Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
Sage
Ifollow Alexei like a lost puppy when he calmly leaves the basement and walks up the stairs. Everyone else is still outside on the front lawns, doing things that I don't care to notice as I trail pathetically after Alexei.
Anton sees us coming and waves away everyone except Freddie and Isla.
"Well?" Anton says, standing to attention. "Where can we find Chet?"
Alexei stops abruptly in front of them and I'd been following him so closely that I narrowly avoid slamming into his back.
Isla gives me an amused look and I grimace, hoping that what just happened is not as obvious as it feels.
Because it feels like everyone can see it so clearly that it may as well be written on my forehead.
"Pretty much nothing," Alexei says, not looking my uncle in the eye. "Nothing on where Chet is going to be, anyway." I can't decipher how affected Alexei is by what we just did. Whether he is more angry than usual, or less. Whether he feels the shame that I always do.
"Well we knew that. He's a fucking pussy who is hiding behind his empire until he thinks he has a sure shot," Freddie says.
"That's not new," Isla says, a pep in her step as she bounces from foot to foot like she is struggling to stay still. "He hides behind his empire. Makes other people the pawn in his game."
Anton nods in agreement, a slight frown on his face, and I can tell like me, the pep in her step is unnerving to him. "Even when he had a death promise with Dimitri," Anton says, side-eyeing Isla. "It's why it never came to a conclusion. Couldn't draw him out long enough to get any result."
Alexei's tattooed hand comes out to rub at his chin and I am mesmerized by the movement. The way his hand flexes and his rough fingers running across his skin.
Fuck.
I need to look away.
My reaction is visceral. Fueled by hate of course. That's the reason my heart is beating at twice its usual rate.
"You have blood on your face, Fallon," Alexei says, his tone deep and dark. He turns away, leading us towards the lake to sit down on the surrounding wooden benches. Freddie sits down and wipes the blood away with his sleeve and a smile.
"If nothing has drawn Chet out before then what possibly could," Isla sighs, sitting down next to Freddie and affectionately rolling up his sleeve where blood that isn't his own has left a mark in return.
"He showed himself once before," Alexei says, sitting forward with his hands between his knees. "For you."
Anton blinks, his nose twitching. "To take her, you mean."
"He underestimates Sage," Alexei argues. "But it's her that he wants."
Isla rears back like she's been slapped. "And you want to find advantage in that?"
"There is advantage in it," Alexei says, looking up at us from beneath his brows.
"Absolutely not," Anton says.
I have yet to sit down but feel compelled to at this moment.
I collapse onto the bench at the same time as Alexei locks eyes with me.
In his look, there's a challenge. He now knows things about me that none of them do.
With the way Alexei is looking at me right now, it's like he really believes that Chet is underestimating me.
Like I actually have something to offer that isn't hiding behind my family.
"Sage using you as bait-" Anton starts.
"We won't need to Anton. We're good at what we do," Freddie says, crossing his arms. "Between us, we can manage it."
"You're all good at killing," I say, and they start to nod, until they realize I'm saying it as a bad thing. "You're good at shooting first, asking questions later. None of you are good at manipulating anyone," I say.
"That is true," Isla agrees, a small smile on her face as she flicks her ponytail. "At least one of us is, though."
Suspicious accusatory glances turn to her, until she waves them off. "Ugh," she scoffs. "Not me."
Her eyes flick to mine, quickly followed by Alexei, then Freddie, then Anton. Almost in the order of who is most likely to believe I am capable of something shocking.
"It's you," Alexei says, a hint of bitterness that lacks surprise in his tone.
"Her?" Anton says, at the same time that Freddie says, "Why are we looking at you, bella?"
"Everything she did last year," Alexei says, waving his hand as if he expects them to already know.
He picks up a rogue stick and starts drawing patterns into the ground with it, completely oblivious to the bombshell he's dropping.
