might be able to begin our story.
“That man will never have the pleasantries of laying eyes on you again, Adelaide. I promise you this, my daughter. I will not rest.” Xavier turns back to his men. “Ozzie. Take your team, contact Oklahoma’s law enforcement. Gain clearance and find that monster. The rest of the teams are with me. We will end the Cicero Disciples.”
I take a step away from the men as they rally up, sharing a few words before they exit the house. However, not one leaves without offering me a sympathetic glance. I feel my heart in my stomach as I know I am on display for all of them. They know…they have to. Just as Xavier did.
Did Miguel have an MO? Was I not his first, or last, victim?
I feel sick to my stomach, hating that they all know my past. I spin to find the nearest bathroom, depositing the delicious bacon and pancakes Xavier made us this morning.
Kristy steps up behind me, holding my hair. “I am so sorry, Adelaide. I didn’t know that they’d all catch on. Please, forgive me.” Kristy places a damp rag at the back of my neck, cooling me down.
“I never blamed you.” I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth, moaning at the disgusting taste on my tongue. I stand to rinse my mouth out in the sink before I brush my teeth. Kristy grabs my hair and quickly tosses it into a bun so it’s off my neck and out of my face. I suddenly feel the need to take a shower.
Once I’m done refreshing myself, I exit the bathroom to see my father leaning against the wall across from us. His eyes are downcast, his jaw taut. My stomach twists and I silently pray I don’t get sick again.
“Adelaide. Kristy. I’m leaving two trusted men with you to protect you while I’m away,” Xavier says.
I feel my eyes widen, shaking my head. “We want to come with you!” I clench my hands into fists, ready to stand my ground as I see refusal brewing up in Xavier’s eyes.
“Not happening. It’s too dangerous, Adelaide.”
“But—”
“Do you honestly think they want you to risk your life? That Maddox wants you to get hurt? He’ll blame himself, you know he will.” Xavier steps back and looks to the ground as he mutters under his breath. I barely hear him, but I catch it. Just as I do.
Just as he does? For what does he have himself to blame?
I remember my words from last night when I was blubbering like a baby, telling Xavier that we needed him.
He had told me he knew what Miguel had done to my mother…but Kristy never told him what he did to me. And I can see the weight of the information upon his shoulders. He’s devastated. He can’t even look at me.
I step forward and grab his hand, squeezing it tightly. “I release you from whatever guilt you feel. You are not to blame for anything that has befallen me. Miguel is to blame. Don’t let him get between us.” I reach up and place a hand on his scruffy cheek. He lifts his head to look into my eyes. “Not when I just found you,” I whisper.
Xavier closes his eyes and I see a tear softly escape. He pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly. “I will avenge you, my sweet girl. And then, we will get to know one another. Even if I have to move to Grove, Oklahoma.”
I let out a hiccupping laugh, tightening my hands into fists as I cling to his shirt. Xavier runs a hand over my hair, gently pulling it out of the bun before kissing the side of my head. “Stay inside and stay safe. We will see each other soon.”
Xavier spares a glance at Kristy, nodding his head before he turns to leave. We watch his departing back as he exits the house, softly shutting the door behind him.
As his car engine revs, I send a prayer up to God to protect my family.
Finally
*Maddox*
July 14, 2018
I lay my head back against the wall, my eyes forever remaining on Nile. I sit on the floor with my feet flat on the ground before me, my knees bent with an arm wrapped around my legs. My free hand drums quietly on the wooden floor.
I’m anxious.
I’m itching.
Missy softly lays a hand atop mine and I tilt my head to the side, catching her eyes for a moment before returning my focus to the man I once proudly called brother.
“Patience, Maddox. There’s nothing we can do, apart from waiting. We have to believe that Adelaide is all right.” Missy’s soft voice is a balm to the wound on my heart.
When Nile told me that his father, the man who defiled my Adelaide, was in Oklahoma to pay her a visit, my whole world crumbled. It was as if I couldn’t breathe. I forgot how to. If she is harmed, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself. I keep failing her.
