Chapter 11
Keira
Witnessing Damon as the cruel criminal he’s always claimed to be is terrifying. I knew he killed people, but there’s nothing like actually seeing it occur right in front of you. I walk up the stairs two at a time and right past two of his men standing guard at the top.
They don’t pay me any attention, and I don’t pay them any. I’m confused. My stomach twists into knots. The same hands that bring me pleasure, also deliver death.
I need to stop thinking about that man in the basement, imagining him dead. I start walking around the club carelessly. I don’t want to be here right now, but I told Damon I wouldn’t leave again, and I wasn’t going to break that promise—no matter what he had done.
Instead of breaking down crying or running away, I head back to Damon’s office. The hall is quiet, quieter than usual. I’m almost to the door, my fingers grasping for the knob, but that’s as far as I get.
In an instant, someone grabs me from behind, flipping me around and slamming me into the nearest wall. My vision blurs. The air in my lungs expels. Fear overtakes me.
Before a scream can rip from my throat, a hand is wrapping around it, squeezing so hard, blackness overtakes my vision.
Eyes so dark and cold they make me shiver stare me down. I’ve never seen this man’s face before, but he looks oddly familiar.
“Sweet, Kiera, I’ve been looking for you.”
He smells dangerous, and his body takes up all the space in the hall. He holds me with little effort, and I don’t even make an attempt to escape. There would be no point. He could easily snap my neck.
“Didn’t you get my message? I told you I was coming for you. You should have just waited for me at your place.” There’s a hint of humor to his words. A sinister smile pulls at his lips, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. Of course, the lion about to devour me has perfect teeth.
He leans closer, his nose skimming over my throbbing pulse. “I hope my brother has taken good care of you for me.”
Brother?
He must see the confusion and shock in my eyes. He pulls back a little and releases his grip on my throat. I suck in a greedy breath.
“Damon didn’t tell you, did he? That you belong to his big brother.”
The man before me picks up a piece of hair off my shoulder. His eyes inspect it like it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.
“You know the only reason he wants you is because I own you. He always wants things that don’t belong to him. He’s been that way since we were kids.”
I know I need to try and remain calm, to use my voice, to make myself heard.
“No one owns me, not you, and definitely not Damon.” The man smirks at me, and in his eyes, I see pain and death.
“Is that so?” His words tickle my ear, and before I know it, I’m being dragged through the back door. I’m just about to ask a question when the door to an SUV opens and the man holding my arm pushes me inside. “Let’s go for a ride, Keira. I have a couple questions to ask you about your brother.”
I gulp as his big body climbs in behind me. I move across the bench seat, going to the other side of the car, huddling near the door.
When the door to the SUV closes, trapping me inside with this nameless man, I panic. My body starts to shake, and black dots appear over my vision.
“Relax. I’m not going to kill you.” He smiles, then adds, “Yet.”
“I don’t have anything, and I know nothing. I swear.” Tears sting my eyes. A part of me feels like life would be easier if I died. All I’m doing now is running from one monster to another.
When the SUV starts moving, I sink my fingers into the leather seat, wishing I could go back in time.
“I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Xander Rossi.”
I blink, my eyes lifting to his. Now I understand why his face looked so familiar. He’s an older looking version of Damon. Everything he said now makes sense.
“You’re Damon’s brother,” I whisper.
He chuckles. “I see you’ve finally put the pieces together.” The man before me screams danger and oozes power. It’s a scary combination.
“You’re the one after me, so what do you want?” I already know the answer.
He stares at me a moment. There is no warmth in his brown eyes, no emotions, nothing.
“That. I. Am. I have some questions for you, and as long as you answer them to the best of your knowledge, nothing ill will happen to you. But lie to me, Keira…” His hand lifts and comes to rest against my knee. He gently squeezes it, a warning, proving the hold he has over me.
I shiver. Fear like I’ve never felt spirals out of control inside me. “Please don’t,” I whimper.
“I won’t hurt you...not unless I have to. You’re more valuable alive than dead, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you if you lie to me.”
I nod. All I need to do is answer his questions, and then I can walk away.
“What...? What do you want to know?” I stumble, feeling small and insignificant in his presence.
“Well, first…” He releases his hold on my knee and casually leans back, “were you aware your brother was stealing money from me?”
I shake my head. I get the feeling I’m not going to like the things I discover about my brother today.
“Use words,” Xander demands.
