Chapter 32
Ryker
In that one second, absolutely everything freezes. One shot, one bullet, one target.
BAM!
“No!” Ash screams. She cannot hide her terror in that one cry.
Pain shoots through my arm when I step in the bullet’s path. The hot bullet tears through my muscle and exits sideways. My arm is burning, but the bone is intact. I’m alive. I take one unsteady step back from the impact, but I’m fine.
My father’s the last person in the world I would take a bullet for. Irony of fate, isn’t it? Because that’s exactly what happens.
In slow motion, I saw my father approaching the desk and the moment Ash made her decision. She acted instinctively. Just like me.
Aisling...
Father freezes mid-step, Aiden and Victor Matthews stand frozen by how the situation has turned.
And me? The pain in my arm is nothing compared to the pain in my heart. All those lies, those moments of opening up to her.
Ash turns white as a sheet, her hands shaking violently.
She looks at me with teary eyes and whispers, “What have you done?”
I shake my head. I don’t know. I couldn’t let her kill him, even though I wanted to do it myself.
Perhaps it’s a matter of distraction, but none of us notices until it’s too late. My father pulls out a gun hidden under the desk. When I glance at him, he has it pointed at Ash.
I react too, pulling out my gun and unlocking the safety.
James is so sure that I won’t shoot him he only gives me a fleeting glance.
The adrenaline in my body paralyzes me completely. My heart stops, my throat goes dry. I don’t dare take another breath. My thoughts scream at me.
Ash... She’s too far away. I can’t cover her. Fuck! Think!
“Girl, put the gun down. This is no joke. Look at how your hand is shaking. You’re not cut out for this.” The hatred in my father’s eyes matches the mockery in his voice.
“Father, put the gun down,” I say in a warning tone.
“No fucking way. You think I’m going to let some bitch threaten me in my own house? Think again!”
“Put the gun down!” I demand again.
In my mind’s eye, I see my father raising his gun, putting his finger on the trigger, pulling it. My mother’s body slumps lifelessly onto the damn floor. Blood...
For a second, my eyes wander to the same place where she lay that day. There’s nothing there now, but I would rather die than see Ash in her place.
I take a small step to the left and hold my breath.
“Ryker—” The whisper of the love of my life is filled with pain. And I hate it.
“Look at yourself,” James spits out. “You’re so soft. You’re going to defend some bitch like you used to defend your mother and sister? I knew you were a useless piece of shit...”
More memories flash through my mind. These are the same words that started our life in hell. He once shouted the same words to my mother.
Ash lied to me, but... I won’t be able to live in a world without her. I can’t lose her.
Another step...
I look into the eyes of the man who was supposed to protect our family. Who was supposed to love us and be our support. But all I see is a person with hatred flowing through his veins, his soul replaced by pure evil. And I listen to his hateful words.
“You’re just like your mother. You don’t deserve a place in this world. You’re a waste of space. You’re…”
One more small step.
But he can’t see it.
The demon inside me whimpers. It digs its claws into my insides, struggling like a caged animal. It begs to be released, wanting to play with its prey. My father’s words provoke it with every passing second.
“Where’s Aisling?” I growl at him. “Where’s my sister?”
“I won’t tell you shit! Do you think you’ll ever see her again? You’re such an idiot that you’ve let yourself be led by the nose for years, living on hope. She never had the right to exist in this house. She was just a means to an end, just like your mother. Just like you!”
I make one last move and stand in the line of fire. Now I’m facing my father, shielding my woman with my body.
“Damn it, Ryker,” I hear behind me, but I don’t react. “What are you doing?”
I’m saving what’s most precious to me in this world.
“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?
” my father continues. “You don’t have the balls.
You never did. And now you want to protect this stray.
You’ll never find your sister, and if I have anything to say about it, I’ll kill her with my own hands!
And now time is up for your bitch too. I hope she suffers, and that’s what will kill you. You’re just like your mother!”
BANG!
As soon as James’s words reach my consciousness, I know I have to do it.
One bullet is enough to end it.
One bullet right between his eyes.
He had no idea where my sister was.
Not only did he not know, but he also used it to manipulate me, to control me like a puppet. He knew perfectly well that I loved these women and used it against me for years.
And I couldn’t let him do the same to Ash. I would rather die a thousand times than see any of these women suffer for a single minute. It was too late for my mother, but I could still do something for Aisling and Ash.
Enough.
Killing him was the only way out. And I was sure that when it finally happened, I would be filled with joy. But all I feel right now is boundless relief.
I’m not killing him out of the revenge of a thirteen-year-old boy, but out of the need of a man who has someone to protect.
My father’s body falls to the floor. Blood oozes from his head, forming a pool. He’s dead. Isn’t it ironic? That my mother died close to this spot?
The demon inside me smiles at me. It’s pleased.
A warm hand touches my back. Ash. I realize that this isn’t over and that we still have something to sort out here.
I turn to the two other men. My gun is still raised, which Aiden notices. He gestures for me to put it down, but I have no intention of doing so.
“Why would someone want him dead?” I hiss at them.
Ash is silent.
Matthews looks at us, seemingly bored.
I know where to look for answers. “Aiden? Care to enlighten us?”
“You’ve always been two steps behind me, even when you thought you were better, Ryker.” He laughs and shakes his head. “It’s very simple. It was about getting James out of his position in the Pact. Someone else wants it. Only it’s much bigger than you think.”
