This Cruel Love (A Dark Hearts Stand-Alone Novel Book 2)

by Nikki J Summers

  “Jax, this one is on you. Ball’s in your court.” Cill took a step back and nodded over to me, letting me know he had my back, but he knew the final decision on what punishment to dole out to this rat was all mine.

  Steve cowered as I lurched forward, but I didn’t touch him, I couldn’t bring myself to, not after what he’d said.

  “You know what, I should put a fucking bullet in your head for what you’ve done. Trouble is, I’d end up having to pay out good money to clean up the floor after the skanky mess you’d make. Not to mention the stench of your filth would fill these walls forever, it’d make me puke. No, you need to leave here. Get as far away from this city as you can and never come back. If I ever see your foul, dirty, stinking face ever again, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

  Steve nodded with his mouth hung open, making him look even dumber than he already was.

  “Get out!” I shouted, and he pushed his way past Cill and out of the door.

  “Dennis, make sure he leaves the building right away,” I ordered, and locked the door on the nightmare fuck up that’d just walked out.

  Cill shook his head at me and sighed. “You let him off the hook way too easily.”

  I grabbed my phone and made a call for the second time today, to someone who’d done me more favours than I cared to mention recently.

  “I haven’t finished dealing with him yet,” I replied.

  The call clicked onto answer phone, so I left a message. “Luca, it’s Jax. Call me when you get this message. There’s someone I need to make disappear, permanently, and I know that’s your forte.”

  Cill grinned. “Nice touch, get the Marquez brothers to do the dirty work. I like it.”

  “I’m not getting them to do my dirty work. They just do it better than we do.”

  A churning sensation was taking hold in the pit of my stomach, clawing and wringing my insides as I tried to concentrate on the road ahead. Maybe it was Chloe’s words ringing in my ears about revenge and not being able to trust Justin, I don’t know, but something felt off. The drive across the city to Liam’s apartment didn’t take too long. Traffic was unusually quiet for a Monday afternoon, but I didn’t feel in any rush to get there. My mobile rang out as I was driving, and I looked down to see Jackson’s number flashing back at me. I didn’t answer. For one, I was driving, and two, he’d hear the apprehension in my voice and know something was up. No, I’d call him back after this dreaded meeting was over. At least then I wouldn’t have to lie to him.

  Chloe’s mobile rang seconds after mine and she gave a small groan.

  “We’re popular today,” she said on a whispered breath, then answered in an overly chirpy manner. “Hey, babe. What’s up?”

  I couldn’t hear what was being said on the other line, but I guessed it was her husband, Luca, calling, and from the deep voice booming through the phone, he sounded pissed.

  “Jeez, Luca, I don’t need to check in with you every time I go out. It’s all a bit excessive, don’t you think? Anyway, I’m with Ryley. You know, Jackson’s Ryley. We’re only going for coffee, just chill. You know where to find me if you need me. Just relax, babe. I’ll be home in an hour or so.”

  There was a bit more mumbling and muttering from his side, and Chloe turned to me and rolled her eyes, then stifled a laugh.

  “I love you. Go do some work and stop stalking me. I’ll see you later.” She hung the phone up and dropped it into her bag.

  “Possessive husband, huh?”

  “He means well. Mind you, it’s gotten worse since we found out about the baby.” Chloe threw her hand over her mouth, realising she’d said something she didn’t mean to.

  “You’re pregnant? Woah, that’s amazing! I’m so pleased for you both. Wow.” I took a quick peek at her tummy, but she wasn’t showing at all. She was tiny.

  “Oh my God, we haven’t told anyone about that yet. Please don’t tell anyone else.” She rubbed her hand over her flat tummy and grinned. “It’s still early days and we don’t want anyone to know until we’re ready to share it with everyone else.”

  I understood. Having a baby was such a special time, and once everyone else knew they’d probably bombard you with questions and advice. Keeping it quiet had its appeal, I could see that.

  “My lips are sealed. Wow, Chloe, you’re gonna be a mummy. That’s so awesome.”

