Fearless

by Nicole Coverdale

  Diana was right.

  He was a fool.

  And now Elena would never be safe.

  And it was all his fault.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Where was he?

  Elena felt panic rise up inside of her.

  She pulled the car to a stop. Just sitting there for a moment, leaning her head against the steering wheel. Tears rolling down her face.

  “Why, Kieran?” she whispered out loud, feeling like her heart was about to break. “Why did you to do this? Why? We were going to make a plan. We were going to do this together. Now you’re going to get yourself fucking killed!”

  She closed her eyes.

  The tears rolling down her face in streams.

  Thinking about the last few hours.

  They had been the scariest hours of her life.

  Getting that note.

  Watching as Luis’s cabin had been blown up.

  Watching Luis and Tori walk away from her.

  She could still hear Tori’s screams in her ears.

  She hadn’t wanted to leave her sister behind.

  But she also didn’t want her sister getting in the line of fire. She didn’t know what she would do if something happened to her. She had to keep her safe. She had to keep everyone safe.

  She blew out a breath.

  Lifting her head from the steering wheel.

  And she opened to door, walking across the green grass towards what was left of Kieran’s house.

  It was completely destroyed.

  There was nothing left.

  And her heart began to ache.

  As she thought of how hard Kieran had tried to get away from this life.

  How he had tried so hard to get out from Dominic’s shadow.

  “Why did he have to meet me?” she wondered, stopping in front of the rubbish. “If you hadn’t met me you would still have your house. You would still have your life. Nothing would have changed.”

  Except, she might be dead, Elena thought to herself. If she hadn’t met Kieran, she would never have known what it felt like to fall in love. If she hadn’t met him, she would have never known what it was like to actually feel.

  And she would never have known the pain she was feeling right now.

  She turned, walking around the perimeter of the house.

  Staring at the footprints that were laying in the dirt.

  And something to her right caught her attention.

  She turned, jerking her head, watching as four of her father’s men appeared out of the trees.

  “Shit!” she turned, jogging across the lawn, jumping behind a boulder. Slowly peeking over the top of it.

  “I can’t believe we got him.” One of them was saying.

  “Abel is going to be so proud.”

  “He’s going to have so much fun with him.”

  “He’s such a genius.”

  “He’s going to get rid of all the traitors.”

  “Oh, would you four stop gossiping like little girls for Christ sakes!” Diana stepped up in front of them, rolling her eyes. “Yes, we all know he’s a genius. But we have to get going. Kieran called the FBI just a little while ago. They’ll be here soon. We have to get going now!”

  They stared at her.

  “Well, go!” she shouted.

  They turned and raced towards the black van that lay just a few feet away from them.

  “Imbeciles!” Diana lifted her head, staring into the distance.

  Elena ducked underneath the boulder.

  They had Kieran, Elena thought to herself. It was too late. She was too late.

  Yells sounded. The sound of footsteps running echoed in her ears.

  She lifted her head, watching as Diana turned, walking towards the black van. And watched, as Kieran’s lifeless body was dragged across the ground, towards the van.

  “Kieran.” She whispered, lifting a hand to her mouth. Oh God, was he?

  No! She shook her head, refusing to believe it. No, he was not dead! He was not!

  A moment later, she saw his chest move.

  He was sedated, she realized. They had to have given him some kind of drug.

  Thank God.

  The van roared to life. Kieran was lifted into the back, and she watched as Diana jumped in. A moment later watching as it rolled out of sight.

  Elena rose to her feet.

  The sound of skidding tires filled her ears.

  Her head jerked up.

  Watching as an unmarked car rolled up the driveway coming to a complete stop. Behind it, squad cars and a van labeled Crime Scene Investigation pulled up.

  A woman stepped out of the unmarked car, and walked towards the rubbish.

  “This is where the call came in.” she told the people behind her. “Tell me if you find anything. We’re running against the clock here. Kieran could be in a lot of trouble.” She stopped, staring at the place. “God this is a mess.”

  “Director. Do you really think—“

  “I know what Victor was working on, you idiot!” the woman snapped, jerking her head around. “How can I not? With all the bombs going off all over the place there could only be one thing that’s happening. The organizations back, and there’s only one person I can think of who would be running it now that Dominic’s dead.”

  “Abel?”

  “Who else?” the woman muttered, shaking her head. “Good God, I should have listened to Victor when he first told me about Abel, but I just wrote him off. I thought Abel had built a nice life for himself, but I was wrong. God, If only I had listened to him! If I had listened to him, none of this would be happening. Jesus, I don’t know anything! I have no idea what’s going on. What’s going to happen. Nothing! All I know is that I have to find Kieran. I have to find him and I have to find him now!”

