by Dee Garcia
What's in the basement, you ask?
The tunnel.
The mile-long underground tunnel that connected my family home to the compound. As a kid, Daddy used to tell me it was for emergencies, but at sixteen, I learned the truth when Alessio went on a bender. Hidden behind a sturdy storage rack that appeared built into the wall was the doorway to this tunnel. If someone happened to come down here, they’d never suspect a thing; the shelves filled with boxes and totes, like any other basement in America.
Shutting the rack back in place, followed by the door, I used the flashlight on my phone to navigate the way, running in a full sprint for the man awaiting me on the other side. My footsteps echoed within the cavern, hurdling my blood faster and faster with every step I took. Alessio wouldn't be coming back in here till morning, Daddy along with him, but time was of the essence. We needed the head start if we wanted even the slightest chance of getting away. Where we were going, I wasn't sure, but it had to be far, far away from here.
When a dim yellowish light came into view, I knew I was close, pushing myself harder in desperation to set Xander free and get on the move. Bounding up to the door, I shoved my key into the knob and unhitched the lock, pushing through an identical storage rack into the cellar of the compound. It was dark and eerily quiet, magnifying the adrenaline-filled moment tenfold. Security didn't come down here, but timing our exit from the basement, and up to the first floor of the building to get outside, was going to be everything.
Nearly skidding to a stop in front of the door keeping me from Xander, I pulled out a pin from my pocket and picked the lock as quickly as possible, storming into the room upon hearing the telltale click. Dark brown eyes were already trained on the doorway and my breath hitched at the sight that greeted me. Xander was resting his head against the brick wall at his back, knees bent, arms still restrained by those damn shackles. I was beyond livid and so hurt my brother would do this to me, to the man I told him I loved. How could he have left him like this? Caged. Restrained. Wounded. Alone. I didn't have time to dwell on it, though; we had to get the hell out of here.
“Are you okay?” I raced toward him and dropped to my knees, tossing my duffle bag beside me.
“Just peachy,” he joked, chuckling softly.
The cuts I'd left were somehow clean, but his shirt was spattered and soaked through in some spots with dried blood.
“I'm serious,” I said, searching him for any other wounds that weren't what Alessio had forced at my hand and the single bullet hole now wrapped with a bandage. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you again?”
“I'm fine, Angel, but you shouldn't be down here.”
My head flew back. “I should've been down here all along. What did my father tell you?”
“He never said a word, he just stared, pacing around the room. At first, I wasn't going to either, but then I couldn't stop the words from coming out of my mouth.”
“What did you tell him?” I asked warily, while picking the locks of the shackles around his wrists.
“That I loved you.”
I gasped, the world around me stopping for a split second. He loved me? Or loved me too, I guess I should say? And he’d told my dad?
“Are you crazy?” I asked in disbelief, cupping his face.
“Yeah, a little bit, but he had to know. And before you ask, no, he didn't say a word in response. He just looked me in the eye, and after a few seconds, went back to what he'd been doing.”
“Was he the one who cleaned you up?”
Xander nodded, rubbing the ache from his wrists now that he was freed. “Surprisingly, yes.”
Throwing myself at him, I breathed him in as his good arm came around me, beyond thankful he was indeed still alive and that Daddy had somehow used his heart and helped him. If he would've been… I couldn't even think about it.
“I love you,” I said to him quietly, for the first time ever.
“Look at me,” he demanded, so I eased back, my eyes darting to his.
“I love you too,” he said with conviction, and I swear, my heart swelled so much, I thought it would explode.
Pressing my lips to his, I kissed him with all that I had, pouring every bit of my soul into it. Large hands raked into my hair, holding me steady as he kissed me back with equal fervor. All I wanted was to stop time and revel in the moment, but it was a wish so far out of reach, I knew we couldn't have it until this place was nothing of the past.
I pulled away from his embrace. “We have to get out of here.”
“And then what?” His brows bunched together. “You know they'll come after us.”
“Let them. We’ll have a head start.”
He sighed, watching me quietly, a weary look swirling in his eyes. “You're sure you wanna do this?”
“To be with you?” I asked. “Hell yes, I'm sure.”
“That's the plan?”
“Other than to get far, far away, I don't know yet.”
“God, this is gonna shred Mama,” he whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I know, Xander, but—”
“But it has to be done,” he interjected firmly. “I’d run anywhere with you if it meant we could be together, away from all this shit.”
With a swarm of butterflies fluttering deep in my belly, I rose to my feet and slung my bag over my shoulder, extending my hand to where he sat below me. Placing his hand in mine, I helped him to stand, and with one last kiss until our safety was no longer threatened, we set out on our journey to escape the compound.