“No. I didn’t know.” I gain enough courage to spit the words out, knowing if I didn’t, I could end up with a black eye. Xander doesn’t look like he’s opposed to beating women, and I don’t really want to find out.
“Good. So, you’re telling me you had no idea your brother was doing illegal things? Drug trafficking, auctions, prostitution.”
I blink, the contents of my stomach churning. Now I know why my brother always had money—why he was able to afford clothes and my schooling.
“I didn’t know. I knew he was making good money, but I didn’t know what he was doing. He never shared his work with me—and I never asked.”
Xander stares at me, appearing to digest my response. I lick my lips, afraid he may not accept my answer and I’ll end up dead on the side of the road in a gutter—or worse, raped and beaten.
“I swear…” I whimper, feeling Xander’s cold gaze on my face. Time seems to stand still.
“Do you know what is going to happen to you if you lie to me, or try to run from me again?”
I shake my head. “N-N-o-o.”
Xander smiles, leaning his body into mine, causing me to curl into myself.
“If I find you’ve done either of those things, I will hunt you down and take you back to my club, then I will fuck you bloody until you beg me to stop.
And when I’ve had my fill, I’ll give you to my men to be used.
They’ll fuck you as well, and then they’ll slit your throat and watch the blood drain from your lifeless body. ”
The SUV comes to a stop, and without thinking, I open the passenger door. All the contents in my stomach empty onto the ground. My eyes burn, tears slipping down my cheeks. I feel a cold gun pressed into my side, halting any further movement.
My body shakes with every breath I take. My brother got himself killed gaining an easy way out, but I’m still alive, and I’m paying for his actions.
“Do you understand the consequences, Keira?” I feel his hot breath on my neck. I’m still hanging out the side of the car, my body swaying like leaves in the breeze.
“Yes. Yes, I understand.” The words come out calm, too calm, and I wonder how long it’ll be before death and I meet.
I’m alone, tired, exhausted, and above all, I am done.
“Good. Get the fuck out of my car. I’ll be back to check on you, and when I do, you better be here.” Xander gives me a shove, and I slip out of the SUV on wobbly legs.
“Oh, and don’t tell Damon about our little conversation. This one stays between you and I, sweetheart.”
My knees go weak, and I almost fall to the ground. Then he closes the door behind him, and the SUV drives off into the night, as if it was never there to begin with.
I’m back in Night Shift’s parking lot. The evil cycle continues. I’m trapped between the Rossi brothers.
With the bright street lights shining down on me, I move into the packed parking lot. I’m not sure where I’m going or what I’m going to do. I doubt my bank cards work anymore, and even if I did run away, Damon and Xander would come for me. They both threatened me, and I believe them.
I have no place to go. No place to hide. No way out of this.
There’s only one thing to do.
A choice must be made.
And it will be the lesser evil.
I drag my feet across the parking lot, forcing each step toward the back door. Before I can even lift my hand to reach for the handle, the door flies open and Damon's large frame appears in front of me. His eyes are full of fury, like a bull on the verge of charging—at me.
“What the hell are you doing out here?”
I want to tell him what happened—that I know his brother is the man after me.
I want Damon to take me in his arms and tell me everything is going to be okay…
tell me he will always protect me—even from his own brother.
But Xander’s warning rings in my ears, and I can’t shake the threat.
He might not kill Damon, but he’ll kill me, and I value my life—even if it is pretty shitty right now.
“I just needed some fresh air,” I lie, trying to hide the tiredness and sadness from my face. I’m starting to think the only way out of this mess will be from a bullet to the head.
The fury rolling off Damon pulls me back to the present. His anger suffocates me, and I hate that he’s mad and there’s nothing I can do about it.
He doesn’t buy what I’ve told him, and I think he can smell the lie on me.
Instead of dragging me back inside—like I half expected—he walks outside, letting the door close behind him.
“Let’s go home.” He unlocks his car and grabs my hand, tugging me along.
I can still feel the anger radiating off him, but he does a better job concealing it now.
It isn’t until we are in the car that I notice Damon is clean and wearing different clothes.
I guess he keeps extra clothes on hand for when things get messy.
I get into the car and lean against the window.
I’m caught between two killers.
One wants to love me, and one wants to literally kill me.
The chances of surviving this horrible predicament seem slimmer and slimmer everyday...and still…when I close my eyes, I see myself with Damon, celebrating a life I know we will never be able to live.
A life full of love and laughter—full of happiness.