“Someone just wants to take over the Pact?” Ash asks.
“Not just take over, little Shadow. Right now, we have two cartels in the States. Two sources of distribution. Two sources of income. Why share the profits when you can pocket it all?”
Aiden’s confidence reminds me of my father’s. He stands relaxed, as if he doesn’t have a gun pointed at his heart. He thinks he’s untouchable. Immortal.
“Someone wants to merge the cartels,” I guess. “Who is it?”
A slight gesture is enough for me to know who started it all. All Aiden has to do is look at his father.
And to think that it was only because of me that this man became Vice President of the United States.
“Why are you saying this so bluntly?” Ash asks.
“What can you do? You have no idea what you’re up against,” he mocks us.
Maybe he’s right. Now I see that this is indeed bigger than we thought.
“Why did you give me the order to kill James?” she presses.
“It was my test for the future general of the united organization. I had to prove not only my devotion but also my ability to conduct military operations so that we would win.”
“Couldn’t you just kill him? You were close to him; he trusted you to some extent.” My words make him laugh.
“Why should I get my hands dirty when someone else could do it? The price I paid for it was small. If the plan had gone perfectly, no one would ever have linked me to the murder of the Pact president. The perfect solution.” He sighs and rolls his eyes, unmoved.
A terrifying thought pops into my head. The image before my eyes slowly blurs, and I’m sure it’s related to the loss of blood. It runs down my arm to my fingertips. Despite this, I feel practically no pain at all.
I have to hurry. “Are you going to kill us now?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” He smiles.
Sick son of a bitch.
Each of us is fucked up in our own way, so I shouldn’t judge him, but I have to admit that I underestimated him.
My mistake. I thought he was just a pawn, but he’s more than that...
“Put the gun down, Ryker,” he repeats. “You will not kill us.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because James wasn’t the only one who knew where your sister is.”
I don’t believe it.
“You know where Aisling is?” Ash asks and inhales loudly.
Something indefinable flashes across Aiden’s eyes. He knows more than he’s saying. The urge to kill grows in me again.
“The game is just getting started,” he replies and winks at my woman. “Now, excuse us, but it’s time for us to go. We’ll meet again.”
For a second, I struggle with myself about whether to let them go. Still, I lower my weapon and let them leave. Slowly. Unharmed.
I can’t kill them yet, but I promise myself that I’ll find a new way to my sister—this time, through Aiden Matthews.
The vice president himself remains completely indifferent. He didn’t say much and revealed nothing. He had his son to do his bidding, just like my father had me.
But it’s over now...
“You’re right, Aiden,” Ash says in a quiet voice. “This game is just getting started.”
“See you next time, lovebirds.” With these words, Aiden and his father leave my late father’s office. Neither of us makes a move to stop them. I’m sure we both know that the right time will come.
When we’re left alone, I slowly turn to my Little Killer. She comes up to me immediately and springs into action.
From deep inside the house, we hear the shouts of men. I’m sure my brothers are coming to the rescue.
Speaking of...
Ash hides her weapon, takes off her sweatshirt, and starts pressing on the wound on my shoulder until I hiss in pain. Her attention focuses on me. “What the hell were you thinking, Ryker? I could have fucking killed you!”
I’m still torn between anger at what she hid from me and gratitude that she’s still standing in front of me alive.
“You shot me,” I gasp and bow my head. My forehead touches hers, and I close my eyes.
“I didn’t—”
The office door opens again, and Eli and Theo rush in. Both are armed. They’re prepared for the worst.
“What the hell is going on here?” Eli shouts.
I say the first thing that comes to mind when I see the two of them. “You’re fucked.”
“It’s my fault,” Ash explains quickly. “I incapacitated them.”
I give her a sharp look. “I have no doubt about that. But they should have known better than to fall for your defenseless and innocent little face.”
“You’re hurt,” Theo chimes in.
“Yeah, but it’s nothing. The bullet went right through my arm,” I respond, causing Ash to roll her eyes. Then I laugh. Maybe it’s the blood loss? “My woman shot me.”
Ash’s frightened eyes wander to the boys. “I didn’t mean to. I wanted to kill James, and he got in my way,” she complains. Her tempting lips take on a sulky expression.
Eli and Theo finally notice James lying on the floor. I laugh like a madman, and Ash looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have.
I’m finally free.
“I’ll tell you everything later. Right now, we need to get out of here.” My arm goes around Ash, and Eli tosses me the car keys.
“What do you want to do with this mess?” asks Eli, his eyes still fixed on my father.
Standing at the door, I stare at the cursed skull-shaped doorknob and know.
So many times I walked out of here as a child, thinking I would never escape. Now I’m leaving for the last time.
I turn my head to the boys. “Get rid of his people. Search the house and then burn everything to the ground. I don’t want a single wall left standing.”
“What about him?” Theo points to the corpse.
“Let him go to hell with all the rest of it,” I say, feeling relieved.
“Ash,” Eli calls to her. He nods at my shoulder. “Good girl.” And then, he and Theo burst out laughing.
Shaking my head, we leave. The body of one thug lies in the hallway. Before we reach the car, we find more bodies. They look like a trail leading us to freedom.
“I can’t believe you shot me,” I say with a laugh, getting into the car.
“I can’t believe you stood on the other end of my anger.”
“Never again, my Little Killer.”