42. Tristan
42
TRISTAN
A fter everything I have been through, I thought I was above feeling nervous at this point. But as Elle and I walk into Bracken’s office, my heart is slamming against my ribs. We’re so close now. So close to being out. Being free. So close to having it all.
What if he refuses?
What if he says no?
What if, even after all that we have overcome together, even after all that we have become to each other, even after all that we hope for each other, what if it’s not enough?
Dread rolls through my stomach at the thought of it, but I swallow it down. Regardless of what happens, I will make sure that Elle is safe. I will give Bracken whatever he wants, as long as he swears to keep Elle firmly out of this. She deserves a life of only freedom and joy from now on.
Watching her stand up to her dad back in that parking lot was one of the most satisfying things I have ever seen. I wanted to beat the son of a bitch into an unrecognizable pulp for how he spoke to her, and for how he has treated her all her life, but I also know that she would’ve been furious with me if I interfered. That was her fight. Her moment to finally push back. And she needed to be the one to do it.
Now that she has done that, however, I might pay Mr. Summers a little visit on my own. I need to make it clear to him exactly what I will do if he ever dares to speak disrespectfully to my Elle again. I don’t care that he’s her father, if he makes her cry one more fucking time, I will break every bone in his body and then make him grovel on the floor for her forgiveness.
No one will ever again make her feel like she is anything less than utterly fucking perfect exactly the way she is.
Electricity shoots through me as Elle’s hand brushes against the back of mine. The soft touch jolts me back into the present. And suddenly, even though we have just come to a halt in front of Bracken’s grand desk, all I want to do is to slip my hand into Elle’s and hold it tightly.
Bracken would see it as a silly and weak gesture. But in that moment, I realize that I don’t fucking care.
Lacing my fingers through Elle’s, I give her hand a squeeze.
She flicks a glance at me, looking surprised. I just give her a small smile. Then I turn back to face Rob Bracken.
Just as I thought, he casts an amused glance down at our hands. But to my surprise, he doesn’t comment on it. Instead, he shifts his gaze to Elle.
“Your attempt to sell drugs at the charity event turned into quite the mess,” he says by way of greeting.
“I know,” Elle replies. “That’s not why we’re here. We’re here to pay off the debt. In full.”
His eyebrows rise towards his hairline .
“Plus the money for the bag of drugs that the police took,” she adds.
“And how did you come to acquire so much money in such a short amount of time?” he asks.
A wicked little smile plays over Elle’s lips for a second. “Oh, you know, just a little blackmail.”
Bracken chuckles. Actually chuckles . I don’t think that I’ve ever heard that sound come out of his mouth before.
His eyes gleam as he gives Elle an appraising look. “I see.”
“So, if you would be so kind as to give me your account number, I will make the transfer right away.”
“No.”
My heart stops.
Elle jerks back as well, looking completely stunned.
“What do you mean ‘no’?” I blurt out. Then I remember myself and add, “Sir.”
He slides his gaze to me. There is an unreadable expression on his face. “I will not be accepting that amount of money.”
At first, utter disbelief pulses through me. It’s followed by confusion. Then panic. Then rage. Terrifying, searing rage.
It burns through my veins so intensely that I feel like I’m about to actually catch fire.
I’ve always thought Bracken was, underneath it all, a man of honor. Dictatorial? Yes. Fond of lording his power over people? Definitely. A ruthless employer? For sure. But I always thought that he was a man who kept his side of the deal. A man who honored his bargains.
But apparently not.
That rage whirls through me until I can barely see straight. I’m going to fucking kill him. I’m going to grab that paperweight on his desk and bash it into his skull over and over again until his blood is splattered across my face. I’m going to?—
“I hear that the police tried to get you to sell me out in exchange for saving yourselves,” Bracken suddenly says.
It snaps me out of my murderous thoughts. Narrowing my eyes, I watch him with a wary expression. “Yeah, they did.”
“And that you refused to do it,” he finishes.
Elle and I exchange a glance, neither of us sure where this is going.
“Yes,” I reply when Bracken doesn’t say anything else.
He looks between the two of us, holding our gazes for a few seconds. Then a faint smile blows across his face. “I appreciate that kind of loyalty. And it should be rewarded.”
My heart jerks as hope suddenly pulls at my chest.
“So I will take the money for the tuition, and for the lost drugs,” he continues. His eyes are serious as he looks at us. “You can keep the money for the two years of lost work.”
Elle’s mouth drops open. So does mine. The money for the two years of lost work is half of the total amount.
Bracken’s gaze flits down to our still joined hands, and for a second, I swear I can almost see a hint of longing in his eyes. Then the usual mask is back on his face as he meets our gazes again.
“Use it to build a future for yourselves,” he says. A glint creeps into his eyes. “Though if you’re ever in need of work, I’m always open to hiring skilled people who understand the meaning of loyalty.”
I swallow down a sudden burst of immense gratitude. I was right. Rob Bracken is, deep down, a man of honor.
After holding his gaze for another few seconds, I incline my head in a sign of respect. “Thank you, sir. ”
He lets out a soft breath and waves his hand, as if it was no big deal.
After the money has been transferred, Elle and I give Rob Bracken one final nod and then leave the White Serpents forever.
Stars glitter in the deep blue sky above as we make our way through the city.
We reach a small outcropping right before a set of stairs that lead down to the parking lot where I left my car. It’s a rather inconvenient parking lot, but I always use it because I like the view from this particular spot. It’s not very high, but it’s enough to make it feel as if I’m standing above the city with only the open sky above. It has always made me feel free, even when I wasn’t.
Taking Elle’s hand again, I pull her to a stop.
The city spreads out before us like a glittering sea in the otherwise dark evening. And when Elle turns to face me, the lights sparkle like gold in her warm brown eyes.
“When I first saw you, I thought you were an insufferably perfect and stuck-up little princess,” I say.
She bursts out laughing. “Wow, thanks for that one.”
I grin at her as I step closer. Sliding my hand along her jaw, I tilt her head back and lock serious eyes on her. “Never have I been so wrong in all my life.”
Emotions flood her face, and a soft smile blows across her lips. “When I first met you, I thought you were a nerd who quietly loved geeking out about science and math.”
I chuckle and tilt my head to the side, conceding the point.
“And then when I met you again on campus, I thought you were a bossy and dominant MMA fighter who loved holding people’s lives in the palm of your hand,” she continues.
Raising my eyebrows, I wait for her to finish .
A devilish smile spreads across her lips. “Never have I been so right in all my life.”
Another burst of laughter rips from my lungs. With mischief in my eyes, I shake my head at her and slide my hand down to rest around her throat. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re talking your way into a very intense night in my bed right now.”
“Good.” She grabs the collar of my shirt and pulls my face down to hers. Then she grins against my lips. “Because that was exactly what I was hoping for.”
I claim her wicked lips in a possessive and highly dominant kiss.
She melts into my body.
This girl, this absolutely incredible girl, is mine. And I will never let anything or anyone hurt her. She is mine. Now and always.
We have been through hell together. We have put each other through hell. And we have come out stronger on the other side.
No matter what this messy and complicated life throws at us, nothing will ever tear us apart. Our loyalty to each other has been forged through blood and steel and fire.
Nothing can break us now.
Because together, Elle and I are fucking indestructible.