  “Yeah, I know. I just hope I make a better job of it than my own mum.” She sighed.

  “You’ll be amazing. I can tell.”

  We drove on for a little longer, Chloe with a dreamy look on her face, lost in her baby thoughts, and me dreading the next hour or so of facing my lying, cheating ex.

  We pulled up close to Liam’s building, and I managed to park the car in a side street opposite.

  “Well, here goes nothing,” I said, as we made our way across the busy road to the old Georgian townhouse that housed Liam’s apartment.

  It was situated in a square, full of identical buildings to his. It stood three stories high, with decorative iron railings and huge sash windows to create the neat, symmetrical perfection people seemed to love in this city. Liam’s place was on the top floor, quite ironic really, when you consider that would’ve been the servants’ quarters back in the day. I’d only been here a few times previously, but I remembered Liam wasn’t a fan of housework. He was most definitely not servant material. I hoped Chloe wouldn’t mind wading through the crap that’d no doubt litter the floor when we got up there.

  I had no idea if Liam would be home, but my thoughts were soon answered when we reached the top of the stairs and I saw Justin standing in the open doorway to the apartment. His eyes were bloodshot, and his pupils were fixed and dilated.

  “You’re fucking high. Jesus, Justin, you couldn’t stay clean for a few weeks at least?”

  “Nice to see you too, Ryley.” He gritted his teeth. “Not a lot to stay clean for these days, but then I don’t expect you to care.”

  “It’s not my fault you fucked everything up by sticking your dick into every girl who looked your way. I should thank them, really. I had a lucky escape.”

  “Can we not do this right now? I wanted to clear the air, not reignite World War III. How are you, Rye?” he asked, his cheeks flushing red as he spotted Chloe coming up behind me. “I asked you to come here because Liam is at his family estate in the country. I thought it was just gonna be us today?”

  I stopped in front of him and folded my arms. “You have five minutes to say what you need to say, then we’re leaving.”

  I didn’t bother introducing him to Chloe, what was the point? He wasn’t going to be in my life after today. Introductions were pointless.

  “You’d better come in then.” He gestured inside the apartment, but didn’t move from the doorway, making both me and Chloe have to squeeze past him as we entered the stuffy hallway.

  The place was in desperate need of fresh air; it was overbearingly musty and stale. The tiny windows that were typical for the top floor of these buildings had probably been closed for days, weeks even. As I walked into the main living area, I could see clouds of dust, swirling and dancing in the air as we disturbed the peace of the apartment.

  “So, what’s this about, Justin?”

  I heard him clunk the heavy door shut, and then numerous dead bolts and chains were being locked into place. I didn’t think anything of it, seeing as Justin’s anxiety had resurfaced. I just figured he was being extra cautious and needlessly jumpy. That was until another voice spoke out, causing the stifling air to freeze, along with the blood in my veins.

  “Nice to see you again, Ryley. Been a stressful day, has it?”

  I turned to face the deep, gravelly voice, to find Ed standing on the other side of the living room, a look of evil satisfaction on his pock-marked face.

  He prowled towards me with a pair of handcuffs and a handkerchief dangling from his hands, and before I knew what was happening, he proceeded to grab me with his coarse, bony fingers, and force my hands behi
nd my back. He clamped the cuffs down hard onto my wrists, making me wince at the tight pinch they caused.

  “Are you gonna be a good girl and stay quiet for me? Or do I need to gag you too?”

  I shook my head as he reached behind him to pull out a handgun, then tucked it back into his jeans. Another incentive for me to stay quiet, no doubt.

  “What the hell is this? Justin?” I balled my hands into fists and tugged at the constraints regardless of the pain. Then turned to face Justin, just as he and Chloe entered the room. He didn’t have time to reply, Ed beat him to it.

  “What the fuck, rat? I give you one job, one fucking job… to bring her here, and you can’t even do that right.”

  He stalked over to where Justin was standing and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, throwing him against the wall and pinning him there before pointing over to Chloe.