I cringe. "She has to take at least some, if not all, of the responsibility for getting us in this position. "
His words are sharp now, and they slice exactly as intended. Reminding me of the pain that brought everyone here and how much of it is because of me.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Anton exclaims, glaring at Alexei before turning enraged eyes on me. Isla pats a hand on Alexei's leg, seeming to warn him.
Alexei's eyes lighten, his smirk turning into a full on grin as he drops the stick and takes in the expressions around the group. "Oh, this is brilliant. You didn't tell them what you did, did you, princess?"
Anton's face snaps back to mine. "What did you do?"
Freddie watches with a curious expression.
"You didn't think Dimitri really wrote that marriage document did you, Anton?" Alexei says, spreading his legs and leaning forward between them like he's very much enjoying this indeed.
"Of course not," Anton says. Suspicious eyes come back to me.
Fuck. I had hoped Alexei had forgotten that I'd bragged to Victor about setting them up.
Then I wouldn't ever have to tell my uncle this part of what I'd done.
Besides, what were the odds that we'd socialize enough for Alexei to out me?
Other than Victor, he was the only one there to witness my confession.
"Your precious princess here wrote that contract, Anton," Alexei says, a gleeful smile fixed in place.
I take a deep inhale on a sigh, as we all wait for Alexei to finish the blow, though he doesn't. Only pausing like he wants to enjoy this moment for as long as the world will allow it.
Isla doesn't seem like she can take it, hesitating as she awkwardly fills in the silence. "Yes, she… wrote the contract and sent it to you and Victor?" Her words tell me she thinks this is information Anton already knows.
Alexei flinches at his brother's name.
"You what?!" Anton yells.
"Anton-" I start, throat clogging. I definitely should've had this conversation in private. Only now, when I have to explain myself, do I regret not saying something sooner.
"What did you do?" Anton yells again.
"Oh, come on," I say, raising my voice too.
"You weren't good at hiding anything from me.
Neither was Dad. I knew about the attacks on the estate the whole time.
I knew someone was after me and I wanted to draw them out.
I suspected it was Victor. So I'd planned to bring him to me so I could find proof and then take him out. "
"Fucking hell," Isla says, leaning back with a laugh.
Anton stands in rage but keeps his tone calm when he says. "Your father," he hesitates. "Died for this, Sage."
"I know that," I say, running my hand over my face in shame. "He wasn't meant to get hurt."
"Bella, maybe this isn't-" Freddie starts, placing a hand on Anton's shoulder to try and calm him.
"It is," I say, pushing Freddie away and squaring my shoulders.
"Speak. Quickly," Anton says, gritting his teeth.
"Angie was supposed to come that night. To take Dad, so that I had an excuse to send the marriage contract. She was supposed to keep him safe. But instead, I accidentally let Victor in, thinking it was her. By then, the plan was already set, so I went ahead with it. I... sent the contract anyway."
Anton's eyes well with tears, and though Freddie is trying to play intermediary, I can see the moment that his heart breaks as well.
There's a reason I didn't tell them any of this.
Was it potentially a good plan? Sure. But in the end, two people I love died for it.
I didn't want them to know it was all my fault.
I don't forgive myself for it and I could never expect them to either.
"What were you thinking?" Anton says, hurt flowing through his voice as he clutches at his chest.
"I wasn't," I admit.
Anton's expression is a mixture of rage and grief. Something I recognize well because it's what I've carried with me every day since. It sits in a box in my head that I plan to never open again. Instead, it comes spilling out here in front of our enemies as a lone tear races down my cheek.
Isla gives me a sympathetic look and even moves like she's going to come and comfort me before Alexei stops her with a small shake of his head.
"But I did it," I say, standing up straight even as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "It's my fault."
Anton watches me like he sees someone else in my body.
"Way to go, princess," Alexei says, nostrils flaring as he smirks at me. "You made a big mess of that didn't you."
"Hey," I warn. "With my track record, don't be so sure that you're not sitting right here because I planned it all along."
