by Hart, Rebel
Not until I had my father dead in my hands.
I barreled through the front door, jamming my shoulder into it. I growled out in pain as I looked around with my one good eye. I stormed through the house, searching every room. Checking every corner as my boots sounded loudly against the marble floors.
“Ashton!”
I bellowed throughout the house with my hands cupped along my mouth.
“Ashton! Where the fuck are you!?”
I knew damn good and well my father had already prepared for my arrival. That fucker was always one step ahead of the game. I had something up my sleeve, though. Something I knew he hadn’t taken into account.
I knew his weakness.
“Ashton!”
I followed my gut and checked outside before heading upstairs. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t up to something out there by that fucking pool of his. I sniffed the air deeply, wrinkling my nose at the scent. My good eye was already strained from taking in my father’s eyesore of a home. Even in the dead of night, I saw my father out there, standing in front of the pool with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I’ve been expecting you!”
I charged him with my fists balled up. I heard men trampling through the house as they spilled out behind me. They cocked their guns, aiming them at my back. And as my father held up his hand, I reached for his throat.
“I’ll die taking you with me,” I growled.
He grinned. “What was that?”
I went to clamp down against his throat and he moved off to the side. And when I saw what was behind him, I froze. My jaw dropped open. My heart stilled in my chest. But, it was my father’s hand patting me on the back that brought air into my lungs.
What the fuck is Dani doing here?
“You really do enjoy your women with spunk, don’t you?”
My father’s whisper had nothing on the voice screaming inside my head. I had so much anger built up within me I didn’t know what to do with myself. Dani was bound to that chair. With leather. Leather bonds that had seen so many other dead bodies before her. She had a bruise on her cheek and I felt the beast within me snap. The tears streaking her cheeks made me a walking time bomb. I’d never experienced rage like this before. I felt damn near delusional as I kept my eyes locked on her.
“Let her go. She has nothing to do with any of this.”
Dad sighed. “Well, I suppose that tattoo on her thigh suggests otherwise.”
I slowly looked over at him. “If you tell me--”
He held up his hand. “Young, barely-aged women aren’t my thing. I didn’t touch her. Mostly.”
I lunged at him. “You’re the one that hit her.”
His men lifted their guns again and I heard Dani whimper. A soft, surreal, panicked sound that stopped me dead in my tracks. Making my father grin.
“Benji told me she’s one of you now. You know, your cousin? Which means she’s fair game. Just like you are.”
I gnashed my teeth. “Why are you doing this?”
My father raised his hand in the air and snapped his fingers. And quicker than I could blink, five of his men surrounded me. I felt the heat of their guns pointed at me. I saw Dani struggling out of the corner of my eye. Trying to get loose from those binds around her wrists and ankles. I knew it was no use, though. The knots my father taught his men to tie grew tighter the more someone struggled.
And if Dani didn’t stop, she’d risk losing her appendages.
If he didn’t kill us first.
“Max, please. I’m sorry.”
The sob in her voice broke my heart. I wanted to go to her. I wanted to save her. But I didn’t dare move. I knew the second I did, my father’s men would unload on both of us. Pump us full of lead before--
I sniffed the air again. “Who did you incinerate this time?”
Dad shrugged. “Poor Dani. I’m pretty sure it scarred the girl.”
“You killed a man in front of her? Are you insane!?”
I took another step toward him and the guys moved in closer. I heard a couple more of them cock their guns as my father’s grin grew into a wide, empty smile. A smile that haunted my nightmares. A smile that followed me around as a child, just trying to endure my father’s spontaneous wrath.
“It’s kind of cute, really. Her trying to save you,” he said.
I blinked. “What?”
He nodded. “It’s true. Isn’t it, little bird?”
“Don’t you dare talk to her.”
“You might want to answer me if you want him to live, little bird.”
I heard Dani swallow. “I thought you were at the bar. You never showed up on campus, and I got so worried, and I just--”
Dad interrupted her. “It’s cute. But stupid. I have to say, I expected more from a college student.”
I snarled. “What do you want?”
He leveled his eyes with me. “Your time is done here, Max. You’re finished. Progress requires compromise. And sacrifice. Neither of which you’ve been good with. And in order for me to expand my business, I need to get my hands into deeper pockets. I need to change up the game. And a certain pesky thorn in my side will stand in my way if he finds out what is required to get into said pockets.”
I stood my ground. I tried to take even breaths. I knew exactly what my father was saying, though. He’d made new business deals outside of the crew. And it sounded like he was dealing with even more unsavory characters than we were used to. In any other situation, I would’ve told my father to kick rocks. I would’ve shot him, taken Dani with me, and gone back to my men just to tell them we were on our own. I had dreams of turning my father’s mansion into a place where we all congregated. Where we all lived, if we wanted. A place no one could take from us. A place where we dominated in private, held meetings away from our loved ones, and enjoyed the expansive surroundings before us when we needed time to rest.
I couldn't do any of that with my father about to kill Dani, though.
None of it meant anything if I didn’t have her with me.
“You knew I wouldn't let you go through with it. That’s why you’ve done all of this. To get me out of the way.”
