Chapter 9 Presley
Presley
“We’re leaving.”
Adrian’s voice boomed throughout the room, causing Renzo and Benni to look at us. I stood immediately and reached for my fiancé, allowing him to pull me to his side. He then walked around the table and gestured for Alex to join us.
“I arranged for you to stay here tonight, Son,” Markos remarked blandly while putting his phone to his ear. He spoke in Italian for someone to come clean up the mess in the dining room.
I refused to look at Paul. I had set the gun down next to his body as the blood from his head leaked over the table and dripped to the floor. Which is why I was so grateful for Adrian’s declaration of our departure.
“No. We’re leaving. Now.”
Alex moved directly next to me, crowding my shoulder. It took all of my strength not to hold her hand and ensure we didn’t get separated again.
“Surely allow Alexandria to remain here, her things are in her room, and she hasn’t had a chance to pack,” Markos replied, flicking a quick glance at Renzo and Benni.
Alex spoke up, boldly and clearly. “Thank you so much, Markos. I’d like to be with my sister.”
A tremble worked through me at her declaration and claim on me. My fingers threaded through hers, silently telling her that I too, considered her my sister. My family. I’d do anything to protect her, even if that meant going home and facing all that had destroyed me.
“We’re going, Father. You cannot expect me to stay after what you just pulled.”
Markos smiled while spreading his hands wide. “My gift?”
“Fuck off,” Adrian scoffed, while pulling me behind him toward the door.
I held on to Alex for dear life as we exited the house.
Benni and Renzo remained in their father’s house, and I preferred that, especially after they’d tossed wine in my grandfather’s face.
The anger of the incident hadn’t settled into my bones yet, but once it did, I was going to enact a little vengeance.
Adrian immediately settled into the driver’s seat while I got into the back with Alex.
We huddled together while the car sped out of the driveway, kicking up gravel behind it.
I didn’t look behind me to see if any lights followed us, but Adrian quickly pulled his cell up and began ordering his men to follow him.
“I’m so sorry, Presley. I—” His voice cut off with emotion before he slammed his palm against the steering wheel. “Fuck, this was never supposed to happen.”
“What was supposed to happen?” I asked.
His eyes caught mine in the mirror, but he didn’t respond. Within half an hour, we were driving through his gate and surrounded by armed men.
“This is his home?” Alex whispered while glancing out the window. It was too dark to make anything out other than the armed men and a few gas lanterns lit outside the home.
“Yeah, it’s safe.” I tried to reassure her, but I didn’t actually know if it was or not.
Adrian parked and immediately exited the car.
He started ordering his men to take up posts and positions around the perimeter.
As Alex and I exited the car, I caught a few pieces of Italian where he mentioned Markos and his brothers.
He didn’t want them to be granted access without Adrian being notified.
“Come.” Adrian walked ahead of us and waved us inside. The lights of his home immediately welcomed us with soft lighting, and a warm fire that his staff had already lit for when we’d arrive.
“Alex can have your room if you’re comfortable with that, Presley,” Adrian offered.
I gently gripped his wrist. “I don’t want Renzo or Benni here until Alex leaves.”
He didn’t even hesitate before agreeing. “Understood.”
I was about to walk past him when his hand came to my hip. “I understand your need to settle your friend in, but please come back to me tonight. I think we need to talk.”
Yeah, we had a lot of things to talk about. I nodded solemnly before walking up with Alex toward the guest suites where my old room resided. There were no guards on this floor, and I appreciated that. I didn’t want Alex to feel like she was trapped or being held hostage like at Markos’s house.
The second we entered the room, Alex pulled her cell out and began dialing. She paced the room while she waited for the phone to connect, and I immediately went to the closet where I had hidden a few weapons.
“Dad. I’m okay.” I heard her rushed words, on the verge of panic.
I pictured Juan’s face and how he’d probably pulled Taylor over so they could both hear what was happening with their daughter.
Thinking of them, however, made my mind wander to the twins, and a sharp pain pierced my chest just like it always did.
The words they’d said in that room after they’d taken my virginity. After they’d taken something so precious and all so that Adrian wouldn’t have it. How they’d pulled a gun on Scotty when they said we’d have to choose where we stood.
