by A. C. Bextor
“You have my attention, Uncle, but not for long.”
“Right,” he agrees. “Wren is here for two reasons. One, that man of hers she runs with—”
“Chase Avery,” I cut him off, the name sounding vile once it spills out.
“Yes. He’s dangerous. Until his problems are resolved, I’ve agreed to watch over Wren. Chase has put her in very serious danger.”
“And the other reason?”
Sighing, Ciro admits the truth I knew was coming. “I want you here. I’ve offered you positions in this family several times, given you many opportunities to settle here as you should.”
“Offers I’ve denied.”
“Until now.”
“What are you saying?”
“Wren’s boyfriend has enemies. I’m keeping Wren safe from his enemies.”
“And you’re telling me you’ll continue to protect her if I—”
“Come home, Liam. Work for this family.”
“I don’t agree with what you do,” I test another version denial.
“You would be doing this for her safety,” he explains. Smiling smugly, Ciro stands and walks to his bar. “You would be giving me what I want. In exchange, I’d be giving you what you want, and also what she needs.” Pouring himself another drink, he grossly observes, “Wren is a beautiful woman. A little mousy for my taste, but nevertheless beautiful.”
“Ciro,” I warn.
“We could consider this new position a trial run. You could stay here, with Wren and Pete, until danger no longer threatens her. Then, if you’re still so unhappy in your position, you walk away.”
“I’d walk away with Wren?” I question to clarify.
“Yes.”
“I can deal with Chase,” I claim.
Ciro turns to face me, bringing the tumbler to his lips for a drink. He rests his hip against the bar and states, “Do you remember a man named Patrick O’Donnell?”
The name sounds familiar but not entirely. “Who?”
“He’s the ruffian who slaughtered an entire family as they slept.”
Yes, now I remember. The husband and father of the Morris family had borrowed money and couldn’t pay it back. In retaliation, Patrick O’Donnell marched into the family home, killing the two young children first, then raping the wife in front of the husband before finally ending their lives. He did all of this himself, which means the betrayal was personal.
“O’Donnell is in prison, Ciro. How’s he a threat?”
“Ah.” Ciro once again takes a seat on the couch across from me. “He is. But his son isn’t.”
“Wren owes no one.”
“Another threat to her. Thomas and Eddie Greer,” he continues without listening. “The brothers extract payment from small children, Liam. They won’t hesitate to use Wren to get to Chase. He owes them as well.”
“Enough,” I snap.
Satisfied I’ve heard enough, Ciro claims, “When I heard of this misfortune, I figured that Wren Adler is your Wren, the girl you and Pete speak so highly of.”
“You acted quickly,” I accuse.
“Maybe so, but you should thank me. Your woman is sleeping soundly in a safe place tonight. And thanks to me, she’ll continue to. That is, if you agree.”
Fuck and damn.
Ciro has spent years goading me to work for him. Now he’s taken the one person I wanted to keep clear of him and is using her safety against me.
“You’re asking me to walk away from a job I love, a career I’ve built. You’re asking me to do this—”
“Yes, Liam, I am. And I’m asking you to do all this to save the woman I believe you’ve come to care about.”
“I’m going to start with Elevent and find out how and why he’s been working with Ciro on this,” Liam explains, taking a seat in the chair across from the bed. With quick fingers, he starts to undo the buttons of his dress shirt.
“You’re surprised they’re working together?” I ask.
Standing, Liam bares his chest, tossing the shirt to the floor before reaching for the buttons of his pants.
After his talk with Ciro, Liam was calmer than he had been before. He filled me in on what they discussed, and even if Liam is unsure of Ciro’s motive to help, he’s certain—for now, at least—that I’m in no immediate danger.
“Not exactly surprised they worked together, but from what I understand, Elevent hasn’t served Ciro’s dark side for a long time. Running shipments of guns and drugs is one thing. Kidnapping is another.”
