Chapter 21
Right there. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill from my lips. Alek, you should know: my name is Evangeline Vale. But it wasn’t always.
It was one of the many things that changed after the accident. My wound still had all of its stitches when my mother dragged me to the courthouse and signed paperwork to change my name. Anything to distance themselves from me. Anything to finally rid themselves of me.
And for a long time, I was devastated.
I felt like I wasn’t a part of my own family, an outsider who lived beyond the walls they’d built. It took me years to realize that my family was the people I chose, not the ones who shared my last name. My family was Jules and Mia. Maybe Charlotte. And, if tonight went well, Alek.
I was getting ready to tell Alek about my name when the door to the dining room opened. I knew instinctively by the dark and imposing presence that it was my big brother. A nervous smile took over my face as I prepared for the two most important men in my life to meet.
My brother stepped into the room.
And immediately pulled out his gun.
I screamed at the sight of such a vulgar weapon pointed in my direction.
A strong hand gripped my arm and wrenched me behind their body.
All the air escaped my lungs when I saw that Alek had pulled me behind him, his body shielding mine while he had another gun pointed at my brother.
I might have screamed again, though I wasn’t sure.
My blood was thundering in my ears, too thick for me to tell.
What’s happening? Why do they have guns? Why are they aiming them at each other?
My hands instinctively wrapped around Alek, my soul craving some form of comfort.
His body was hard, tension radiating from every pore.
I couldn’t see his face, but what I did see reminded me of the Angel of Death.
Shadows lined his handsome expression, and his eyes were pitch black.
I shuddered at the sight of his thin, determined lips, at the fury in the gaze aimed at Jules.
“What’s going on?” I whimpered, clutching Alek even tighter.
“Stay behind me, solnyshka,” Alek growled. “I’ll keep you safe from this fucking bastard.”
“Annie, get the fuck over here.” I peeked out from behind Alek’s back to find Jules standing in a similar expression, his eyes promising wrath if I didn’t follow the quiet order. Wrath not for me, but for Alek.
Oh my God. They’re going to kill each other.
Alek didn’t take his eyes off Jules, though I felt his attention flicker to me. “Annie?”
“It’s a childhood nickname,” I explained. “Only my family calls me that. I don’t really know why. I guess because Ev-an-geline.”
His jaw tightened. “Let me guess: you’re Annie Vallen?”
I frowned. “I mean, kind of? That was what I was trying to tell you. My name used to be Evangeline Vallen, but my parents changed it when I was four.”
“Seventeen damn years ago,” he hissed. Alek narrowed his eyes at Jules and clicked his gun. I didn’t know a whole lot about weapons, but I knew that wasn’t a good sign. “Julian Vallen. Such a pleasure meeting you in the flesh.”
Jules did the same thing with his gun, and my breath quickened. “Aleksandr Drakov. I wish I could say the same, but you’re holding my baby sister hostage. If you harm one hair on her head, you and your entire fucking family will burn.”
“I would never hurt, Evangeline, you bloody—”
“Wait,” I said, my head spinning as I tried to put together all the puzzle pieces floating around me. But they all felt out of reach. My heart quickened from the stress, and my vision temporarily blurred. I could feel the voice in the back of my head growing louder, meaner, hungrier for my pain.
“You did this. You caused this. You ruin everything. You’re not perfect.”
Then, it started to play the most horrible visions I’d ever had. Sometimes, my mind latched onto terrible things—me accidentally stabbing myself, me setting buildings on fire, me running over someone in a car. But never had my mind tortured me like this.
Alek shooting Jules.
Jules shooting Alek.
Blood.
So.
Much.
Blood.
Staining the walls. My hands. My soul. Blood everywhere until I was surrounded by the taste and feel of death.
I blinked a few times, shoving it all into the overflowing box inside of me, and turned my attention back to the present, hoping that the anxiety of this all would be enough to keep me from breaking down.
My eyes swung back and forth between Jules and Alek. “You two know each other?”
“No,” Jules said at the same time Alek said, “Yes.”
