11. Ali
eleven
Ali
I ’m starting to realize that anywhere these men go, chaos and mayhem soon follows. Not that I’m complaining; it’s my kind of party, but I could really just sleep for the next week or two. It’s been go, go, go, fight, fight, fight, try not to die, and this girl can only take so much. Especially when I’ve already had an unwanted family reunion. I think that was the most shocking part of the last few days. I can get over being kidnapped twice, thrown to the wolves to fight for my life, falling for psychopaths, and even being forced into very sexist outfits, but I’m not ready to get over seeing my dysfunctional family.
Though I suppose we are all having an awkward family reunion. The guys and their fathers— and now me and my perverted brother and asshole sperm donor. But boy did it feel good to knee Ethan in the balls. The pained groans he made were beyond satisfying.
The entire room is in disarray as Riot, my crazy lover boy, starts sending bullets towards the decked-out tactical men. I do as he asks and wait to move while he tries to clear a path, but the blade in my hand is itching to stab someone. So, after a moment, I decided it’s better to ask for forgiveness than it is permission and race out from behind the chair. Honestly, I just want to win the ’Who’s a Better Killer’ game, since Riot tried to cheat last time. I take a second to take in the chaos before setting my eyes on the closest asshole in tactical gear. Since I don’t know exactly what he is packing or if he has on any protective gear, I play it safe and aim for what little skin I can see. His neck. He is slightly turned away, aiming his gun across the room so it gives me the opportunity to hit my mark before he can see me. Jumping up slightly, I bring the blade up and across his throat. No point in prolonging his suffering. The guy immediately drops his weapon, his hands flying up to cover the now open wound gushing blood from his neck as he turns, dark eyes wide with shock before blood loss overtakes him and he crumbles to the floor.
Not dwelling on my kill, I spin looking for my next target as I spot Arsen in the middle of the room. Cash is a bit further, going hand to hand with a guy, as is Riot. Who is less trading blows and more just pounding his fist into someone’s face. Suddenly arms come up around me, and I spin in the person’s arms before shoving my blade up and cutting into another masked man’s face. Being so close has the blade barely scraping the asshole as he curses before throwing out his fist and landing it across my cheek. My head spins as I stumble back, hitting an overturned chair before righting myself.
“You know, I’m getting really sick and tired of men thinking a woman can’t take a punch,” I hiss, spitting a mouthful of blood at the dick advancing towards me. I’m going to feel that in the morning. When the asshole finally gets within range, I kick out my leg, my foot landing directly on his knee, making it lock up and sending him tripping over his feet and onto his knees. The moment he lands, I’m bringing the knife down and through his skull, embedding it to the hilt. He didn’t even get the chance to blink before I kicked his chest and send him falling backwards. Well, there goes that blade. Quickly I reach down and search his body, finding a few throwing knives.
“You won’t be needing these, will you?” I ask, tucking two of them on the side of my g-string. This could end badly, but no risk, no reward. Or something like that. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Jumping up, I search the room for my guys again. Not that they can’t take care of themselves, but I’ll admit I was worried when I woke up in the trunk and didn’t know if they made it or not. Arsen is a few feet away, going hand to hand with another goonhead.
I watch for a moment, just enjoying the view, when his eyes shift to the side, and he nearly misses a punch to the face. Whatever distracted him left him open for a knee to the stomach, and I watch in horror as he bends in half from the sudden impact. I don’t waste any more time as I charge forward, leaping at the last moment and jumping onto the jerk’s back. I wrap my legs around his waist, with my left arm around his upper chest. Then with a wild glee I slam my knife into his chest, over and over again. How dare he try to hurt my Arsen! I lose count of the stabs before the man goes limp beneath me, and I finally leap back, letting him fall to the ground. My breaths are coming in heavy as I grin up at Arsen.
“That’s three for me so far,” I state, feeling proud. I go to turn, but an arm stops me before I can get far.
Arsen frowns down at me in confusion before asking, “What?”
I shrug, giving him the simple answer. “We are playing the killing game.” Then I lift up on my toes to slam my lips down on his in a quick and teasing kiss before twirling off and onto the next.
I’ve just spotted my next kill when I’m abruptly shoved to the side. My body goes flying to the floor as I roll to a stop, hitting the wall. My head spins as I try to figure out what the fuck just happened because I would have thought I was hit by a semi. Which couldn’t be true since we are inside of a fucking ballroom. As I finally regain my focus, a pair of shiny dress shoes and black slacks enters my line of sight, right before a foot lands in the center of my stomach. The kick has me curling in on myself as the air whooshes from my lungs, a harsh cough following. Glancing up through bleary eyes, I see my father sneering down at me from above. Of course it’s this bastard.
