“And she could be fine too.”
“But you said—”
“I know what I said,” he snapped. “She’s in a bad way, but that doesn’t mean she’s definitely going to die, and you panicking isn’t going to help the situation.” The road cleared, allowing him to turn.
I clenched my hands as he passed Henderson High School on our right. “Okay, just please hurry up.”
“I’m not going to speed.”
“Hurry. Up!” I yelled, finally losing my cool, the man infuriating me.
“Stop yelling at me!” He threw me a glare. “You wouldn’t even know that Georgie was hurt if it wasn’t for me, so show some gratitude, because right now, I’m regretting picking you up. I didn’t have to, especially after the way you treated me.”
“The way I treated you?”
“Yes! Accusing me of sexually assaulting you, when I distinctly heard you say yes. Not only that, your bastard of a boyfriend bashed me, then trumpeted to everyone at work that I’m a rapist. I can’t show my face there now because they all believe him. They reckon he was laying the complaint at the same time he was bashing me, but that’s impossible. He’s probably paying them to lie. He has that rich record producer footing all of his bills.”
“I doubt it, and you shouldn’t assume it was Dante. If you were hit from behind—”
“I wasn’t hit from behind, I saw him with my own two eyes,” he spat back. “So don’t you dare make excuses for him. He tortured me, kept hitting me with a phone book, kicking me in the nuts too, more than once. I’m lucky I can even walk today.”
“It still wasn’t him.”
“Well, unless he has a twin, then yeah, I might believe you…” He stopped talking, his eyes widening. His head snapped to me. “Does he have a twin?”
My heart started to thump. “No.”
“A brother who looks like him?”
“Not with the same tattoos. They have totally different ones.”
He grunted, clearly annoyed with my answer.
I glanced out the window, feeling like I’d almost thrown Dante’s brother under the bus. Silence filled the car once more, even more awkward than before. A few minutes later, my worry over Simon discovering the truth about Ash disappeared, where he was driving to taking over.
I turned to him. “You said we were almost there.”
“We are. It’s the next road.”
He continued for several more seconds, then turned right, the road more country than suburbia. Before I knew it, he was steering down a driveway. It was surrounded by a forest so thick that it almost felt like the trees had parted just to let us through, returning to their places a moment later. I couldn’t see much ahead of us, other than the thin line of gravel carving its way through the dark mass of foliage. When we finally emerged into an opening, I exhaled in relief, only to suck my breath back in at the sight of a dilapidated house. It looked as though it had been standing there since the beginning of time, digging its roots, rather than foundations, into the soil. Its weatherboards were almost devoid of paint, so rundown it barely looked liveable. If anything, it made me think of a crack house, which heightened my anxiety, Georgie’s old friends drug dealers. But it didn’t make sense that she would go back to them, especially after she’d killed their boss in self-defence. I swallowed, wondering whether that was the reason she’d gotten hurt. Her past had finally caught up with her, the drug dealers enacting revenge.
Simon parked in front of the house, ducking his head to look through the windscreen at it. “This can’t be the place; Georgie’s friend must’ve given me the wrong address.” He pulled out his phone, calling through. “Hi, this is Georgie’s workmate, Simon. Yes. You gave me an address to pick up Georgie’s things, but the house looks like it’s straight out of a horror movie. Are you sure you gave me the right address?” He frowned. “Okay, see you soon.” He hung up and pushed his door open, stopping when I didn’t get out. “You coming?”
I bit my lip, definitely feeling something was off. “I think we should leave.”
“But—”
“There are no buts, Simon, we need to leave. Georgie used to be involved with a bad crowd who dealt in drugs, meth in particular.”
He held out a hand. “Then stay here while I check it out, because I’m sure Georgie’s friend wouldn’t send us here for nothing.”
“Didn’t you just hear me? I said they dealt in drugs. They could be using us to take it to them.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would they get total strangers to do something like that? It’s too risky. We could call the cops.”
“They could use Georgie against us.”
“The woman I’ve been speaking to hasn’t threatened me once. In fact, she’s been nothing but sweet. So wait here, I won’t be long.”