I had deja vu of another night, a much happier night with Alek, Mia, and Nikolai. Oh, how I wished to go back there, to a time when I was naive enough to think everything would go well. “Well, which is it?”
“Would you like to tell her, or shall I?” Alek said with a cold, cruel smirk.
I hardly recognized the man I was falling in love with in it, could hardly see the tenderness I knew lurked beneath.
But despite his icy gaze, Alek’s body was gentle where he gripped me.
Whatever anger he had wasn’t aimed toward me.
“No,” Jules hissed.
“Tell me what?”
The two said nothing.
“Alek. Please. Tell me what?”
His body softened a fraction of an inch, and it was enough to give me hope that my Alek was still there, that he hadn’t lost himself to whatever darkness had claimed him. “Your brother is the leader of one of the most powerful mob families in the city.”
I staggered back, my heart jumping to my throat. I swallowed. “W-what?”
“And the boy you’re hiding behind,” Jules began, “is the heir to the other.”
For a moment, the room spun. I hadn’t realized I collapsed to the floor until both Alek and Jules were hovering over me, apparently having forgotten their feud for a moment.
Trust me, Evangeline. This guy is bad news. I need you home, safe. Our families have too much bad blood for you to get in the crossfire.
The Drakovs.
They were the other family. The rivals. The empire.
“Breathe, baby,” Alek whispered, pulling me to his chest and stroking my hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
I hadn’t even realized I was hyperventilating until the moment when my breath calmed.
A mob. I was a mafia princess, and I’d had no idea because my family had kept me so far away from it all.
Was this why they changed my name? Sent me away to school and lessons?
Refused to acknowledge me as their daughter?
Was it their twisted way of trying to keep me safe from this violent world?
A world where men like Alek would have attacked me?
No. Alek and I hadn’t been together for long, but I knew he wouldn’t do that. Alek would do anything to keep me safe.
I was sure of it.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Jules said, trying to grab my arm.
But I held onto Alek, part of me convinced that if I let go, Jules would kill him.
I had always thought Jules might murder the first guy I brought home, but that was a joke.
I never dreamed it would be real, that my big brother was the type of person to attack people so viciously without a second thought.
I was twelve when my sister died in my arms. Liza was eight. It was a car accident, but a purposeful one. I don’t think she was supposed to be the casualty. I think I was.
A broken sob slipped past my lips. I looked first at Alek, then at Jules. “The car accident your sister died in,” I whispered. “That was seventeen years ago.”
I watched as Alek shuttered away his emotions, stifled his grief and pain, shoving both in a box just like I did with mine. “I know, solnyshka. The thought has crossed my mind already.”
“I was in the other car.” My lower lip trembled. “It was my fault. I killed your sister.”
Alek cupped my cheek. And though I could tell the next words pained him to say, he murmured, “It’s not your fault, Evangeline. You were a child.”
“So was Liza.”
“I don’t blame you.” Alek swallowed. “Truly. I don’t.
It… It is hard to think about. But my sister would have forgiven you in an instant.
I know she would have, so I do too. And I wouldn’t change anything that happened.
Because my life, though filled with darkness, has led me to you and your light. ”
I opened my mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a scoffing sound. It was Jules. “You can’t tell me you believe this shit, Annie.”
“W-What?”
Jules stood, aiming his gun at Alek once more.
Alek followed suit, this time holding me to his body, his heart steady from where I pressed into his side.
Maybe I should have been more worried about the two weapons, but all I could think about was Alek.
I needed to hold him, to touch him, and remind myself of his words.
I wouldn’t change anything that happened. Because my life, though filled with darkness, has led me to you and your light.
I was his light in the darkness. And, in a way, he was mine, too.
“I consider myself to be a reasonable man. Maybe not a likable man, but a reasonable one. And since I promised my sister I’d behave, I will let you walk out of here uninjured. As long as you vow to never come back.”
“Jules!” I gasped.
“No,” Alek said. “I’m not leaving Eva.”
