Defying Fate

by Lis, Heidi

  Turning away, I was forced to give Liam a hug and had to promise to take care of myself. He wants me to call him at the first sign of trouble. Like I would, telling me he would stop by later, I chuckle. God I hope I am long gone before that happens.

  I glanced one last time over my shoulder at the three of them. Liam and Tiffany are in some standoff, screaming at each other. Braxton is off to the side with his phone in his hand, but his eyes gazing but focused on me. His loose posture and heavy stare are, breaking my heart is what it is. I hold his gaze, wanting to remember every aspect of him I can commit to memory, but it’s his killer smile that I will remember the most.

  “I love you.” I mouth the words before our gaze is broken as I drive away from him for good.

  I HAVE NO IDEA HOW the hell I made it back to my house. Kara is going to go bat shit crazy when she hears about what happened. Pulling into my driveway, Kara is running down the path.

  “Jesus Christ, Liam called me and gave me low down of that shit-storm you just left. He is worried sick about you. It seems Brax got his ass handed to him. Told me he got a few good shots in before he had to deal with his bitch of a sister. Witch took off after some phone call. Liam is coming over as soon as he can.”

  She keeps rattling off without stopping to take a breath how disappointed she is in Brax. I’m standing frozen to my spot staring back at her, I’m at a loss for words.

  Reaching out I hug her, looking into her worried eyes for a minute longer, I was going to lose it for sure. “Kara, we need to get the hell out of here. If Dominic is here, well, we need to leave.” My throat is sore from all of the pleading and crying, yet I can’t ignore my fear. “He will kill me or worse, he will torture me Kara. Either way, I am going to die.” Her shaking head in denial turns into hugging me so damn tight I can’t breathe.

  “Bastard won’t touch you. Liam and I have been talking over the past few days. We have a plan, and it’s going to work.” I can tell by the strain in her voice she is worried, and she should be. Dominic is not a man to double cross, and that is exactly what I’ve done.

  I eyed her with curiosity, I had no idea she and Liam were talking about her brother. She hates him as much as I do, but I am still shocked as to my absence involved in the planning of my escape.

  “Come on in the house, we can talk. Don’t want to be out in the open any longer than necessary. Don’t have a clue where my brother is, but I sure as fuck don’t want to find out either.” She looks around as she hurries me to the front door of my house.

  Walking up to the house, I notice a man on a motorcycle around the corner sitting there observing us. I hold back my scream as my heart is racing, but then I sense he is familiar. Keeping my eyes trained on him, I slowly stop to get my best friend’s attention.

  “Kara? Who is the guy on the bike watching us?” Slightly scared and nervous, I point her in his direction.

  She sighs lowering her voice to a whisper. “Braxton and Liam have some guys watching us. Just to make sure. It seems like Liam and his biker buddies are helping Brax out with taking care of his girl.” I can see her body tense as she calls me Braxton’s girl.

  “Pffft, I’m sure he doesn’t consider me his girl any longer. You didn’t see the way he looked at me. Tiffany painted a pretty convincing picture, and I got to tell you I was disgusted with myself when it was all said and done. He believed her over me.

  Not agreeing with what I was saying she held up her hand. “Hey, that is not what I understand. It seems like Liam got to him and set his ass straight. Brax has his head on straight now. As long as you and I are safe, I don’t give a shit right now. Might sound harsh because I know you love his hot body, but honey our safety is more important, and you know it. We can deal with your love feast later. Then I can kick the bitch’s ass for bringing all of this shit on us.” Her anger and frustration mask the worry lines that stretch across her face.

  I let out a loud breath. “I lost him and right now you’re right, I can’t deal with all of that. I need to watch my back before I am no longer around to worry about watching my back.” The thought alone sends shivers down my spine.

  Sitting inside, Kara begins telling me her and Liam’s plan, and it sucks. They have no clue just how evil Dominic can be, they have never had to outsmart the man like I have.

