Whatever happens here on out, I don't and never will blame Connor, no one could have predicted this outcome, certainly not me. And now I've left no clues as to where I'm going, so he’s got no way of finding us.
I've let myself believe that we could live happily ever after, that being with him was going to be easy, when in fact it’s been anything but, and I know I should let him go. Tears now silently running down my face and landing on my lap, I don’t bother wiping them away, I want them to fall. They are a reminder, a reminder that what we had was real and that he was a part of my life.
I've been consumed that much by my depressing thoughts I never heard the flight attendant announce that we would be landing soon. It’s time to get my emotions and feelings in check. One slight bit of weakness shown to this weirdo and he’s going to use it against me. I can’t let that happen. If I plan on getting us both out of this shit storm alive then I have to use my head, because right now I wouldn’t put anything past the evil bastard that has my best friend and holding her against her will.
The plane lands on the runway, giving me time to pull myself together before I see the arsehole who’s putting us through all this. I gather all my belongings together which isn’t much and make my way off the plane. Getting into fight mode, yet knowing I have to be smart about this because it’s not just myself I need to think about, there’s Karina too.
I collect my suitcase from the baggage claim and make my way through to arrivals, feeling nervous about my fate unsure what’s about to happen, I send silent I love you’s out not sure if I’m ever going to see any of them again, and as much as I want to check my phone right now I know I can’t. For two reasons, the first being me not been able to cope with hearing Connor’s voice and what he may say, I know I would break down crying. I know I will give into him and tell him what’s happening. That I can not and will not do. The second reason is because I have a feeling I’m being watched and can’t risk Karina getting hurt again because of me. I can’t have that on my conscience. That’s when I see him standing just yards in front of me holding a sign saying nothing but my name in bold writing. I approach him with so much caution. There’s no turning back now.
“Miss Whitbury, if you could follow me please.” He’s acting like Mr nice guy, but I know as soon as I’m out of the airport and not around other people that will soon change.
“Less of the pleasantries, we’re not friends so why pretend? I know there’s a reason why you asked for me and I know I’m about to find out why.” I’m trying to keep myself under control but not knowing anything just isn’t sitting well with me. I’m trying to be strong letting him know he doesn’t scare me.
What he doesn’t know can’t hurt right?
Wrong. He sees right through me, I know he can because he’s got a big slimy grin on his face which tells me I haven’t got a fucking clue. Chills run all down my body, I’ve never felt fear like this before.
Gripping my arm in a vice like hold, he pulls me along roughly making me walk quicker than my legs can go.
“You listen to me you stuck up little bitch, if you know what’s good for you and that little friend of yours then you’ll be wise to keep that trap of yours shut before I shut it for you.” He snarls in my ear, making sure no one around can hear his malicious words. “Oh and whilst we’re still on talking terms, I want your phone… now.” He demands, holding out his hand waiting for me to hand it over. I knew this would happen, the wanker. Handing over my phone to him I look at it longingly, wishing I could just call Connor and go home. That none of this was happening. But I can’t and now... well, now I don’t know what’s about to happen.
Oh, darling.
You can't fix yourself by breaking someone else.
Anonymous
This is it. The moment I've been waiting for.
I'm finally going to get the toffee nosed bitch out of the way. Getting Connor to myself is within touching distance.
Charlie's been his weight in gold. I always knew my brother had his uses, I would never of thought to use her precious mofo as bait, but Charlie's brainwave seems to be paying off. I never had any intentions of hurting this girl when he grabbed her from the airport when she landed back in London. But the bitch just wouldn't shut up, so when he told me that he had smacked her one in the mouth to keep her quiet, well it turned out it was a lesson for her. We haven’t heard a peep out of her since. Now my plan is coming together nicely, like I knew she would, Allie’s coming to try and save her, falling straight into my hands. Now with her I’m willing to do whatever it takes to dispose of her. It’s time for me to take what’s mine and Connor is mine. As his precious angel is about to find out. The hard way.