“Elevent didn’t hurt me,” I defend. “Actually, he tried to help.”
“He took you from your home, caro. How’s that helping?”
“Well, if what you say is true and he works for Ciro, he was doing what he was paid to do.”
“He was,” Liam agrees. “But even so, Elevent knows how Ciro works. He should’ve questioned those orders, or at the very least picked up the fucking phone and made some calls for you before handing you over.”
Liam’s right, but still. The thought I may come between them, driving the wedge even deeper, makes me uneasy. There’s good in Elevent. I know because I not only saw it, I felt it. He regretted what he was doing before he did it.
Right now, though, Elevent isn’t my worry. My ex still is.
“So, let me get this straight,” I start. “Because of Chase, I’ve been dragged from my home, stabbed by a crazy man, and brought here for my own protection?”
“Sounds about right.”
“Because of that asshole, you’re going to Elevent and getting your hands dirty for me.”
“I won’t get dirty,” Liam promises.
“You will.”
“Wren,” he clips. “I won’t.”
“And you’ll do it all because of me!”
Liam sighs, running his hands through his hair.
“Can’t we just leave? I mean, Ciro can’t keep me here against my will.”
The solemn look on Liam’s face says otherwise and I start to panic. He notices and walks in my direction. I lean back on the bed to keep my distance.
“I can’t leave, can I?” I question.
“No, leonessa. That’s not how this works.”
“I’m a prisoner like I was with Elevent, just in a different cell.”
Running his finger along my jaw, Liam whispers, “No, but there are things you don’t know.”
“Things.”
“Not all people in this world are like Chase.”
“Right. I get that, but—”
“Some people are much worse.”
On the verge of tears, I say, “I want to go home.”
Losing patience, Liam takes a breath. “Tesoro, please listen to me.”
“I am listening,” I snap, imagining no one saving Chase from the building I’m mentally burning down around him.
“Pete will be here sometime tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yeah.” I’m still pissed.
Coming to the bed, Liam bends down, placing both hands on either side of my waist. “I need you to stay close to him. Can you do that for me?”
“Probably. What else am I going to do?”
“You love Pete,” he points out. “I’ll talk to Georgia and Ed. I’ll explain you’re sick but will be in touch soon.”
“Least someone could do,” I spit, not angry at Liam but my situation.
“After work, I’m going to talk to Elevent.”
“Tell Elevent I said hello. And if you see Gypsy, tell him I said thank you.”
“I won’t,” Liam refuses, eyes growing darker with each passing second.
He’s jealous.
Still irritated, Liam grabs his flannel pants from the dresser and slips them on, leaving his chest exposed.
“How’s your leg?” he questions. “Still pain?”
“I’m feeling better.”
Smirking, Liam strides toward the bed and takes a seat beside me.
“And I was afraid our second date would be boring,” he quips, scanning my f
ace with his beautiful eyes.
“This isn’t a date,” I correct. “If it was, I’d change my number and my name.”
Liam’s mouth drops open, a loud burst of laughter breaking the tension in the room. I remember how badly I must look, thinking back to all that’s happened. I can’t help the sudden giggle that breaks out.
Day three in captivity, and I’m already losing my mind.
“I’d never stop looking for you,” he playfully promises.
And that promise is all I have to count on.
The area surrounding the Saint’s Justice clubhouse is what I imagined it to be.
As I walk the distance from the garage to the large black-painted door, the stench of old trash consumes the long and winding drive. It’s still early morning. The sun is bright, blinding; I don’t expect many of the members to be up and around at this hour.
When the big wooden door to Elevent’s club opens, a man I’ve never met stands before me in a black vest, Saint’s Justice logo stitched to this chest. He moves the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other while sizing me up.
“You gotta be shittin’ me,” he touts. “I heard you were a sight.” Shaking his head with a tsk, he continues his torment. “Such a pretty face.”
“I’m here for Elevent. He’s expecting me.”
