Chapter 49
"Kayde!"
My gun was pointed at Vance Marchetti as Kayde fell to the ground tied to the chair. His once blonde hair was streaked with blood. His face was swollen courtesy of the man who stood in front of me his eyes cruel.
"You have one second to give me a reason why I shouldn't blow your brains out right now!" My voice rose. Vance looked calm but the hand on the gun shook slightly. His lips although in a grin were tight lipped.
"Are you going to break the family ties all because of this man?"
My eyes focused on him doing my best to let logic keep me in check. If not for logic I would have blown his brains out.
"What family ties. Just because your father was my guardian it does not mean we were family and for the reason he took me in once is why your brains are not scattered on this floor right now," I spat back.
It had taken me three days to discover the room they kept him in. Had it not been for Romano's slip up I would never have found out. Vance wanted to kill him after I tricked him into finding the location.
After Mariya's confession for the prime minister I had ordered Ramon to get her out of the country. If everything went well I would join them. If not then they would be safe.
"What did I tell you Vance. The deal was you stay away from him and we will continue with business as usual. You breached the terms of agreement. If I kill you right now not even your father could blame me. Business is business Vance," I reasoned.
He took a step closer to where Kayde lay pointing his gun to his head.
"You know what Ivan, this man makes you weak.
It would be an honor to finish him for you.
I would never regret it. His hand went to pull the trigger and I shot him twice.
On his leg and the hand that held the gun.
He dropped the gun falling to the floor next to the detective.
I made my way towards the gun picking it up.
I only had a few minutes before his back up showed up. The detective was unconscious it was going to be difficult moving him around to somewhere else.
I had shared my location with Suarez after I had gotten to Romano Marchetti's mansion. I had no back up. Kayde's comrade was the only hope we both had of making it out alive. If we both couldn't make it I would make sure he stayed alive long enough for reinforcement to come.
"Even if you kill me, my father may let you live but he will make sure your precious detective does not survive. So don't waste your energy trying to save him. If you prove difficult you are not so indispensable yourself he will get rid of you too," he challenged.
Tired of his voice I rendered him unconscious. I needed to think of a solution. First I needed to wake up the detective. Putting one hand under his arm and swinging the other over my shoulder I pulled him up. He lay limp by my side his breathing shallow but he was still alive.
I made my way through the darkened corridor the words Vance had said to him replaying. He knew the truth. Vance had told him everything yet he was indifferent. I should have been happy that he didn't care about my affairs but it meant he didn't care about me.
Romano had displayed the room his son was torturing Kayde.
He might have over a hundred rooms in his house but all I needed was to see it to know.
Marchetti knew my tactics and he would have known I would have found him and so the least expected place is where they had kept him. The door connected to Vance's bedroom.
They let me watch how they tried breaking him but the man never yielded. I found a bathroom and sat him down. I poured some water on him and he winced his eyes flattering open slowly.
"Ivan," he breathed. His voice was hoarse his face a mess. His blues pierced into me the tears already welling.
"Did you sleep with him?" He asked. I saw the expectation in his eyes and honestly I wanted to torture him like he had tortured me for months.
He knew how I felt about him yet he went ahead and got married.
He lied to me and locked me in my own cabin.
Yet I didn't. I was tired of all the games we played.
Who knew if Marchetti would be kind enough to break a few bones in my body and let me live.
But the cost would be Kayde's life and for the little time we may have had left I told him the truth.
"No."
It took every inch of control in my body not to surrender to him when he pounced on me and kissed me. His kiss was hot and demanding his tongue shooting inside my mouth exploring it. I didn't fight him. I let him take charge as he pleased he needed to know that I was his and only his.
I gently put my hand in his hair careful not to hurt him. There were still tears in his eyes I could feel them on my cheeks or maybe the tears belonged to the both of us I couldn't tell.
"I love you," he said into the kiss.
The pounding on the door did not deter him from kissing me one last time even as the gunshots went off.
"... and Ivan I'm really sorry. I didn't know she was your sister. Before you say anything else I also want you to know I was wrong about you. I know we may not get out of here alive. I don't want to regret never saying any of this to you.
In all the times I was clouded by a sense of false duty and approval I am sorry for ever doubting you. You mean the world to me and the fact that you are a man should never have been a problem. I should have never let my father's methods get into my head.
Have I told you that I love you so so much and if we survive this. I'll fight for you. I'll fight for us."
The pounding on the door intensified and I pulled him in. I let him stay in my embrace even if it meant that it was the very last time.
"I have always loved you, detective. Always"
I gave him Vance's gun helping him get up. Our eyes met and he nodded his head in agreement. I opened the door ready to face whatever awaited us there. If we died at least I had the chance of meeting and loving a man like him. If we survived we would see whatever the future had in store for us.