We are a day late. It’s been twenty-four hours since Alayna’s gone, and whatever that fucker is planning to do with her, he probably thinks he’s won this fight. But he’s wrong. I’m coming to get my fiancée back.
Stan, Jason, and Oliver decide to go with me to Wichita while Cassius and Cary stay with the police in the states to visit the senator. It isn’t a clean move, but it’s brilliant.
If Drake fucking Mallory is telling the truth about the senator, we will send them both to jail, but if that fucker is lying, his father has to know he kidnapped Alayna. It isn’t my business to meddle in their family issues, but he has my fiancée. An insider at the airport has already confirmed he fled to Wichita last night.
“I know where we can find Drake. He told me before. And this is my parents’ hometown,” Jason says as soon as we land.
“Then we’re not losing any more time.”
We head straight out of Wichita airport, where a private car and a convoy wait for our arrival.
“He has two properties here, and I know where to find them: in S Broadway and West Rio Vista. I didn’t know he had a sister until today, but he often went home to Rio Vista. It’s his mother’s home,” Jason explains, and if there’s anyone among us who knows that fucker, it’s the Wolf. I heard they were once friends.
I halt before getting into the car. “Then we split. Stan and Oliver will go to Broadway, and Jason will take me to Rio Vista,” I instruct.
“Brandon.” Oliver extends his hand to me. “Be careful.”
I grasp his palm. “I am.”
Stan pats my shoulder. “Let’s get that son of a bitch.”
Stan and Ollie get the other car, taking two wolves with them, while Jason and I head in the opposite direction.
AlaynaI realize I have fallen asleep on the couch. It’s already morning. I’m not in my bed, nor Brandon’s penthouse, but in an unfamiliar room somewhere in Wichita. It turns out I’m not dreaming. The devil who’s asleep on the bed right now really kidnapped me.
He’s sleeping!I cover my mouth from squealing at the possible opportunity to get away from Drake.
I take light steps toward the bed to make sure he’s unconscious. Drake’s forehead is wrinkled, and exhaustion is marked on the lines of his face. He must be unsettled with all this bullshit he got himself into, but he’s clearly tired because no matter how difficult the nightmares are, he doesn’t wake. I know because I’ve seen him in this state in the past. Whenever he was anxious, he’d just sleep it out.
I instantly think of making a call, so I need a phone. Brandon has to know where I am. So bravely, I sneak back to the living room and open Drake’s stuff. I dig inside his suitcase to look for his phone and money. I need money to get away from here. I’m not sure how I’d do that yet, but I can think of it later.
Finally, I find his wallet and iPhone. When I open the screen, it needs a passcode.
Shit! Of course, it has a passcode!I open his wallet instead and take some cash. I glance nervously at the bed, but he’s still sleeping. Then I attempt to unlock his phone again and try putting a passcode with my shaking fingers.
Nothing works.
I try putting numbers on the emergency dial pad, but it’s not working either.
Oh, God. It’s all useless.
Nevertheless, I stand up and take a deep breath. No one is going to help me here. I am all alone, so the only person who can save me is me. I change my mind about the cash and take his wallet instead. I’m taking his phone with me, so he won’t be able to make a call.
My chest is pounding so loud that I can hear my own heartbeat. My head feels light and numb, as well as my knees.
Carefully, I head to the door and turn the knob. I worry about the guards, but I manage to open the door. No one is outside.
Can I really do this?
I can!I take my first step, but dread rushes through me when suddenly someone yanks my hair and wrenches me back into the room.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I feel Drake’s spiteful breath in my ear.
“D-Drake…” I whimper. “Please, just let me go!”
He threads more locks of my hair with his fingers, and his other hand grabs my neck. “I told you many times to behave, but you just won’t listen.” He tightens his fingers around me, choking me.
“P-P-Please…” I cough. I’m losing air.
Drake drags me back to the house, then tosses me on the bed. His gaze travels up and down my body, assessing me darkly with his dangerous eyes. “Drake, please, don’t hurt me. Please…”
“Do you know how much I sacrificed for you?” Drake crawls on the bed. “I left the life and reputation I built. I sabotaged my own father for you, but you’re only getting away? Is this how you will thank me?”
“I didn’t ask you to do this.” I sob.
His eyes grow wide. “You ungrateful bitch.” He tenses up and unbuckles his belt.
“Please, don’t. Have mercy, please,” I beg. I creep onto the edge of the bed and curl into one piece, enfolding myself tight. He’s going to touch me the way he used to. He’s going to make me burn for him, ruining the life I just began with Brandon. He’s going to destroy me, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find my way back after he does.
“Look at me.”
I avoid his eyes.
“I said look at me!” he bellows.
I gasp and look up at him. I can already taste my own tears and mucus coming out of my nose. He wraps his belt around his fist, letting the buckle loose.
Drake stares at my face, unblinking, then he raises his arm with the belt. “This is what I do to someone who doesn’t know how to behave.”
I look away again because I know what he’s going to do next. The sound of a whip reverberates in my ear, and an excruciating pain touches my skin.
BrandonI knock on the door of an old townhouse, then a dark-blonde-haired woman appears at the door. She smiles when she sees us, but the bliss on her face quickly fades and turns into confusion.
“Jason?” she says.
Jason frowns. “Mariel?”
“You know her?” I ask him.
“Yes, she’s in the gang with me. I mean, was. Mariel Miller. What are you doing here?”
The woman’s face turns red. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to leave.” She glances at me but then attempts to shut the door. However, Jason is swift. He shoves himself to the door and steps inside.
“Mariel. I am asking you a question. Why are you here?” Jason questions as he steps further. I follow him.
