CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

AVERY

I SHUT OFF THE LIGHT AND close the door, allowing her some sleep.

“Can I get you anything Mr. Decker?” Ralph, my brother’s butler, asks me.

“No, thank you.”

He turns to walk away but stops and faces me. “Your brother wants to speak to you. He is in his study.” Then he disappears.

I remove my suit jacket and walk up the stairs to his second floor. I don’t know why he wanted his office up here. I tried to tell him it would be better on the first, but he never listens to anything I say.

Coming up to the landing, I take a right and enter the second door on the left. He sits behind his desk. “You wanted to see me.”

“Yes, I …”

“You’ve been ignoring my calls, Avery.” A voice announces from the speakerphone on his desk.

My eyes narrow on my brother’s. He tricked me. “I’ve been busy.”

“With Presleigh?”

I say nothing.

Tristan leans forward, placing his elbows on his desk. “Sir, we just arrived in New York.”

“To get Preston?” our boss asks.

“Other business,” I answer, sitting down across from his desk.

He sighs heavily. “Avery, I don’t know what you’re doing, but it’s not your fucking job.”

I stand from my seat and walk over to the desk and place my fisted knuckles on the cool surface. “What I’m doing does not concern you.”

“That’s the problem!” he snaps. “Tristan, is Presleigh fogging his mind? You had a chance at Damon, and you passed on it. Does she need …?”

“Don’t fucking say it!” I roar, interrupting him. “I’ll do whatever needs to be fucking done when I’m ready to do it.” I pick up the phone and slam it down, terminating the conversation. Then I begin to pace the room.

Tristan’s chair squeaks when he leans back in it. “He has a point. We’ve gotten off target.”

“We’re just fine.”

“Just as you gave Preston a deadline, we’ve been on one too. And we’re months over it.”

“I’m aware …”

“It’s not about the money. But you know it needs to be done.”

“I know!”

“Then what do you propose we do?”

I come to a stop and stare at my younger brother. He sits in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest. He has a black button-down on with black slacks. His dark hair is slicked back, and his blue eyes on mine. He’s nothing like me. He hides his emotions well. Growing up, Victor always knew I was angry and resented him. Even though Tristan felt the same way, he never showed it. He always did his own thing, and it drove Victor mad. He hated that he couldn’t control him. He didn’t have anything to hold over his head because Tristan just didn’t give a fuck. Victor tried to break him so many times—he has the physical scars to prove it—but he never did. I looked up to my younger brother. Where I tried to play my part before it came time to leave, my brother would spit in our father’s face while he whipped him.

“Avery?” he snaps.

I blink. “What?”

He frowns up at me. “Go get some sleep. We can discuss it tomorrow.”

“No. I’m fine.” I shake my head and sit back down. “What were we talking about?”

“A plan? You were about to tell me what we are gonna do?”

I sigh and undo the top two buttons of my shirt. “I’m not sure.”

“Look …” He pauses, and I know I’m not gonna like what he is about to say. “Maybe he was right. If you need to step back …”

“I’m fine.”

“Avery, I understand you are worried about Presleigh. Hell, I’m worried about Chloe, and she isn’t even involved. But I can handle this if you need to take time off …”

“Absolutely not!”

He sets his mouth in a hard line. A knock comes on the door, and he calls out, “Come in.”

Kayn enters, shutting the door behind him. He just stands there. “What do you need?” I growl.

“I called him in here,” Tristan announces.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because you need …”

“If you tell me I need to step back, I will knock your fucking head off,” I warn.

He throws his hands up. “I don’t know what to fucking do,” my brother snaps. “I’m trying to fucking help you.”

“I don’t want …”

“My help.” He finishes my sentence. “I get you don’t want my help, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need it. Fuck, Avery.” He jumps to his feet. “You’re pushing Presleigh to seek help, but what about you?” I snort at his question. “You find out the love of your life was raped by our father. And that he fucking killed your child. And I don’t care what you say; I know that has to affect you.”

“Of course, it has,” I snap. “But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna walk away.” I stand and point a finger at him. “You told me in my office that you would stand by me.”