  “We will, Director. We will.”

  Elena stared at them.

  It was the FBI.

  Good, because they were going to need them. She just hoped that they were ready for what lay ahead. Because one thing was for sure. She was ready

  She jumped to her feet, and raced through the trees. Coming to a stop next to Kieran’s car, and jumped in starting the engine.

  The FBI lifted their heads at the sound.

  They started racing towards her.

  “Not now.” She whispered, as she backed out of the driveway. “But soon, you will know exactly what is going on. I promise.”

  She threw the car in drive, and raced down the road.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Damn. Did his head hurt.

  Kieran blinked.

  His body swaying with the motion of the vehicle.

  And he opened his eyes. Blinking into the darkness.

  Where was he?

  He sat up, pressing a hand to the side of the vehicle.

  The vehicle hit a bump in the road.

  And he lost his balance. Falling to the hard floor.

  “Dammitt!” he shouted, slamming his hand against the floor.

  Pain shot up his arm.

  He winced, raising his head.

  And froze, when the vehicle suddenly stopped.

  Car doors slammed.

  Voices were yelling.

  And the door in front of him jerked open, four of Abel’s men crowding into the van grabbing him by the arms, pulling him to his feet.

  “Come on. He’s waiting.” One of them pushed him forward.

  “Let me go!” Kieran yelled, struggling against the men who held him.

  “Let you go? I thought this was what you wanted, Kieran.” Diana whispered, raising her head to stare at him. “I thought you wanted to come back home.”

  “Home?” Kieran laughed, shaking his head. “This isn’t a home. It’s a prison.”

  “And soon, our dear Elena will be joining us too.”

  Kieran froze, his steps faltering as he walked through the gates of the facility. Staring around him at the bullet proof glass that surrounded him, and raised his head, watching as a man walk
ed towards him.

  He felt the breath leave his body.

  His heart rate sped up.

  And he felt as if he were staring at a ghost.

  Years ago, he had left this life. He’d left it far behind and had tried his hardest to rebuild a new life for himself. Trying to bury the past. Trying to bury what he’d been through. Trying to forget the horrible things he’d done and for the most part he felt as if he’d succeeded. He hadn’t been stuck in a prison. He hadn’t been told what to do, and he hadn’t had to look into Dominic Rodriquez’s cold, blue eyes every day. Staring into the face of a man who hated the world and everything it stood for. He hadn’t had to feel the man’s hand on his shoulder, telling him that he was one of the best. He hadn’t had to pretend to belong. He’d been free.

  But now, he felt as if he were that ten year old boy all over again.

  The man’s footsteps echoing in his ears.

  And he found himself staring into the same dark, blue eyes Dominic had had. A look in those eyes so similar that he felt as if he’d traveled back in time. A look of complete distrust in the world, and believing that he had a better image for the world.

  He wasn’t as tall as Dominic had been.

  Dominic had been a very tall man. Just over six feet tall, and his presence had always been intimidating. Abel on the other hand, barely even came to six feet tall, and he looked somewhat old, Kieran thought to himself.

  He had the same hair his father had once had.

  Light brown hair. Almost completely shaven off, and a beard surrounding his mouth.

  They looked almost identical.

  He lifted his chin.

  “Abel I assume.” He whispered.

  “Welcome, Kieran.” Abel stepped towards him. “Welcome home. As you can see, I’ve made a few changes.”

  “Yeah. I can see that.” Kieran muttered. “It looks more like a prison then it ever did.”

  “I know you remember it the way my father built it, but—“

  “Your father was a dumb fool who had no idea what he was doing!” Kieran snapped. “He thought he could change the world. He thought he could make the difference. He led us all to believe that he was giving us a family when all he wanted was to use us for his own purpose. To turn us into killers!”

  “Don’t you dare talk about my father like that!” Abel shouted, his fist slamming forward. Striking Kieran right in the jaw.

  Kieran’s head jerked back.

  Blood spewed inside his mouth.

  He turned his head, spitting.

  Then he raised his head. A laugh escaping his mouth.

  “Oh, Abel.” He shook his head. “You may look like your father, but you will never be anything like him. You hit like a girl.”

  “You’re definitely a smug, son of a bitch aren’t you?” Abel asked. Staring at him. “You know I read about you in my father’s journals. He was so disappointed in you for what you did to him. He had picked you up off the streets. He’d given you food. A roof over your head, and what did you do? You betrayed him in the worst possible way.”