“Well, sure he is. Who do you think I am? I got tasked with being the fuckin’ welcoming committee. So, welcome to our castle, pretty boy. It ain’t what you’re used to, but fuck it.”
The name on his faded tag isn’t a name I’ve heard. Leglas steps to the side, allowing me to enter. Once I do, I take in the room.
The main entrance is littered with empty bottles. Beer, whiskey, and any and all other kinds of alcohol remnants are scattered. Red Solo cups are empty, broken, and lost along the floor. Ashtrays, full and empty, are everywhere. The smell of stale cigarettes and smoke lingers.
Four mismatched and oversized couches line the walls. Some hold sleeping occupants who are half-dressed, both the men and the women. Tears to the leather and stains to the cushions give the furniture a well-used appearance. A big-screen television is mounted to the wall, the cables hanging down attached to a variety of game consoles and cable boxes. DVDs are strewn about the floor in front of it as well.
Straight ahead is a small hallway where a narrow staircase begins. To the right, an open window separating rooms opens to an industrial-sized kitchen.
Orange and black painted walls decorate the entire area.
“You’ll have to excuse the mess,” Leglas jokingly states. “Last night, the party got a little out of hand. None of the bitches have woken up to clean it.”
Bitches? Jesus Christ.
Sternly, wanting to get out of here as soon as I can, I prod, “Where’s Elevent?”
“Here,” Elevent answers, entering through a door toward the back of the room.
He’s dressed in his usual attire, black shirt and faded jeans with a silver chain at the belt loop that connects to his wallet. His beat-up boots are muddy and worn. He’s not wearing his cut.
It’s been years since I’ve seen my informally adopted brother. I notice he hasn’t aged well.
Elevent, as a whole, looks exhausted.
“The princess has arrived,” Leglas boasts, talking to Elevent but glaring at me.
Elevent lifts his chin to Leglas. “We’ll be out back.”
“Do whatever the fuck you do,” Leglas replies, running his hands through his long, mangy, dirty-blond hair before knotting it together on top of his head. “I’ll be in Cricket’s room if pretty boy here needs an escort out.”
“Cut the shit and do what you gotta do.”
“Fine by me.”
“Follow,” Elevent insists, looking in my direction before turning and walking down a long dark hallway filled with doors on each side.
This part of the club is not unlike an old motel. The walls have puncture holes, likely from fists rather than pictures. The carpet carries several different-colored stains, marking it with age.
“Do you know why I called you?” I question as he opens the door at the end of the hall. Sunlight and air seep through, lightening the darkened space and filling it with a much-needed breeze.
“Well, I sure as fuck can’t imagine it’s to make up for lost time.”
“No.”
“You come about that woman? Wren?” he guesses, grabbing a pack of smokes from the top of a small wrought iron table and taking a seat in a chair on one side.
I take the seat on the other. We’re sitting outside on a small balcony, which, just like the club’s main room, is filthy with trash. It’s also cold.
“Yes. She’s why I’m here,” I return. “Her and that son of a bitch you let hurt her.”
Without hesitation, Elevent clips, “Thanatos will be handled.”
“Will he? I met him in my ER, Elevent. I got a firsthand glimpse of the kind of soulless monster he is.”
“And what kind is that?”
“Dirty.”
Elevent laughs. “Who’s not dirty to you, Liam? Fuck, you’ve lived your entire life sheltered from the dregs. You have no fuckin’ idea what dirty even means. Not that you could handle knowin’.”
Realizing where this is headed, I aim to cut him off. “Ciro may not have treated me the same as he did you, but I’ve known men like Thanatos.”
“Sure you have,” he sneers.
“I’m also here because I need help with Wren.”
“What the fuck is it you think I can help with?”
“You can tell me why you brought her to Ciro. The real reason. What does he want with her?”
Elevent laughs. “Does anyone know why Ciro does anything he does?”
