“Mom?” she whispered.
“Hello, Elena.” Kiana smile, holding a hand out, touching her cheek.
“Is it really you?” Elena whispered.
“Yes. It’s really me.” Kiana whispered. “I’m sorry about Diana, Elena.”
“You were watching?”
“I’ve been watching you ever since you broke free of the organization. Good God, Elena, I am so sorry for everything that you have been going through. If I’d known what your father was going to do to you. To your sisters I would have come back sooner. But I had my own demons to face.
“I know. I heard.” Elena shook her head. “God, Mom, I can’t believe he did that to you. I can’t believe Diana did to you. He’s your husband. Your sister! How did you survive?”
“By thinking about you girls. I knew I had to get back to you. I knew something really bad was going to happen. But when I got back to the house, everything was gone. Including you girls. And I didn’t find you until I heard about that missing FBI agent. Then I saw the president’s press conference. I knew Abel’s plan was to take him out all along, and when I saw him out on that podium I knew someone must have stopped Abel.” Kiana smiled. “I knew it was you, Elena. You’ve always been so strong.”
“Not right now I’m not.” Elena whispered. “They’ve got him, Mom. They’ve got Kieran. They’ve got the man I love.”
“We’ll get him back. You got a plan?”
“As always.” Elena whispered. “I’m going to give them what they want.”
“What’s that?”
“Me.” Elena whispered, rising to her feet.
“Wait! Elena, you can’t! They’ll kill you!” Kiana lunged towards her, grabbing Elena by the arm. “Elena I can’t lose you! I only just found you.”
“It’s the only way.” Elena whispered. “This has to stop, Mom. This madness, someone has to put an end to it. Kieran was right. There’s been too much blood spilled the last couple of decades because of Abel and Dominic. Someone has to stop them, and in order to do that, we have to stop being afraid. We have to stop being afraid of standing up for what’s right. We have to stop being afraid of living. Of falling in love. Of fighting for ourselves. We have to stop being afraid of dying. Because, Mom, dying for those you love, it’s the most honorable I can think to die.
She jerked out of her mother’s grip, and turned, racing through the trees.
“Elena!’
The sound of her mother’s screams filled her ears.
Sobs filled the air.
And she felt a tear roll down her cheek.
God, this wasn’t fair! She thought to herself, as she weaved through the trees. None of this was fair. Not to any of them. Why did she have to find her sisters? Find her mother. Find the man of her dreams, and just have them ripped away from her. It wasn’t fucking fair!
Except, life wasn’t fair, she thought to herself. For years, she’d thought that her mother was dead. She’d thought that she’d been fighting for her mother. For what had been done to her, and she’d always wondered deep inside her what it would have been like to see her mother one last time. To feel her arms around her one last time. What she would say to her, but she realized now that her mother was no longer a part of her life. She’d gone years without seeing her. Her mother was part of her past. Part of who she used to be. She was no longer that girl, she had more people in her life now. She had a greater purpose in life, and right now there was only one thing she could think about.
Saving Kieran.
She burst out from the trees, stopping. Her breath coming out hot and heavy.
“Hey! Stop!”
One of Abel’s men walked around the trees, towards her, raising their weapon.
Elena turned her head. A smile spreading across her face.
“What? Are you looking for me?”
The guard’s eyes widened.
“Elena! We have Elena!”
And she felt arms grab her from behind.
Hands wrapped around her arms. Her waist.
“Get on your knees, Elena.” One of the men whispered in her ear.
She dropped to the ground. Feeling her arms pulled behind her. Rope being tied around her wrists. Lifting her head to look at the men who surrounded her.
This was it, she thought, as she was pulled to her feet. Stumbling forward as the men pushed her towards the door. This was it. This was the end.
She glanced behind her.
Watching, as her mother peered out from behind the trees. Her heart clenching a little at the pain. At the fear on her mother’s face.
