Severed Ties (Ties #2)

by J. L. Beck

  I stilled my body, waiting for the hit but it never came. Drake’s fist fell at my father’s halting words. For once, he had intervened and I questioned it instantly. Was he trying to make me think I had one person on my side? I wasn’t stupid to believe he was; I knew the only person on my side in this room was Grayson.

  I cringed as they pulled him from the floor, removing all of his weapons and placing them on the table across the room before moving him into a chair next to me. His wrists were bound shortly after and his his ankles too.

  “Don’t kill him. Please,” I begged the younger man who had brought him in. He stopped in his tracks and looked up at me. I could see him judging me. Wondering what I had done in my life to get myself in this situation. Would he believe me if I simply told him that the only thing I had done was be born?

  “That’s not up to me sweet cheeks…” He sighed, but still his eyes lingered on my face. He stared for a long moment, shaking his head before checking Grayson’s restraints.

  I felt helpless. There was no hope for us. No hope for a future.

  “If you kept your mouth shut more often then maybe you wouldn’t have all those bruises on your face,” he simply stated, as if I taunted Drake with my words.

  “That’s just it, I do.” I started to sob as Grayson’s unconscious head moved from left to right. Not because I wanted anyone to feel sorry for me, but because the pain was too much. For once the burden of carrying the pain inside of me was overwhelming me. I had carried all this pain for years, and now it was like a bullet wound being ripped back open. I had been shot over and over again, but this time, this shot would be the one to kill me.

  “He’s going to die no matter what you do. You can beg and plead for mercy on him all you want, it doesn’t matter. The life you have right now will be all that you have left. Don’t you think you should give up hope of ever being free? Stop the tears and just follow the fated plan your father has always had set for you. I’m sure Drake can be sweet, just moan a little and actually act like you want to spread those sweet ass thighs for him.” Cole winked at me, as if giving myself to Drake would save me. It wouldn’t. I’ve given myself freely to that monster of a man time and time again, in hopes that he would go easier on me, but it never worked. My willing submission was like a slap in the face.

  “Not even God can save me, what makes you think faking it with Drake will?!” I cried out, angry that he would even suggest such a thing.

  “Ellie, is that you?” Grayson’s voice sounded like a rusty chain rubbing together.

  “Grayson…” I trailed off, amazement filling my voice as I tried to twist in my chair.

  “Oh, the happy couple is back y’all. How pathetic?” he spoke harshly, shaking his head in disgust.

  “Everything is dark…” He barely got the words out. It was then I realized his eyes weren’t even open.

  “Open your eyes,” I ordered, praying that he was okay.

  We both were strapped to chairs, our lives hanging in the hands of Satan himself. I knew there would be no stopping them from killing us both. At least we would die together. That would be the only chance we would truly have at a future.

  “I can’t…” he murmured as my vision blurred and my head became heavy. I could barely keep my eyes open. My mind was becoming a foggy haze. I could hear people entering and exiting, but the voices were muffled and movement sounded far off. But I felt the change in the air, like a commotion was happening right before me and I just couldn’t see it. I felt like I was dying, the beat of my heart slowing.

  “I love you, Grayson,” I whispered softly, hoping my words reached his heart in time before I took my last breath.

  I was wrong before when I said there were no happily ever after’s in the darkness. There was, and this was ours.

  “Promise me that no matter what you will always be my brother…” Steph’s voice was so quiet, it seemed like she was already gone.

  That was the last question that she asked me when I found her dying in the bathroom of our condo. I had no known reason for her death, it wasn’t even ruled a murder, but a suicide. The police told me she wanted to die, but I knew my sister. And I knew they were wrong.

  “Grayson…” That voice… I knew that voice. “This wasn’t part of the plan, Drake. You were supposed to keep him alive!” The voice grew angrier, and I could feel a pair of cold hands against my skin. I kept replaying the sound of the person’s voice, hoping that a face would connect in my mind as I realized it was her hands on me.

  When it didn’t, I forced all my strength into opening my eyes. What stood before me had to be a vision I made up in my own self-conscious, maybe even a sick and twisted dream because there was no possible way that Stephanie was still alive and standing before me. I had seen her die with my own two eyes, felt her heart beat stop with my very hands.

  “The deal was made with someone else. Not me. Now the cops are on the way, and you’re coming with us.” I could feel her hands shaking against my skin as Drake yelled right back at her. My eyes were heavy, but I managed to get one open, only for my heart to sink into my stomach. A woman that looked eerily similar to my sister was sitting on the ground in front of me, trying to undo the ropes that were around my feet.

  “H… Howwww?” The word was drawn out. I wanted to rub at my eyes to make sure I wasn’t imagining this, but couldn’t. Instead I yanked against my bonds that had me secured tightly.

  “I made a deal, Grayson. They were going to kill you. They were going to take you from me.” Tears fell from her eyes and down onto her pink cheeks. She was really alive, here in the flesh, and I couldn’t even hold her. Every emotion known to mankind flowed through me. Relief and happiness, the same kind I felt when I found out Ellie was still alive came first. But anger that years had passed as I sat in my own grief over her death sat just below the surface, waiting to be released on the people that forced her into this.