Nile stands up behind the desk and walks over to crouch before me, his black Smith & Wesson pistol in his hand. He casually waves it around, trying to remind me who’s in charge here. “It’s crazy to think that this all started because of a little girl.” I glare at him but he just smiles. “Cool it, Cameron. I’m not talking about your shut-in little doll. Elena Petrov. That was her name before she legally changed it to Crane. Isn’t that right, Missy?” I look over at Missy to see her glaring at Nile.
“She had every right to change her name…to distance her life from you and your polluted family,” Missy growls.
Nile chuckles, shaking his head. “Elena was a little…promiscuous. Wouldn’t you say, Missy? To the point where it was almost embarrassing. She flaunted herself in front of my father…it drove him mad.”
“You don’t know what you speak of. Your father has filled your head with lies,” Missy says, her hands balling into fists. I look between Missy and Nile, clearly missing a large piece of information.
Why is Nile trying to get a rise out of her? What is he going to gain?
Nile chuckles, reaching forward to ruffle her hair, but before he can, Adam’s hand shoots forward to grab his wrist.
I have seen many moments when Adam gets upset over failed chores or misbehaving children. He’s risen his voice to demand respect and obedience. He’s a strong man and he is most definitely an authority figure. But that is all nothing compared to the venom in his voice when he says, “Keep your hands off of my wife.”
I suddenly worry about what’s going to happen in the next moment, eyeing Nile’s gun. Even the slightest twitch in Adam’s direction and I will attack.
But before anything can happen, the door to the office is thrown open and I lift my eyes to see Miguel walk in…or, limp in, rather. I bite my bottom lip, my eyes widening as he enters empty-handed. Nile stands to his feet and acknowledges his father.
“Where’s the girl?” Nile asks, his voice thick with desire. I clench my teeth together. He’s not going to touch a hair on her head.
“She got away. Her cousin shot me in the leg and that blasted dog tore a chunk out of my neck. They fled,” Miguel snarls, ripping off his shirt, folding it in fourths, and pouring whiskey on it. He then places the shirt on the open wound on his neck, hissing in pain.
I can’t help but smile, closing my eyes. I’m glad I decided to teach Kristy self-defense and how to shoot. She’s taken care of Adelaide, and that means they’re bound for Rome as we speak. They’re safe.
The amount of relief that washes over me is indescribable. Nothing else matters except that they live. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Adelaide is alive and safe.
Missy lets out a soft sigh and I look at her to see her bowing her head forward, her eyes closed.
“What?” Nile hisses, stepping toward his father. His forefinger moves off the handle of the gun and settles gently over the trigger. My eyes widen. He’d kill his own father?
Of course he would…he ordered me to do the same to my own. He doesn’t have a caring bone in his body.
“Shit happens, son,” Miguel grumbles, chugging the remains of the whiskey. I sneer at them, wondering what they have planned exactly.
“I gave you one final job. I just wanted her for myself!
Why couldn’t you deliver?”
I don’t understand. How is Adelaide tied into all of this? Why do the Cicero Disciples want her? How do they even know about her? About a little girl born in Grove, Oklahoma?
Again, I’m missing a large piece of information. Who is Adelaide Crane, exactly?
“Stop acting like a little child, Nile. She’s just a girl… There are many others.”
“You know why she’s special. You know why I want her. You’re the only one who understands. I don’t understand why…” Nile runs a hand through his hair, his fingers gripping tightly as he tugs in frustration.
My stomach churns as they speak of her like this. As if she is just some toy to use for their own pleasure.
Miguel rolls his eyes and turns his head to look over at us. His gaze halts on Missy, a small smile touching his lips. He steps forward but stays back a bit before crouching down. “Missy Petrov. You look so much like her, did you know that?” Missy lifts her head to meet Miguel’s eyes dead on. “A shame she died…I never wanted to hurt her. But I had to get Adelaide out of that situation, surely you understand?”
Missy’s eyes widen as she stares at the beast of a man in front of her. My hands clench into fists, desperate to deliver a blow to his jaw.