Dad nodded. “Maybe you’re not as stupid as I figured. Nevertheless, I thought I would eliminate the obstacle before it had a chance to fuck up my operations. Just as you would do if you were in my shoes.”
I scoffed. “I wouldn't kill my own goddamn son in order to do it.”
He growled. “You are no son of mine.”
“Good. Because I have a hard time calling you ‘Dad’ anyway.”
“You could’ve had everything, Max. Everything! You could’ve ruled at my side. Had all of the wealth and the riches and the women you could’ve ever wanted. And yet, you chose a life of scraping the bottom of the barrel. Scrounging around for money just to eat at night. You chose a woman like her instead of women who deserve to be with a Ryddle man. You chose a woman that comes from nothing instead of woman of substance.”
“You won’t speak about her like that a second time around. I can assure you that.”
He held out his arms. “You could’ve chosen all of this! A life of ease and no worry. But you chose backroads and mediocrity. You chose them over your own flesh and blood.”
“They’re more flesh and blood to me than you’ll ever be. You’re a disgrace to this family.”
He got in my face. “I built this family!”
“You killed our mother and you smiled about it! Because she dared to talk back! Because she dared to stand up and try to course correct you. Because she saw you turning into this monster and wanted to save you. You killed that woman for loving you. And you’ll never be my father because of it!”
My father’s nostrils flared. I felt my knees weakening as my anger eroded at the rest of the strength I had left. I balled up my fists, ignoring the guns pointed at me. And with every sniffle that came from Dani, the need to rescue her grew inside me. My head swirled with pain. I swallowed down every single bit o
f bile that crept up the back of my throat. My adrenaline spiked again, dimming the pain. Dimming it just enough for me to focus back on my father.
Whose smile grew even wider.
“Then maybe you should learn from her mistakes,” he said.
I shook my head. “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to slaughter you. And then, I’m going to hang you from the highest building in this fucking town as a reminder to what happens when you fuck with the people I love.”
Dad wiped at his face. “Really, Max. You should learn a few manners while you’re at it.”
I held my head high. “You’re worthless. You’re worth nothing to anyone if they don’t fear you. You’re nothing but a middleman. And a middleman can always be easily cut out. John? He’s a starter. He knows what he wants and he goes after it. That turf war? The one that fucked him up? He started it because he knew we had nothing without a space to call our own. We struck before they saw us coming and it’s the only reason we survived. Even when you abandoned us.”
He chuckled. “And what are you, Maxwell?”
I got in his face. “I’m a finisher, Dad. I might not always start shit. But I sure as hell end it.”
“Which is why you’ve made my decision very easy.”
“Yeah? And what decision is that?”
All of my muscles tensed. I saw something flicker behind my father’s eyes and I knew I had to prepare myself. My eyes tunneled. The only thing I saw was the face I wanted to pound into the pavement. I wanted to curb-stomp my father’s head until his brains were splattered against the perfect grass of his lawn. I wanted nothing more than to see the evil light in his eyes fade into nothingness before throwing him into that fucking kiln he had in his basement.
“Well? You gonna fill your son in on what you’ve got planned?”
Dad grinned. “I think you know what comes next.”
And as my father turned his back, I heard the darkened men scrambling around me.
“Max, no!”
39
Dani
I watched the fight unfold before me. I saw the five men jump Max as his father started making his way for me. The violence was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed. I screamed for Max. I screamed until my voice went hoarse. Could no one hear us? Did no one understand the insanity unfolding right now? I watched Max spring up from the throng of men. They went flying to the ground, and I couldn't peel my eyes away. He roared like a wild beast. He picked them up with his bare hands and slammed them against the ground. Every move he made was to hurt. To maim. To block.
To kill.
Every time his fist connected, blood splattered. Every time his boots connected, men groaned. Every time he tossed them over his shoulders, bones cracked. Broke. Shattered, for my ears to cringe upon. The animal within him raged, and I watched with fearful awe as he tore through those men like paper fucking sacks.
My blood ran cold as Max unleashed a roar that left me uncontrollably trembling.
“Max! Behind you!”
His eyes found mine before he whipped around. But the guy behind him was already slamming the butt of the gun into his chest. They both went down, and my blood ran cold as I craned my neck to try and see them. Men were piled on top of one another, creating a wall I couldn't see over. And as my heart fluttered in my chest, I drew in another deep breath.
“I wouldn't, if I were you.”
His father stepped in front of me, blocking my view. The sounds of my yells were swallowed as my eyes cased up his body. He hovered over me with his hands clasped behind his back. He smiled down at me with a twinkle in his eye that made me want to slap him the way he’d slapped me. My stomach felt sick. I felt like I was going to throw up again. But when that man grabbed my chin, it shocked me back to reality.
And anger filled my chest once more.
I waited with baited breath for him to stay something. As he held my head up, gazing into my eyes, I wondered what other horrors he’d done to people. I’d never forget those evil eyes so long as I lived. They’d haunt me. Forever. They’d define the word ‘Satan’ for me. Forever.