He climbed out of the car and jumped up the front steps to the deck. I watched as he knocked on the door. He knocked again when no one answered, calling out, “Hello!” loudly. He looked back at me, lifting his hands in a confused manner, then pointed to the side of the house. He took off, disappearing around it.
Something in my periphery caught my attention. My eyes flicked to a window. The curtains were drawn, making me wonder whether I was imagining things, that maybe the wind had caused them to flutter. I went to look away, but stopped as a silhouette appeared behind the curtain. One the size of a large man.
29
Dante
I spotted my bro’s green Chevy just down the road from our old boss’s house, the mansion hidden by massive trees. It was the address I’d been given, the same fucking one that had held the porn party I’d been forced to participate in. It was also where Kara and Beth had been forced to play Russian Roulette in front of a crowd. They had only survived because of an undercover cop and Nike—a mate of my brother’s. Which was probably why Nike was with Ash now. He was getting out of Ash’s car, looking much harder than the boy my younger brother used to hate. But Sledge and Nike had put their differences aside, and since Ash trusted Nike, I did too. Plus, the bloke was now working as a bodyguard, someone I definitely wanted by my side today.
I pulled up behind Ash’s car and got out, my dad and Murderer following suit. My phone went off in my dad’s hand as we walked over to my bro and his mate. I snatched it off him, ready to rip into Jade. I’d gotten my dad to answer my calls on the ride over, which was a big mistake. Jade had whined to him, trying to talk us out of saving Kara, saying it wasn’t worth risking our lives for her. And my bloody dad had agreed with him! He’d even joked that if Ant didn’t kill her, he’d do it for free. I’d told him to go fuck himself and not to answer any more calls from Jade.
I barked into my phone, “What?!”
But instead of Jade’s Texan voice coming over the line, a Kiwi chick replied. “Can I please speak to Clara? She isn’t answering her phone, and I need to talk to her.”
“Who’s this?”
“Georgie,” she replied.
I hung up, having no time for Clara’s friend. I lifted my chin at my brother and Nike in a friendly hello. “You ready?” I asked, stopping in front of them.
Nike opened his jacket, flashing his gun. If I wasn’t so concerned for Kara, I’d have asked him who he was working for, because he looked like he’d stepped out of a mafia movie, the thin scar running down his check adding to the effect.
“I’ve killed the father, now it’s the son’s turn,” Nike said, the dude having shot Craven dead at the porn party.
“They’ll have cameras—”
“I’ve already disabled the ones on the periphery. I’ll take care of the rest once I’m in.”
“Sweet,” I replied, more than a little impressed, but then again, he had worked for Craven, security one of his jobs. I shifted my gaze to my brother, making sure he was all right with being involved. “You ’kay with this, bro? ’Specially with your history with Ant.”
Ash bared his teeth, no doubt thinking about all the shit that had gone down at high school. Ant had att
acked him in the locker room, the assault turning into an attempted rape. Although Ant was a big mofo, Ash had fought hard, beating the shit out of the sick bastard. As a result, Ant had been sent to a borstal, sealing his hatred of Ash and anyone linked to him.
“I’m definitely fine,” Ash said, “and if anyone gets to take Ant out, it’ll be me.” His gaze shifted to Nike.
Nike held his hands up. “You can have him, but if Big Mack’s there, he’s mine to kill. That sick fuck sexually harassed Corey.”
“He did what?” Ash growled.
“The dirty pervert felt Corey up in the back of a car when we were ordered to bring Corey in. The others in the car embarrassed Big Mack enough to stop him from doin’ more. I wanted to put a bullet in his head, but couldn’t do shit. Those fuckers would’ve killed me if I’d stepped outta line a second time. I’d already been warned after I’d punched Big Mack for sexually harassing one of the female workers. But now I don’t work for those cunts, nuthin’s holdin’ me back.”
“Fine, he’s yours to kill,” I said.
A nasty smile pulled at his lips, his dead eyes lighting up.