“You would. Of anyone, you’d know what he’s up to.”
“No good,” he replies. “And that girl’s mixed up in that no good.”
“How?”
“Don’t know yet.” He lights his cigarette before taking a hard hit. “But Ciro paid a pretty penny to get her. If I had to guess, she’s who he’s needed all along.”
“And what’s that?”
“Not what. Who.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Yeah, you do,” he replies. “He wants you. Always has. You’re the golden boy. The blood tie to keep the family going. The rightful heir to that fucked-up prison.”
“I can’t believe Ciro’s doing all of this to get to me.”
“You can’t believe?” Elevent laughs. “Fuck, Liam. He’s wanted you with him for years. Now he’s got something to hold over your head until you do as he wants.”
“Wren can’t stay there.”
“No, she can’t,” he agrees. “What about that buddy of yours? Can he help?”
Growing up doing deeds for Ciro left Elevent alone. Friends weren’t welcome in our home—not even mine. They were considered potential witnesses, and Ciro wanted nothing to do with exposing his secrets and lies to anyone outside our family.
“He’s checking into her background now, but other than her connection to Chase Avery, he’s got nothing.”
“Chase,” Elevent growls. “He’s her whole fuckin’ problem. No clue why a woman like that would be with a man like him.”
“Chase is into you for money,” I tell him what I know.
“He was.”
“I want to help her.”
“She worth it? Are you sure falling into Ciro’s trap is worth losing all you’ve made for yourself?”
“If you spent time with Wren, you’d know she was worth it.”
“I did spend time with her. Brave bitch. Ballsy as fuck. She impressed Gypsy, and that’s not easy to do.”
“Leonessa.”
Elevent understands Italian to some degree, growing up around it as he did.
“Lioness. Yes.” Elevent tosses the unfinished cigarette over the balcony and props his feet against its railing. “I’ll see what I can do. But I’d let your cop friend find what he needs first. Better to go
in armed with knowledge. Don’t fuck with Ciro. Those who do—”
“End up dead. I know.”
“I don’t like you. Can’t fuckin’ stand you and all your glory, to be honest, but if that girl cares about you at all, you need to be careful. Whatever shit Ciro is up to, she’ll need friends on the inside.”
Standing, I turn to face the brother I never knew. When blood ties aren’t there, ties to another are easily severed.
“I’ll be careful.”
“If not, and something happens to you, I’m taking my shot at Wren. I can protect her and myself.”
“So you’re still an asshole.”
Elevent smirks but doesn’t look up, his focus on the empty lot in the distance.
“Maybe I am,” he says, rubbing his face. “But some of us never had an opportunity to be much more.”
“Circumstances can change,” I suggest.
Shrugging, Elevent stands. “If Ciro is offering you a way in, and you’re able to keep her safe until you find out if there’s more to this, you should.”
“I’m all she has.”
“Then what more reason do you need?” Not giving me a chance to reply, Elevent presses, “Get out of here and back to her.”
“This is how I’m going to die, isn’t it? In your care,” Pete sarcastically comments with a smile.
“Oh my God,” I breathe, taking him in with sudden surprise.
Slowly, Pete sits up in his bed and smooths his bedsheet. “Demi told me the girl Ciro brought in to help care for me was pretty, but I never imagined she’d be a funny girl, too.”
“Pete!” I exclaim, limping into the bedroom next to mine and taking a seat beside him.
Demi, a man I’ll finally admit has endeared himself to me, came to my room hours ago and said he had some good news.
He told me Pete had finally arrived and was settling in the room next to mine. He also explained that as soon as I felt up to it, I could go see him.
I haven’t seen Ciro since our initial introduction. Nor Angelina.
“Wren,” Pete sighs. Wrapping his frail arms around me, he holds me tight while swaying side to side.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I state.
“Ciro insisted I come. Now I know why he was so adamant. You’re not so much expected to care for me as I’m expected to babysit you.”