by Ashley Jade
I need him to leave the Cartel alone and not try to seek his revenge.
I quickly skim over his body, Maria was right.
He's dropped a decent amount of weight and has lost some serious muscle tone.
He has a deep cut above his right eye and I don't even want to think about what his back must look like right now.
All I want to do is reach out and touch him, hold him…but I know I can’t.
“You lied to me Tristan,” I say.
I'm trying with everything in me to avoid his beautiful blue eyes which have so much sadness in them, it almost causes me to break down.
“I'm so sorry Dev. I know this is all my fault. I tried to tell you the truth but I was too late.”
He wrong, it's not his fault. None of this is his fault.
He's forgiven a million times over.
But I have to break his heart...so I can save his life.
“I can never forgive you,” I say coldly.
He closes his eyes and I take an imaginary deep breath.
I'm not even close to digging the knife in.
He promptly opens his eyes and his head snaps up. “I'm sorry. Look, I know why you're really marrying Alex. I know you don't really love him. He is going to kill you. He’s going to try and kill you on your honeymoon Dev. You can't go with him, you have to find a way to escape."
His expression softens and he looks at me. “You don’t have to marry him because you think it will somehow save me,” he says, his voice almost a whisper.
I give him an evil laugh, which causes him to look at me funny.
“I'm marrying Alex because I love him. He would never kill me. That's beside the point though, and it's not why I came down here. I came down here to tell you that I can never forgive you because you almost caused me to lose my soulmate forever Tristan."
He cringes as his eyes harden.
There we go.
Come on baby...I need you to hate me with everything you've got.
I need you to live a happy life without me.
He shakes his head and looks down at the floor.
“I thought we were soulmates Dev? I thought you loved me?” he asks.
God help me, I do. To the depths of hell and back again.
I snicker and take a step forward. “You're not my soulmate Tristan,” I lie.
“I feel nothing when I look at you. I see you for who you really are... a killer. Just like your father,” I bite.
He lifts his head and looks as though my words have just punched him in the face.
“And the man that you say you love. What is he?” he grunts.
“Just that Tristan...the man that I love.”
He shakes his head. “I know you don't mean this Dev. I love you.”
“Well, I don't love you, but if you truly love me...then I need you to do something for me.”
“I'll do anything in the world for you Dev...but what the fuck can I do for you while I'm trapped in here?”
“I need you to let me be happy. I need you to let me live my life with Alex. I need you to stop holding on to this notion that I love you, because I don't. What we had is nothing compared to what Alex and I have. He makes me happy and I love him more then anything."
“You're not making any sense right now Dev...but if you need to hear me say the words before I die, then fine. I wish you the best. I wish you all the happiness in the world and I'm glad you're marrying the person you truly love...even though you're breaking every single part of me in the process."
I give him a smile. “Thank you Tristan. That's exactly what I needed to hear. It doesn't make me hate you any less, but it's good to know that apparently monsters really do have a weak spot after all."
“I'm not a monster Dev. At least, I didn't want to be,” he whispers.
I look him dead in the eyes. “You are Tristan. You kept the person I love away from me. You're a selfish and horrible person. Thank god Alex rescued me from you," I say before I turn on my heels.
Being a mere few feet from him is too much.
I feel whole in his presence, and yet I'm single-handedly sawing off the very part of me that makes me complete.
I feel my own soul turn black as he looks at me with disgust.
“I guess I never really knew you at all Dev,” he whispers as he hangs his head.
I take a few steps toward the cellar door before I pause.
“I want you to remember this moment Tristan...remember this moment for the rest of your life. Remember how much I hate you.”
He remains silent as I slam the cellar door shut and let out the breath I was holding.
“Remember how much I truly love you,” I whisper.
I take a few steps forward and collide into a massive force.
“What are you doing? How did you get down here?” Edwardo asks.
Oh fuck.
“Nothing. I was just yelling through the cellar door. I wanted Tristan to know how much I hate him.” I reply, looking him in the eyes.
He averts his gaze and smirks. “Yeah...I'm sure that's what you were doing. Like I said, I'm on to you Dev.”
I shake my head. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
I take a step away from him before I utter the words that I will always hate myself for.
“I need you to do me a favor Edwardo.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Yeah, and what's that?”
I turn around to face him.
“I need you to go in there and beat Tristan. Only, this time...tell him it's me who ordered the beating.”
His eyebrows shoot up and he takes a step back. “You really are a cold-hearted bitch...aren't you?”
I give him a smirk before I run down down the hallway and back up to my room.
I slam the door behind me as I rapidly begin to lose what's left of my self-control.
I hear a knock at the door before Moe enters.
“Oh god Dev. What happened?”
I can't talk because I'm sobbing so hard.
I feel Moe's arms around me as he rocks me gently and I let myself fall apart in his arms for a few minutes.
“Sweetheart, you don't have to go through with this. We can find another way,” he murmurs.