Her mother had been running for a long time, she thought to herself. She’d been hiding for even longer. She had to stop. She had to stop being afraid. She needed to start fighting She needed to start fighting for what was right. For what she wanted, because if it was one thing that Elena vowed to herself it was that she would never stop fighting.
She would keep fighting until the day she died.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Tell me where Elena is!”
The fist smashed into his jaw.
“Never.” Kieran whispered.
“You can’t take this forever!”
The Taser jabbed in his side. Sending another round of electricity through his body.
He gasped.
“Tell me why you don’t believe in the organization.”
“Because it’s a soulless organization, designated to bringing anarchy to the world. I like this world, and I’d rather die than see it go up in flames.”
A pale of cold water dumped over his head.
Kieran gasped.
“Where is she? Why won’t you tell me where she is? Why are you suffering for her?”
“Because I love her.”
Abel stopped. His fist in midair.
Behind him, he heard the sound of the gates opening.
He spun around. Anger rushing through him, at the sight of the guards coming in.
“What did I tell you!” he shouted. “I told you not to disturb me!”
“But sir, we have something you might want to see.”
“What on earth would I—“He stopped. His eyes widening as the guards herded into the arena. And Elena stumbled forward, falling to her knees in front of him. “Well I’ll be damned.” He whispered, reaching down and grabbing her by the back of the neck. Pulling her to her feet. “If it isn’t my darling, Elena.”
“I’m not your darling.” Elena raised her head. “I’ll never be anything of yours ever again.” And spit in his face.
Abel laughed. A dark sound ripping from his throat. “Oh, you little, ungrateful bitch. I gave you everything and this is how you repay me?” he laughed again, pulling her closer to him. “Oh, how I am going to enjoy killing you. Pulling limb from limb from you until you are begging me to kill you.” He smiled. “You can get rid of the ropes, men. She’s not going to be any trouble.”
“I’ll never beg anything from you.” Elena whispered, feeling the ropes fall from her wrists, turning her head. Staring at Kieran, his face battered and bruised. “Oh God. Kieran.”
“You should have stayed away, Elena.” Kieran whispered. “He’s going to kill us both now.”
“Not quite yet, Kieran.” Abel threw her to the ground. Kneeling next to her. “You see, Elena, I’ve spent a good amount of time trying to track you down. I’ve spent lots of money. Lots of resources trying to bring you back here. Trying to kill you, but somehow you always manage to elude me.” He smiled. “But now that you’re finally here. Finally back home. Let me introduce you to someone.” He pointed his finger, rising to his feet, just as the gates swung open. “I trust you’ve been reacquainted with your long, lost aunt?” he asked.
“The bitch tried to kill me.” Elena spit out. “She destroyed Kieran’s place.”
“No. That’s on you, Dearie.” Diana informed her. A smile crossing her face. “You brought all of this chaos to Kieran’s doorstep. You only have each other to blame.”
; “And then there’s this woman.” Abel whispered.
Elena lifted her head.
And watched, her eyes widening, as Kiana walked through the door.
“Mom?” she whispered.
“Oh, Elena, did you really think your mother was hiding on the outskirts of the operation and I didn’t know about it?” Abel laughed, holding a hand out, and Elena watched as Kiana walked towards him. Placing her hand in Abel’s.
“What?”
Abel laughed.
“Oh Elena, what you don’t know.” Abel shook his head. “Years ago, when I found your mother in bed with another man was the worst day of my life. And then Diana came to me with a plan. A plan to get revenge on your mother once and for all. Only your mother ended up stronger than I thought she was and managed to get away.”
“I ran for a long time.” Kiana whispered. Looking up at her husband. Than over at Elena. “I ran, thinking that I had lost everything. That I had lost you girls. My family, and I did the only thing I could do. I ran to Simon. I thought I loved him. I thought he could protect me. I thought he was the only man for me. Only I was wrong. Abel tracked me to Simon’s cabin, and shot him right before my eyes. And it was in that moment I realized that I was wrong. The only one who could ever be enough for me. Who could ever protect me was your father. I’d been wrong about so much that I promised to be by his side when he destroyed the world.”