  “Stop talking. It’s okay, just undo me.” My gaze shifted from Stephanie to Ellie. One moment she was talking, and the next she wasn’t. Everything around us seemed to stop and go in slow motion. Stephanie scurried away from me just as bullets started to fly, another voice I knew all too well echoed throughout the building.

  “You fuckers better do one of two things; stand the fuck up and fight, or run the fuck away. I’m here to end it all!” Tuck’s voice bounced off the walls and met my ears. Drake’s eyes narrowed as he reached for his gun and then his knife. His eyes shifted from Ellie and then to me.

  “I knew I would never be the man she wanted, that I could live with. What I can’t live with though, is her loving someone else.” Before I could understand what it was that he was going to do, he had his knife out, his fingers wrapped tightly around the handle. Air left my lungs as he lifted the blade sliding it across Ellie’s throat in one fluid motion.

  “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!” I screamed hysterically, fighting against the ropes. My heart was beating out of my chest as I watched blood drip down her throat, her head falling to the side as a gurgling sound filled the air. Pain seared through every fiber in my body. Rage like I had never felt consumed me.. Her eyes were closed, her chest heaving. I watched on in agony hoping that the rise and fall in her chest would not halt.

  “It had to be that way. Now we can be happy.” Lifting the gun in his other hand, he placed it against his head.

  “Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons, or you leave me no choice!” A tall man with dark hair and caramel colored eyes screamed, his gun raised and aimed at Drake.

  But Drake did not listen, instead he looked me straight in the eyes and smiled, right before he pulled the trigger.

  Nothing. I felt nothing. My eyes moved from his body as it fell to the floor, blood and brain matter splattering against the cement as Tuck ran over to Ellie.

  “We’re losing her!!!” he yelled, and I could feel myself fading. The best parts of me dying away as I watched the woman I loved more than anything fight for her life.

  Tuck untied her fro
m the chair in a rush, lying her body down on the floor.

  “Untie me.” I looked at Stephanie and ordered. I was too angry, too hurt to think rationally. My emotions were fueling my actions; I was losing her all over again.

  Stephanie got me untied just as I saw her father trying to escape. There was no way. No fucking way I would allow him to be free in this world. Not after all he had done to her, after all I had fought for. No. I would end him in respect for her.

  I no longer needed answers. I needed him dead. His blood covering my body.

  Grabbing the gun off the floor that Drake used to end his own life, I headed across the room just as Cole was cuffed.

  One monster was dead.

  The other could meet him in Hell.

  I watched as Ellie’s father turned and looked right at me before shutting the door behind him.

  My muscles burned and my head throbbed with every step I took towards him. As soon as I got to the door, I yanked it open..

  “This is for her!” I yelled out, with no care at all that the S.W.A.T team had just entered the building. He turned just in time to see the bullet flying at his head, causing satisfaction to fill my belly as the bullet ripped through his head and his body dropped instantly to the ground, a puddle of blood forming around his head. I moved towards him and stood above him, a vacant look was present in his eyes, and a look of shock was on his face.

  Cops swarmed us as I dropped the gun. I didn’t need them to order me to drop it, I knew what was coming next.

  My body was forced to the ground as my hands were pulled against my back, my wrists being secured by the cold metal of handcuffs.

  I smiled. I had achieved my goal; I had fulfilled my promise to Ellie.

  “Let’s play twenty questions,” Grayson said, shoving a chip into his mouth. We were supposed to be cuddling and watching movies, but ended up having a conversation about one another’s lives which lead to the fact that we knew very little about each other.

  “Kay. What’s your favorite color?” I asked, going first.

  “Green,” he answered without even having to think, his eyes bleeding into mine.

  “Favorite animal?” He went next. I stared at him for a long moment before answering.

  “Giraffe.”

  “What did you want to be when you grew up?” I knew he had to actually sit and think on this one. I mean who could remember something like that right off the top of their head.

  “Fireman,” he answered without blinking. My jaw dropped opened at the mere thought of him as a fireman. Hello, let me burn down my house right this second.

  “Have you always been in love with me?” he asked, but before I could respond my vision blurred then everything seemed to shift.

  “What?” I blinked. His body started to disappear right before my eyes, washing away like chalk on the sidewalk after it rained.

  “Come on, Ellie. Hold on, just a little bit longer.” Grayson’s voice was frantic, bringing me out of subconscious. Warmth covered my body as coldness sunk deep down into my bones.

  “We need you to step out, sir. We’re losing her again.” Another voice yelled over me.

  Losing her? Who was her? And what was going on? I questioned, my heart beat rising.

  “I said, have you always been in love with me?” Grayson asked me again, but this time he wasn’t there. He wasn’t beside me. He was gone, and all I had left of him was his voice surrounding me.

  Sir, we won’t tell you again. Out now!” Someone screamed and it vibrated through me. My eyes snapped open and it was like I was having an outer body experience. There I laid in a hospital bed, doctors and nurses surrounding me.