“That’s what I’m doing.” He hangs his head, and the room falls silent. When his eyes meet mine, I feel a pain in my chest at the way he looks at me. I know what he is about to say, but I pray he doesn’t. “You were there for me when no one else was, Avery. You saved me from the man who was supposed to protect us. I finally have the chance to help you, but you won’t let me.”

“It’s too dangerous for you. There is a reason we keep you behind the scenes.”

“But that’s not where I belong,” he argues. “Not anymore.” Shaking his head, he squares his shoulders. “It’s time we let them know they fucked with the wrong people.”

Even though I’ve never come out and said it, I’m proud of my little brother. In a world full of evil, he managed to be one of the good guys. A man who wants to rescue the helpless no matter the consequences. I nod. “What do you want to do?”

He gives me a smile. “I wanna make a call.”

_______________

I sit behind my brother’s desk, my hands folded in a prayer position on the wood. My brother stands at the front of the room, hidden underneath the TV that hangs above him. Kayn sits to the right of me on a couch. The TV before me comes on, and I sit back in my seat when the man comes into view.

“Hello, Avery,” Damon greets me. “I heard you got your toy back.” My teeth grind. “Hate to say, but I’m a little jealous.”

“You told me to call you.” Even though he text me that a while ago. “What about?” I ask him.

“You know what I want. Your slave.”

I say nothing.

He smiles at my silence. “I’ve decided to offer you …”

“She’s not for sale.”

“You keep saying that. But I have a surprise that may change your mind.”

He stands in a room with black padded walls. Chains of various lengths hang on the wall behind him. And a spanking bench is to his right. A man comes to stand beside him, and my entire body stiffens at the sight of him. I haven’t seen him in almost eleven years. Just the thought of him makes my heart race. Now the sight of him makes my skin crawl.

“Son. It’s been a long time.”

“Don’t call me that.” My voice doesn’t waver like I expected it too.

Victor chuckles. What the fuck is he doing with Damon? Did he know that we would call? This was Tristan’s idea. He wanted me to find out what it was that Damon wanted. I already knew before I made the call.

Damon slaps Victor on the back. “You know, Avery, your father showed me the tape of what he did to your little Bunny. I must say, that is why I’m offering you the extra for her.”

My hands fists, my nails digging into my palms. How many people have seen that tape of Victor raping her?

“And I must say the fact that you and your brother Tristan set her up at the party was genius. I almost believed that you wanted to treat her like a slave.”

My eyes go to Tristan, and his are full of rage. When did he find out that we were brothers? Did my father tell him? Bunny said that Victor told her we set her up. Had Damon known all along?

“And I appreciate you calling your dogs off while I was at your house. I went there intending to give you a reason not to kill me. Looks like her mom was enough.”

I slowly stand from the desk. “How did you …?”

“Did you really think I’m that stupid?” He shakes his head. “I’m not like that little bitch Preston who allows men to play him.” He tilts his head to the side. “Speaking of him, do you know where he is? I still owe that fucker revenge for the death of my brother.”

My lips pull back in a smirk. “Right? He killed him, didn’t he? Guess he was smarter than your bother. Since he was able to take him out.”

His face tightens, but Victor laughs at my statement as though I was being funny.

“Bring her,” Damon calls out.

Tristan comes out from underneath the TV and turns to watch it. Kayn stands from his seat and we all stare as a man shoves a woman into view. Victor grabs her hair and shoves her down to her knees. She looks up at the camera, and my stomach drops when I see it’s Bunny’s mother. There are no tears in her eyes. Just madness. I’m surprised she hasn’t given in. Twelve years is a long time to endure torture. I saw girls turn to nothing within days, even hours under my father’s ruthless soul. She’s strong. Just like my Bunny.

Damon walks out of sight for a second only to return with a knife. The same kind that I removed Bunny’s brand with. He lifts it and spins it around. “Final chance, Avery. Give me Presleigh or watch her mother die.”

My eyes go to the woman, and I watch her fight her restraints. I can’t see her hands, so they must be tied behind her back. She’s naked. Her body covered in fresh bruises and what seem to be old scars from the many beatings she has taken over the years. Her bones protrude due to starvation, and her skin is pale. In a way, I feel I may be doing her a favor. Because her torture is about to end. She stops fighting for a brief second and gives her head the slightest shake. She doesn’t want me to trade her daughter’s life for hers. She’s ready to face her fate. Hell, she’s probably wished for it for years now.