  “This will work, we just need to flush him out and then take him out. Simple.” This is their plan. It not only won’t work, it is just plain stupid not to mention dangerous.

  No longer able to sit still, I take matters in my hands and get up to go pack up my stuff. I know what I need to do, it’s simply leave this town and run as fast as I can. No clue where, just need to leave.

  My phone starts ringing...

  Oh, shit, not now. Braxton!

  My stomach rolls and I stop breathing.

  What the hell does he want to say to me now?

  Not going to find out, the idea of him yelling at me or worse yet, I decline the call and proceed to my room.

  It rings once again;

  I ‘Decline Call’.

  Rings yet again!

  Decline yet again.

  Aggravated this goes on for a few more times, just when I am about to shut the damn thing off, it rings again and in a moment of frustration I answer it.

  “HELLO. What the hell do you want from me Braxton?”

  Silence.

  Oh God, I don't have time for this bullshit, and I sure don’t need to be yelled at by him. I should be hurt and pissed when it comes to him. Then again, I want nothing more than to hear his voice, a double edge sword.

  “Braxt...”

  “Hello Izzabella…” The dangerous tone to his voice is like hearing the devil call out your name.

  After hearing his voice, I can suddenly listen to the sound of my heartbeat beating in my ears. I drop my phone holding back my scream.

  Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

  My mind is a jumbled mess.

  How…Wait… The caller ID said Braxton.

  I scramble to pick my phone up, but Kara comes barging in my room with her phone to her ear. She mouths to me she has Liam on the line; I look at my phone in my hand and start to cry as I cover my mouth so not to scream bloody murder.

  “Liam, what the fuck is going on?” Showing her frustration as she blows the hair from her face, saying, “No, she dropped her phone and looked like she is about to pass out.” She is talking to Liam, but her eyes are dead set on me.

  I am mouthing her brother’s name in silence, just moving my lips. She understands me as she leans over to follow my gaze on the floor at my phone.

  Looking down at the caller ID she sees that Braxton’s name is on the screen, but then she understood my silent word of her brother’s name. Cocking her head to the side, I can see the moment it registers with her.

  “Oh, fuck me. Liam, where the hell is Brax?” Kara almost whispers.

  LIAM IS SHOUTING AT both of us. Well, he’s not really shouting at us, but the man is beyond furious. Once we’d gathered that Dominic had Braxton’s phone, it took no time to realize that none of us has any idea where Braxton is at the moment.

  Liam is pacing my living room with some men. I now know they belong to his motorcycle club. I had always known Liam had some sort of association with an MC, but what I had not known was that Braxton was a full member at one time. In recent years, he still had his cut, but it seemed he was not an active member, (whatever that meant). Maybe the situation with Tiffany and Eve had pulled him away from the MC life. But now Liam looks like he is again very active in the club and I presently have several members in my living room trying to come up with a plan to find Braxton. Once a brother, always a brother I have been told.

  Sitting wide-eyed, anxiously biting my lower lip, I nervously glance at the bad ass looking men who are planning a military-style rescue mission. I learned that Liam has eyes all across the town on the look-out for Braxton. A flurry of activity is happening as Liam had just received a call from one of his men who re
cently spotted something out of the ordinary at a nearby hotel and storage area. I’m desperately listening for any news about Braxton even knowing there is a possibility he no longer cares about me. Braxton shouldn’t be in this mess. He sure as hell does not deserve whatever is happening right now at the hands of Dominic. Dominic has some inches on Braxton, but Braxton has a lot more muscle. It’s the way Dominic tortures people that has me terrified even for a man the size of Braxton.

  The thought of him being hurt because of me makes me feel damn near as violent. I’m hypersensitive to any bump or noise around me desperately waiting for any news, but as my thoughts drift off to the man I’ve grown to care about I lose all sense of my surroundings. Most likely why I don’t hear a single word Liam is saying to me. Eventually, he lowers his body until my eyes focus on his as he is continually calling out my name.

  “What?” I whisper.