I thought about all the people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time with this man. People who said the wrong thing. Or said ‘hello’ to the wrong person. Who made a bad deal in exchange for their soul. Just like Satan himself did. I thought about Max’s mother. What she must’ve gone through before she was so disgustingly killed by this man.
My heart ached for the nightmare that was Max’s childhood.
My eyes watered as Max groaned out in pain. The sound of bones crunching and punches landing only backdropped the voice screaming in my head. A voice that kept telling me Hannah was right. A voice that kept telling me I should’ve listened to her. A voice that kept telling me I had made such a bad decision in falling in love with Max.
My heart still didn’t believe it, though.
My heart refused to believe that Max was a bad decision.
His father tilted my head to one side, then the other. And as he studied me closely, my mind fell back to my roommate. The girl who I had once considered my best friend. As much as my heart was angry at me for admitting it, she was right. Just not about Max. I knew Max would never hurt me. I knew he’d never bring me harm. But, I should’ve taken him--and her--more seriously when they warned me how dangerous this life could be. I should’ve listened when they told me about the horrors that might follow him around. About the trouble he might get himself into because of choices he made when he was younger. I mean, I didn’t actually believe Max when he told me I might have to die for him. That my love might mean the difference between living and ceasing to exist.
Nor did I figure it would happen so soon.
I don’t want to die.
I didn’t want to die. I wasn’t ready to die. Nor was I ready to watch him die. This entire situation was so convoluted and so full of bullshit. And yet, I wondered how it could’ve ever been avoided. My mind turned to mush. His father cupped my cheek. And as he pressed into my bruise, I moaned in pain.
“Look at me, little bird.”
Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes to his. “What?”
He grinned. “Good girl. You’re a very good girl, aren’t you?”
“What. The fuck. Do you want?”
He smiled at me. “You don’t deserve this, little bird. You deserve so much more. But business is business. And I’m a man of my word.”
“Wonderful. Yay for those morals again.”
He sighed. “And, unfortunately, we’re all making the necessary sacrifices tonight.”
He released my chin and bent his lips down to my temple. I tried pulling away from him, but he fisted my hair. He kept my head in place as his lips planted themselves against the shell of my ear. I heard him breathing. I felt him breathing. And as I heard Max growl out in pain again, my jaw quivered.
“And among those sacrifices is you.”
My eyes darted around. He couldn't possibly be thinking about what I thought he was. I didn’t do anything! I hadn’t done anything wrong against this man! He stood up and backed away from me. He moved out of the way and I saw a man jump onto Max’s back. The man took him down, pinning him to the ground while another man kept kicking Max repeatedly in the ribs. I wanted to cry out for him. I wanted to scream at him to get up. That he could do this. That we could do this, together.
But fear blocked off my ability to speak.
“Ready?”
His father stepped back in front of me and I started shaking my head.
“No, no. No. You don’t have to do this. Please.”
He placed his foot between my legs on the chair. “I really wish I didn’t have to.”
“Wait. Please. I just--”
He snickered. “Ah, who am I kidding? This is the best part.”
“Maaaaaaax!”
His knee flexed and it was as if everything happened in slow motion. The way Ashton’s body moved. The way my hair flew about my face. The way I caught a glimpse of Max getting to h
is feet before the sky came into view. I heard his father chuckling. I heard gunshots ring out. And as the back of my chair hit the water, I let out a deep sigh.
Let’s see how well I can hold my breath.
I drew in a deep breath through my nose as water surged around my body. I took in one last glimpse of the sparkling night sky before the water closed in around me. Everything went silent. My lungs inflated with air that would soon run out. My bound appendages prevented me from swimming to safety. Nothing was heard but the sloshing of water. The crashing of waves at the ocean. Hannah’s insistent voice ringing out in my head.
Where did this person come from?
This isn’t you, Dani.
We’re still friends.
He’s nothing but trouble. All men like him are.
You’re going to get yourself hurt, or worse.
I gazed up through the wavy waters at the sky above. How beautiful it looked as it moved and rejoiced for me. I wasn’t sure what the sky was so happy about. But I wanted a slice of it. A slice of that happiness to cover up the fear that clenched my gut. I felt my lungs starting to prickle. I expanded my diaphragm, giving the air somewhere to go. But I knew it wouldn't be long before my body would take over.
And drown itself.
I thought about my parents. About my father, and how he was feeling right now. Probably disappointed in me. Ready to give me the ass-chewing of my life. I thought about my mother. How confused and distraught she must be. Guilt filled my eyes as my tears intermingled with the crystal waters. The anguish this would put them through would do them in. My father, for sure. I blinked, and the nightmare was still going on. My lungs were beginning to burn, my stomach beginning to jump.
I’m sorry, Mom.
I wanted to apologize to them. For hiding it. For lying to them. For not letting them into my life. I wanted to apologize to them for not trusting in their wants and wishes for me. I had convinced myself that they didn’t want me to be happy. When the truth of the matter was they wanted nothing but my happiness. And my safety. And my security. I never gave them the chance to be happy for me, even if they didn’t understand my choices.