Chapter 11
WREN
Before heading over to Seth’s, we stopped by Kali’s place so I could borrow some of her clothes and toiletries since all of mine had been stolen from the hotel. Ripp and I rode in his truck and followed Kali and Valentin in his car, while his men trailed behind us.
We pulled in through the private gate and drove up to Seth’s enormous white house, and I spotted two men standing guard out front. Seth’s place was like a mansion with modern architecture and an intricate desert landscape. It looked to be five times as big as my Venice beach house in California.
“We’re here,” Ripp grumbled, parking behind Kali and Valentin. “I can’t believe it’s come down to this.”
Valentin opened Kali’s door and she beckoned for me to get out.
“Just think,” I said, reaching down to grab the bright pink bag Kali filled with several weeks’ worth of clothes. “The sooner Nikolai gets taken care of, the sooner we’ll all be safe for good.”
His lips creased into a tight line as he glanced away. “Do you think it’ll be that easy?”
As much as I wanted it to, I knew it wouldn’t be possible. Taking a measured breath, I shook my head.
“When are things ever easy?”
Ripp nodded and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Exactly. I’m beginning to think this will be harder than we thought.”
Even so, I was going to do anything and everything possible to take down Nikolai. I hopped out of Ripp’s truck and walked over to Kali.
Valentin gave a nod of acknowledgment to Seth’s men before facing us. “Seth had more of his guys come in for extra protection. You’ll see several of them around the grounds.”
Ripp grabbed my wrist, stopping us from taking another step toward the front door. “We can still go back to California if you want.”
I tilted my head toward him, lowering my voice so only he could hear. “I want to see Nikolai meet his end, whether it be by my hands or someone else’s. Being around Seth is a sure guarantee I’ll get that chance.”
Ripp’s gaze grew heavy with concern. “You’ll be right in the middle of a mafia war. We’re not a part of that world.”
“No,” I agreed, “but it’s a world I’m not afraid of. I’ve seen the vile things humans can do to each other. Being around killers doesn’t scare me.”
Ripp let go of my wrist and sighed heavily, showing an expression of both admiration and frustration on his face. “I have never met anyone like you, Wren.”
That made me smile. “Is that a good or bad thing?”
He smirked back at me. “Both. But I love you all the same.”
“Back at you,” I replied with a bump on his shoulder.
The two men standing guard by the door moved aside and Valentin walked right into the house.
The mansion’s entryway was grand, with a high ceiling and pristine marble flooring.
The walls were adorned with modern art pieces that added color to the monochromatic space.
A sleek, black console table was placed against one wall, displaying an array of crystal figurines and fresh flowers.
The living room was connected to the entryway, separated only by a step-down.
The plush white carpet underfoot was a striking contrast to the dark leather sectional sofa that dominated the room.
The coffee table in the center was a massive slab of polished black granite with gold accents, matching the modern chandelier overhead.
To the left of the living room was a magnificent marble staircase that led up to the second floor, with another stunning chandelier hanging above it.
The walls on either side of the stairs were adorned with art pieces that were probably worth millions.
I’d never really paid much attention to art, or even cared about it, but something about those paintings drew me in.
They were just landscapes of rolling hills and stunning sunsets, but they had an ethereal quality that made me feel like I was being transported to another world.
It made me realize that I hadn’t really been anywhere or seen much of anything in my life.
If I survived this ordeal with Nikolai, I was going to make sure I traveled the world.
Once I was done admiring the paintings, I turned back to the living room.
The wall of windows opposite the sofa took up the entire space, offering a breathtaking view of the Vegas Strip in the distance.
Seth Michelson was standing in front of those windows with his back to us and dressed regally in an expensive gray suit.
He had a glass of whiskey in his hand and downed it. I could use about ten of those drinks.
When he turned around, his gaze landed straight on me. He had a strong, broad build, blond hair, and piercing hazel eyes. The man was exceptionally good-looking, but he wasn’t a friend. Seth gave a slight nod to Ripp and a small smile to Kali before settling his gaze on me.
“It’s good to meet you finally, Wren.”
I stared right at him. “Wish I could say the same, but I can’t. But I do appreciate you letting me stay here.”
Seth smirked. “Honesty. I like it.”
Ripp snorted. “If there’s one thing Wren’s known for, it’s her brutal truth.”
I rolled my eyes at him but decided not to counter. The last thing I wanted was to invoke more conversation with Seth. I wasn’t there to be friends with him. Seth studied me momentarily and nodded as if he could read my mind.
“There are three guest bedrooms upstairs,” he said, pointing at the staircase. “Pick whichever one you want.” Then, to Ripp, he nodded toward the back door that led to the pool. “You can take the guest house.”
Of course, he would get the guest house while I was stuck in the main house with Seth. Ripp lifted his brows at me, and I gave a quick nod to him.