  “We might have located him, looks like your sick fucker has about eight men with him. We are moving out soon.”

  No compassion in his words, only coldness, a bit of worry and a pinch of disgust. Most likely all directed toward me. I deserve his distaste and even hatred at this point. I simply nod.

  With a determined look, I say, “I’m coming with you.”

  Liam's head snaps at me with a look that is nothing short of threatening. “Like hell, until we can figure this shit out you are staying the fuck put. I will have Zeke and Matt stay with you girls.” He directs his eyes at them. Zeke is a tall man who just naturally scares the shit out of me. His bald head sports a bandana, he’s wearing a white t-shirt, worn out jeans with signature black biker boots. His stare is grim and deadly. Matt is shorter than Zeke and in all reality he does not look like he belongs in a biker club. He has such a baby face, hard to imagine him being anything but a teddy bear. Matt’s longer brown hair lands around his shoulders, and his eyes are a bright sparkling blue. As both men surmise me and Kara, I can tell babysitting us was not high on their ‘to-do’ list. Honest to God, Kara seems oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. She’s walking around chatting with all the guys as if it’s some reunion.

  Liam’s about at the end of his rope as his eye rolling is in response to getting an earful how Matt wants to be a part of the rescue mission not the babysitting mission. Both men wanted to help and go get Braxton back. Their loyalty was fierce, and part of me was happy hearing it. They wanted Braxton safe as much as I do.

  Agreeing fully with them, I interrupt their conversation. “Let them go with you Liam. Braxton needs everyone he can get, to get him home safe. Don’t worry about me. If it weren't for me, none of this would be happening.” My voice cracks as my ugly tears once again come to life. Guilt can be such a bitch.

  Liam discounts my argument by ignoring me by continuing to make their plans. Kara and I resolve ourselves to sitting on the couch trying to keep our shit together. Just then a loud crash comes from outside my front door. I jump out of my seat as Kara stands and screams in a protective stance in front of me.

  Liam has a gun pointed at the front door while Matt and Travis run straight to the back. Dex and Zeke stay behind to back up Liam if need be. The mere idea, Dominic could be outside my front door, at this very moment has me damn near hyperventilating.

  With a slight scream, I am panicking as all of a sudden Braxton comes struggling through my front door, disheveled and bloody. He looks like he went nine rounds and got out the losing end. He stumbles right into Liam, and I run over to him desperately needing to comfort him. Not thinking if he would even want to see me, I run and crush him into my arms.

  “Braxton, Braxton. Oh my god, are you okay?”

  After a few seconds: nothing.

  “He’s not talking, what the fuck? Liam, help me.” I am trying to hold him up, but soon find myself on the floor with Braxton haphazardly in my lap. He looks gray and lifeless as his breaths seem shallow. I gasp and stifle back the lump in my throat.

  “Brax buddy, talk to me,” Liam is gently shaking Braxton’s shoulders. “Jesus Christ. Brax, speak to me man.” Braxton has yet to respond as his eyes are half closed, looking glossed over. We stretch Braxton out between our two bodies kneeling on the floor. Everyone else is hovering around us quiet as a mouse.

  Little bursts of breath suddenly escape his mouth. It seems he is struggling to tell us something. Leaning closer, so my ear is next to his lips, I’m holding my breath to hear that he is okay although he looks anything but okay.

  Braxton’s focus slowly returns and with a shaky bloody hand, he tries to reach my face. I instantly place my hand over his as the feel of his touch alone stops my heart and languishes my weeping. I ache to feel him, and the simple act of him reaching out to me means everything. I can sense it’s taken all of his strength to do this. In my desperate attempt to let him know he means so much to me, I support his hand holding it to my cheek. I know he is my strength, and right now I am his. His brown eyes fully focus on mine now, as I feel the tears stream down my face. I’m seeking to see the beauty behind all of the bruises and blood that covers his angelic face. If I’m honest Braxton’s beauty shines through, blood, bruises, and all.