“You killed her? Why? She loved you!” Missy whimpers, tears welling in her eyes. Miguel sighs, running a hand down his face, stroking his jaw.
“Foolish of her. I was married with a son. Yet she did capture my attention time and again. Then, she dishonored me. Embarrassed me. No one does that without consequences.”
How could Elena ever love this man? There is nothing to love, only a cold heart. A cold heart and bloody hands. How did she dishonor him to the point that resulted in her daughter’s rape and then her own death?
I grind my teeth together. “What did she do, Miguel? What was worth you forcing yourself upon a four-year-old girl?” Miguel looks at me, a smirk upon his face. He twists his face into a serious, pondering expression, making a show of it. I shake my head as he continues to think.
“You really want to know? She slept with my brother and got pregnant with his child!” Miguel shouts.
Missy lets out a loud whimper, wrapping her arms around her stomach and sobs beside me. My eyes widen with Miguel’s confession.
No…not my sweet Adelaide. She was not related to this monster.
I refuse to accept that. She’s too good. Too pure. Everything he’s not.
His niece? He defiled his own flesh and blood? And now Nile has this strange fascination to do it…his own cousin.
I feel sick. I want to throw up.
“Everyone knew she did it to spite me. I couldn’t let her get away with it,” Miguel says, getting to his feet. He groans, placing a hand on his thigh. I look at it, smiling with the knowledge that Kristy protected Adelaide. She shot Miguel and that allowed them to escape.
Before I can form my next thought, a sharp pain ignites the side of my face. I let out a growl and look up to see Miguel glaring down at me, shaking his sore hand. “You think my pain is amusing?” He turns and yanks the gun out of Nile’s grip.
Fear twists at my heart, for I know what he’s about to do. But I don’t let him know. I keep my expression neutral as he aims the gun at my thigh and shoots without a second thought.
Missy lets out a scream of surprise while I grunt when white hot pain erupts from my right thigh. I quickly place a hand over my bleeding thigh, gritting my teeth. Adam is quick, peeling off his button-down flannel and taking off his belt. He pays no mind to Miguel or Nile as he hurries over to use the belt as a tourniquet. I hiss in pain, closing my eyes as he wraps his shirt around the wound, tying it tightly.
I silently send a prayer up to God that I don’t bleed out. That we will somehow get out of here before I fade from the loss of blood.
I lay my head back, trying to take deep breaths so I don’t pass out from being lightheaded.
“Where’s Jeremy?” My voice comes out muffled from behind my clenched teeth. Miguel looks over at Nile, who is leaning against his desk, his arms folded across his chest, a taunting smirk on his face.
They think they’re so intimidating. They think they have all the power here. I shake my head at their arrogance and tilt my head to gaze at Missy.
“Ma,” I whisper. She lifts her head to look me in the eye. She gives me an unconvincing smile and grabs my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. “Did you know? About Adelaide and Miguel’s brother?”
Missy shakes her head, peeking at Miguel to see if they were still observing us. But father and son are conversing quietly at Nile’s desk. “I never knew who Adelaide’s father was. Elena never told me. Just said he was a mistake.” I pinch my eyebrows together and frown. How could Elena never say? Surely, she knew the danger that came with messing with the Cicero Disciples, and she never thought to warn her sister?
I grit my teeth. This woman put Adelaide in danger from the very beginning. Did she really think hiding her away was going to keep her safe?
Not only was Adelaide socially deprived, but she also was thrust into a strange world with men hungry for her body…and would do anything to have it.
“Damn it!” A loud crash jolts me, causing me to lift my eyes to Nile. He threw the glass of whiskey his father was nursing at the wall. “I warned you, Father! I warned you that this was going to be a problem! You said you dealt with him!” Nile shouts. Miguel’s eyes are wide as he stares at the computer on Nile’s desk. What are they looking at? What do they see?
“I spoke to him. I convinced him that we had nothing to do with Elena’s death. I even gave him a false lead.”