“I’m going upstairs.”
With a mix of apprehension and determination, I met Seth’s gaze once more before turning away and heading up the stairs, hating that my skin tingled when he was near.
I took the stairs to the second level, admiring the paintings again as I passed. Just like Seth said, there were three bedrooms, and I peeked at all of them. If I was going to be stuck in a house with dangerous mafia men, I might as well have the best accommodations.
As I entered the room I chose, my eyes immediately fell on the king-sized bed, dressed with a thick brown-and-gray comforter.
The brown headboard added a touch of sophistication to the bed.
The pillows were plump and soft, and they looked inviting, as if they were calling for me to lie down and rest. Hell, I could use some sleep right now, but I doubted my mind would shut down at the moment.
Too much had happened in such a short period of time. There was so much left undone.
I tossed my bag onto the bed and flopped down on the soft mattress, letting my head rest on the plush pillows.
Now that I was alone, I could breathe. The walls were neutral, with a light cream color that gave the room an airy feel.
But there was something else in the room, a sense of femininity that was hard to describe.
It wasn’t just the tiny vase of flowers on the nightstand, or the framed pictures of more landscapes on the wall.
Something was in the air, a certain softness that made me feel at ease.
That was the last thing I needed to be feeling right now.
Huffing, I sat up and moved away from the bed and my heart plummeted the second my phone rang.
Slowly, I slid my cell out of my back pocket to see Peyton’s name on the screen.
Ripp had called all the people I cared about to tell them about Parker, but I had yet to talk to them.
There were moments when it felt like I was in a bad dream and that I’d wake up and Parker would still be here.
The phone kept ringing, and I knew it would worry Peyton if I didn’t answer.
That’s the last thing she needed, especially with being so close to her due date.
Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard and then opened them back up. “Hey,” I answered.
“Oh, Wren, thank God you picked up. How are you?”
Her voice was nasally as if she’d been crying for hours. How was I? Honestly, I had no clue. I felt nothing but the need for revenge. I could see it inside me, pushing the grief away. There was no time for crying.
“I’ll be fine,” was all I could say. “A lot is going on right now.”
She sniffled again. “You need to come home. Ripp said you guys are staying with Seth. What you need is to be surrounded by those who love you.”
It was strange hearing her say that. I’d gone my whole life only being loved by one person.
If there was one thing in the world I was afraid of, it was losing love; it terrified me.
My heart was already ripped in two because of Parker, but it’d be shattered if I lost Peyton, Ripp, Kali, or any of my other friends.
“Please come home, Wren,” Peyton pleaded.
I sat down on the bed, my gut twisting and clenching. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous. You’re about to have your twins, and there’s no way in hell I will jeopardize them. Nikolai’s in Vegas and I want to keep him here. That way, I know everyone back home will be safe.”
“Please be careful,” she cried. “I’m so worried about you.”
“Don’t be. You know I can handle anything that comes my way.”
“But you shouldn’t have to do it alone,” she replied.
“I’m not alone. Ripp’s with me.”
“Tell him to be careful, too. He’s on Nikolai’s list as well.”
“I will,” I promised. I could hear her mother in the background, asking to speak to me.
“Your coach wants to talk to you,” she said.
A few seconds later, Gabriella’s voice came over the line. “Hey, Wren. You doing okay, babe?”
I was known for speaking my mind and never holding back the truth, but I honestly didn’t even know if I was okay.
“As good as can be expected,” I told her.
“We’re all thinking about you, Wren. We just want you home and safe.”
“And hopefully, I will be soon.”
Gabriella sighed. “I know this might not be the right time, but that scout, James Callahan, contacted me. He said there’s a fight in October if you want it. It’s against Bailey Tober. Her dad fought in the heavyweight division in my day.”
I may not feel much of anything at the moment, but I knew that I shouldn’t turn that fight down.
“I want it!” I shouted. “I’m not letting that douchebag asshole, Nikolai, keep me from my dream. I just hope this shit gets handled long before then. I can’t imagine staying in Vegas for the next three months.”
“All you have to do is remember everything I taught you. Work out and train as much as you can. You can spar with Ripp.”
“I’m sure Mr. Fancy Pants here has a gym in this multimillion-dollar mansion.”
Gabby snorted. “Most likely. Just be careful. You’ve been through so much with saving Peyton a few months ago. And now you have this.”
I lay down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. “Don’t worry, coach. I have no doubt these men around here will underestimate me. I look forward to showing them what I can do.”
“Just don’t get yourself killed,” she snapped.
“Many have tried and failed,” I said with a sigh. “They’ll fail again.”
We said our goodbyes and I closed my eyes. Unfortunately, all I could see in my mind was blood and vengeance.