Chapter 20
Texas
This couldn’t be happening. It was all starting to crumble around me. Ivan came waltzing out of the shack like there wasn’t a man tied to the bed, dead.
He looked carefree, almost happy. But that would be ridiculous. The man didn’t seem to have a happy bone in his body, and I wondered if he even knew how to smile.
“Kell,” he tells me.
I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at the man from the bar.
“My name, little dove,” Kell, says.
Sighing, I turned around. He started walking me to his car and wrapped his arms around me. He pressed his chest into my back nudging me forward.
Kell. His name was Kell, and it was as fucked up as mine. The back door to the car then opened, and Ivan was standing next to it waiting.
The closer we got, the more my nerves kicked in. I wanted to throw my head back and force him to release me. At the same time, his arms were wrapped around me doing something weird to my insides.
I felt mushy. Like little butterflies were dancing in my stomach. I could no more fight him than I could deny him.
“Get in the car, Texas,” Kell, demanded.
Without a word of protest, I did as I was told. It was like he had this hold over me.
“Burn it the fuck down, Ivan,” He commanded.
Kell slid in beside me, forcing me to scoot across the seat. I couldn’t help but look through the back window as the building became engulfed in flames.
I was entranced as the fire danced along the wood. Images of Lexa flashed in my mind, and I froze. She was at the house waiting for me.
She needed me, and I wasn’t about to let her down. They were going to find her, and I wasn’t going to be the reason why she died.
“Please, let me go,” I beg.
“Why were you here little dove?” He asks.
I looked at my black clothes and wondered where he got the dove? I wasn’t wearing white, if anything, I looked like a raven all dark and deadly.
“I can’t tell you, but I need to go please,” I beg again.
I didn’t want to hurt him, but I wouldn’t be the reason she died.
“Where do you need to go?” He asks.
“I can’t tell you that either,” I tell him quietly.
“Then, I can’t let you go,” he replies coldly.
I snarled in anger and frustration. I didn’t want to leave him, but I needed to. All our lives depended on it.
“Why were you there?” I ask.
His sigh was long and deep.
“He was my brother’s man,” he replies.
Every muscle in my body stiffened. He was Michael’s brother? The man who did such horrible things?
“The tension in your body speaks volumes,” he tells me.
I tried to relax, but it was a lot fucking harder than I thought.
“You’re a Valisk?” I ask.
It slipped out before my brain thought it through.
“Yes,” he replies.
I waited for him to elaborate. But he didn’t, and I knew this was his way to fish for what he wanted. The phone in my hoodie pocket pressed lightly against my stomach.
I needed to warn Lexa and needed to reach Sam.
“I need to pee,” I tell him.
I really didn’t, but I was hoping he would take a small amount of pity on me.
“You need to hold it for a bit unless you want me to hold your hand out here in the woods.” He says with a laugh.
I shook my head. I would wait, but hopefully not for long. Ivan climbed into the front and started the car. Within a blink, we were moving.
The town sped by in a blur, and I couldn’t focus on anything. His hand was on my thigh, and he rubbed gently up and down.
It was almost like he couldn’t resist. Like he needed to touch me. I wouldn’t admit it, but I needed him to touch me too. The car slowed as we pulled up a long driveway.
I knew exactly where I was, the Valisk family house. It was a fortress, and I knew the moment I walked through those doors, leaving would be next to impossible.
“Welcome home little dove,” Kell, tells me.
This wasn’t home, I didn’t have a home. Instead, I stayed silent, there was no point.
The door swung open, and Kell stepped from the car. I, however, sat there like a lump on a log. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to get out.
Lexa. The word drifted through my mind, and I was quick to follow him from the car. She needed me and depended on me.
“Bathroom?” I ask.
He smiled and pointed to the front door. I rolled my eyes and marched up the steps. It was a no-brainer. Of course, the bathroom was inside.
“Straight ahead third door on the left,” he tells me.
My feet moved faster than my legs, and I almost tumbled over.
“Careful little dove, I don’t want you to get hurt,” he says.
His fingers gripped my arm, and I smiled even though my face turned a dark shade of red. Pulling free, I rushed into the room and closed the door.
Quickly, I pulled out my phone and called the burner phone that I gave her.
“Lexa, listen to me, I’m calling Sam. He’s going to come for you. Trust him and only him,” I tell Lexa.
She said something, but I was already hanging up. Dialing Sam’s number, I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Texas?” Sam asks.
“Sam, I need you to go collect something for me,” I tell him.
“What’s wrong?” He asks
“Just keep her safe. I don’t need any help, ok? Just go get her. I’m sending you the address. This is important, Sam.” I tell him.
“Hey, Tom man, what the fuck are you....”
The man in the background faded as the door slammed behind Sam.
“Send it to me,” he demanded.
Pulling it away from my ear, I typed it and hit send.
“This number is compromised. I’ll get in touch when I can.” I tell him.
“Texas?” Sam asks.
“Sam?” I ask.
“Watch yourself,” he tells me.
“Talk to you soon,” I tell him.
Killing the line, I dropped the phone to the floor and slammed my foot into it over and over.
“Texas?” Kell, asked.
The pounding on the door was expected. I wasn’t exactly quiet. Kicking the pieces behind the toilet, I opened the door.
“Who the fuck were you talking too?” Kell, asks.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I tell him.
“Don’t fuck with me. Give me the phone,” he demands.
Shrugging, I held up my empty hands. His eyes darken in anger, and I smiled. I was feeling defiant and I wanted to push him.
I was clueless about why, but it felt important to push his buttons. Before I could question it, his fingers gripped my chin, and his lips crashed against mine hard.