  “Do you have any fucking idea who she is? Do you? I don’t need Luca fucking Marquez on my case, and after this stunt you’ve pulled we’ll all be swimming at the bottom of the Thames tonight. You’re a useless asshole.”

  Justin was spluttering and gasping for air, clawing at his throat as his eyes bugged out of his head.

  “I thought she was coming on her own. I had no fucking clue she was bringing back up. It’s not my fault.”

  Ed ripped his hand away from Justin’s neck, and Justin fell to his knees, rubbing his throat as he coughed and wheezed.

  “Of course it’s your fault. Still, I should’ve expected you’d fuck up somewhere along the line. They don’t call you the gutter rat for no reason. You’re bloody useless.”

  Justin reached behind him and pulled out a handgun, pointing it at Chloe and turning to face Ed.

  “She won’t say a word, she’s a smart girl.” He looked over at Chloe now. “You won’t talk, will you?”

  “She’s smart alright, but you’re not. You think holding a gun in Luca Marquez’s wife’s face is a good idea? You’re a liability, Wright. You need exterminating like the vermin you’ve always been.”

  I jumped as a gunshot went off, stumbling backwards, hitting the sofa, and falling onto it as I did. As quick as lightning, Ed had whipped out his gun and shot Justin in the side of the head. I whimpered as I watched the man I’d spent seven years of my life with slump forward, with half of his head torn off and plastered all over the wall and floors. Blood poured out onto the cream rug beneath his body like spilt red wine. Ed just stepped over Justin like he was nothing, and grinned down into Chloe’s face.

  “Now you can tell your husband that Ed Morris killed the man who put a gun in your face. See? All sorted. No need to get mad now, is there?”

  This man was certifiably insane. I had to get us out of there, but I had no idea how.

  Chloe didn’t look fazed at all, and just smiled sweetly back at him.

  “It’s not my husband you need to be scared of, it’s me.”

  He laughed, but she didn’t flinch, she just took a seat next to me on the sofa.

  “Don’t worry, Ryley. This won’t last long. It’ll all be over before you know it,” she said, as if she knew something I didn’t.

  “It’ll be over when I say it’s over for her. I’ve got big plans for you.” Ed walked over to a laptop on the dining table and carried it over to the coffee table close to where we sat.

  “Recognise this?” Ed spun the laptop around, and there, playing on a pop up in the corner of the screen, was the video of us taken in Jackson’s office.

  “You’re gonna pay for that,” I spat out, giving him my most evil glare.

  “No, sweetheart. You’ll be paying for it. That right there,” he pointed at the corner of the screen, “is a taster of what the clients are bidding on.”

  It was then that I noticed what was on the rest of the screen. It was some kind of website with a timer on it, counting down each second and showing less than eight minutes to go on the clock. But that wasn’t all; there were pictures of me, and a banner that called for people to bid for a once in a lifetime chance. To win me.

  “What the hell is this? Are you… selling me?” I tried to swallow, but my tongue felt like sandpaper, and my throat felt like I’d gargled shards of glass. I hadn’t just walked into an ambush, I’d walked into a living nightmare.

  “This is bullshit. Don’t listen to him, Ryley.” Chloe gripped and squeezed my knee, but I wasn’t hearing anyone clearly. A whooshing sound filled my ears and my body felt heavy, like my blood had replaced itself with liquid lead.

  “Oh, it’s real.” Ed smirked. “And she’s already reached over a quarter of a million.” He rubbed his vile hands together and then reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

  “Let’s give Jax a call.” He shrugged at me like the crazy madman he was, jumping from one extreme emotion to the next. “I’m not a total asshole. I’ll let you say goodbye.”

  He strode away from us as he began to tap away at his phone. With his back turned, I was able to glance around the room at my dismal fate. Justin lying on the ground, surrounded by a pool of red. The clock ticking away, counting down the seconds to when God knows what was going to happen. And then there was Chloe, sat by the side of me, the picture of calm, and smiling like she was at a tea party.

  I frowned back at her, and she held her closed palm in front of her and opened it. Inside was a small key.

  “What? How did you get that?” I whispered.

