Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Allora
The ride to the airport feels never-ending. Me and the other two girls are in the back of the van, naked. Their hands and feet are bound but Pete didn’t bother doing that to me. He knows I’m not going to try anything because he has a fucking shock collar on me.
Bastard.
I’m still reeling from the three times he’s already shocked me.
It’s not strong enough to cause damage but it stings and the last time he did it I fell. Pete just laughed and told me to get up. He held out the remote, like he was going to do it again, and then chuckled.
“This is going to be my favorite game of all time,” he says. “Maybe I’ll do it while I’m fucking you. That ought to get a reaction out of you.”
I don’t say anything because I can’t. If I open my mouth, I’ll most likely scream and shriek and go ballistic.
But that won’t help anything.
I have to keep my wits about me. First, in case there’s a chance of escape at the airport. Second, so I can win his trust. That’s the only way I can get my revenge.
And revenge is the only thing keeping me going.
“I don’t like this,” Vito says, looking around. “It’s too quiet.”
“It’s five in the morning on a private airfield,” Pete says.
“You worry too much. Trust me, everything is good to go. Pilot’s here doing his final check and I just got the wire transfer from Dubai.
We can relax.” He sits back against the seat and glances back at me.
“Your life is about to change, sweetheart. You have no idea how spoiled you’ve been. But that’s all over now.”
I dip my head, as if I’m shy. Demure. The truth is if I look at him, he’ll see how much I want to kill him. There is no doubt in my mind he’ll see the hatred boiling in my veins. A need to hurt him like nothing I’ve ever felt.
“I like when you put your head down. We’ll make sure you do that a lot. Ready?” He presses the button and the fourth jolt makes me cry out.
“Please stop,” I whisper. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked.”
“Well, not yet. Once my baby is growing inside you, then you might get a little reprieve. But I’m not joking around, Allora—you will do as I say. I want to hear you say you understand.”
“I understand.”
“What do you understand?”
“That I have to do what you tell me.”
He smiles broadly. “That’s right.”
The van slows to a stop and he glances back again. “Don’t any of you move.”
Vito’s driving, Pete is in the passenger seat, and Baron and Marisol are in the back seats. Once the three men get out, I look at Marisol and she’s doing something on her phone like this is just another day.
“How can you be so cruel?” I ask her.
She laughs. “Money.”
“There are more important things.”
“Says the woman who has plenty.”
“The woman whose boyfriend has a sister that’s a princess. A real princess. Married to European royalty. I promise you there’s more money to be had than anything these bozos will give you.”
She stares at me. “Royalty?”
“Yup. Married to one of the princes of Limaj. Look it up. Princess Courtney.”
She scowls but then starts typing on her phone. I have no idea if this will make a difference, if it’s already too late, but I have to try.
Out of nowhere I hear shouts.
Then the unmistakable sound of gunshots.
He’s here.
My father. Rage. Daniil.
Someone is here for me.
I close my eyes and send up a prayer to my mom. “You said you’d always protect me,” I whisper. “I need you, Mom.”
The redhead scoots closer to me. “Tell your mom we all need her,” she whispers.
“Si,” the Latina woman adds.
“She knows,” I tell them. “Believe me, wherever she is, she knows.”
“What’s happening?” Marisol throws open the door.
And it’s absolute chaos on the tarmac. I have no idea who’s who but people are shooting, I see multiple vans—and my father. He’s standing there in front of one of the club’s vans, a gun in each hand, and he’s not shooting to miss.
“Motherfucker!” Pete crawls in on the other side and grabs me by the collar. “Tell your father to stop shooting or the next bullet is for you.”
“Yeah?” I arch my brows. “How am I gonna give you those sons you want if I’m dead?”
“Shut the fuck up!” He yanks me out of the van, calling to Silver. “She’s right here, old man! You want her? Go ahead—I dare you. But your slut of a daughter dies first.”
I’m butt naked and he’s dragging me by the neck as I stumble to keep up.
My father puts his guns down slowly. “What do you want, Tex?”
Pete laughs. “I have what I want. I just need you to get the fuck out of the way.”