“You stupid little bitch. Always causing trouble ever since you were born. We should have never taken you in, you ungrateful little whore.” I don’t know if it’s the last few days or if I’ve hit my head one too many times or maybe I really am insane, but I can’t help myself when I snort out a laugh. I go to open my mouth with some snarky comeback about how he probably should have thought about that before and kept his little dick in his pants, but the only thing that comes out is a yelp as he reaches down and grabs me by my hair. I bring my hands up to claw at his grip because no woman likes her hair being pulled out unless it’s in bed, but he simply drags me further away against my weak protests.
When we reach the corner of the room, he yanks me to my feet before slamming me against the wall. I can feel my brain rattle around in my head for a second before Richard leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “All this time and you still cause this family business problems. Tonight was supposed to solidify a business agreement with these men. I’ve waited years to get back in their good graces after you pulled your little disappearing act. Henry wanted you for a special client who had particular tastes, but the moment we couldn’t deliver, we were deemed unfavorable.” I narrow my eyes at him and his words.
“What kind of man sells his own daughter?” I snap. The memories of the night of when I finally decided that I had had enough, flash through my mind. I was a slave in my own home. One second I was the Black’s cherished daughter, and the next I wasn’t worthy of the name or status. I was treated like the help but worse, punished for things I didn’t do. They had even taught Ethan, who once protected me, to be cruel to me. A girl can only withstand so much before having to make a choice, so when I overheard their plans, I knew I only had one real option. So, I ran and never looked back. Never thought I would have to, yet here we are. And it’s still all my fault; funny how that works.
“You weren’t a Black by name. Yes, I knocked up your whore of a mother, but not even she wanted you. Miranda only took pity on you, but you were never going to be a Black, and the moment you started looking like your mother, Miranda couldn’t stand it.” Spit flies into my face as he continues to spew bullshit at me, but I’m over this conversation and prefer not to dig up old graves.
I try to twist out of his hold, but he just slams my back harder against the wall. Fuck. I need an opening. The best way to get one is to piss off the bear some more. “The Black’s misfortune has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you and your perverted piece-of-shit son. So why don’t you take your impotent-ass clone of a son and go sit on a spiked dick, you fuck.” And then for good measure, I spit right back at him. Then I get to watch the man go from an angry pink to a furious-looking tomato. I bet if this was a bull arena, the bull would see Richard from a mile away with how pissed he is.
Just like I hoped, Richard steps back, raising his hand to hit me, but I take that opportunity and sucker punch him first. My fist lands square in his chest so hard I think I heard a rib or two snap before I drop to the ground and roll away. Richard gasps for air before going from angry tomato to evil Hulk as he turns and charges for me. The look on his face tells me one thing. He plans to kill me.
I try to scramble away, but the floor is soaked with blood and sweat and probably some tears, causing me to slip and slide as I try to get away. I need to find a weapon, something to fight back with. I’ve barely made it a foot when Richard is on top of me. Once again grabbing me by the hair and attempting to slam my head into the ground. What a bitch move going for my hair. Spinning on my back, I lift my hands to his face and jab my thumbs into his eye sockets, the move causing him to release me as he tries to protect himself. At this point he is straddling me, practically crushing me with his weight as I blindly reach out for anything I can use to my advantage. I only have moments before he will be back to trying to kill me.
Right as his large, rough hands find my neck and squeezes, my own hands touch something. I grab the item tight as I thrash under the heavy weight crushing me. Only to realize it’s one of the stupid hooker heels I almost broke my ankle on earlier. Knowing this is my best option, only option right now at that, I grip the shoe, point side up, and with all my might shove it towards my father’s chest. The shoe must have been a lot sharper than I thought because it slides right through him like butter as his hands finally releases their grip, and I suck in a deep lungful of air. Richard stares down at his chest before looking down at me, a look of betrayal glaring back before he slumps forward, all dead weight. Pun intended.
Using what little strength I have left, I shift my body to the side before slipping out from under him. A sudden roar of fury echoes across the room as I snap my head up, my eyes meeting Ethan’s as he stares wide-eyed at me and then our father lying face down and unmoving next to me. At this point I’m covered in blood, mostly my own father’s, and I know a part of me should feel sad, but I’m not. I’m relieved. Not wanting to wait around for another family one-on-one, especially not with Ethan after what he tried to pull earlier. It doesn’t matter if he didn’t know I was his sister at the time; I had felt like he was already pushing that line when we were younger with the way he would watch me.