I quickly wipe my tears away. “No. They're supposed to kill him in a few days. This is the only way now. You know I'm right Moe."
He closes his eyes. “I know Dev. I can't believe your crazy plan seems to be the only way out of this mess. I'm worried Dev. Edwardo thinks that Alex is going to kill you. But even if he doesn't...the Cartel will find you and kill you."
I turn to the mirror and fix my makeup. “I know Moe. I know they will...eventually. I'm going to hide out for as long as I can...I've prepared myself for that. However, I need another favor from you."
He opens his eyes and looks at me. “Anything Dev.”
“I need you to make sure that Tristan knows that I hate him. You can never tell him about my plan, no matter what happens. I need him to be safe...always. Let him think that I'm living happily ever after with Alex. I need you to make sure he stays far away from the Cartel forever."
He sighs. “Okay, I promise I won't say anything. He'll be safe, I talked to Antonio. He's going to help Tristan. He owes him that much for fucking everything up in the first place. Listen, If you do actually manage to kill Alex before he kills you, Edwardo becomes the new head of the Cartel. The good news, is that Edwardo's problem won't be with Tristan because he'll be so focused on trying to find you. However...” he begins to say before a knock on the door interrupts us.
“Alex is angry. Ceremony has already started,” Maria says nervously.
Shit.
I link Moe's arm with mine. “You want to give me away?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“No Dev...I don't. But you leave me no fucking choice now,” he mumbles.
I give him a smug smile. “How do I look?”
“Like a beautiful woman who's about to die.”
Chap
ter 47 (Dev)
Besides destroying Tristan, becoming Mrs. Alexandro Martinez was one of the worst moments of my life.
I faked a smile as Alex and I whispered our vow's to one another.
I fought the ache of wishing it was Tristan with everything I had.
“I love you so much Bonita,” Alex whispers as we dance to our first dance as husband and wife.
I smile as he holds me close. “I love you more. I always knew we would spend forever together Alex.”
How true those words are.
Even if Alex kills me...I have every intention of taking him with me.
The crowd of guests give a big cheer as he dips me low and plants a kiss on my neck.
“You’re mine forever now,” he whispers, before the sound of clapping let's us know our song has finished.
Soon our guests join us on the dance floor as I watch the sun begin to set.
“May I cut in?” a voice interrupts.
I look up as Edwardo eyes me with a mischievous expression on his face.
Alex gives him a smile and moves aside. “I suppose I can part with her for one dance.”
My breath catches in my throat as he pulls me close to him.
He smells like a heavy mixture of liquor and cigars.
“You do make a beautiful bride Mrs. Martinez,” he says as we begin our dance.
I offer him a smile that's about as fake as a two dollar bill.
“You must be excited that your plan seems to be working,” he jeers.
I give him a warning glance with my eyes but stay silent.
He pulls me even closer to him and I fight back nausea.
He angles his lips directly above my ear. “Like I've said all along, you sure do like to keep it in the family.”
I roll my eyes before he twirls me around. “You know, that's getting really old Edwardo. Like I've said all along, I love Alex.”
He spins me back to him and puts his hand on my hip. “I wasn't talking about you having sex with my family members Devonna. I was talking about you killing them," he says as his eyes penetrate me.
My stomach lurches. Oh god, he knows about Diego.
My lips form a tight line and I mentally steady my breathing.
One of his hands crawl up my back as his lips brush along my cheek.
“Don't worry, I'm on your side. Suffice it to say, it would really be in my best interest if you're the one who makes it back from the honeymoon. As I'm sure you know, I would become the new head of the Cartel if Alex were to make a permanent departure."
I feel my entire body begin to teeter as I struggle to gain my equilibrium.
He laughs softly. “Quite the predicament you're in Mrs. Martinez. I have to say, I really don't envy your position.”
He twirls me around again before he continues. “I hope for your sake that Alex truly loves you, and that you look forward to spending the rest of your life with him."
My tongue sweeps across my dry lips as he bends his head down to level his eyes with mine.
“Because if you don't...I will find you. And when I'm through with you...death will look like a luxury. A luxury that I will never grant you."
He sweeps his thumb along my jaw. “But one that I will grant Tristan -after he escapes of course. So, think long and hard about what your next move will be dear, because unlike my cousins...I won't let love take down my family's empire. I won't let love make the Cartel weak. I will find you Dev. Don't let the generous head start that I afford you, fool you. I like to chase my prey just much as the next man, maybe even more,” he says as the song ends and I stand there frozen.
Horror and trepidation merge in my gut as my body becomes acutely aware of the predicament I'm in.
Alex knows and believes that I'm planning to kill him...and he's prepared to kill me first.
That all failed in comparison to the real dilemma I faced.
Either Alex would kill me, or I would have no choice but to spend the rest of my life with him.
Or the worst possible outcome in all this…be responsible for the death of the man that I love.