“And together, the three of us, are going to rule the world.” Abel whispered. Holding out his other hand, and Elena watched, as Diana placed her hand in his.
“Oh God.” Elena whispered. Shaking her head. “I think I’m going to be sick. You guys have this weird, perverted threesome going on.” She shuddered. “It’s gross!”
“It’s not gross, Elena.” Kiana whispered. “It’s family. And family always comes first.”
“You’re just as much of a psycho as he is!” Elena shouted, jumping to her feet.
One of the guards tried to grab her, but she dodged his hands, lunging at her mother. Knocking her to the ground. “You stupid, bitch! You ruined everything! You all ruined everything. You were supposed to be dead! I watched that man drag you out of the house. I watched the house get burned to the ground. I’ve had to be punished for years, and for what, so you can take over a world?” She raised her fist. “God, I hate you!” she shouted. “I hate you! I hate you! Everything that has happened to me. To my sisters. It’s all because of you!” And she slammed her fist into her mother’s face.
A guard grabbed her from around the waist, pulling her back.
“You have no idea what you are talking about, Elena.” Kiana whispered, rising to her feet. “You have no idea, and you, will still be the deadliest weapon of all we have ever trained.”
“I will never serve under your orders ever again.”
“Oh yes you will.” Kiana whispered. She took the gun Abe handed to her, and aimed it at her daughter. “You will always do what we say. You are ours. You are our property. You are our soldier. You will always carry out our orders as we see fit.” And she pulled the trigger.
Elena gasped.
The bullet hit her right in the stomach.
She dropped to the ground.
Staring down at her body.
Expecting to see blood pouring from it.
But there was nothing.
She felt nothing.
She felt her head begin to swim.
Her vision started to cloud.
She knew this feeling, she thought to herself, as she pushed herself to her feet. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t feel. It was like she wasn’t even a person anymore.
“What did you do to me?”
“You’re one of us again, Elena.” Kiana whispered, dropping the gun to the ground. “And you are going to kill Kieran.”
“What?”
Her head jerked up.
She stared at Kieran.
Who was he? She wondered. Then shook her head. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was the mission. Killing Kieran.
She took a step forward. Taking the gun the guard handed her. And turned her head. Her eyes zoning in on Kieran.
“Kill Kieran.” She whispered, her eyes glazed over. “I will kill Kieran. It is my duty.”
Abel laughed. Taking a knife, and cutting the ropes free from Kieran’s wrists.
“Good bye, Kieran.” He whispered in his ear. “It was good knowing you.” He slung an arm around Diana and Kiana’s shoulders. “And we have some unfinished business to attend to.”
They walked out the door, the guards following them.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“Elena, no!”
Kieran jumped to his feet. Raising his head. Watching as Elena walked towards him. Her eyes like glass.
“Elena!” He shouted her name again. Stumbling back a step.
He felt his knees wobble.
Watching, as Elena raised the gun, and pulled the trigger.
He jumped out of the way. Watching as the bullet hit the dirt. And turned his head again. Staring at the woman he’d gotten to know the last few days. The woman he’d fallen in love with.
What was wrong with her? He wondered to himself. Why was she doing this? Why was she following their orders?
And he stopped.
Staring at the gun that lay in the ground.
The drug.
They’d drugged her again.
“I must kill Kieran.” Elena whispered again. Staring at him. And raised the gun again.
Kieran turned, lunging. Dropping in the dirt. Watching as the bullets rained all around him.
“Dammitt, Elena!” he shouted. Jumping to his feet and running towards her. “It’s me! It’s Kieran!”
“I must kill Kieran” she whispered the words again. “I must complete my mission.”
“No you don’t!” Kieran lunged forward. His arms wrapping around her. “You don’t have to do this.” He whispered in her ear. “You’re better than this. You’re better than them. Come back to me.”
