Chapter Seventeen
E than
I pull the car into the center’s parking lot, parking next to my burnt up car. Everything is so fucked up right now—nothing is going the way it should. And it hasn’t for a while. I thought we would be okay. I thought I could control the outcome. But all along I was destined to fail.
I just killed one of my best friends a few hours ago and right now I feel numb.
He had to die for what he had done. I wish he hadn’t made the choices he did.
But I have learned in this life that people will do crazy things when afraid.
I didn’t give him time to explain shit before I shot him.
I was angry and hurt by his actions. My anger and fear took hold and I fucking gave into it.
I don’t regret killing him. I don’t regret watching the light leaving his eyes.
But I do regret trusting him. I do regret ordering him to get Jenn out of here when shit was going down.
I should have been the one to go to her.
If I went to her, she would be safe right now.
She wouldn’t be with Tristan going through God knows what.
I take a deep breath as Shawn opens his door and gets out.
Both of us haven’t really said a word since Emory told me the truth of what has been going on with Jenn.
And once I killed Oliver, the house was silent.
Everyone knew what had happened, what I did to Oliver.
And for the first time in a long time, I saw fear in my men’s eyes, not because of Tristan, but because of me. Because of what I am having to become.
But then again, I don’t know if there is much for us to say right now. We need to fucking get her back. And by now Tristan has to know that we found out about Oliver.
He must know that we are on to him and that we know where she is, so I know he is preparing, trying to be ready for when I come to get her back.
And I will. I fucking have to. She is pregnant with my child.
That’s why she had been so distant lately and spending time with Emory.
I was thinking the worst when, really, it was good news—she was trying to figure out how to tell me.
I tighten my hands on the steering wheel as Shawn stops at the front of my car. He is standing still looking at me through the windshield.
He slowly shakes his head. I don’t need to say anything. He can see it in my eyes. He can see what I am about to do.
But I don’t give him a chance to say anything. I back up quickly. Then I put it in “drive” and push on the gas, speeding through the parking lot and through the open metal gate. I can hear Shawn screaming my name.
He wanted to do this together. But he has already put himself and his family in enough danger for me.
No, this is something I have to do on my own, something I have to face alone.
Tristan wants to break me and, honestly, he has.
He turned my best friend against me, he has my fiancée and the mother of my unborn child.
He has all the fucking power and control right now. I know his place is guarded—he isn’t fucking stupid—and I know I will be going into something that I probably can’t win. But what kind of man would I be if I didn’t at least try? Jenn needs to know I at least tried.
Shawn will come for me and Jenn. All our people will come. But it might be too late once they get there. I am willing to die for her freedom. I am willing to die to keep my promise to her.
Tristan wants me. He wants to show me how little control and power I have. And maybe he is right. Maybe I don’t have any. But that is not going to stop me from trying to get her back into my arms even if it’s for one last time.
I quickly pull onto the freeway. The sun is starting to go down and soon our city will be covered in blackness.
I know where his penthouse is. We figured it out once we went through Oliver’s phone—we put a tracker on all our phones a long time ago. I wish I had used it and was watching where our men have been going ... a lesson I have learned and a mistake I will never make again.
Trust is earned and even once it is earned it can be taken away.
I trust Shawn and our men, but now I know that no one can’t be bought.
Because I know that’s what Tristan promised Oliver—money, power, and women.
The three things he wanted more than anything.
I should have seen it, but I didn’t want to and now Jenn is paying the price for my mistakes.
I know Shawn is fucking pissed. I know he is freaking out right now.
He has already tried calling me, but I don’t answer.
My phone has a tracker, too, so he’ll know where to go.
At least I know Tristan will suffer even if I’m not alive to see it.
Tristan will get what’s coming to him one way or another.
I want it to be by my hands, but I am fine if Shawn does it.
I take a deep breath as I take the exit and make my way around the streets. I pull into a parking spot across from the apartments Tristan’s has been building. I look up and see the penthouse.
There is no way I can get in there without him knowing I’m coming.
But then again, he probably already knows that I’m here. He has people everywhere just like we do. He was probably told as soon as I sped out of the center parking lot.