Navigating through the cellar was easy, but as we made our way up the stairs that led to the first floor, my heart began racing once more. I pressed my ear to the door, listening for any sign of movement on the other side. There was nothing, though, nothing but dead silence.
“Ready?” I whispered, and Xander squeezed my hand.
Inhaling a deep breath, I pushed open the door and peeked my head down both sides of the hallway. The coast was clear, not a soul in welcomed sight. I hoped like hell security was congregated up front, but if that were the case, it wouldn’t be for long. They each took turns patrolling the perimeter every hour or so.
Tugging on Xander’s hand, I hooked a right and led us to the door at the very end of the hallway that opened up to the extended parking lot on the side of the building. We trailed its length in silence, my eyes peeled and ears listening intently for even the slightest movement. When we made it to the end without incident, I breathed a sigh of relief and pushed open the exit, the cool October air slapping us in the face.
“Hey!” yelled a deep voice from behind us, and the hairs at the nape of my neck rose to attention.
Fuck!
“Come on!” I pulled Xander’s hand once more and together we hightailed it down the steps and across the lot to where my family’s SUV sat parked. Pulling the fob from my pocket, I unlocked the doors and ran straight for the driver’s side as Xander bolted to the passenger side. Once inside the Tahoe, I rammed the key into the ignition and threw it in drive just as the security guard came running toward us, his arms flailing in the air.
Not today, Satan.
Stepping on the gas, I peeled out of the lot, missing him by the swipe of a head, and raced toward the harbor.
“Where are you going?” Xander asked, throwing on his seatbelt.
“We can’t go out the front. They'll never let us out.”
“So then how are we getting out?”
“We have to go around,” I said, bracing myself. “Hold tight, it's gonna get bumpy.”
Xander reached for my hand. “I have a feeling this entire adventure is going to be bumpy.”
My eyes flickered to his, then back to the road. “Me too.”
“You sure you're ready?”
“One-hundred percent.”
“How do you feel about the beach?” he asked, and all I could think was, “what?”
“That I like it?” I said, though it sounded more like a question.
“Then he
ad to JFK. I have a plan.”
He has a plan?
He had a plan.
And I rolled with it blindly because I trusted him. Because I loved him.
Now all I could do was stand beside Xander as we prepared for the fight of our lives. Because when my father realizes what I've done, we’ll have gone from the hunter…
To the hunted.
To be continued…
Acknowledgments
What. A. Journey! Like, seriously...holy crap, you guys! So much happened behind the making of this story from laughter to tears, excitement and frustration. There were times I felt like I couldn't do it, too. But here we are. Finally! Once you turn the final page and close the back cover of this book, I hope you do so loving Eden and Xander’s story, even if it's just a little bit. It’s the start of the craziness that will be The Scarsi Family Series and my greatest wish is that you'll stick around through to the very end. I can't promise you perfection, but I can promise you true love and a family, who in their own twisted way, loves each other in the most fiercest of ways. The road will be long and hard but each and every one of them is tough enough to see it through. #waitforit
First and foremost, I want to thank my readers, the ones who stuck by me through it all and never lost faith in me. Thank you for your encouraging words, for your excitement despite the wait, and for all the love you've shown me since I first came into this indie world. You guys are amazing and I wouldn't be here today without you! Love you all!
To Mia, my ride or die. No phrase has ever been more true. Your loyalty, your friendship, your honesty, everything; it means more than you'll ever understand. Thank you for always being you, for pushing me in all the right ways, and never once failing to remind me that I could do this. I love you, #biznatch, from across the pond, to the moon...and back!
To Jenna, the warrior princess. The miles separate us, days fly between texts, and our lives are often moving in different directions, and still, I know I can always depend on you. My hardest critic with the most amazing “love notes,” thank you for every little thing you’ve done. Without your encouragement on that one day so long ago, I wouldn't be where I am today! All these characters and these stories are possible because of you. I can never repay you enough for helping me reach for my dreams. I love you!
To my Street Team, my Devils, Tina, Natasha, Michelle, Stephanie, Ingrid, Rochelle, Christin, Kylee, and Nydia. Your support throughout the good times (and the bad) has proved I picked the right ladies to be on my team. Thank you for always having my back. In a world full of opinions and expectations, you were my Switzerland. I'm so grateful to have each and every one of you in my life. Love you ladies!
To my editor, Jenn. As your Xander would say, everything happens for a reason. I don't think I've ever saved a Facebook post and been so happy I did so (remind me to thank the person who recommended you.) You are the best editor an author could ask for! Patient, understanding, kind, yet still so vigilant and thorough. You're damn good at what you do and I'm honored to say All About The Edits is a big part of my journey. <3
And last but certainly not least… To S and my two A’s. I love you with my whole heart. Always and forever. To infinity and beyond.