My eyes meet Damon’s. “Do it.”

He glares at me and bares his teeth. My father yanks her head back, and Damon slices the knife against her neck, one end to the other, cutting her open like a fish. Her body jerks, and she makes a gurgling sound before the blood starts to run and cover the front of her. Victor shoves her forward, and her lifeless body hits the floor with a thud.

I watch Damon clean the blade off on his dark gray slacks. My father looks at me. “You know, Avery, we could be great friends. There is so much I know that you don’t.” Victor laughs at his words. “Have you ever stopped to think about how you got in this situation to begin with?”

I don’t respond. Still too numb. I killed her mother. I did it to save her, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.

“You blamed Darrell for what happened to Presleigh, but you never stopped to ask how he got involved.” My father reaches over taking the knife from Damon and holds it up. He looks over it as if it has some secret message scribbled on it. “You’re smarter than this, Avery.” His eyes meet mine again. “I raised you better than this.” Then the screen goes black.

Silence fills my brother’s study. My heart pounds, and my breathing is erratic. He’s fucking with me. He has to be. He doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. If so, then that means I have another rat. But who could it be? Should I just kill them all?

“Son of a fucking bitch!” Tristan yells, interrupting the deafening silence. He then picks up a glass jar that sits on a shelf and chunks it at the TV, shattering it into millions of pieces. “Fuck!” he roars and spins around. “What the fuck was that?” he asks me as if I know. “He killed her …”

“She’s been dead for a long time,” Kayn says roughly.

“You didn’t do anything.” He glares at me.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

“You just stood there!”

With my mouth still open, I have nothing to say to that. I can’t argue the fact that her mother’s death is on my hands.

“What did you want him to do?” Kayn asks Tristan.

“Fucking something,” he snaps. “Offer money …”

“He wouldn’t have taken it.” I’m finally able to whisper.

“You don’t know that!” he screams.

“I know that he wanted Bunny!” I find my voice. “And I’m not going to give her up for anything. It was your fucking idea to call him!” I add.

“For you to make a deal. We have a job to get done.”

“There was no deal to be made!”

He rushes over to me and bumps his chest into mine. “Don’t, Tristan. You won’t win this fight,” I warn. I could kill a million men right now.

“Guys!” Kayn steps between us and shoves us apart. The back of my legs hits the desk. Tristan falls into a chair and bows his head, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re looking at this wrong. There is someone out there we need to take care of.”

“Damon,” my brother snaps.

Kayn ignores him and looks at me. “Who knew that you had Presleigh?”

“My men and Tristan.” I point at him. “Maybe you’re the one who is fucking me over. You wanted me to kill her, after all.”

He jumps up and storms over to me like he’s gonna hit me but Kayn grabs him and shoves him back again. “Fuck you, Avery!”

“Someone else had to have known,” Kayn insists.

I shake my head. “No. I had you and the guys pick her up …” My words trail off.

“What?” Kayn demands.

I stare at the floor, remembering that night that I had him take her and bring her to Vancouver. It hits me like a fucking fist to the face. I never gave it a second thought until now. Now I’m able to understand my mistake.

“What is it?” Tristan demands.

I look at him, and he’s breathing heavy. His eyes narrowed, hands fisted down by his sides. And I understand his anger. Once again, I’m at fault. Everything that has led up to this point is on my shoulders, and I hate to have to admit that. “I know who got Darrell to turn on me.”

PRESLEIGH

I open my heavy eyes and roll over in the darkness. I reach out my hand, finding I’m alone in bed. I sit up and rub my sleepy eyes. I’m not as drunk as I was when I passed out, but I’m definitely not sober just yet.

Getting out of the bed, I use the restroom and then head out of the bedroom in search of Avery. How long have I been out? And why hasn’t he come to bed yet? He has to be tired. I don’t think the guy ever sleeps.