“She’s his sister. The twins found out in the family records,” I say. I see quite a resemblance.
Jason nods, then shifts his attention back to the woman. “Where is Drake, Mariel?”
She steps back. “He’s not here.”
“But you’re expecting him.”
She doesn’t answer.
“You vanished, and now you’re here? You’re Drake’s sister?”
She nods.
Jason grits his teeth. “When is he coming?”
“I don’t know,” she answers nervously. “I was… I was waiting for him. D-does… does he know you are coming too? Is this why you are here? But he said you already deceived him.”
Jason doesn’t answer.
“But is he coming here?” I ask, walking closer.
She frowns at me. “And who are you?”
“He’s a friend,” Jason replies and whispers to me, “I think she doesn’t know.”
“When is he coming here, Mariel?” Jason questions her again.
“You didn’t answer my question. Did you really betray him?”
Jason sighs. “You know what he did to us, right? I didn’t betray him. He left us, and now you’re here. You didn’t tell us you were his sister. Now, who’s deceiving who? I just want to talk to him, Mariel.”
She swallows. She looks back and forth at Jason and me. “He’s coming here today with his girlfriend,” she mumbles.
What the fuck? My blood boils. “Girlfriend?”
“Yes, that’s what he said. Why?”
“Listen to me, Mariel.” Jason moves close to her. “That woman with him? She’s not his girlfriend. He only thinks she is, but she’s my sister and that man’s fiancée.” He points his finger at me. “Your brother took her here to Wichita against her will.”
“Your sister? She’s his girlfriend?”
“He’s not his girlfriend, but yes, she’s my sister and he kidnapped her.”
She bites her lip. “He told me I’d be meeting her today.” She stares at him, then shakes her head. “But no. I don’t believe you. Drake might be confused, but he can’t do that.”
“But you know he’s violent, like his dad. So yes, he can do that,” Jason presses on.
“No!” She pushes him away. “He’s right. You betrayed him. Get the hell out of this house, Jason. You’re a traitor!” Her eyes begin to swell.
“Mariel, you know that I’m not!” Jason exclaims. “Deep down, you know him. Look…” He runs his fingers through his scalp. “Drake will do everything for you, but you know I will do everything for my sister too. So please, I want you to believe me. Your brother is a madman. He’ll only hurt Alayna and—”
“Alayna?” She scowls. “I thought we were talking about Arianna…”
Jason nods. “Yes. Alayna.”
Drake’s sister clasps her mouth, then glowers at him. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“Hold on,” I interject. “Why, what’s going on?”
“I told him to stop with his scheme many times,” she opens up. “He’s been trying to take down Donovan for years, and he just won’t stop. He told me he was coming today because he had already achieved his goals and would finally take a break. But now he’s with Alayna? Are you sure?”
“Yes. He abducted her last night,” he answers.
“I am so done with his obsession with Alayna,” she murmurs, shaking her head in disbelief. “After all this time, he can’t forget about her.”
“So help us, Mariel. He has to be stopped.”
“What do you want me to do then, huh?” She raises her head. “Call the police? Don’t you think he won’t implicate you too? You’re a mobster.”
“We can take care of that,” I join in. “Jason won’t be involved. Please, Ms. Miller. We need your help.”
“But what if she went with him on her own?” she says.
“She didn’t. He abducted her during our engagement night,” I explain.
She pauses, thinking. Eventually, she answers. “What can I do?”
“You only have to testify, that’s all. Turn him in.”
“What? You’re really calling the police?”
“Yes, but first, tell us where he is right now.”
She begins to cry. “Please, please. I don’t want him to get hurt, Jason. He’s all I have. What would I do without him?”
He holds her face. “I’ll take care of that… of you. I promise. So please, just help us.”
“He’s…” She snivels. “He’s in his suite on S Broadway. In the Ambassador.”
“Okay, tell us where exactly.”
“I go there sometimes. His suite is on the seventh floor.”
My heart raced in panic. Shit. I have to tell Oliver and Stan. Briskly, I draw out my phone and call his number. Oliver answers on the second ring.
“Brandon?”
“Oliver, where are you?”
“We’re already here, but we’re still looking around.”
“He’s there,” I utter. “He’s in the hotel. Seventh floor!”
“What, are you sure?”
I growl. “Yes, and hurry!”
AlaynaI don’t know how many times he hits me; I didn’t bother to count.
I’m used to this.He has done it many times before, but I’ve learned to bear the pain. My body feels numb, and my tongue tastes like salt and metal. I’m slowly losing my senses, but I can still hear the sounds of his brutal lashes. All I can think of is to wait for him to finish.
This is nothing. I feel nothing. You can do this.
I can do this.I close my eyes, losing myself.
Suddenly, he stops.
It’s done, is it?Slowly, I look up at my tormentor’s face, but something else has gotten his attention. My sense of hearing gradually comes back.
Suddenly, a noise comes from the door, and I hear my name.
“Alayna? Alayna!”
Two strong arms abruptly seize the devil and tug him off from me. Icy air touches my body. I hear my name again.
“Alayna!”
Who is it?“Somebody call an ambulance!” the distressed voice shouts. I see his silhouette, but it’s not clear.
I feel a tender touch on my cheek. “Alayna? Can you hear me?”
I try staring at his face again, forcing my eyes to get a clear view of the gentle voice owner.
Then I see him. His blond hair…
“Ollie…”“Yes, yes, it’s me. Oh, God.”
I groan. I’m running out of energy. “Where is he?”
“Brandon is here. He’s come to rescue you. We’ve got you, okay? You’re safe now.”
Tears run down my cheek. I smile faintly.
That’s good enough. Brandon came.
He’s here…I close my eyes, and everything turns black.