  My eyes search for answers. “Baby, are you okay? Braxton tell me what happened honey?” My pleas are hard for Braxton to hear as Liam is also non-stop questioning him rather loudly in my ear.

  With a nod of his head slowly, his eyes squint as if in pain. His tongue darts out to wet his dry, cracked lips that have two very deep cuts in them. God, what the hell happened to him?

  Liam’s body is rigidly stiff, and if he’s not on the phone he is barking orders around the room.

  Moaning with a hefty sigh, Braxton whispers breathlessly, “He had a message for me. If I gave you up, he would not hurt me.” He stops speaking while wincing in pain.

  “He… He did not like my response, so he let me have it. It took five of them to get the better of me.”

  Each word’s a struggle, each breath painful. It’s an awful sight to bear. My beautiful, strong Braxton, lying and beaten like this. It’s just not right. It’s seven shades of fucked up. Not being able to stop myself, I lean down and kiss his forehead.

  As my tears fall onto his face, I whisper my regrets to him. “I’m so sorry Braxton. I feel so awful this happened, it’s my fault. Please forgive me; for God’s sake, forgive me?” Rocking him back and forth in my arms I keep repeating my apologies as it will never be enough.

  Liam takes over the conversation, trying to get all of the particulars out of him. Dex called their doctor who takes care of the boys if anyone gets hurt. Little did I know a woman would show up to take my man’s clothes off, jealous at first, until I see the battered bruises that cover his body. Once I see them, a sick calmness settles over me. I realize what I need to do. I have to find him. I have to end this. I need to see Dominic. Not going to be easy to get away from Liam and his band of brothers, but I have to.

  Braxton is lying down on my couch, all wrapped up and sedated for comfort. Lana told Liam the extent of his injuries; lots of cuts, bruises, a few broken ribs and a hell of a knot on the side of his head. Hopefully, he does not have a concussion.

  Seven or eight men are in my house all sprawled out here and there. Kara and I end up in my room trying to get some rest so they can figure out what to do next. No one has heard from Dominic. Braxton passed out from the medications. The best medicine for him is rest. We did happen to find out where they had taken Braxton and how many men Dominic had with him.

  Braxton was not able to fully comprehend and explain what the plan was. Liam is hoping tomorrow morning Braxton will feel better and be able to give him more information. Before long my exhaustion takes over, and I drift off.

  I wake up to the sound of my phone some time later, sitting up I notice I am alone. Kara is no longer with me. Most likely she is with Liam. Rubbing my eyes, I try to figure out what number it is. Not recognizing it, I answer it…stupidly.

  “Izzabella.” Dominic’s voice is cold and scary.


  My face drains of all its color, I’m lightheaded and nauseous. Tensing up I know I have to deal with him one way or another I need to fix this mess.

  With an ache in my heart, the tears well in my eyes. “Dominic. Where the hell are you?” His sarcastic laugh he lets out, has me playing out worst-case scenarios in my head.

  “Are you ready to end this and come home now? It seems that Brax got an idea of what I would do, if I did not get you back.”

  I hate the fact he is talking so smooth and confident. I get chills because I know he has other tricks up his sleeve. He always does.

  “Dammit, Dominic. Why did you hurt him? I’m the one you want, not him?” I stand with nervous energy.

  Cutting me off, he is seething mad lowering his voice sounding more evil than ever. “That’s precisely right; you are what I want. That man Brax got that message last night. I told him you belong to me and what was going to happen to him, the longer you are not in my arms and back at our GODDAMN HOME.” His shouting proving his frustration and anger are getting the better of him. Normally Dominic is cool no matter what.

  “What are you talking about?” My anger and frustration are getting the better of me.

  Very calmly, he asks, “Is he with you now Izzabella?”

  This time when he speaks, it’s like a shiver down my spine and a spike to my heart. The coldness with what he is implying causes me to pause before I answer him. I cry out not able to contain it a minute longer.

  “Yes. Why?” It’s all I can get out without gasping.