by L. A. Sable
Jayden stops the car in the long driveway and shuts off the engine. We sit in the darkness and silence for a long moment, none of us quite sure what to do next.
“What now?” he asks softly.
I clear my throat, heart knocking with a spike of fear. “Maybe I should go alone first.”
Lukas’s arms tighten around me and his voice is tense. “Yeah, no fucking way.”
At the same time, Kai growls. “We’ll lock you in the trunk, first.”
“The whole point of this is to get the truth.” I try to sound reasonable, but even I can hear the slight tremor in my voice. “If Asher sees us all coming and runs, then this will have been for nothing.”
Jayden scoffs. “And if he kills you then runs off, none of us will ever forgive ourselves.”
“Fine, let’s just all go.” I try to climb over Lukas, but he refuses to let go of me and I end up splayed across his lap. “Let me go.”
“I’m going in first, just to check things out. Asher doesn’t have any reason to hurt me.” Jayden makes the announcement as he pushes open the car door and climbs out. “Wait five minutes and then you guys come after me.”
He doesn’t wait for anyone to protest or agree and thumps once on the roof of the car before disappearing into the darkness. I turn my head and strain to watch him, but Jayden doesn’t go through the front door, instead disappearing around the side of the house.
“Let me out,” I tell Lukas in a voice that doesn’t brook any argument.
Lukas hesitates for the barest moment, but then to my surprise pushes up the seat and gets out of the car, holding the door open as I scoot out after him.
Silence greets us outside, not even so much as the chirping of crickets or the movement of wind through the trees. It’s as if the world is holding its breath, if only I knew for what.
I check my phone quickly before sliding into my back pocket, an uneasy feeling rising over me. It’s been at least ten minutes since Jayden disappeared into the darkness of the house and I’m worried about him alone. Letting him go off alone was stupid.
And then a gunshot shatters the tense silence.
We’re running for the house without the need for any discussion. I bypass the front door because I don’t have keys and don’t want to waste the time if it’s locked. Sharp branches whip across my face as I dive through the trees surrounding the house, but I’m heedless of the pain. Pain burns in my chest as I run but that doesn’t stop me from moving as fast as my legs can carry me.
When I come around the side of the mansion where the trees open up to the backyard, I’m surprised to see that all the lights have been turned on in the pool, casting everything in strange blue and purple shadows.
The first thing I see is Jayden’s crumpled body lying near the deck of the pool. I can’t see if there’s blood around him in the dark, but he seems unnaturally still. I rush toward him before a sharp voice arrests the movement.
“Don’t come any closer.”
I look up to see Asher step out of the darkness next to the poorhouse, expression unreadable. His hands are empty and held out in front of him.
“Asher, what the hell are you doing?”
His expression turns to something that almost looks like sadness. “You never did figure out how to listen, did you?”
Before I can respond, someone else steps out of the shadows behind Asher.
“Frank Bellamy?” The shock of it lurches through me as I look from one of their faces to another. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Lukas and Kai catch up to me and come to an abrupt stop as they take in the scene.
“The fuck?” Kai murmurs, as he almost crashes into me.
Frank raises his arm, and it’s only then that I realize he’s holding a gun. He doesn’t look surprised to see us there, if anything a satisfied smirk plays on his cruel lips. “Why don’t you explain it to them, son. Explain it all.”
Asher just shakes his head with a grimace. “You guys shouldn’t have come here.”
My attention continues to drift to Jayden who lets out a barely audible groan, but doesn’t get up or open his eyes.
Frank surprises me by whipping the butt of the gun fully across Asher’s face, seeming unmoved as his son cries out in pain and stumbles back. “I didn’t tell you to editorialize, boy. They came for a story, so go ahead and tell it.”
Asher swipes at the blood dripping from his lip, but his expression doesn’t change. His gaze seems deadened as it lands on me, as if he’s already given up. “After you came to me with those test results, Lily, the ones that you got from Liam Cardill, I went to my father to get the truth. Turns out, I got a lot more than that. Turns out he’s been fucking with my life almost since I was born.”
Frank cuffs his own son hard across the face with his free hand, expression turning dark. “You’re not telling it right, idiot. I loved my son until I found out that he wasn’t mine at all. And it only added fuel to the fire when my own father disowned me over one discretion. I’m supposed to let some bastard who isn’t even a Bellamy inherit money that’s rightfully mine.”
My gaze turns to Asher, who’s wearing the same cold mask of an expression that he did the day we met. It’s only now that I realize it’s one of pain and not disdain. “You’ve known this entire time.”
Asher’s lips thin, but he gives me the truth. “Ever since you told me what Mr. Cardill found.”
Frank scoffs. “And I had to get that busy little beaver his job back at the school to get him focused on something besides me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask Asher.
Frank interrupts with a sadistic smile. “Because I promised to release that sexy little video to every corner of the internet and personally mail copies to the admission’s boards of any colleges you hope to attend if he didn’t keep his stupid trap shut. Or try to kill you again. I have to admit that I thought that bus would do the trick, but you’re stronger than you look.”