She should’ve listened the first time in Germany, now she’s going to regret that she didn’t. I have no doubt that I’m going have to get my hands dirty again, but there’s no mistaking that I will do the job properly this time. Taking my trusty knives from their box, I start my preparation for her arrival, which should be any minute now. I think I’m going to enjoy this, maybe a little bit too much...
When you truly love someone,
You would do anything to make them smile.
Even if it means saying goodbye.
Connor
The last few hours have been a complete blur. I can only remember various bits, from Max shouting down the phone to Clint telling him we weren’t going to Rome then to Billie-Jo having a mental break down over Allie leaving… yeah well she can join the club because I had my mental breakdown about four hours earlier. After Johnny walked out of my suite, I just wandered around in my boxers trying to make sense of all this shit, and I kept coming up empty. I can’t for the life of me get my head around any of this. Johnny said he knew where to start looking for them, yet since then he hasn’t mentioned another word about it. All I know is I’m currently sat at a bar in Barajas International Airport waiting to get on a plane back to London, only this time I’m not running away because I’m afraid of hurting my angel, this time I’m petrified I’ve lost her for good. How I got here is beyond me.
Liam threw all of the stuff I had left unpacked into my suitcase and declared me packed and ready to leave. I was glad for his help, I could only just about dress myself, let alone pack all my shit, if it was left to me I would’ve just left it all there. I don’t give two shits. Nothing matters to me anymore, the only thing in my life that did matter has left me.
“Here, take these.” Max slides a pinky coloured tablet my way along with some water.
“Dude, I hate to break it to you but my drug taking days are over.” I manage to get out.
“Ha fucking ha ha. Its Valium you dipshit. It will help you relax and hopefully help you get some sleep on the plane, it's only 5mg it’s not going to kill you.” He proceeds to stand there till I do as he says. I’ve got nothing left to lose, so taking the glass and the tablet I swallow it down and hope for once in his life that Max is right.
As much as it pains me to admit it, Max was indeed right. I slept like a baby on the plane back to Heathrow. The only downfall was the minute I closed my eyes all I saw was her. Her sparkling blue eyes, her amazing blonde hair all tangled up from our love making. I even believed for one minute she was still there with me and in touching distance. Then Johnny the arsehole woke me up, and I had to learn it was all just a dream.
Once we got off the plane and had a fight to get through all the rotten journalists who were waiting for us, we managed to climb in the waiting Range Rover outside the airport doors. Johnnys demanding answers from some dude called Dominic down the phone, but he doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere quick, Max and Liam have both just got their faces stuck in their phones, not paying attention to anything or anyone. In their defence I don’t think either one of them knows what to say to me right now. I wouldn’t know to say to me. Propping my head in my hand I stare out the car window, my mind going into overdrive with more thoughts of my angel. Is she in London? Does she think I wouldn’t come after her? I would love to kn
ow if she’s thinking about me. I hear Johnny mumble something to Vinnie our driver but pay no attention, that fucker has been a raging looney since he found out that K had left, unlike me I’ve been like the walking dead. I wouldn’t like to be Karina when he finds her that’s for sure. Still staring out the window I notice we’re not heading in the right direction to either one of our of places, tapping Johnny on the shoulder to get his attention I say to him.
“Dude, I don’t know if you’ve noticed? But we’re heading in the wrong direction for home.”
“That's because we’re not going home captain obvious. Unlike some people, I’ve actually pulled my finger out my arse and done something about finding those two.”
Wow. If that wasn't a dig I don't know what is. But he's right, I’ve just being zoning in and out. I've just stuck my head in the sand all day, and pretended this can’t really be happening. I haven't done a thing to find her, only get on a plane and hope she’ll come to me when she’s good and ready and knows I'm back in London looking for her.
“Also if I let you go back to your place right now, it would take us another three days to get your arse back in gear. Three days we don’t have.” The guy has a point. Damn him.
