by L. A. Casey
My fault?
"What? How?"
Alec growled, "If you never came to my house looking for my help we wouldn't fucking be here."
I felt tears gather in my eyes but I blinked them away.
"I had no idea about Marco's existence or about me uncle's business life when I met you. I had no idea any of this would happen! How dare you place the blame at me feet, I didn't put us here... Marco did."
Alec hissed at me and it frightened me so I pulled away and fell back onto my arse and yelped in pain.
It really hurt.
"What do you know you can feel something."
I turned my head away from Alec as I began to cry.
"Your crocodile tears won't get you any sympathy with me."
I covered my face with my hands and sobbed.
How the hell did this mess happen?
Alec sighed. "Enough, Keela."
I cried harder.
He was being so cruel. This wasn't the Alec I knew, this was a darker side to him.
"God dammit, why are you crying?"
"Because of you!"
"Me?"
"Yes you. You're bein' horrible to me."
Alec laughed. "For good reason."
No, not for good reason!
"Look, I lied to you when I said all that stuff back in me apartment. I did what you tried to do, I made you hate me to keep you safe. Me uncle told me if I didn't stay away from you or you family, that he would kill you all. I don't want that to happen so I said all that horrible stuff about us bein' fake so you would get mad and hate me... So you would never want to see me again... So you would be safe."
I pressed my face down into my knees as my tears fell.
"How am I supposed to believe you? How can I be sure that you aren't saying this as some sort of ruse?"
I cried harder. "Because I'm not horrible, I'm a good person! I did what I had to do to keep you safe and you hate me for it!"
Silence.
"Keela."
I ignored Alec.
"Keela!" he called my name, louder this time.
"What?" I snapped.
"Prove what you said in your apartment was a lie, prove you care for me."
What?
"How can I do that? You won't believe a word I say."
"Show me."
Show him?
I wiped my face and my running nose then turned to Alec.
"Show you?" I asked.
He nodded. "Show me... or are you to disgusted to touch me?"
I swallowed.
Before, I could only see him willingly touching Dante and Everly in my head, but now I can only see him being forced into a situation that he had no control over.
He didn't disgust me. Not in the slightest.
I carefully crawled over to him then straddled his body and placed my hands on his warm cheeks and brought my head down to his. I looked into his blue eyes and I rested my head against his and inhaled his scent.
"We're real," I whispered then covered his mouth with mine. I kissed him with every fibre in my body to show him how much he meant to me.
I felt my tears fall as I kissed Alec, they ran down to my mouth and blended into our kiss. Alec passionately kissed me back, and if he'd had the use of his hands, I knew he would be holding me tightly to him.
I slowly pulled back from kissing Alec and rested my forehead on his as I caught my breath.
I opened my eyes and found Alec's blue orbs staring back at mine.
"Hi," he whispered.
I cried. "Hey."
"I've missed you so much, kitten."
He believed my kiss.
He believed me.
I sobbed, "I've missed you too, playboy. I'm so sorry for leavin' you. I should have gave you a chance to explain when you wanted to-"
"Shh. It's okay, it's in the past now."
I put my arms around Alec and cried.
I cried until no more tears fell from my eyes.
"You look like shit," Alec said after I calmed down.
An unexpected laugh tore from my throat. "You don't look so hot yourself."
Alec brushed his nose against mine. "Can I ask you a question?"
I lightly grinned. "You just did."
Alec smiled. "You know what I mean."
I pecked his lips. "Yes, you can ask me whatever you want."
"Okay, will you marry me?"
I momentarily forgot how to breathe and began to cough when my lungs protested.
When I got a handle on myself I looked at Alec through wide eyes.
"What did you just say?"
Alec smiled. "Will you marry me?"
I gasped. "Are you jokin'?"
Alec deadpanned. "I’ve been kidnapped, beaten up, and now I'm tied to a wall - do I look like I'm jokin'?"
I blinked.
No, he looked dead serious.
"We’ve only known each almost two weeks."
Alec shrugged. "So? We will be that couple that does everything in haste."
I laughed. "I can't believe you're askin' me this - and that you're serious."
"When I heard that shot go off back in the apartment I can't tell you the pain that went through me not knowing if it was you who was on the receiving end of the bullet. Life is to short kitten. I want to be with you everyday for the rest of my life."
Oh my goodness.
"Alec," I whispered.
"I also wanted to ask you in case you hit me with it un-expectantly. I'm still pissed you told me you love me first."
I forgot how to speak.
Alec laughed at my facial expression. "Yeah, you said it and that's why I struggled so much when you went off on me at your apartment."
I blinked.
"When did I say I loved you?"
Did I love him?
Alec bit down on his lower lip.
"No more lies, I can't take anymore of them. If you have somethin' that you think I should know about then tell me... Please."
Alec looked directly into my eyes and said, "The night before things went to hell in the Bahamas, you told me you loved me as you were falling asleep. I didn't tell you because I wanted to be the one to say it first."
Oh, my.
