“Izzy,” Tara shouts over, her footsteps thudding behind me, but I don’t react. My body quivers as I wail into my arm. “It’s okay,” she whispers wrapping her arm across my shoulder trying to comfort me. My rib cage aches as I struggle to breathe. Pulling me away from the car, Tara wraps her arms around me, holding me steady. “I got you.” She strokes my head. “We should get you home.”
“No.” I can’t help but snap. “I don’t want him to see me like this.”
“He needs to know the truth. He deserves to know.”
“I’m scared,” I choke out, looking up at her through my wet lashes. “I’m scared what will happen, that this will cause so much more shit than we’ve already been through.”
“Babe, you can’t move on until this whole thing is out in the open. The truth will eat away at you and cause tension.”
“But he’ll kill him,” I murmur, swiping the tears that roll over my cheeks. “Brax won’t rest until he’s made him suffer.”
“I know, I know.” She tilts her head, tears welling in her eyes. “But what Carter has done to Brax is just… well, fucked up. If Carter has it in his head that you belong to him, I’m not sure he’ll ever stop. He’s the kind of criminal who is used to getting his own way. He’s used Brax and played games and all the while he knew what had happened to you.”
“Do you think he knew about Alvrez?” I gasp as a sudden wash of realization comes over me. “They were working together. What if he’s the one behind all of this?”
“How could he be? Your father was hiding you from him. He didn’t know your exact whereabouts.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure.” I step back, grabbing the handle and opening the door.
“Where are we going?” She looks at me with her hands held up, her eyes wide.
“I’m going to ask him. I’m going to talk to Carter.”
Sighing heavily, I slam the door shut, reaching for my belt. Tara hurries into the car, dropping into the driver’s seat. “Babe. I can’t do this.” She allows her eyes to fall shut. “He’ll kill us both, that’s if we even make it inside.”
“How else will I know? I have to go there. I have to confront him. If I tell Brax about what has happened, someone will die, and I can’t risk it being him.”
“But… you… you’re risking your own life.” Grabbing my forearm, she squeezes lightly. “Carter has this eerie calm exterior. But don’t be fooled. Behind that mask is a man who is willing to murder anyone at the drop of a hat. He’s dangerous, Izzy. He’s like a bear. He looks cute and all, but those fuckers will hunt you down for fun and eat you alive.”
I shudder, listening to her telling me about Carter, but something deep in my gut is telling me I need to face this head-on. “I’ve been tortured and close to death. I’ve suffered things you can’t even imagine. But I made it out. I’m here to tell the tale, and I’m not going to risk the chance that he might do it again. If Carter was behind this, what’s to say I’m safe?”
“Let me speak to him. I’m family. Maybe that will stand for something?” Her nose crinkles as she looks at me with sad eyes. “I got your back, Izzy. You and Brax are more like family to me than my own family.”
“Come with me. We go together, see if you can get him to open up.”
“Of course, I’ll try. But there are no guarantees.”
“Thank you,” I say, rubbing my clammy palms against my jeans, staring back at the house. My mother is standing at the door, looking directly at me. I glare at her. Hard. She doesn’t move, or go back inside, but she drops her head, losing the contact she had with me. I feel sick to my stomach, filling with dread and disappointment. I feel so betrayed by her. That she sent me away with my father and didn’t give me a second thought. I guess it was a blessing in disguise for her. It gave Mom a chance to cozy up with her new boyfriend, all the while getting shit-faced. I reach down to the passenger side floor, grabbing my purse and placing it in my lap. If I’m going in there, I need to be prepared. Be willing to protect myself.
We drive for a while in silence. “Hey.” She turns to me, flashing a smile. “You’re quiet. You okay? Shit, stupid question really…”
“No,” I cut her off. “I’m okay.” I smile before turning and glancing out of the window. “You know, one day…” I pause, tilting my head to the side, “one day I should go back there, where Dad kept me locked up. Even if it is just to burn the place down.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through, and if that’s what it takes for you to move on, then I say do it,” she says with an assertive nod.