“So where are we going? I ask. Not biting back to his earlier sarcastic comment.
“Seeing as you asked so nicely, I’ll tell you.” Liam and Max are chuckling next to me. The wankers think this is funny.
“For fuck sake, you pair sound like two fucking school girls.” Max says whilst still laughing. Jabbing the tosser in the ribs with my elbow, he soon stops laughing. That’ll teach him. Johnny gives him a scowl over his shoulder from his position in the front, then continues to tell me.
“Can you remember me telling you how I kinda already know Karina? Well I made a few calls and I’ve managed to get in touch with her old man. To say he was less impressed to be hearing from me would be an understatement. That’s who I was on the phone to just Dominic Vale, Karinas Dad. ”
Something tells me he’s not telling me the whole story here. He has a look of uncertainty written all over his face. But right now I’m not in the mood to question him, he’ll tell me eventually.
“Hold the fuck on dude, how in gods name do you know Dominic Vale? That guy will break your legs without thinking twice about it, So I don’t even want to think what he’s going do to you when he finds out you’ve fucked his daughter.” Liam pipes up.
Max looks to Johnny then to Liam then to me. The guy is so clueless, but now I just want to know how Liam Knows about this guy Dominic.
“Can we all just take a moment please? Can someone tell me who this Dom guy is? And how the hell you ended up shagging his daughter? Because I have to tell you, this all just got mega fucked up and fast. My heads bloody spinning. I thought we we’re just coming back to London to get the girls.” Max says all in one breath, he’s actually gone a little pale.
“I would love nothing more than to sit down with a bottle of cold beer and tell you all about it fucknut, but unfortunately we’re nearly there, and I have no time to explain. It's a long and very complicated story. One I have every intention not to tell you if can I help it. So do me a favour, keep your gob shut and let me do all the talking, and I just might tell Dom not to blow your kneecaps off.” Johnny says on a smirk, to which we all go quiet in the car, then a few minutes later Johnny turns back to us three making us jump when he points a finger at Liam.
“How the shitting hell do you know Dom? And more to the point how did you know Karina was his daughter?”
Oh shit. This can’t be good.
Squaring his shoulders back, Liam hits him back with...
“You know better than anyone, I grew up on a rough estate in East London. So you tell me who doesn’t know who he or his daughter is.” At the same time cocking his head and indicating to Max. That fucker knows nothing about no one. Unless it’s a woman and she’s got a hot pussy between her thighs.
Johnny says no more on the matter. Pulling my phone from my jeans pocket, I check it for what feels like the hundredth time. There’s still no texts or calls from Allie. If I’ve tried calling her once, I’ve called her a million times. Every call going straight to her voicemail. Now I’m actually shitting a brick that something horrendous has happened to her. Looking up from my phone, I notice that we’re now in the middle of nowhere. All there seems to be is gravel dirt tracks and the occasional abandoned warehouse. If the press caught me here, they’d have a bloody field day. Vinnie drives slowly down the track then comes to a halt at the end of the so called road. Climbing out from the car in slow motion, I see nothing but a twelve foot metal gates, encased with barbed wire. This place screams crime boss. Murder. Johnny comes and stands next to me.
“You ready go find our girls?”
Inhaling a deep breath, I blow it out slowly. Now isn’t the time to be a love sick puppy, I have to man up and go on a man hunt.
“I’m ready. Let’s do this shit.”
“Now you're fucking talking.” Johnny responds, with a slap on my back.
All four of us make our way through the creepy looking gate, which opens ever so slowly for us. Stepping through once there is a gap big enough, we all stand there looking around the massive courtyard, it's impressive to say the the least. And just as I’m thinking it Max lets out a whistle between his teeth, telling me he’s impressed as well. With a flick of his wrist Johnny motions for us to follow him. From the outside it just looks like another abandoned warehouse, which I’m guessing is the look Dom was going for. If I was him I wouldn’t be advertising my business from some big posh house either. We come to a standstill in front of a roller shutter door, and there waiting for us is some bloke you would see on american wrestling. I mean I know I’m tall at six foot two and in good shape. But this guy, this guy looks like he was put in a grow bag as a kid, and ate nothing but spinach growing up.