I look up at Moe. I have to tell him that there's no way I can kill Alex now.
I take a step toward him but am stopped when Alex coils his hands around my waist. “Ready to go on our honeymoon Bonita?”
Chapter 48 (Dev)
We take our first steps on the beautiful yacht. Or, as I'm now referring to it, the sinker of my love, hopes and dreams.
The one man crew that consists of a single Captain greets us with a big smile.
I hired him because he came highly recommended by Moe, and apparently he knows how to keep a secret or two.
Not that it matters much anymore.
I'm sure that Alex will kill him when he's done with me.
Poor guy.
My last and only hope now is that Moe's still able to get Tristan out and to safety.
On the bright side, Edwardo hinted that he's going to let that happen, since he intends to use Tristan for bait if I do end up killing Alex.
In a single dance, he lit a stick of dynamite on my entire plan and blew it all to smithereens.
I give him credit...he really was 'on to me' from the very beginning.
I never should have discredited him.
I'm dammed if I do...I'm dammed if I don't.
However, Tristan's not dammed if I don't...and that's all that matters to me.
Maybe I'll get lucky and there's a small part of Alex that still wants to spend the rest of his life with me...but like Moe said when I told him about my plan- I'm living in a dream world with thoughts like that.
The only thing left to wonder, is whether he's going to toss my body in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, The Gulf of Mexico, or The Caribbean sea.
It's not like the end result matters much anyway.
It was always going to end like this for me. The second his heart turned black and he turned his wrath on me all those years ago.
Who am I kidding? It happened the second that God or whoever, decided to give me not one...but two soulmates.
One who's soul is made of pure evil and one who's soul is pure and angelic...despite all the darkness that it was born into.
The only thing I can do now...is wait for him to make his move.
I never stood a chance of defeating Alex or coming out of this alive.
Hopefully Tristan still does.
Chapter 49 (Tristan)
I always thought that my last thoughts before I leave this earth, would be about the people I love and all that I wish I could take back and do over again.
But when Dev broke me...she really broke me.
Something dark and lethal has snaked its way inside my soul now.
Its pernicious poison lurks deep in my heart and I cling to it like it's my last breath.
It replaces all my love for Dev.
It makes the nearly fatal ache that she caused me somewhat bearable.
The only person who could have salvaged what's left of my soul...gave hers to another and demolished mine in the process.
She was right...I am like my father. What's the point in trying to deny it to myself any longer?
I cackle, before the sound of the cellar door opening causes me to pause.
It's time.
I welcome death. I relish in it.
My entire body relaxes and I close my eyes.
However, I'm briefly hindered from my aberration when some kind of mask is put over my face.
What an odd way to kill a man.
I open my eyes and come face to face with...no it can't be.
Apparently, my own version of the underworld consists of Moe holding what looks to be some kind of blow torch in front of me while wearing what I can only assume is some kind of welding helmet.
“This might burn a little buddy,” he says as he begins to slice through my chains.
Fuck...who knew Moe out of all people would be the angel of death.
I guess he really is a true f
riend after all. He's come to put me out of my misery.
He pulls me to my feet and I give him a smirk.
“Come on Moe...put that baby right to my heart and let it rip.”
He gives me an odd look. “Christ, the lack of food has made you delusional. Can you walk or do you need me to carry you?” he asks.
“From what I understand, you get carried to heaven...you plummet to hell. Guess which door I'll be choosing?”
He shakes his head. “I fucking knew this shit was gonna happen,” he mutters. “Let's go pretty boy.”
Ha, he hasn't called me pretty boy since our days in the mob.
He moves stealth-like as he leads me up some steps and around a few dark corners.
I have to blink repeatedly when I notice a helicopter on a roof.
“What the hell is this?” I ask.
“Your chariot awaits. Now let's get the fuck out of here before they blow the damn thing up,” he mutters.
I'm still not quite comprehending what's happening, but I begin walking.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stick of beef jerky and hands it to me. “Sorry, it's all I could manage right now.”
I mumble a quick thank you as we begin take off.
For a split second, I feel my heart retract.
“Dev....did she have anything to do with this?”
He draws his lips in a tight line and stares straight ahead. “No Tristan, I'm sorry. She's happy with Alex. She's really in love," he says sharply.
And just like that- the pernicious poison leaks into my heart again.
I welcome the darkness.
Chapter 50 (Dev)
I walk out of the bathroom that's attached to the master suite cabin and take a deep breath.
Possibly one of my last.
Alex had asked me to wear my special lingerie that I picked out for this moment.
I choose the white silk and lace corset, compete with matching panties and garter belt that Maria had bought for me.
I left the gun in the gift box.
He sits on the bed and studies me with an intensity akin to the way I imagine a cobra would watch a mouse.
He's still wearing his designer tux from the wedding- minus the bow tie. I also notice that he's undone the first 3 buttons of his shirt, giving me a glimpse of his scarce chest hair.