“Let me go!” she shouted. “I must do what’s right. You are stopping us from helping the world.”
“You’re not helping the world, Elena. You’re helping them destroy it.” He tightened his arms around her. “Abel, he’s a liar. He’s a terrorist. Come on, Elena, you know this. Come on, snap out of it, I don’t want to hurt you!”
She brought her elbow back hard.
Kieran gasped. Stumbling back. His arms dropping from around hr.
He raised his head. Watching her raise the gun towards him again.
He lunged forward. Grabbing her by the arm. Pulling the gun from her fingers. Dropping it to the ground just a few feet away from them.
“Elena, come back to me.” He whispered in her ear. “Come back to me. I love you, and I know that you love me too.”
“No.” she shook her head. “No. There’s no such thing as love. It’s a weakness.”
“No it’s not. It makes us stronger. Come on, Elena. Come back to me.” He raised a hand, touching her cheek. “Come back to me, my love. I love you, Elena. I love you so much, that I would do anything for you. I fell in love with you the first time I met you, in that hospital. When we were fighting side by side. When we were running for our lives. The first time we kissed, in the rain, it was the most magical moment of my life. I would die for you, Elena.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek.
And watched, as the glassiness look faded from her eyes.
“Kieran?” she whispered.
“Welcome back.” He whispered.
“I love you, too.” She whispered. Her voice a little hoarse. “And so help me, it’s going to kill me.” And she slumped in his arms. Her head slumping against his shoulder.
“Elena?” Kieran shook her. “Elena!” He felt his whole body tremor with feel. “Oh God, Elena, no!” He shook her again. Leaning his head down.
She wasn’t breathing.
Her heart wasn’t beating.
And he felt his own heart sta
rt to break.
“No!”
Tears rolled down his face.
He faintly heard the doors behind him swinging open.
He faintly heard the sound of running feet.
And turned his head, just as a young, blonde woman ran up to him. Squatting next to him in the dirt.
“Lay her down.” She whispered.
“She’s dead.” Kieran whispered. His voice cracking. “And it’s all my fault.”
“Not yet she’s not.” The woman whispered. “Put her down, Kieran, before it’s too late.”
He stared at the woman. Than lay Elena on the ground. Watching through his tears as the woman pulled a needle out from behind her back. And stabbed it in the side of Elena’s neck.
“What is that?” Kieran asked.
“The antidote.” The woman whispered. She turned her head. Smiling at him. “I’m Arianna.”
“You’re one of Elena’s sisters.”
“That I am.” Arianna whispered. Laughing a little. “I always knew Elena would always find a strong, handsome, capable man like you. She was always the dreamer out of all of us. Always believing in happy endings. She used to tell us that the world was a place that needed to be shared. That needed to be seen. Too bad our father was such an ass.”
Kieran laughed. “Yes. Yes he is.” He stopped a moment. “What happened to her, Arianna?”
“When Elena first broke out of the drug, Abel was furious. His most dangerous weapon had betrayed him, and he vowed that no one would ever get that chance again. So he hired all these scientists to mess around with it. Eventually, they made it so when you felt any sort of emotions. Especially love, your heart went into overdrive and killed you.” She snorted. “Love kills.” Is what he called it.”
“But if he’d changed the drug, how are you here?” Kieran stared at her. “How did you break free of it? How do you know who Elena is? How do you know who I am?”
“Because, Elena was the first one he used it on.” Arianna told him. “If she wouldn’t follow his orders, then the next best thing was to kill him.” She shook her head. “I just pulled out of the drug, when I saw Elena being pulled into the arena. Something just clicked inside of me, and all the cloudiness. All the confusion just washed away, and I knew something was going to happen. I knew something bad was going to happen, and I knew I had to help my sister. She’d always been there for me. She’d done so much for me. The least I could do was save her life.”
Fearless Page 28