“John, my man. Long time no see brother. It’s about time you paid us a visit. Dom will be pleased to see you, he’s missed your stubborn arse.”
Well blow me down like a feather. The dude looks scary as fuck, yet sounds nothing like you would imagine. I know Liam and Max are thinking the same as me, because the pair of idiots are dying to burst out laughing next to me. Both of them holding their hands over their mouths to stop the laughter from coming out.
“Hey Carlos. I’m sorry mate, I was going come but then things just got in the way, you know?” Johnny tells him, just as Max caves, and his laughing gets out of control.
“I’m so sorry, just ignore me. I’m having a moment.” He says, with his hands raised in a - I come in peace - gesture.
“Oi dickhead. Now is not the time for you to be getting the shits and giggles. Pack it bloody in.” Johnny retorts.
Turning back to Carlos, Johnny asks. “Is he here?”
“That motherfuckers always here, and he’s waiting for you. So you had better follow me.” Carlos replies.
We weave our way through dark dingy corridors, it reminds me a little bit of the crystal maze.
These a lot of different turnings that lead to god knows where, and if you didn’t know where you were going you’d get fucking lost. I bit like me now, if I wasn’t with this guy I wouldn’t know where the fuck I am, or where I was going.
The walls looks aged, if that makes sense. Like they’ve been here for years and no one’s maintained them, the hinges are that rusty I wouldn’t trust them to let me back out of a room, and that I’d be trapped inside one of the said rooms.
I find myself looking around in hope to find a puzzle or riddle to solve in order to find my way out of the maze, Just like the bloody show does. Which obviously I don’t find. But I do chuckle to myself. How can I think like that in a place like this.
Coming to a halt at the end of one long corridor, Carlos knocks on the solid oak door that looks out of a place as it’s the only door that looks some what new. Carlos opens the door and we all follow in behind him, my nerves causing my stomach to do somersaul
ts.
This is Johnny’s environment. Not mine.
Out of nowhere, I’m socked in the jaw by a solid fist. My head snapping to the right. Johnny gets one straight after. Moving my jaw around, I check it’s not broken. It isn’t luckily.
“You’re lucky that’s all you two dumb fucks are getting from me. If I had my way I would of shot you on sight. What the fuck were you thinking bringing my daughter into your crazy mess?” Dom seethes. He’s actually frothing at the mouth, he’s that pissed off.
“Oh shit. You two had to go and piss off the Daddy of all bears didn’t you?” Liam teases.
“Fuck off… cockhead. We deserved that.” I say.
“Now. Do you pair want to tell me exactly why my daughter is missing? The last I heard off her was seventy two hours ago and she was coming to stay with me. But then you tell me that his girlfriend has upped and left aswell.” He says, pointing in my direction. Then his words hits me like a wrecking ball. K never actually made it to her Dad’s when she left Madrid.
“Hold on one fucking minute. What do you mean K’s missing as well? Punching Johnny in the arm I carry on my rant. “You never told me Karina didn’t make it here. You just said we were going to find them and bring them back.” I’m really beginning to hate the sound of this. Something in my gut is telling me that they’re both in danger. Johnny shrugs his shoulder as his answer, as if I wouldn’t be bothered that Karinas gone as well.
“We don’t have time for you pair to have a domestic, now tell me what you know Blackwood.” Dom demands, with a menacing look on his face and with his arms crossed over his impressive chest, it puts mine to shame. For a guy in his mid to late forties the man is in fantastic shape. Even the skinhead look he’s got going on suits him.
Syren's Heaven & Hell (The Syren Series Book 2) Page 17