“My daughter isn’t negotiable.”
“She’s not—she’s mine.”
“Come on, Tex—what do you really want? There’s plenty of pussy out there. Why Allora?”
“Because you promised her to me!” His voice is hoarse, and he’s sweating, the look in his eyes wild and unhinged.
“I gave my blessing for you to take your shot. And you blew it.”
“Why’d you let her go away to college? It would’ve been okay if you hadn’t let her go.”
Silver sighs. “That was my mistake but it’s been ten years, son. It’s time to let go.”
“No. I bought us a house in Europe. We’re gonna be happy. She’s already learning to listen to me.” He abruptly lets me go and then presses the damn button.
But even though it hurts like a bitch, I don’t react. My body jerks and I pull in a shaky breath but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of crying or making a sound.
“Fucking scream!” He yells, pressing the button again.
There’s movement behind us and then someone is flying through the air.
Rage.
He lands on Pete and they go down hard. Vito makes a run for it but Dad shoots him in the leg. There’s a bit of a scuffle but then Rage pulls back his fist and hits Pete so hard I can see his jaw dislocate.
And I truly could not give a flying fuck.
“Don’t kill him!” I yell to my father. “If anyone does that, it’s going to be me.”
Dad looks at me, surprise flickering behind his eyes, but then he nods and calls to Thunder. “Put him in the van and get out of here. You know where to take him. And someone find a blanket!”
Before anyone can move Rage pulls off his T-shirt. “Here you go, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.” I pull it over my head and it falls past my knees, he’s that much bigger than I am. “There are two other victims in the van. Please help them.”
“Don’t worry.”
Suddenly everything starts to spin.
“Elliott…I don’t feel so good.”
“I’ve got you.” He scoops me up, calling to my dad. “You have bolt cutters with you? We need to cut this thing off her neck.”
Dad yells to someone but the world is still spinning. Suddenly I feel the bile rise in my throat and I turn my head in time to heave. Thankfully, not all over Elliott.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. “Let it all out. We’re going to get you to a hospital.”
I vomit twice more, and somewhere in the distance I hear sirens.
“Allora!” I hear a familiar voice.
Courtney.
“Put her in the back with Landon.”
Landon.
Tears fill my eyes.
My poor, sweet Landon.
All I have to look forward to now is making Pete pay for—
Wait.
How is Landon in the back seat?
“Landon…”
“Right here, baby.”
My eyes snap open and I stare in disbelief. Did I die already? Is this heaven? I reach out a tentative hand, touching his arms.
“You’re alive,” I whisper.
“I am.”
“Oh my God, you’ve alive!” I throw myself at him as Rage lowers me into the SUV and Landon wraps his arms around me.
“I promised you I wouldn’t die.”
“Landon!” I’m sobbing against his chest, tears falling so hard I can barely speak.
“Shh. I’m here.”
“I thought you—” I can’t even say it.
“I know. I’m sorry I let them take you. So fucking sorry I let you down.”
“Don’t say that!” I wrap my arms around him and then brush something that feels like a bandage. “What happened to your head?”
“They had to fracture his skull before they could take you,” Courtney calls from the front seat. “They had to operate yesterday, but he wouldn’t stay at the hospital until we found you.”
Sweet Jesus.
Brain surgery.
And still, he came.
“I love you,” I whisper against his chest. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He holds me tightly.
“I’m sorry we fought right before they attacked. All I could think about was that we were fighting right before you died.”
“I’m still here, baby. And I’m sorry too. All I could think was that I failed you.”
“There were too many of them, and Tex knew exactly where we were going to be and when. This isn’t on you.”
“Your dad is really torn up about that.”
I take a second to let that sink in.
Technically, I was right about my father’s lifestyle and his club. Technically, I could blame this on him.
But that’s not fair.
There are good men in the club too. Guys like Thunder and Metal. People my mother loved and respected.
No, this isn’t completely on my dad, but we’ll deal with that later.
Right now, I’m holding on to the man I love for all I’m worth.
And I don’t plan to let go any time soon.