Climbing to my feet, I spin on my heel and look for my guys again. There are only a few people still standing, but I see Cash and Riot a few feet away. I continue to search for Arsen and barely spot him as he heads for a door leading out of the room.
Well, I guess he could use some backup. I race in his direction, as Riot calls out to me in passing. “Where are you going?” he dodges a punch and returns one in the next second.
“Arsen.” is all I say, as I weave in and out of the last few people still in the room. Bodies cover the floor, some in tactical gear while others looking like they might have been hit in the crossfire. Regardless, if they showed up tonight, they probably aren’t the cleanest of folks. No, their hands are probably just as dirty as my men’s. All is fair in love and war.
I t takes me minutes to catch up to Arsen and to figure out why he was headed this way. I’ve barely reached the outside patio that leads to a garden when I spot Arsen standing at the top of some stairs and none other than Mr. Castro standing a few steps down. I can’t hear what is being said, but I can see Castro’s mouth moving a second before his arm twitches. In a blink of an eye, Arsen flings out his arm, followed by a gunshot going off, but I’m already running forward. I don’t know who had the gun until I’m steps away and see a glint of metal sticking out of Castro’s chest. which means one thing.
“Arsen!” I scream, knowing there is only a small chance that his father missed being that close. My eyes flare wide with panic as I round Arsen’s back, and all I see is red.
“My flame.” he whispers, but I’m past the being cute right now phase. I all but shove him to the ground. Wincing just a bit as he groans out in pain.
I rip off Riot’s jacket before wadding it up and placing it over Arsen’s stomach. Blood gushes out as I apply pressure, tears filling my eyes as I snap at him. “Well, you’re the idiot who got shot; now stay still.” The asshole must be losing a lot of blood as he stares up at me, a look of awe and wonder. The jerk is bleeding out before me and has hearts in his fucking eyes. “I swear if you die on me, I’ll bring you back to life just to kill you myself.” He chuckles at my words, but it’s abruptly cut off by a cough, blood trickling from his lips. Panic seizes my heart. Oh god. This isn’t good.
“Cash! Riot!” I scream, pressing hard on the wound. What if it hit something important? I’m a fighter, not a fucking doctor.
Arsen’s grey eyes begin to roll.
“Arsen! Stay with me,” I tell him. Bringing up one of my hands, I place it on his cheek, giving it a few slaps to get his attention.
“Arsen, you need to stay awake!” I tell him like it wasn’t that obvious. “Riot! Cash!” I scream again.
Arsen’s head begins to loll to the side. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. No. Think, Ali, you need to do something.
“Please, Arsen. Stay with me. I just found you. I just got you back,” I tell him. I’m about to scream for my other men when they finally emerge, running from the house. “Riot! Cash!” I scream at them when they don’t immediately see us. Their eyes snap to mine and flare as they see me, hovered over a now unmoving Arsen. “Help me,” I cry, tears waterfalling down my cheeks. I can barely see through the tears as they come running up to me, panic and fear reflecting my own.
“Is he breathing?” One of them asks, but when I go to open my mouth, nothing comes out.
“He’s breathing but his pulse is weak. We need to move now.” I’m in a daze as I’m suddenly lifted from the ground. I watch from watery eyes as Riot lifts Arsen in a fireman’s carry before taking off into the dark. I make a noise of protest before I realize Cash is following suit, with me in his arms. “It’s okay, baby. We got you. We got both of you.” His words are a reassurance, but fear of losing one of the men I just found, again, has my emotions in a roller coaster state. There have been so many close calls these last few days that I don’t know if my heart can handle this. Plus, who the fuck falls for men within hours of meeting them?
This is all wrong. All of this, but at the same time, feels all right.
Them. They feel right. They feel like mine.
I’m not sure how long it takes to get to where there’s a vehicle waiting, but in no time I’m being gently tossed into the back seat, a limp and pale Arsen’s head placed into my lap as the other two climb in front. Tires squeal as Riot slams on the gas, shooting forward, and Cash is immediately on the phone.
I finally hear words that give me a bit of calm. “The doctor and his team will meet us at the safe house.” And then I’m blocking everything else out as I stare down at Arsen. The only thought replaying in my mind is, if he doesn’t make it, I will show their fathers what hell really feels like.