“Glad I’m not the only crazy one around here,” I say, rolling my eyes and flashing her a sideways smile.
Looking out of the windshield, I notice we are finally pulling into the entrance to Carter’s, the usual security on the door.
“Shit,” I murmur, craning my neck to look at the guys standing at the entrance. “Do you think we’ll get in?” I’m not sure if it’s the panic setting in, but I start tapping my leg, my eyes wide and on Tara.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I don’t think I have any choice. Walking away without getting answers is like living on a knife’s edge. I just have no idea what will happen. And I can’t live in fear, I can only face it. Whatever this is, whatever he has planned, I need to deal with it head-on.”
“Dammit.” She slaps her hand against the steering wheel. “You amaze me. Your fire and determination are admirable.”
“Not really,” I reply with an absent shake of my head. “It’s just my survival instincts kicking in.”
“Well, whatever it is, I think you are one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Now, let’s go in there and face him together.” Taking my hand, she clutches it tightly and I reciprocate, squeezing lightly.
“Thank you for doing this.”
“You don’t need to thank me. We’re friends, and I’m pissed for you. After all, he’s my cousin.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“No, but when it’s your own flesh and blood, you can’t help but feel a little responsible. But I promise you, I’m nothing like him. My mother sheltered me from the world our family lives in for as long as she could.”
“You’re here with me, supporting me. That means more than you’ll ever know.”
“Let’s get this over with.” She swings her door open, stepping out of the car. “Hey, tell my cousin we are here to see him,” Tara shouts to the two huge guys standing in the doorway.
“Is he expecting you?” the one with the shiny bald head asks. I make my way over, following just a step behind Tara. She knows Carter better than I do, so I’m happy to let her take the lead.
“Look, dickless. Just let us in. I’m his cousin. I don’t understand why you’re being so damn difficult.” Crossing her arms, her shoulders sag as she lets out a huge sigh.
“I’ll radio him,” the other guy informs us, turning and speaking into the handheld radio he’s just plucked from his waistband.
Goose bumps cover my skin the second I hear his voice come over the radio. “Send them in.”
Stepping aside, the two men hold their arms out, securing the doors open. “You got lucky this time,” the bald-headed guy sneers. “He’s out back. Beside the pool,” he informs us with a nod. Tara glares at him, shooting him a quick, sarcastic smile.
“Asshole,” she mutters under her breath as we charge through the hall and to the door that leads outside. I clutch my purse in my hand and I can’t help but notice how much it shakes. I’m fueled on anger and fear. A dangerous combination.
“You good?” Tara asks, looking at me over her shoulder.
I nod, straightening my posture, ready to face him. The man who may be responsible for ruining my life.
“Well, it didn’t take you long. I’ve been expecting you,” he drawls out, lazing back in the patio chair, his face pointing up to the sky. “What’s wrong, Isabelle? Scared to come alone?”
“I’m not s
cared of you,” I say with a scoff.
“Really? Are you sure about that?” He sits upright, looking me dead in the eye. “Because I think I do scare you and I also think it turns you on.”
“Carter,” Tara yells at him. “You have to stop this. NOW.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
“We came here for answers,” she says, glaring at him. “Isabelle deserves to know the truth.”
“I told her the truth the other day at the bar. Isn’t that right, Isabelle?”
Shuddering, I cross my arms over my heaving chest, trying to find the right words. “My mom told me you were the cause of my father keeping me locked up all those years. But there’s something else I need to know,” I say with a gulp, my nerves evident in the way my voice sounds. I’m trying to control my emotions, but sometimes it’s easier said than done.
“What?” he asks, pushing himself out of the chair, his hands sliding into his pant pockets as he saunters toward us. I instinctively step back, holding my hand out to him. “Don’t come any closer,” I warn him.
“Why?” He smirks, continuing to take steps toward me. “You think I want to hurt you, Isabelle?”
“I don’t know,” I yell at him. “I have no idea what your agenda is right now, but I do know one thing. I don’t trust you. Not in the slightest.”