  What were they doing? It was then that everything clicked into place.

  They were trying to save my life, but with each ticking second, my life seemed to drift away faster.

  I was dying.

  There was no saving me.

  Firstly I have to give thanks to the Brie over at CCBH for always being down to help with rewrites. She always helps me work out the kinks in the book, and makes it that much better. If you ever wonder why you love a particular scene its probably because she made me put more emotion into it then I wanted.

  Then there is my entire marketing team better known as the pimpers. You guys work the hardest you can to get my books out into the author community and even if I don’t tell you every single day I am beyond grateful that you do so. Thank you loves for spreading the word.

  Clayr, thank you for every tag and encouraging word.

  Betas: Thank you for telling me when something sucks and when something is worth loving.

  Amanda: You’re one tough PA. You deal with me on my moodiest days, and have learned what I love and what I hate. Sometimes I think you have the worst job in the universe. Then I remember who your boss is. ;)

  Lee; keep being your sassy self

  Bloggers: Big or small, thank you for posting for me. I would be nothing without you, and lets face it my books wouldn’t reach anyone. Thank you for all you do.

  Readers; the glue that holds us all together. You’re the reason there is bread and milk on my table, never forget that.

  Coffee, Pepsi, Peeps, and pregnancy hormones can be thanked for the reason this book is now done. I hope you all truly enjoy it, and thank you for reading.

  Xoxo

  J.L. Beck is the best selling author of many series including: The Kingpin Love Affair Series, Bittersweet Series, Worth It Series, Project Series, and Ties Series. She's best known for weaving a tale, that ends with your mouth hanging open, and your hands gripping the edge of your seat.

  She's a no holds bar author who enjoys spending time with her high school sweet heart of eight years, three year old hellion, and soon to be newborn son Kolden, as well as Hatchi & Halo her two fur babies. She calls Wisconsin home, but loves to travel. In her free time you can catch her watching bad reality tv, cooking, reading books, or spending time outdoors.

  Follow her to see what wicked adventures she's up too...

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  Read on for the first few chapters of Project: Killer and be on the look out for book two in the series Project: Rogue to release next month.

  Prologue

  Killer

  It all started with a kiss.

  It wasn’t one of those sappy ass ones, where there is affection, and electricity flows through your body, and you just fucking know they’re the one for you. No this was a different kind of kiss. It wasn’t a spark, but a simple touch of ones skin against another. I would like to think that somehow that simple gesture had triggered something into motion. Like that one kiss changed the world around us, tilting the perpetual axis. That somehow that one kiss had signified our entire being of life— it didn’t.

  That kiss meant nothing, and the feelings that formed from within because of it meant nothing. Every time I thought of Maggie, the way her brown hair bellowed in the wind. The way her small hands clasped mine. It reminded me of the illness, the death that plagued me. It reminded me of the clock that slowly ticked inside of me.

  I was dying, and there was nothing that anyone could do. There was no cure, no miracle for someone like me. After all, millions of people lost their loved ones, so what would one more loss be? What would me not dying, do for the world? Nothing.

  Eventually I would be replaced. The school would get a new student, the teachers would forget I ever existed and Maggie... Sweet little Maggie would move on, and find someone new. My parent’s would have another child and life would be normal. Normal, for everyone but me.

  See, I wouldn’t get to live such a lavish life. No, the life I would liv
e would make me wish that the cancer had killed me. That it had eaten away at everything that made me who I was. Why you ask? Simply because the person I was being morphed into, the man that they were creating me to become was anything less than death. He was ruthless, angry, and hateful. He thought of no one but himself. He was careless, his needs only being met through sex, and violence.

  His memories would be wiped away, yet a small girl with red cheeks, and brown hair would still find her way into his dreams. He would grow to hate that little girl for not being able to remember the memories of her, while driving himself insane wondering where she came from.

  He would eventually become one of the world’s best trained fighters. Genetically mutated to the government’s liking. Turned into something he never wanted— something he never should’ve been.

  Now you see that his legacy, or the memories of whom he was would never be remembered simply because there was nothing to remember about a twelve year old boy that should be dead. No family, friends, or loved ones to care.

  He was a killer, and I am him.

  Chapter One

  Maggie− The Past

  I hated when the other kids laughed at him. They would push and shove him, not even caring that he was sick. Sometimes, I wanted to push them back or scream at them to leave him alone. Except I knew no one would listen to me. They never did. Instead I sat in the background waiting till the minute I could swoop in and care for him.

  He was taller than the other kids even at the age of sixteen, and just as cute. It didn’t matter to me that his skin was almost always ghostly white, and that he would much rather be wearing something that didn’t cling to his body instead of jeans because to me he was perfect.

  “What’s a matter Diesel…? Maggie not make you your breakfast this morning.” Roger one of the biggest bullies of them all mocked Diesel. This was a normal occurrence on the bus. Every morning this same conversation would take place. I was starting to wonder when it would stop. Diesel ignored him like always, and stared out the window. I watched from the seat across from him, as Roger sat behind him and shoved his knees into the back of his seat.