“You pushed me.” As soon as I say it, I realize that of course it’s true. He’s wanted all of us out of the way this entire time. It’s obvious that Frank wants to pull the typical villain antics of describing his dastardly plan and I decide to let him. The gun he has pointed straight at my chest makes him the captain of this rapidly sinking ship. “Asher, you said that this has been going on your entire life. What did you mean?”
“Kyra.” Despite his attempt to keep his face neutral, Asher’s voice breaks as he says her name. “And every other girl that I’ve ever been involved with.”
“The girl who drowned during your first year.” Realization crashes over me like a shock of lightning and I glance back at Frank. “You killed her.”
Frank shrugs. “I can’t risk a grandchild that might get in the way of my inheritance. Carter has always had a soft spot for ragamuffins.”
“I assume you’re also the one who stabbed Carter.”
A stormy expression crossed Frank’s face. “I went to speak to him about being added back into the will, assuming that he would be disinheriting Asher. Then he has the nerve to tell me that he doesn’t believe Asher had anything to do with that gold-digger going up in flames and he’s added her slut of a daughter to his will, like more salt in the wound. I didn’t have a choice about trying to kill him.”
The man is crazy enough that he almost sounds like he believes it. “Except Carter is alive.”
“For now. A little air injected into his IV or too much insulin given with his breakfast for his diabetes and it’s good night.”
“So that’s your plan? Kill me and Asher so the inheritance will be all yours? You do realize that you won’t be able to spend the money if you’re in prison for murder, right?’
“Oh, I’m not going to kill you. Asher is.” Frank shoved Asher forward hard enough that the younger man hits the ground hard with his knees. “At least, that’s what the police are going to think. And then he’ll be so overcome with guilt that he commits suicide. It’s such a sad story, reall
y.”
My heart pounds in my chest at the look of sheer evil on Frank’s face, but I force myself to keep him talking. And if force my gaze to stay on him and not stray to Jayden’s very still form on the grass a few yards away. Although, I can’t hide the disgust in my voice. “Except that Carter disinherited you. Something happening to the rest of us won’t change that.”
Frank’s tone make sit clear that he thinks I’m an idiot. “Carter didn’t leave me out of the will because he doesn’t want me to contest it. Instead, he’s giving me some piddling amount that won’t cover my rent for the month. But if there are no other beneficiaries left, then I get all of it.”
I try to figure out how much time has passed as I stare into the face of evil. Asher is still kneeling on the ground, shoulders slumped in defeat. He’s obviously already decided that there’s no way out of this for us.
But I’ve had exactly enough of Frank Bellamy. “What about the others, you’re just going to kill them too?”
“Your fault.” Frank shrugs, as if it doesn’t matter to him one way or the other. “That message was only for you. You’re the one who decided to ride in with the cavalry. They have to die because you didn’t come here alone.” He jerked his chin in Jayden’s direction. “I am a little sorry about that one. He’s been in a few movies I like. Now, enough talk. It’s time to end this. Are we doing ladies first?”
They’d been silent until now, most likely from shock, but both the twins react to that. Lukas steps in front of me first, immediately followed by his brother. Neither of them have to say a word because the intention is crystal clear.
“You’ll have to go through us first,” Lukas declares, anger not quite enough to hide the slight quaver in his voice. The fact that he’s afraid just makes him stepping in front of me that much braver. And Kai is right beside him, the harsh lines of his face illuminated in the lights of the pool. “You’re going to have to kill all of us.’
Frank raises the gun. “This is a .357, boys. If I’m lucky, one bullet will take care of at least two of you.”
The cruel smile that twists his lips makes it clear that Frank is done with talking. I see the specter of my own death reflected in the dead sheen of his eyes, but I force myself to watch as his finger tightens on the trigger.
And then all hell breaks loose.
“You piece of shit—“ Asher launches himself at his father in an explosive movement.
Frank gets off a shot that echoes off the trees loudly enough to make my ears ring, but it goes wide.
Heedless of the danger, I rush to Jayden’s side where he is still lying on the ground. Another bullet wings over my head and strikes a tree behind me, sending bits of bark shooting in every direction.
He’s unconscious, but still breathing. Judging from the bloodstain on his shirt, the bullet struck between his shoulder and his neck and I can only hope it didn’t hit something vital.
“Put pressure on it,” Lukas gasps as he kneels down next to me. “He’s already lost so much blood.”
I press down with my hands to staunch the flow, applying pressure as chaos rages around me. Everything feels like it’s happening in slow motion and I have to force myself to remain present as everything fades in and out around me.
For a minute, I wonder if I’m going to pass out.
“Here let me. Stay back.”
I let him take over at Jayden’s side while I try to stay crouched behind one of the deck chairs as Frank and Asher struggle for the gun.
“I should have killed you at birth,” Frank spits in his own son’s face, voice full of lethal force.
But Asher has both youth on the force of fury on his side. He takes Frank down in a full-body tackle that leaves them both rolling on the ground and sends the gun flying out of Frank’s hands. It skitters across the grass and I can only just make out the shape of the thing in the dark.
“Grab it,” I shout.
Before the words are completely out of my mouth, Kai is already sprinting around the side of the pool. Frank sees him coming and shoves Asher away before scrabbling across the grab on his hands and knees.
