54. Chapter 54
54
Layla
“What did your parents leave you, Layla?” Terry crouches down, his expression menacing, or at least trying to be. John, the wanker, is sitting off to the side watching.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.
John sighs and stands. Bored of someone else doing his dirty work maybe.
“We know your parents left you something. We know you went to a safety deposit box. You have something from them. What did they leave you?”
I gasp as John’s balled fist hits me square in the jaw. For a big man he moves quickly.
Pain splinters across my cheek and my whole-body flinches as it absorbs the force of the hit. My teeth bite down and pierce my tongue; I spit out blood.
“We have ways to get the information we need.” I don’t look at him, still reeling from the punch. My head drops forward, hair falling into my face.
“I’ve spent the last 10 weeks being threatened by one person or another, at this point it’s really lost its effect and charm.” I rasp.
I’m battered, bloody, and broken.
I’ve no idea where I am or how long I’ve been here. Dried blood covers my face, that has tracked down from the head wound caused by the butt of the gun. My vision blurs and my head pounds, which suggests a concussion.
The room is dark, dingy, and so bloody cold. The smell of damp invades my senses and tickles my skin. There’s no way out of this, I’m God knows where, strapped to a chair.
My eyes well up with tears as a strange calmness washes over me, and I do the only thing I can think of.
Lie.
I lie to bide my time. Because I know he’s coming for me.
“I’m not giving you anything. You think I’m stupid enough to not have safeguards in place. If anything, anything, happens to Luca or Grandad, Katy, or anyone associated with me, it goes to the police—it goes to the press. It goes to someone trusted, that can end the corruption.”
My heart is beating so hard I can feel it in my throat.
“Katy is likely already dead,” John says from where he leans against the wall.
But the bullet hit high, I have to hope that maybe she’s still alive, she’s stubborn and strong, she won’t go down without a fight.
Terry pulls a gun out from his trousers and holds it against my forehead.
“Do it.” I snarl. “I dare you. No, John, I dare you . Stop making your minions do your dirty work, be a man, look me in the eye and shoot me. The links to the government, the drugs, the human trafficking. Everything. I know it all. This goes all the way to the top, and I’ve got the names, all because you didn’t do what you were supposed to do. Kill me.”
Terry propels himself forward and grabs my hair roughly, snapping my head back revealing my throat.
“Terry.” John's stern voice stops the man in his tracks, and he steps out of the way. John comes into my line of sight, his huge frame looming over me. He hitches his trousers up before crouching in front of me.
He pushes my hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear, lightly touching my chin and inspecting my wounds, tutting.
“Such a waste.” He runs a thumb over my mouth. I wrench my face away from his touch and he stands up, sighing. “I believe you, Layla. You’re tenacious and clever, I can see why my nephew has fallen for you.”
He pulls a hanky out of his suit jacket and wipes his fingers which have my blood on them.
“I know you know, and I don’t doubt you are intelligent enough to have all the information, but here’s the thing. You haven’t got any safeguards in place. You’re transparent, and you haven’t had the time. Luca is many things, but he’s playing with the big boys now, and he’s been moved to right where I want him. Just like you.”
He leans forward, resting his arms on either side of the wooden chair, his huge bulk coming in close to my body, invading my space. I lift my chin resolutely, my eyes meeting his and he smirks, my reaction pleasing him.
“You’re terrified, you’re clutching at straws, you’re a beautiful young lady that’s done exactly what I thought she would do. You’ve fallen in love with the gangster.”
I snort and shake my head at his idiocy. At his arrogance.
“I never knew how important you were until Terry told me who your parents were.” He leans forward and sniffs my hair, whispering into my ear, “You certainly were a loose end we weren’t prepared for.”
I blanch away from him, craning my neck and pulling a face of disgust as I try to rip myself away.
“Of course, I sensed Luca and Levi were growing impatient, but what I hadn’t realised is how involved you were. It’s been a nice surprise really, another pawn to use in my plan.”
The fucker sucks my ear lobe, pulling it into his mouth and bites it gently. Loathing fills me, my veins turn to lava as I try desperately to yank my head away from him.
“You’re a fucking animal. Don’t touch me.”
He pulls back, chuckling. “Like I said, Layla. You’re a beautiful young lady, such a waste.” He puts his hand out and Terry passes him his gun. My eyes widen as he pulls back the barrel and loads it.
Taking five steps back he turns around and holds the gun out towards me.
“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, we’ll get whatever your parents left you, then I’ll kill my nephew, your grandfather and Katy, then we’ll move forward like we always do. It’s time to clear up the mess—again.”
He pulls the trigger and I’m falling.
Fire erupts through my stomach as the bullet tears through me, ripping through muscle, cartilage and hopefully not arteries.
The downside of having medical experience, you know just how fucked you might be when something happens. I crash to the floor, still strapped to the chair, the impact sending bolts of fire through my abdomen.
The pain is excruciating, and I’ve experienced pain before. What are the chances of having two catastrophic stomach wounds in your life and walking away from both.
Yeah, the odds are slim, and you don’t need to have medical experience to know that. The door to the dirty room I’m in opens, and I blink back tears, focusing on my breathing, but my vision blurs and I swear I’m seeing things.
The person walks towards me and crouches down, he gently cups my face, his expression full of remorse.
“Does he know?” I wheeze and he shakes his head. “You’re a piece of shit.” My voice is hoarse and broken
He leans forward, his mouth by my ear. “Did you give it to them? Did you tell them where it was?”
“Fuck off.”
“It’s important Layla.”
“So is friendship, honour and loyalty. Something I thought you had but turns out you're just another piece of shit in his life.”
“Leave her.” John says from behind him.
Roman stands and looks down at me, then to John. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”