“She can trust me, can’t she?” he says smiling at Tara standing beside me.
“What is going on with you?” She swallows down hard, pointing her finger at him. “I’m ashamed to call you family.”
“Oh, get over yourself, you righteous little bitch.” He storms toward her, stretching out his hand as he wraps his fingers tightly around her throat. “You are a Mellano. You seem to have forgotten that small little detail.”
“Get off her,” I roar, tugging at his arms, trying to get him to release his hold on her. I frantically tug, her hands scratching and clawing at his hands around her neck. I grapple with his hands, finally getting him off of her. Only then, he turns his attention to me.
This is a mess.
Shit.
Tara drops to the floor, gasping for breath. I look down, trying to locate my purse, realizing that in my attempt to help Tara, I dropped it on the ground. Carter's hand grasps a handful of my hair, tugging painfully hard as he tilts my head back.
“You knew about Alvrez, didn’t you? This was all your doing.”
“Well, aren’t you a clever little thing? How did you work it out?”
“I didn’t,” I manage to force out. “Call it a gut feeling.”
“Years, Isabelle. Years I listened to that whiny little bitch talking about you. About how he couldn’t move on with his life. All the while, I knew you should be mine, that when we did find you, I’d claim you for myself. Only Brax became my friend, and a damn good money-making machine. We hired detectives, and eventually they tracked you down. It was hard to keep that a secret. I was working tirelessly to come up with a way to have you to myself, that’s where Alvrez came in…”
“If you wanted me, why get Alvrez to pick me up? He tortured me, raped me, Carter!”
“That was never part of the plan.” He shakes his head, closing his eyes. “I had no idea that he wouldn’t be able to control himself around you. It was only ever supposed to be temporary, you have to believe me. I wanted to be the one to take your virginity, to claim you as mine and only mine. But it seems that you have quite an effect on men, Isabelle. Everyone wants a taste of you.” He lowers his mouth to mine, darting out his tongue before pressing his lips against mine.
“Let her go.” Tara manages to get on her feet.
“My purse, Tara,” I rush out, and strain to watch as she scrambles for the purse. Taking it in her shaking hand she struggles to open it, but manages to find the gun, pulling it out and holding it toward Carter.
“You’re really doing this? You’re pulling a gun on me?” He glowers at Tara, her hand shaking as she points the gun directly at him. Dragging me, he positions me in front of him, shielding himself from the line of fire. I suck in a sharp breath of air, cowering at the site of the gun now pointing at me.
“Drop it.” He growls his instructions. Tara’s eyes flicker between me and Carter and I allow my eyes to close a little, letting her know that she should do as he says.
“I’ll put it over here,” she informs him, slowly side-stepping over to the glass outdoor table. Placing it down, she looks over at us warily, wondering what her next move will be. “So, what now? What is it you want, Carter?”
“You came here. You tell me.”
“I came for the truth,” I choke out.
“So now you have it, you want me to do what? Let the both of you go so that you can run back to your little boyfriend and tell him what really happened?” he murmurs against my hair, his warm breath causing me to shudder.
“He doesn’t know we are here. I haven’t told him anything.”
“She’s telling the truth, Carter.” Tara holds her hand out to him, pleading not only with her soothing voice but with her beautiful brown eyes too. “Just let her go. We’ll leave now. We won’t say a word to anyone about this.”
“Yeah,” I say in agreement. “I’ll keep this to myself, just like last time. You know, I didn’t tell Brax about what happened in the bathroom. You can trust me. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“That’s not enough.” He shakes his head adamantly. “You know, I’d given up on you. I told myself that maybe you were always meant to be with Brax, and that I could move on and forget about you. But I can’t. Seeing you again made me realize why I wanted you so much in the first place. Braxton isn’t the only one that has searched for you, or waited for you.”
“I’m not a car, or a dog you can just pass around.”
“I claimed you way before Brax got his fucking hands on you.”
