“Yes?” I reply.
“They’re all dead. All of them hit within the last forty-eight hours, and each death more brutal than the last.” Leo shifts some papers on his desk until he finds a pad. “Carlos Sanchez was found hanging from a bridge. He’d been beaten, all his teeth were gone, and they skinned him. Alive.”
I swallow hard. It sounds as if they’re going after high-level targets in Mexico, but I can’t imagine they’d come after Lily.
“Here’s another interesting fact. No one else will make this connection, but Lorenzo Grimaldi was killed yesterday.”
My jaw drops as I break out into a sweat. “What?”
“He was in some tiny Italian restaurant for a party for some kid in the neighborhood that just made his confirmation. They sealed the exits and torched the place. Ninety-some people died. You need to get your girl into hiding, and keep her there until the dust settles. At the rate they’re killing each other, they’ll all be dead in a couple months and she’ll be in the clear.”
I jump out of my seat. “I have to go.”
He shouts as I leave his office, “Let me know if I can do anything to help!”
I dial Max as I run to my car. “Max, you have to get to Lily. We need to get her to the safe house now.”
“One of your guys is driving me to your place now. Did you get my messages?”
I pull into traffic, driving like a bat out of hell. “Max, you have to listen to me. The cartel is coming for her!”
“What? This isn’t about the cartel. Your security company called. Your fire alarm went off. Fire department’s on its way.”
I tap my thumbs on the steering wheel whilst I wait at a traffic light. “Have you spoken to Lily? Did she get out safely?”
“Her phone goes straight to voice mail.”
“Get there,” I scream before ending the call.
I’m twenty minutes from home in normal traffic. Too bloody long. I plow through red lights and go the wrong way on two one-way streets, praying I don’t kill anyone. If a traffic officer catches me, so be it. I’ll lead him back to the flat. Max and I could use the help.
I arrive at the flat in fifteen minutes, a record for sure. Fire engines line the street. I don’t bother parking; I just leave the Rover on the street. Willis opens the door for me.
“Have you seen Lily? Did she get out?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, sir. I haven’t seen her.”
The lift is blocked by firefighters, so I take the stairs two at a time.
When I get to my floor, my heart stops. Smoke burns my eyes and lungs. The stench makes me gag.
“Lily!” I run through the door. I’m only a few steps into my flat when Max tries to push me out the door.
“No, man. Don’t go in there. You don’t need to see that,” Max says.
Isaac, the head of security for my company, grabs my arms and pulls me into the hall.
I pull free of Isaac’s grip and shove Max as hard as I can, but he doesn’t budge. “Get the fuck out of my way! I need to get to her!”
Isaac moves to block the doorway.
Max gets in my face. “She’s gone, Gavin. I’m telling you as your friend, you don’t want go in there.”
I drop my shoulder to ram him, but he and Isaac push me back against the wall. “I need to see her!”
Max puts his hands on my shoulders, pushing me into the wall. “There’s not enough of her left to see.”
The air is sucked out of my lungs as I drop to my knees.
He sits next to me on the floor. “I’m sorry, man. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I’m sorry, Edwards.” Isaac crouches in front of me. “The fire chief said we can stay, but we have to stay out of the flat and out of their way.”
I notice both of their shoulders slump forward. They think I’ve given up. I jump to my feet. Isaac reaches out to stop me, but I smash my knee into his chin, making him fall back. I run into the flat.
The smell is far worse inside my flat than it was in the hallway. I have to fight back the urge to vomit.
Once I step into the living room, all I see is red. Red splattered everywhere. The sofa, the carpet, the walls. I step forward, and something crunches beneath my foot. I step back and look down to see what I’ve stepped on.
Oh dear, God! A … finger. I’ve stepped on a finger. I look around the floor. Fingers are scattered over the blood soaked floor.
A police officer pushes me out of the room, screaming about preserving the evidence. I stumble into the kitchen, and I see her. She’s nailed to the wall, like Christ on the cross. Her body is charred, almost unrecognizable. Smoke looms around her as her body continues to smolder.
“Lily,” I scream. I run to her. “We need to get her down! Someone, please, get her down!”
Max and Isaac grab my arms and drag me out of the room. “She’s gone, Gavin!” Max screams. “She’s gone! You have to let her go!”
I fall to a heap on the floor. Max and Isaac lift me by the arms and carry me to the hall.
Time stands still. People bustle around me, but I’m frozen. Not thinking, not feeling. My heart may be beating, but my life has come to a halt. I let Lily down. I promised to protect her, and I failed. Now she’s gone.
I try to imagine what her last moments were like. Ghastly images flitter through my mind. The pain she must have endured. Every thought that comes into my head makes me want to scream, to break something, to kill someone. How could I let this happen?
The lift dings, and a man in medical scrubs steps out. A fireman and police officer meet him at my door.