“Can you tell them not to come. I mean it. Presley and I will figure this out, but if you or anyone comes, it could make things worse. Just lay low and let me be here for Presley.” I heard Alex say to someone on the phone.
I paused mid-pull as I removed the box that had two handguns inside.
“I mean it, Gio. Please do not come here.”
I slammed my eyes closed and continued to pull on the box until I had it out and was checking the two guns inside. I heard Alex say her goodbyes, and then it was quiet again.
“Here.” I handed her a pistol. “Keep this on you. There’s pepper spray in here and a knife.”
Alex glanced down at the weapon and gently set it on the bed. “I didn’t sleep at Markos’s house aside from maybe nodding off.”
“When did you arrive?” It had to have only been a day or so.
She toyed with the edge of the comforter on the bed and yawned. “A week.”
I swung around, my mouth agape. “A week?!”
She nodded. “I was so scared, Pres. I kept thinking that it would lead me to you, but then another day would pass. I was trying to plan my escape, but I knew it was going to take some time.”
Silence stretched between us while I bit down on my tongue. I was so angry.
How had I allowed this to happen? The twins had warned me, and I went with Adrian anyway, and now their sister was—
“Stop blaming yourself. I know you’re doing it,” she joked, light heartedly.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I moved to the dresser and pulled out a few clothes I still had.
Alex was taller than me, but I had shorts she could wear and a few baggy T-shirts.
Most of which were her brothers at one point, but I wasn’t going to mention that or say anything about it. I doubted she would either.
“Here’s some clothes. The bathtub in there is divine, and after you’re done, I can talk to Leon, Adrian’s chef. He makes the best food, and he’s so sweet. I can have an entire meal sent up to you so you don’t have to leave the room if you want.”
Alex nodded and then pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m serious, Pres. Stop blaming yourself.”
“How?” I choked out. “How do I not blame myself? This is exactly what they warned me would happen.”
Alex pulled back and swiped at my tears. “Adrian didn’t even seem to know it was going to happen, so I’m not sure my brothers had the whole story. Also, at what point were you going to tell me that things between you and my brothers got romantic?”
My face flushed so pink that I had to take a few steps away.
“I mean, I always had a sneaking suspicion that you had a crush and I knew at least one of my brothers liked you, if not both, but I never assumed—”
“It was complicated,” I blurted, mortified. “It started when I went to high school, and I just wanted a few typical experiences. I didn’t know the twins would refuse to allow just one of them to—”
“Oh my god, stop. I’m okay without knowing all the details. I just wish I would have known that your heart was broken beyond just the best friend left behind. I would have tried to be there for you a bit more, that or I would have gone to hunt down my idiot brothers.”
I sat on the bed, letting out a sigh I felt like I had been holding since that fateful night when I was sixteen. “Your parents knew.”
Her head snapped to the side, inspecting me. “They did?”
“I overheard them talking the day of the twins’ eighteenth birthday. I think they got sent away because I refused to train anymore…they hated that I was training so hard and for this future.” I let out a pathetic laugh.
“A lot of good any of that training did me. Scotty never told me what to do if my enemy had a family member on the table while worrying about protecting another.”
Her fingers came around mine in a tight squeeze. “I’m sorry you had to do that tonight, Pres. I’m sorry if me coming here has made things harder.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m glad you’re here. More than you probably know. I’ve missed you.”
Alex began wandering around the room, touching little trinkets and necklaces. “Christmas felt weird this year. Do you remember when we used to do those tree decorating contests?”
A laugh bubbled up out of me as I took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Gio and Kingston always tried to win by teaming up.”
Alex smiled as she turned toward me and took a seat next to me. “So me, you, and Carter would team up to beat them.”
“They used to get so upset when our parents would come out and judge the different trees.” I laughed.
Alex covered her mouth as more laughter spilled out. “Gio learned how to tie bows just so he’d have a chance at winning.”
Our joy sobered as we both quieted and I asked. “What was this year like?”
I had spent every waking moment thinking of them as my family traveled abroad. I had traveled with Adrian to spend the holiday with them in London. It helped take the sting out of being away from everyone, but my mind had lingered on Alex and her brother’s. Carter too, and everyone else.
Alex shrugged. “We went down to Mexico. Wren and Archer, and the boys came too. It was fun, but it felt different. Like we were missing something.”
Yeah, I knew the feeling.