“Then tell me why he’s storming the building as we speak!” Nile growls, grabbing his gun and cocking it. He rushes over and grabs Missy. I try to hold onto her, but Nile jabs his gun into the side of her head. “Neither of you make a move!” he says, pulling Missy to her feet. He drags her to the middle of the room, standing about ten feet from the door.
Miguel continues to lean against the desk, watching the scenes unfold.
“Don’t try anything heroic, Cameron. I’ll blow her brains out.” I glare at him, but make no move. My eyes flick to the door, waiting.
I hear footsteps moments before the door is kicked open. Within moments, four police officers and one detective stand within the room. The man in front, the detective, is familiar. I remember him from last year. He had spoken to Miguel in a quiet corner of the house. I thought nothing of it and disregarded him. It was the same day Nile had ordered me to kill my father.
The detective falters for a moment, eyes wide. “Elena?” he whispers softly.
I let out a laugh, closing my eyes as everything pieces together. Miguel’s brother is a detective and has taken it upon himself to take the Cicero Disciples down after they killed Adelaide’s mother. I wonder what information they were given to finally have something to put them away.
“Nile, son, let her go,” Detective Brother says. If Missy’s life wasn’t threatened, I think I would find this amusing. No…I would find this amusing. Miguel always preached about how the Cicero Disciples were a brotherhood. That family meant everything. You never turn on your family and you always have their back.
And now…now, Miguel’s own brother is the one who will be turning him in.
“I swear I will kill her, Xavier. Stand down.” Nile presses the gun into Missy’s head, causing her to gasp.
Adam tenses beside me, watching with wide eyes. I reach over and place a hand on his shoulder, comforting him and making sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.
Xavier looks over his shoulder at the other officers. “Gentlemen, give us the room.” When they hesitate to obey his orders, Xavier nods his head. “It’s all right.”
The four officers slowly walk out of the room, throwing multiple glances back at Nile. Once the door is closed, Xavier lowers his gun and raises his free hand.
“All right. Tell me what’s next, Nile. You’re going to kill her. You’re going
to kill me. Then these two men…what’s next?” Xavier asks. Nile sneers, stepping forward and taking Missy with him.
“I’m going to find that daughter of yours, Xavier. And I’m going to make her mine. Just as she was since the day she was born. A pity that you will never meet her. She really is beautiful. Isn’t she, Cameron?” Nile asks me, never taking his eyes off Xavier. I shake my head silently.
“How about I tell you where she is, Nile?” My head jerks toward Xavier, my heart stuttering within my chest. It feels as if an anvil has dropped in my stomach, making me sick.
Does he truly know where Adelaide is? Does he know she’s in Rome with Kristy? Or did he somehow intercept them? Is she safe, or does Xavier have her locked away?
“You know where Adelaide is?” Nile asks.
“I have her at a safe-house. Not far from here. She trusts me,” Xavier says. I growl and punch the ground.
Darn it, Kristy. Why didn’t you get her to Rome?
A safe-house? What were they thinking?
“Where?” Nile questions.
“Don’t listen to him, Nile,” Miguel warns.
Nile twists his body ever so slightly toward his father. “Shut up!” The movement and distraction is enough for Xavier to raise his gun and shoot him in the shoulder. The impact of the bullet causes Nile to spin and drop his hold on Missy. He shouts in pain.
At the sound of the gunshot, the door is thrown open and guns are poised at Miguel and Nile. Officers flood the room, followed by paramedics.
I silently thank God, for the officers called an ambulance while Xavier dealt with the situation.
Missy runs over and throws her arms around Adam, who is standing and waiting for the embrace. Adam holds his wife close and whispers comforting words in her ear. I watch Xavier walk over and squat in front of me.
“I would never have compromised Adelaide’s safety, Maddox. I need you to understand that. Kristy and Adelaide have a protection detail at the house. They’re safe.” Xavier’s words bring me a sense of relief. Adelaide is safe and I’m glad she’s still in the country. That means I will be reunited with her sooner rather than later.
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