“You’re crazy,” I gasp. “A complete nut job if you believe that bullshit. My heart and soul has only ever belonged to Brax, no matter what delusional ideas you have in your head!” I look over to where Tara was standing; only she’s gone. My eyes scan the surrounding area in a panic as I look for her.
“There’s nothing he can do to save you now.”
“What are you going to do to me?” I choke out, fighting back the tears that are on the verge of breaking the seal. Clasping my chin in his grip, he drags my face until my eyes meet his. They are so dark, they borderline black. Narrowed on me, I can’t help the shudder that wracks through me. “I’m keeping you. Making you mine. As for you…” He snaps his head, looking for Tara.
“Fuck,” he growls, his hand landing heavily on the back of my neck, causing me to cower, his grip is so tight. “Where the fuck did she go?”
“I don’t know,” I offer weakly.
“Fucking bitch,” he growls, dragging me with him as he storms inside and over to the guys standing at the door.
“She left?”
“Uh, yes, sir.” The bald-headed guy looks at us in confusion.
“You fucking piece of shit,” he roars. “And you didn’t think it was weird she was leaving alone?” He pushes his free hand through his short brown hair. “Well done, cocksuckers.” He throws his hand in the air in resignation. “We are going to need men. I want this place locked down. Nobody comes in or out of here without my approval.”
My legs become shaky as sharp pains shoot through my neck. The hairs on my arms stand on end as fear rips through me. Once again I’m captive, but now I know the one man behind all of this is the one holding me now. Turning and forcing me down the hall, he keeps his grip tight on my neck.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Carter, let me go.”
He laughs, a deep bellowing laugh, and I instantly hate it.
“What!” I shout at him. “What is so funny?”
“I was just wondering whether you would sound as sweet when you’re begging for me to stop.”
“You don’t want to do this. You know you’re no match for Brax. He’ll kill you,” I spit
back, knowing our lives hang in the balance, trying to get Carter to see sense. “Stop this now, just let me go.”
“It’s too late.”
Tears blur my vision of where he’s taking me, but rage blooms inside me. No way have I survived everything I’ve been through, to surrender to this asshole. Dragging me into a room, the door slams shut behind me.
I let a solitary tear slide down my face.
I won’t die this way.
Only the strongest survive.
I’ll fight him until he’s the one begging for me to stop.
I will get my revenge for everything he’s done.
Feet on the coffee table, beer in hand, I sit with Nate as we talk over our triumph.
“I told you it would be okay,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders. “Jeffries is an asshole, but I think we have reached an understanding.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” I say, reaching out and shaking his hand. “Here’s to working together, fucker,” I joke, tilting the bottle until they meet and clink. I reach down, grabbing my smokes, resting it against my lip while I use the lighter to ignite it. I grunt at the sound of Nate’s phone ringing. Turning onto his side, he digs into his ridiculously tight jeans pocket, retrieving the phone.
“Tara,” he says with a smile that crinkles the skin around his eyes. Loved-up fucking pussy, I think to myself.
“Hey,” he answers, trying to act all cool, and I can’t help but chuckle. His eyes dart to me, and his face falls. “What is it? I need you to calm down and speak a little slower.”
“What?” I ask, sitting up and pressing my cigarette in the ashtray. “What the fuck’s wrong?”
“He’s got her,” she cries down the phone. “It’s Carter. He’s been behind the whole thing.”
Snatching the phone out of Nate’s hand, I hold it to my ear. “Where is she?” I ask calmly.
“She’s at Carter’s. I managed to scramble out of there, but she’s still there, Brax. I couldn’t do anything…” she sobs, and the anger brews deep inside.
“Where are you?” I ask, leaping off the sofa and over to the window.
“I’m driving. I’m coming over. You need to know everything,” she sniffles and I turn to Nate, now standing beside me, handing him the phone. My head thuds as much as my heart does. I start pacing back and forth, waiting for her to arrive. I feel a fucking pain, deep in my gut, like some fucker just ripped it out.
The complete scars series: Books one-four Page 38