“You will leave here one way or another.” Jules clicked his gun again. “Dead or alive, Reaper. Your choice.”
“No!” I cried out, holding Alek tighter, burying myself in his familiar scent, in the feeling of his suit jacket against my silent tears. “Jules, you can’t do this. I… I love him.”
Alek stiffened for a moment before his hand found my waist and squeezed once. It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love back, but I didn’t want one right now. All I wanted was for Alek to be okay, for us to be together like a normal couple.
I was beginning to think normal wasn’t possible as far as Aleksandr Drakov was concerned.
Jules scoffed. “Do you truly believe he loves you back? Are you that gullible, Annie?”
I flinched, and Jules noticed it immediately, guilt flooding his face. But the first one to react was Alek, who grabbed my waist and tucked me into him before firing his gun. I screamed as a bullet shattered a vase right next to Jules.
“If you fucking talk to her like that any more,” Alek said darkly, “I will not hesitate to shoot again. And I won’t fucking miss.”
“Alek, no,” I said, but my reply was weak, my heart still wounded. I looked at Jules, feeling my eyes fill with tears again, blurring my vision. “You promised. You promised me you would try, Jules. You promised.”
"Not him. You can date whoever you want, Annie, but not him."
Normally, I might have gaped at Jules. Anyone I wanted was a freedom I’d never been granted before.
But Jules didn’t understand. The only one I wanted was Alek.
I shook my head. “No. I want Alek. No one else.”
Alek’s grip on me tightened. He bent down to kiss my forehead, but I knew his eyes were still locked on Jules. His lips curved against my temple. He was no doubt smirking victoriously at my brother. “And you shall have only me, solnyshka.”
“Annie, he doesn’t want you for the right reasons.
I’ve been watching him for a long time, much longer than I’ve cared to.
He doesn’t think of storybook endings like that—doesn’t care about marriage or families.
Aleksandr Drakov doesn’t care about anyone.
Not the strippers he sticks his dick into, not his underlings, not his family, and not you.
This is another one of his fucking games to get ahead, and I will not let you be a part of them. ”
If Jules thought that would finally make me run to him, he was sorely mistaken.
I stepped back, clutching my heart as if that would keep it from feeling like it was bleeding out onto the floor. A tear fell down my cheek, landing on my trembling lip. I tasted salt and devastation. The main ingredient in a recipe for a broken heart.
“Is that really the only reason you think someone would want me?” I asked, my voice cracking. “For revenge?”
"No, no, Annie, I—" He made to move toward me, but Alek held up his gun as a reminder.
With the hand not holding the weapon, Alek lifted my chin and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. His tongue swept across my skin, licking all the tears away. Then, he turned his head toward Jules, keeping his lips still on mine as he said, “She’s mine, Vallen. You can’t change that.”
“Like hell, she—”
“Eva is mine,” Alek said slowly, “in every fucking sense of the word.”
My cheeks immediately flushed, and Jules’s eyes flashed with burning rage. “You fucking asshole. You fucked my baby sister. You’re DEAD!”
The next moment, all of my senses seemed to be moving in slow motion.
Sound: The booming echo of a bullet firing from a chamber as Jules roared, “DRAKOV!” with the fury of a century of darkness. A moment later, it was the sound of Alek desperately shouting, “NO!” just as a distant scream left my lips. Then, the clattering of chairs as everyone ran.
Touch: The feeling of Alek’s body tensing, moving, shifting, pulling me with him. But I fought him, running to cover him, to protect him like he was trying to do for me. Then, pain. Endless, fiery pain.
Smell: The bitter, iron tang of blood. A stark contrast to the sterile smell of the wood. It permeated my nostrils, burying itself in there long after I left.
Taste: The lingering salt on my tongue before blood filled it from where I bit my tongue as my body collapsed.
And, finally, sight: Crimson staining my pretty dress, running down my arm, dripping onto the floor. A cruel sight. A dangerous one, a sight brought upon by a shot meant to kill. Only it wasn’t Alek’s blood.
It was mine.