“Right,” I said. “Let’s get this rolling.”
We headed down the road to the main gate, while Nike indicated to Murderer to follow him, asking if he’d watch his back. Murderer nodded, following Nike down the side of the property. I didn’t need to ask what Nike was up to, the bloke knowing the property like the back of his hand.
Trees blocked our view of most of the homes on the road, but what we could see was pretty damn impressive. The properties were massive, this part of Remuera for billionaires, not millionaire chumps. We stopped at Ant’s gate, noticing one change. A box with a guard was out front, something that hadn’t been there last year. But after what went down at the porn party, I wasn’t surprised that Ant had amped up security.
The forty-something man inside the booth looked out at us with suspicion. “What do you want?” he asked, his expression also concerned. I couldn’t blame him, because we didn’t exactly look like upstanding citizens, especially with my dad staring him down with his so-called serial killer eyes.
“We’re here for Kara,” I said.
“I don’t know any Kara,” he replied, not taking his eyes off my dad.
I thrust out the photo of her tied up, finally getting his full attention. “Then fuckin’ explain this,” I snapped.
He took it, his eyes widening. “What the fuck?” He snatched up his phone. “Hold up,” he said, dialling through. Within seconds, he was talking to someone over the line. “There are three tattooed guys at the gate, claiming you’re gonna shoot a blonde bird if they don’t show. They have a photo of her tied up and your address on the back.” He frowned, his concerned gaze returning to me. “What’s your name?”
“Dante Rata.”
His attention shifted to my brother and dad, asking for their names too. Once he had them, he repeated our names over the phone. He paused, obviously listening to whatever the other person was saying. “Yes, Mr. Torres,” he said, confirming it was Ant he was talking to. He hung up, his gaze roaming over us. “He wants to see you all.” He pressed a button, the big mother of a gate slowly opening.
My dad’s phone started ringing. He held up his hand for us to wait. “Speak,” he said into the phone. He frowned, his eyes going to me. “Who?” He grunted, then lowered the phone. “It’s Jade—”
“For fuck’s sake, tell him to stop callin’, we’re gettin’ Kara back whether he likes it or not.”
“This isn’t ’bout Kara. He said that Clara’s taken off with a bloke—”
“Who?!” I yelled, not believing what I was hearing.
My dad relayed the question to Jade. Once he had his answer, he refocused on me. “He has no idea, other than the bloke has a Mercedes and is blonde.”
Ash swore. “Simon’s blonde and has a Mercedes.”
Wanting to know what the fuck was going on, I whipped my phone out to call Clara.
30
Clara
My phone rang. I picked up, not even able to get a word out, Dante barking down the line at me. “Where are you?!”
“Out west. Georgie was attacked. They took her to Waitakere Hospital. I’m so scared, they said she could die.”
“Don’t bullshit me!” he yelled, jolting me. “I spoke to that bitch a few minutes ago, she wanted to talk to you.”
“What?” I said, in shock.
“Yeah, I fuckin’ spoke to her. She sounded perfectly fine to me. So, don’t try to spin more bullshit, Jade saw you leave with Simon.”
“Oh God, oh God, I’m not lying,” I said, fear kicking in, Simon’s slip up over where Georgie had gotten hurt coming back. “I’m so stupid. So, so stupid. I should never have trusted Simon. He’s the one who told me that Georgie was attacked.”
“That fucker! Where are you? I’ll come get ya.”
“I’m in his car, waiting for him to get Georgie’s stuff from this rundown house in the middle of nowhere. He has the keys. What do I do, Dante, what do I do?”
He swore. “Gimme the address.”
“I didn’t see the number. All I know is that it’s off Henderson Valley Road.” I described the road and the property, my heart pounding out of my chest.
“Get the fuck outta there. Head for Henderson Shopping Mall.”
“Okay.” I opened the door, knowing I had to make a run for it. I pocketed my phone and went to do just that, only getting a few yards before hearing Simon’s voice.
“Where are you going?” he called out.
I turned, spotting him rounding the side of the house. I took a step back, knowing I couldn’t outrun him. “I want to leave.”