It hit me then like a bullet to the heart, I did love him.
I loved him so much it hurt.
"Yes," I whispered.
"What?"
"Yes, I'll marry you."
"Keela," Alec breathed.
"I love you, I love you so much."
I kissed him hard and he reciprocated wholeheartedly.
"You're going to be my wife," Alec murmured into my mouth.
"And you're goin' to be me husband."
Alec sighed. "Storm isn't going to take this well."
I laughed and kissed Alec again.
"I don't mean to ruin the moment even though it was a beautiful one, but no one is gettin' married because we're still trapped in a room... and we might die."
Alec groaned when I pulled back from him.
"Way to put a downer on things, Murphy."
I looked at Bronagh and found her smiling at us.
"Congratulations."
I smiled. "Thank you."
Alec nuzzled my neck. "Okay wife, get us free."
I raised my eyebrow when I looked back at him.
He smiled. "Just getting a feel for it."
I playfully rolled my eyes at him then stood up, gripped onto the rope that bound him and pulled as hard as I could, but it didn't budge. I walked over to Bronagh and tried the same with her restraints, but they were solid too.
"Damn it, what now?"
We were all silent as we thought, but when I placed my hand into the pocket of my dress I squealed.
"What?” Alec asked.
I dug out my phone and showed it too him.
"Me dress doesn't look like it has pockets so they didn't search me!"
Alec frowned. "We're underground, it won't work."
Underground.
What?
&nbs
p; I pressed on the screen of my phone and jumped when I saw my signal had a single bar.
"I've one bar, who will I call?"
"My brothers, they will help," Alec said.
"Call out a number."
Alec called out a mobile number and I dialed it into my phone.
I held my breath as I hit dial.
I squealed, "It's ringin'!"
It rang once.
Twice.
"Who are you and why don't I recognise your number?"
"Nico? It's me, Keela-"
"The bitch who broke my brother's heart, I know you who are. What do you want?"
Rude!
"I want your help! Me, Bronagh and Alec need it!"
Nico roared for his brothers then focused on me. "What's happened?"
"Marco is here, he kidnapped me, Alec, and Bronagh. Alec says we're in Darkness, please come and help us."
"Is Bronagh okay?" Nico asked, his voice rough.
"Yes, she is fine, but she is bound and so is Alec. I can't get them free."
"Fuck!" Nico bellowed. "Okay, Keela, keep calm and listen to me. Do you know how many men there are?"
"Marco had two with him at me apartment, I'm not sure how many more there are. We're locked in a room."
I could hear Nico filling his brothers in on what was happening and they reacted much like him.
They were pissed.
"Keela? It's Kane, you're doin' great, Red! Can you hear anything from the room you're in?"
I moved over to the door and pressed my ear against it. I could hear voices.
"Yes, I can," I said to Kane then focused back on the door.
I could hear two people talking.
"If shit blows up here, I'm getting the fuck out. Brandy doesn't fuck around when we miss a payment. Can you imagine what he will do when he gets wind that Marco has his fucking niece? It's a death sentence for us all."
There was a groan. "If we leave we're dead, Marco will kill us."
"So we leave during the chaos and trust me, there will be chaos. He won't get out of here alive, but we might."
Silence.
"What if the Slater's get here before Brandy and his men?"
"I don't know, they are just as dangerous. You heard Carter tell us about them and what they did to his brother Trent. He hates them and so does Marco, but they are both blinded by rage and that can get you killed."
"Carter is only a kid. He's back in the US so that little shit's opinion doesn't matter."
"It's only a matter of time before he comes here."
I pulled away from the door and put my phone back to my ear and whispered, "There are two men outside and they are talkin' about getting out of here before me uncle and you and your brothers get here."
Silence.
"Kane?"
I looked to my phone and found the call was ended and my signal bar was now empty.
"Fuck," I hissed and looked to Alec and Bronagh. "The signal is gone."
"It's okay, you did good. They know where we are. They are coming."
I nodded my head and moved over to Alec, snuggling next to him.
It was freezing.
"What else did you hear those men say?" Alec asked.
"They are talkin' about leavin' before your brothers or me uncle gets here. They don't want to die."
Bronagh laughed. "Marco sure has loyal followers."
I smiled and was about to speak when the door to the room was suddenly opened.
"Miss Daley, come with me."
"No fucking way." Alec snarled.
The man who entered the room laughed at Alec. "You're going to step up and stop me from taking her, are you?"
"Touch her and I'll kill you."
The man laughed and grabbed onto my hair, pulling me to my feet.
I screamed.
"Leave her alone, you prick!"
The man laughed at Bronagh and walked out of the room, pulling me by my hair with him.
"Keela!" Alec voice roared.
I could hear him screaming for me even after the door was closed, locking him inside the room again. It was muffled, but I still heard him.
I fought against the man holding me and as punishment for my resistance he turned me to face him and slapped me across the face. I cried out as a burning pain spread across my cheek.
It instantly throbbed.
"Be a good girl and be quiet, the boss wants a word."