The fireman hands the man a clipboard. “We have to be careful with this one. The body’s in bad shape. She was alive when the bastard set her on fire, the sprinklers went off and the water compromised the evidence—”
Torturous screaming drowns them out. They turn and stare at me. The police officer steps toward me. He’s talking, but I can’t hear him over the screaming. Max pushes past the officer and looks at me with a frantic expression. He shakes me hard, and the screaming stops.
“Man, they need us to get out of here.” He pulls me to my feet. “Let’s let them do their job.”
Their job? Finding her killer? They won’t have a chance to do their job. I’ll hunt those bastards like the animals they are. There won’t be a place on Earth they can hide. Every second of pain they put her through will come back to them a thousand fold. They’ll pray for the depths of hell by the time I’m done with them.
They’re all going to burn.
Dear Reader,
I imagine you hate me right about now. It’s okay, you can admit it. I highly encourage you to reach out and vent. You’ve been kind enough to join me on this wild ride, the least I can do is hold your hand when things take a turbulent detour! I’m anxious to hear what you think, so feel free to let me have it!
Email: [email protected]
Facebook group: Isabelle’s Book Belles
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/isabellerichards-author
Twitter @88IsabelleR
Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/bcfzP1
When Fates Align, the final installment of Lily and Gavin’s story will release on May 6th. Eight Short weeks! I promise those weeks are going to fly by! Please join my Facebook group or sign up for my mailing list. Not only will I release exclusive excerpts of When Fates Align, but I’ll also be giving away some of my favorite books by my favorite authors. Books that I know will keep you occupied until When Fates Align releases.
I can’t thank you enough for coming with me on this adventure and I look forward to hearing from you!
Read the final installment of Lily and Gavin’s story
releasing May 6, 2015.
Acknowledgements
When I write, I get a one track mind. In every song I hear, I can somehow link it to the characters. When I walk through the grocery store, I think, what would they have for dinner? When someone tells me about their day, I often respond, “That’s nice, b
ut back to my book.”
I’m not quite that bad but close. Since I dive into a book bubble, I have so many people to thank for the endless support, countless brainstorming sessions, and the number of times I’ve been talked off of the ledge.
To Karin, my friend and sister, without you Lily would still be called “Female Character”. You’ve been such a support system through this crazy journey and I’m so happy we did it together.
Kimberly, thank you for sharing a brain with me! Words cannot express how much I love and appreciate you. You kick me in the ass when I need it, keep me motivated, and help me stay focused amid my sea of chaos. Facebook may drive me crazy, but I’ll always be thankful because it brought us together. I’d be lost without you.
Cassie, you’re a hell of an editor and you’ve helped me come so far. You treat my characters with such love and respect. I know when I send you my words, they are in good hands. I’m constantly learning from you!
Paige Randall. How I miss our Friday afternoon brainstorming sessions. You’ve been with me every step of the way, and I’m so lucky to have you. Your hatred for the semi-colon has changed me forever!
Kari, what can I say? You’re such a beautiful person, and emit rays of sunshine and happiness with each person you connect with. But the grace of God, I’m lucky enough to be one of those people.
Jesey, I’ll never be able to express how much your friendship means to me. Even though we only know each other virtually, you’ve become one of my dearest friends. And in my darkest times, you always let me know you were there.
Keri, the fact that after all these years, we’re still friends and books have been yet another way for us to stay connected makes me ecstatic. I am so thankful you’re willing to read my work and I know that you give it the critical eye I need. Being able to trust in that honesty is such a rare occurrence, and I’m so lucky I can trust you. And you are the writing block master!
To all of the bloggers that have read my work and supported me, THANK YOU!! I know the pressures you are all under, and I respect how much time, effort and energy it takes to keep a blog rolling. I’m so appreciative that you’ve taken the time to read and promote my work. Special love goes out to my Schmexy Girls Jen, Trish and Jesey, Fiction Fan Girls, Jaime and Dena, all of the girls at One Click Addicts, and all the ByoB girls!
Thank you to my family who has been so patient and understanding through this entire journey.
One last final note… I’ve gotten several reviews that my story is complicated with so much going on. It’s an indisputable fact. Friends ask me all the time: “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I do an absurd amount of research, but I genuinely must give my mother the credit. Mom and I have bonded over Lifetime movies for as long as I can remember. Movies full of plot twists, non-stop drama, and plenty of bad guys lurking in the shadows. It’s now how my brain works!
That time with my mother has been precious to me, and I know I’d never be where I am without her. She raised me to believe that there is nothing I can’t do, and I believe that to my core. So when thought about writing a book, I knew I could do it. That confidence (and at times craziness) is thanks to my mom. Love you, Mom!
And special love to Dad who tolerated years of watching “the man hater channel.”
Thank you so much for reading Lily and Gavin’s story. Stay tuned for book 3!
When Fate Isn't Enough Page 34