Asher grabs Frank’s legs and wrenches the man back just as Kai reaches for the gun.
Kai aims it at the center of Frank’s forehead, gaze full of dark intensity. “That’s enough.”
Frank swallows hard as he back away with his hands up. “Now, just wait a minute—“
His pleading tone seems to trigger something in Asher as an expression of rage overtakes his features.
The punch that lands in the center of his face silences whatever Frank was going to say next. And then Asher hits him again. He crouches over his father’s body and delivers punch after punch, as if his entire life can be exorcised by violence.
Kai lets him go for a minute or so before using his free hand to gently pull Asher away. “That’s enough, man.”
Asher takes the gun from Kai and holds it pointed at his father, hand shaking with the obvious amount of tension in his body.
For a breathless moment, I think he’s going to pull the trigger which will only bring him down to the same level as Frank, but won’t help anything. “Asher, don’t!”
He hesitates for a moment longer as Frank stares up at him with wide eyes, then Asher makes a sound like a wounded animal, but stumbles back from his father. “It will never be enough.”
Asher whips his father across the face with the butt of his gun and the other man collapses to the grass with a moan of pain.
The sound of sirens fills the air moments before flashing blue and red lights illuminate the yard. Judging from the noise, there are at least a dozen squad cars and an ambulance pulling into the long driveway.
I motion quickly at Asher to drop the gun and he does just as the first wave of officers crash into the yard with their own weapons drawn.
“Everyone get your hands in the air!”
I raise my blood-stained hands, but Lukas keeps his pressed against the gushing wound in Jayden’s shoulder. Hopefully, the cops don’t decide to shoot him for not letting his friend bleed out.
One of them yells. “It’s the Bellamy kid. Get him in handcuffs!”
Asher doesn’t fight as an officer wrenches his arms behind his back although an angry sneer twists his lips at the injustice of it. But he doesn’t speak a word in his own defense as the officer forces him to his knees in the grass.
Frank pushes unsteadily to his feet, slurring his words through a busted lip as he squints painfully at the arriving authorities through two rapidly darkening black eyes. “Officers, thank God you’re here. My son has gone crazy. He was going to kill all of us.”
“You’re a fucking liar,” Lukas yells, as he continues to put pressure on Jayden’s wound. “And we need a medic over here right fucking now.”
The officers can’t make heads or tails of the sudden cacophony of raised voices. Two paramedics push through the growing crowd to tend to Jayden as officers approach us one by one to get our
Detective Mabely pushes to the front and instructs the other officers to stand down when he catches sight of me.
“Tell me what happened,” he says in a voice that is commanding, but not unkind.
“Asher has been innocent this entire time,” I tell him, voice matter-of-fact despite the seethe of my emotions. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as the paramedics load Jayden onto a stretcher and rush him toward the waiting ambulance. I tell myself that their hurry means he still has a chance. “Frank framed him. He did all of it, including killing my mother and stabbing Carter.”
Frank rushes up with the officer who’d been interviewing him hurrying to follow. “The girl is obviously in some sort of shock. She has no idea what she’s talking about.”
“He’s been up to all sorts of illegal shit for years. In fact, you might want to look into the disappearance of a girl from our school that happened a few years ago.”
“Listen you little bitch,” Frank steps forward, but one of the officers steps in front of hi
m. “I’ll have you brought up on charges for slander if you don’t shut your mouth. You don’t have proof of anything.”
I’ve deliberately aimed my words at the officers because I don’t want to be talking to Frank. Just looking at him makes me sick, but I enjoy the look on his face as I make the final reveal.
“Except, I do have proof,” I tell Detective Mabely. I pull out my phone and hold it up so they could all see that the recording feature has been running for almost an hour. “Frank admitted to everything, and it’s all here on tape.”
“I’ll kill you!” Frank lunches for me, but the officers quickly step in the way and take him to the ground. He’s in handcuffs and being dragged away before I even have the chance to step out of reach.
I hand my phone to the detectives before they can ask, but wave away the rest of their questions because I’m not doing anything else but going to the hospital to be with Jayden. But the recording is enough for Mabeley to order that Asher be released with a stern admonishment not to leave town “while all this is sorted out.”
But Asher doesn’t follow us when we race to the car to get to the hospital. One minute he’s there talking to the police and the next he’s disappeared, likely into the abandoned mausoleum that is Bellamy mansion. For a moment, I think about going after him but the twins are already hustling me forward.
I tell myself that we’ll all need time to make this right. But I’m not convinced that there’s enough of that left in the world, especially when one of the people I love most is in the back of an ambulance.
But time waits for no one.
“That fucking hurt.”
The first words out of Jayden’s mouth when he wakes up aren’t exactly what I expected. He’d been taken into surgery almost as soon as the ambulance got to the hospital. Thank God, the bullet had missed anything vital, but it took some time for the surgeons to remove all the fragments and he’d still lost a lost of blood.
Another few minutes and he would have bled out on the grass.
But I try not to think about that as I carry the huge bouquet of flowers into his room after they finally got him settled and let us in to see him.