Alexei's eyes narrow.
"I can't even look at you right now," Anton says, still clutching his chest like the wound is raw and new. "Just, don't say anything else."
Anton doesn't look at me even as he walks back to his car and gets in. Freddie spares me one quick look before following him until I lose sight of them in the distance.
"Are you okay?" Isla asks. "I'm sorry, we didn't know."
"I knew," Alexei says. This time I feel nothing but hatred as he stands up and squares off with me, his big dumb smug face satisfied at the new mess he's created. "Anyway the dead guy mentioned something about a flower shop. We should check it out."
Isla nods awkwardly. "I'll ugh, meet you by the car." She stands up, stopping by him to whisper first. "Bring one of them, please. Working together and all that."
Isla leaves Alexei and I there alone, watching each other. Unsure what to say or where I stand since my family seems to have left me here with the man who wants to kill me. I'm not sure if what I see in Alexei is shame, pride or his ever faithful rage towards me.
He clears his throat. "It's getting late. You should go."
I nod but I don't really have any way to get out of here.
Alexei walks away but turns over his shoulder. "I'll have someone escort you out."
"No," I say, with an angry frown on my face, the urge to get close enough to hurt him rearing its head again. I feel drowned and betrayed and I want to take it out on someone. He seems like a good option. "I'm coming with you."
Alexei opens his mouth to argue with me, but my face is a pure challenge that I know he won't back down from. That fucking smirk. His fucking evil gray eyes. The rage I feel when he looks at me like that. I have no choice but to follow him again.
Isla looks up expectantly when we both head for the car, her features twisting when she sees me.
"No," she forces, dropping her folded arms and standing up straight. "Absolutely not."
Alexei shrugs as he pops his jacket on. "She wanted to come."
Isla rolls her head backwards on a grunt. "Just go and get Freddie," Isla begs, turning her attention to me. "Love you hun, but I don't want to play mediator between the two of you today."
Alexei gives her a look, and then ignores her, rounding the front of the car. I step cautiously around her as I follow him. My hand goes to open the door when out of nowhere Freddie does appear, stepping directly in front of me to stop me.
"Sage DeMarco," he says, an air of authority that I rarely see on him. "You are not getting in this fucking car right now."
The relief on Isla's face is palpable.
"We're going to check out a place we think Chet might be hiding," Isla explains. "Or at least, be able to find out more about how many people he's got. Find out what we're actually up against here."
"Alone?" Freddie raises his brow and scoffs. "Did the working together part slip your mind?"
Isla grits her teeth. "I told Alexei to get a DeMarco to bring with us. How was I supposed to know that he was going to choose Sage?"
Freddie pauses, considering carefully, before his flirty smile returns. "Alright then. Guess we're hunting tonight. Assuming you've got room for one more DeMarco?"
"No," Alexei says, jaw tense. His nostrils flare as he rushes towards me.
Likely to grab me and herd me into the car.
He can't get to me though. At the last second, Freddie jumps in between us, blocking Alexei from getting to me.
Or simply standing in his way. The sight is so familiar it could tear a hole in my heart.
In my eyes, I see a flash of the past. Of him standing in front of me as he shoved Alexei away from me. My heart squeezes together, drawing in all my blood to the point I might collapse.
Him. Always protecting me like a bodyguard.
The memory fades away as I return to watching Alexei and Freddie stand off against each other.
"Only her," Alexei says, teeth bared as if they're ready to rip. His arms flex, biceps straining with the effort it's taking to hold himself back.
"Alexei, stop it," Isla says, rolling her eyes.
"Put the bullshit behind for one day." She gets in the drivers seat and Freddie and I follow.
Only Alexei stays stuck in the confrontation.
Standing for a while illuminated in the headlights by his indecision.
When he finally makes the decision to get in the car without a fuss, I can see the physical toll it takes on him to pull himself together.
That, too, is familiar.