He strode towards me, his blue-green eyes hard. “You’re not leaving, and it looks like you know why. Who have you been speaking to?”
I continued walking backwards. “No one.”
“Liar!”
He lunged for me. I screamed and went to run, but he shoved me, causing me to trip and fall. I cried out as I hit the ground, my whole body jolting from the impact. He climbed on top of me, forcibly removing my phone from my pocket. I tried to grab it back, but he slapped me across the cheek so hard I lost my voice for a moment.
“What’s your password?” he snapped.
“You-you d-don’t need it,” I pushed out, my whole face hurting. “I didn’t speak to any-anyone, Georgie le-left me a voice message,” I lied, scared he would take me elsewhere, somewhere Dante wouldn’t be able to find me. “You lied. She isn’t hurt.”
He sneered at me. “No, but you will be if you don’t do as you’re told.”
“Why, Simon? Why are you do-doing this to me?” I sobbed, the pain and terror overwhelming me.
His upper lip twitched, hurt crossing his face. “I did everything to keep you, was nice to you, bought you roses, got down on bended knee, even offered you a priceless engagement ring, a fucking heirloom. And what did you do? You left me for scum, and not just any scum, the bastard who got you sent to jail.”
“I love him.”
“But he’s scum! How can you love someone like that?”
“He’s not scum,” I sobbed. “He’s everything to me, has been ever since I met him. You can’t change that, no one can, not even me.”
“I will change it, because you’re never going to see him again.”
“You can’t do this!” I yelled, hitting out at him.
He dropped my phone and grabbed my wrists, pinning them to the ground. “I can do whatever the fuck I like, you stupid bitch, and you are stupid if you think that worthless piece of shit is worth loving. Andrew recognised him, said he was involved in a porn party. He showed me a website where there are hundreds of pictures of your boyfriend. Disgusting porn images of him fucking women. Not only that, Andrew told me the scum also sold drugs.”
“He doesn’t sell drugs, he’s a singer.”
“Maybe now, but not in the past, which is why I tried to protect you from him, offering
up my home so you’d be safe. But what did you do? You ran straight into his arms after our misunderstanding.”
“I wasn’t living with him when you offered for me to stay. You offered it because of the breakin.”
He laughed, the sound cruel. “You are so gullible.” He rummaged in his pocket, pulling out his keys. He selected one, dangling it in front of my face. “There was no breakin. I used the key you forgot to take back after you dumped me to leave that note and roses.”
“What?” I gasped, Simon hitting me with one shock after another.
His sneer grew. “I wanted to scare you in to staying at my place, but you tried to go to that drunk whore’s house, so I had to take care of the situation.”
My eyes widened. “You had Georgie’s friend hurt?”
“Just enough to stop you from going to her house.”
Fearing for my life, I lashed out at him, screaming as he hit me back, this time with a fist. My head banged against the ground, momentarily stunning me. He grabbed my arms and hauled me to my feet. Wrapping his arms around me, he half-dragged, half-carried me to the house. I screamed, “Help!” and kicked his shins, getting a yelp in reward. He shoved me through the front door, causing me to stumble into the passageway. I righted myself and went to attack him, but he shoved me again. I tripped over, landing on my back and elbows. I cried out as pain shot through my body, everything hurting. He yanked me up, manhandling me into a room. He pushed me onto a bed, a bed with…
Kara on it.
Dante’s ex was lying spread-eagled across the mattress, not to mention naked. She was tied to the bedposts, looking either dead or unconscious. There was another bed next to hers. I knew it was meant for me.
I spun around to face Simon. “What the hell are you doing?!”
“She’s payment.”
“For what?”
“Me,” another voice answered.
Andrew appeared in the doorway, the security guard from rehab smiling at me. “I get a woman; Simon gets a woman.” He walked past us, stopping by Kara’s side. He ran a hand over her breast, squeezing it.
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “Mmm,” she said, licking her lips. “I was hoping it was you I’d get, not the skinny blond boy.”
Love Drunk Page 26