I take a deep breath, turn off the car, and open the door. The sun has set, and the blackness has now consumed everything. But it won’t matter. I’m done hiding and playing this fucking cat and mouse game.
I shut the door and reach behind my back, pulling the gun out of my pants.
I see two men standing out in front of the main doors, both staring at me as I make my way across the street.
I stop in front of them and drop my gun to the ground. I slowly lift my hands above my head and slowly turn around giving them my back. They waste no time coming up behind me, grabbing me, forcing my hands down and behind my back. They both search me making sure I don’t have more weapons. I don’t.
“Not going to fight, huh?” one of the men asks from behind me.
I take a deep breath as the other guy tightens his hold on my wrists as he turns me around.
The man who spoke opens the front doors. They both lead me into the building. I look around. It’s dark and quiet.
They pick up their pace, making me do the same. We make our way to the elevator where the man leans in and pushes the button.
I feel my heart racing as the doors open and they force me inside. I watch the numbers start to go up. Of course this building has 50 levels. And of course the penthouse is at the very top. Tristan doesn’t do anything half-assed and that includes where he lives.
“We’re surprised that you showed, man. You have no idea what you are walking into.”
I take a deep breath trying to calm my heart rate, but it’s not working. “No, I don’t” I reply as calmly as I can.
“So, why?” one of the guys asks behind me.
“Because I love her.” I state, not needing to think of my answer. All of this is for her.
“You appear not to be the only one,” he says in a low dark voice, making my blood boil. I want to ask him what he means but I know they won’t tell me. They like to play games as much as Tristan does.
I watch the numbers continue to go up until it hits number 50.
The doors quickly open and both men tighten their grip on me, forcing me out of the elevator and down a small hallway.
The men push the doors open leading me into a big room.
There is a dining room table off to the side—and chains hanging from the ceiling.
The windows are full-length, showing off the view of the city.
This city has always been breathtaking and it is even more so at night. That’s when the city comes to life.
“Move it,” one of the men orders from behind me, leading me to the middle of the room.
The other man kicks against my legs. Not needing to speak I know what they want. I fall to my knees as they let go of my wrists.
I lower my arms to my sides as I hear the door open and close behind me.
The footsteps are slow. But I know who it is.
I turn my head and watch Tristan calmly make his way over to the windows. He stares out the window giving me his back. His hands are behind his back, his breathing even and steady.
“You came.” Tristan continues to look out the window. I hate how fucking calm he is.
“Where is she?” I ask in a low dark tone. I feel my hands starting to shake at my sides.
He turns slightly and looks down at me “Not with you.”
I try to get up but both men behind me put their hand on my shoulder forcing me to stay on my knees. “Tristan, where the fuck is she?” I yell. This is just another game with him. Another chess move.
He turns back and looks out the window. “She is safe. Safe from you. Safe from the men outside. She is safe and that’s all you need to know right now.” he states with confidence. Too much fucking confidence.
The two men tighten their hold on my shoulders making sure I stay in place. I could kill them if I wanted. I could kill them before they even knew what happened. But that won’t give me what I want. I want to see Jenn. I need to see Jenn. “Like I’m going to fucking believe you,” I snap back.
“You don’t have a choice.”
His words echo inside my head. You don’t have a choice. That’s all Jenn has ever wanted—to have a fucking choice.
“Please, just let me see her.” I feel my heart racing so fast I can hear it in my ears. I already know how this is going to go. Tristan is going to kill me, of course he is. He needs to send a message and I am the perfect messenger. I accept my fate.
Tristan slowly turns around and looks down at me.
“You just won’t fucking give up, will you?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“I have to say, Ethan, you impress me. Too bad we are on opposite sides of this.” he states in an amused tone, telling me that he’s not going to give me what I want. He wants me to suffer, and he knows that using her is the only thing that will make me break.
“Please let me see her,” I beg, not caring anymore how I sound. He wins. He fucking wins.
“No.” He nods to his men behind me.
Right when the word leaves his mouth one of the men behind me leans down and stabs me in the stomach. I feel the sharp pain from the blade. And the next thing I feel is a gun hitting me in the back of the head.
Jenn, I’m sorry is the last thought I have before everything goes black.