  She held her finger up to her mouth to shush me and then reached behind to unlock my handcuffs.

  “Just a little trick my father taught me. It comes in handy when you need to pickpocket someone.” She looked down at Justin’s body. “He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box, was he? But thank God he had the key in his pocket, otherwise I’d be using bolt cutters to get these off.” The cuffs fell away, but Chloe shook her head. “Keep your hands behind your back. We don’t want to spook him.”

  I could see what she was doing, lulling Ed into a false sense of security.

  “We need to run,” I begged on a whisper, aware that time wasn’t on our side.

  “We need to deal with him first,” she replied with determination.

  It wasn’t on the top of my to-do list. In fact, getting away from here was all I could focus on. But Chloe patted my knee again and stood up slowly. I’d no idea what she had planned, but something told me I was safer staying put with her than trying my luck running for the door.

  Ed spun round and covered the phone with his palm.

  “What are you doing?” He scowled at Chloe, who stood confidently in front of him.

  “I need to use the bathroom. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to pull a fast one.” She held her hands up to show Ed she didn’t have anything on her, and then she turned the corner to the bathroom and locked herself inside.

  “Jackson, my old friend, long time no speak.” Ed laughed down the phone and looked me dead in the eye.

  “I have someone here that you might be interested in talking to.” He held the phone to my ear and gave a sadistic chuckle.

  “Jackson, I’m okay,” I said, and instantly heard Jackson lose his shit on the other end.

  “What the fuck. How the hell did he get to you? Where are you? Please don’t panic, I’ll find you, I promise.” The phone was swiped away from me before I could respond, and Ed continued taunting him.

  “She just wanted to say goodbye, and you know me, Jax. I’m a nice guy. What sort of friend would I be, if I just cut her out of your life for good without giving you closure? We all need that, am I right?”

  I heard shouting down the phone, but Ed wasn’t fazed by it.

  “Look at your emails, Caine. I’ve sent you a link that you might be interested in checking out. At least you’ll know where she’s going when you do.”

  Then he hung up the phone and made a grab for a drawer, pulling out a hammer and smashing the phone into pieces on the dining table. When he was satisfied that it was useless, he pulled the SIM card from the wreckage, and a cigarette ligh
ter from his pocket. He held the tiny plastic sim card in his fingertips as he started to burn it, then dropped it onto the table, letting it smoulder and shrivel to nothing.

  A buzzer noise sounded on the laptop and I looked down to see the clock had stopped and time was up.

  “Show time!” Ed sang and rubbed his hands together again as he came over to see what price he’d managed to get on his vile online auction. “Are you excited to find out who your new owner is?” He leant closer into me. “I heard Jackson say on the video that he hadn’t taken your ass yet. But just so you know, your new owner won’t be so fussy. He’ll make sure to take you any fucking way he wants.”

  I shuddered at his words and the stale breath that he feathered over my skin as he spoke. He made my skin crawl, and I prayed for a miracle, anything to get me away from this evil. But I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. He would have a hell of a job getting me out of the apartment and delivered to wherever he needed me to be. It was show time, indeed.

  He had her. That evil, vile fucker had my girl, and the thought made me want to tear down brick walls to get to him and kill him. I couldn’t bear to think about him being anywhere near her, touching her in any way. If he laid one finger on her I’d make him suffer like the animal he was. Ed Morris needed to be put down.

  “Cill, get in here now,” I shouted, grabbing fistfuls of my hair as I waited for my emails to load up.

  Cill stomped into the room. “What now? Has Steve given Luca’s men the slip?”

  I saw the email from Ed and clicked on it, fighting down the urge to smash my laptop against the wall in blind fury.

  “He’s got her. Ed fucking Morris has got Ryley, and he’s just sent me this.”

  Cill came up behind me as the page Ed had set up appeared on the screen. You wouldn’t find this website on Google. No, this was classic dark web stuff. The darkest. The kind it’d be impossible to trace, and there were seconds left on the countdown clock.

  “Holy shit. Can you stop it? Make a bid? Jesus, Jax, do something.”