I don’t know where I’m going or where anything is in this unfamiliar place, so I walk around aimlessly, turning on lights here and there but only finding more empty rooms. So much wasted space. Making my way up the stairs, I hear voices coming from behind a closed door. I walk over to it and knock twice. The voices come to a stop, but I don’t dare open it. Instead, I wait for someone to say come in. But no one does. After a few long seconds, the door opens, and I come face to face with a pissed-off Tristan. Without saying a word, he exits the room and storms past me.

I step in to find Kayn leaning up against a wall and Avery leaning against a desk. I clear my throat when they just stand there staring at me. Both have that look of hatred in their eyes. I swallow nervously.

“Give us a minute.” Avery finally speaks to Kayn but doesn’t take his eyes from me.

He too exits without a word. Kayn closes the door and then silence again. I cross my arms over my chest. I’m still dressed in the clothes I put on back in Vancouver, but all of a sudden, I feel like I’m naked. Exposed. Avery has a way of making me feel that way.

“Will you come to bed?” I ask softly.

“Not tired,” he replies flatly.

“Avery, I …”

“Go to bed, Bunny,” he orders, pushing off the desk and walking behind it to sit down.

Instead of getting mad at his bossiness, I walk around the desk and come to a stop between it and him. I jump up to sit on it and reach out to touch his cheek. He pushes it off.

“Not in the mood.”

I don’t give up. “You make it all stop.”

He looks up at me, his blue eyes clouded and brows pulled together.

“The memories, the nightmares. When I’m with you, you make it all fade to black. Sometimes it feels like it never happened. Like we were never apart,” I say honestly.

“It did happen. And we were.”

I sigh at his words. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can fix it.” Leaning forward, I start to unbutton his shirt.

He grips my wrists, and I hiss in a breath just like I did in the limo when Alex did earlier. “I’m not in the fucking mood, Presleigh!” he snaps.

“Avery, I …”

He grabs my arm and yanks me off the desk and drags me over to the door. Opening it up, he yanks me down the stairs, and I have flashbacks of when he did the very same thing and took me to his dungeon at his home in Vancouver.

“Kayn?” he barks out once we hit the first floor.

He appears from down the hall with Tristan right beside him. “Sir?” he asks coming up to us.

He shoves me forward into Kayn. “Change of plans. Take her back to Vancouver!”

“What?” I gasp, turning around to face him. “No …”

“Bringing you here was a mistake,” he says, looking down at me with disgust.

“What?” My heart begins to race. What the hell happened while I was taking a nap?

“What is going on out here?” I hear Alex ask from behind us.

I ignore her. “Avery, please …”

“Take her back! Now!” he yells at Kayn.

I catch Tristan crossing his arms over his chest. He glares at me satisfied with Avery’s decision. What the hell? “I’m not going anywhere,” I argue.

“You’ll go wherever I send you!” he shouts.

I reach up and slap him across the face. And just like before, he slaps me back. Hard. It knocks me off my feet and onto my ass.

“Presleigh!” Alex shrieks and falls to her knees beside me. “Jesus. Are you okay?” she asks in a rush, cupping my cheek.

But I ignore her and the stinging of my face. Instead, I stare up at the man who has put me through hell and also saved me from it. I’m confused and heartbroken. “What did I do?” My voice breaks at the question because I’m not sure I want the answer.

Instead of answering, he does something worse. He turns his back on me and walks away. I jump to my feet. “What did I do?” I shout this time. He doesn’t stop leaving the room. I go to run after him, but Alex grabs my arm, yanking me to a stop. “Remember what happened last time you sent me away?” My body shakes at my words. The memory of waking up cold and alone thinking he was punishing me. Only to find out it was my biggest fear come to life. All because of him.

He comes to a stop and spins around to face me.

“You owe me an explanation,” I shout, yanking my arm free from Alex. “You owe me everything!” My voice bounces off the walls with anger. Betrayal. At this point, I can’t tell the difference between them anymore.

He places his hands behind his back and squares his shoulders. “I owe you nothing, Presleigh.” My stomach drops at the use of my name and flatness of his voice. Then he looks at Kayn. “Take her back.” He turns once again, and this time, he doesn’t stop or yell. He just walks away as if I never meant a fucking thing to him.

This time, I willingly fall to the floor, my knees unable to hold me up any longer.