"You have caused me a lot of problems, Miss Daley."
I wouldn't look at Marco when he spoke, I kept my head down and my hand placed over my burning cheek.
"Are you listening to me?" Marco asked.
I nodded my head.
"Then look at me."
I swallowed as I slowly lifted my head and my gaze to Marco.
He whistled. "What did you do to receive that welt?"
I shrugged. "Resisted goin' somewhere with a scumbag."
Marco laughed. "You are definitely your uncle's niece, there is no denying it."
Speaking of my uncle.
"He is goin' to kill you, I hope you realise that."
Marco lost him smile. "Like I said before, you have caused me a lot of problems."
I shook my sore head.
"How have I caused you problems? You're the one who kidnapped me."
Marco sighed. "I just wanted Alec. That son of a bitch somehow convinced Dante there is a better life out there. One that doesn't require him to be an escort. Dante was a money maker for me and now that he has dropped off the grid, that is a substantial loss for me. I like my money, and if you mess with it, I fuck with you."
I raised my eyebrow. "You want to fuck with Alec?"
"What? No, that's not what I meant."
"But you said you-"
"I know what I said you smartass, but how you took it is not what I meant."
I tilted my head to the side. "How did you mean it then?"
Marco narrowed his eyes at me. "You're in no position to be asking question, Miss Daley."
I rolled my eyes. "You know my name so use it."
Marco grinned. "I take it your uncle's plan for Alec to be out of your life didn't work, am I right Keela?"
I set my jaw. "You're correct."
Marco laughed. "Brandon won't like that."
I shrugged. "He will get over it."
"You call the shots do you?"
I glanced around the large room I was in, noticing the booths, the bar and the large open dance floor as well as a darkened section of the club.
"I'm his niece," I said when I looked back to Marco, "there is not much me uncle wouldn't give me. He loves me."
I turned away and glanced around again.
"What are you looking for?"
I shrugged. "I'm wondering where your nephew was when he died."
Silence.
I looked to Marc with my heart in my throat.
"You're a brave cookie, I'll give you that."
I smiled. "You're the one who said I'm a lot like me uncle."
Marco snorted then glanced out to the floor and pointed to the centre of it.
"He died there."
I looked to where he pointed and I expected to see something, a stain of blood or something but there was nothing.
"Why come back here if he died here?"
Marco chuckled. "Darkness is the only place I own in Ireland, I don't own any other property so it made sense to come here."
I was surprised.
"You own this place?"
Marco shrugged. "I bought it the last time I was here, this place has character."
"Your nephew died here, who gives a fuck about character?"
Marco smiled. "You're correct about Trent dying here but you're mistaken if you think his death meant anything to me. He meant nothing to me in life, he means even less in death."
That was foul.
"You're horrible."
Marco leaned back and gazed at me with a cheerful expression. "You don't get anywhere in my world wh
en you have people you care about. Take your uncle for example; he has his wife, daughter, sister, and you. Any one of you could be used against him if the right people knew about you."
He was trying to scare me.
And it was working.
I wouldn't let him know that.
"It's a good thing you will be dead before you snitch."
Marco's expression darkened as he reached over the table and belted me across the face with a solid object.
I cried out in pain.
"I've had enough of your smart fucking mouth, you little whore. One more word and I'm using the primary function of this gun on your pretty face. Do you understand?"
I whimpered as I pulled my hand away from my stinging eyebrow and spotted blood. I then looked at Marco's hand and saw the gun he smacked me with.
"Do. You. Understand?" Marco snarled.
I nodded my head and pressed my hand against my eyebrow.
God it hurt.
I didn't know which pain to focus on, the one in my eyebrow or the one in my cheek.
"Good girl, now tell me, do you know where Dante is?"
I shook my head.
"Don't lie to me."
I whimpered. "I'm not lyin', the last time I seen Dante was back in the Bahamas."
"Alec never mentioned his whereabouts to you?"
I sniffled. "No, today is the first time I've spoken to Alec since I came home. I have no idea where Dante is or could be. I don't know anythin'."
Marco watched me with interest.
"You're either a really good liar, or you're telling me the truth."
I whimpered as blood escaped the cut on my eyebrow even though I had pressure on it.
"I'm tellin' the truth."
Marco pointed his gun at me and I screamed with fright.
"I'm tellin' the truth, I swear. Please, don't shoot me."
Marco sighed and lowered his gun.
He looked passed me.
"Bring the other two out here."
I heard footsteps then a few minutes later I could hear Alec and Bronagh.
"Keela?"
"I'm here." I turned and looked to Alec when he all but ran in my direction.
Marco pointed his gun at Alec.
"Not so fast Romeo, sit in the middle of the floor with your brother's bitch."
Alec did as ordered but he did it while looking at me. His mouth formed a tight line when he seen me cradle my face.
"Are you okay?"
I turned to him fully and he widened his eyes when me saw the blood.
"It depends on what you mean by okay."
My attempt to lighten up the situation with his own words didn't work.