  “I did what was right.”

  “You betrayed the very family that helped raise you!” Abel shouted. “That is unforgivable. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you were one of the most gifted assassins my father ever trained. I don’t care if you were the first to graduate to go out into the field. I don’t care how many people you killed. You betrayed my father, and you, will end up paying the same price Elena will. You both will die for your sins!”

  “You’re not going to get near her.”

  Abel smirked. “Bring him in the arena.”

  Kieran gasped, as the men pushed him forward. And he stumbled along the small, narrow road towards the gates of the arena. Watching as Abel pushed a button next to the gates. The gates swinging open.

  In the middle, a single chair lay and he felt one of the guard’s pull him forward. Pushing him down into the chair, his arms being bent awkwardly behind him and he felt rope being tied around his wrists.

  “Wow, you must feel all high and mighty having to tie me up.” Kieran whispered, watching as Abel walked around him. “You must be afraid of me.”

  “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “You’re an idiot if you’re not afraid of me.” Kieran informed him. “I’ve killed men bigger than you.”

  “That might be true, but you’re not half as scary as I am.” Abel whispered. “Or did you not hear about the way I orchestrated my wife’s death.”

  “Oh I heard all about it.” Kieran raised his eyes staring at him. “I also know what a sick son of a bitch you are for doing this to your daughters.”

  “You know nothing about me.”

  “And you know nothing about me.”

  Abel laughed. “Oh, Kieran that is where you are wrong. I know plenty about you. I know about that scared little boy you were all those years ago when my father picked you up off the streets. I know how smart you are. I know how clever you are. I know how strong you are. You were the first one my father ever trained. You were the first one to go out in the field, and you, were supposed to help my father take down one of the most important people in the world. You were supposed to kill the president of the United States. Only before you went on the mission, you somehow grew a conscious. You realized what you were doing was wrong, and have been running away from the organization ever since.” He stepped forward, leaning close. “You’re not a man, Kieran. You’re not a human. You will never be normal. In fact, what you always will be, is a killer.”

  “No!” Kieran lunged forward.

  The motion made his whole body stretch.

  And a flash of pain rolled through his side.

  He screamed, slumping down in the chair.

  A laugh escaped Abel’s mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry, Kieran. Are you still hurt?” he leaned forward. Cupping Kieran’s chin in his hand. “Still feeling the effects of that gunshot wound?” he chuckled. “Not as young as you used to be are you?”

  “I’m younger than you.”

  Abel laughed again. “That may be, but we all know I will always be stronger than you.” He leaned forward. “Now, tell me, Kieran. Where is Elena?” And he pulled something out from behind his back.

  “I don’t know.”

  Abel laughed, shaking his head. “Wrong answer.” And he pressed the object against Kieran’s body.

  A bolt of electricity ran through Kieran.

  Kieran gritted his teeth, his whole body shaking.

  “So let’s try this again.” Abel whispered, holding the Taser in front of his face. “Where is my daughter?”

  “She’s not your daughter. She was never your daughter. Not after what you did to her.”

  “Lies.” And he zapped Kieran again.

  Kieran gasped.

  “Let’s try a different question.” Abel whispered, hunkering down and whispering in his ear. “What is the real reason you, Luis, Elena, and Torianna are stronger than everyone else in the organization? Why do you believe that you can take down the organization?” He stared at Kieran. “Why don’t you believe in the organization, Kieran? What makes the four of you so special?”

  Kieran lifted his head.

  Staring right into Abel’s eyes.

  A smile spread over his face.

  “Because there’s a difference between people like you and me.” He whispered. “We actually have a soul.”

  A cry of outrage escaped Abel’s lips.

  He lunged forward, his hand wrapping around Kieran’s neck.

  “Do it.” Kieran whispered staring up at him. Into the wide eyes that were full of hatred. “Go ahead, kill me. I have nothing else to live for. I have no home. I have no family. I have no friends. I left the woman I love. I am not afraid of dying. But the one thing you will never get from me is information on Elena. I’d rather die than give her up.”

  “Oh, Kieran, I have something much worse in store or you.” Abel told him. “And believe me, when I get done, you will tell me
exactly what I want to hear.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  There it was.

  Elena lifted the binoculars to her eyes, staring at the entrance to the organization. Feeling a sense of hatred roll through her body, as she watched two men holding rifles standing at the doorway.

  God she hated this place.

  Why did she of all people have to be sucked into this life?

  Why did she have to lose everything?

  What made her so special?

  “Special my ass.” She muttered under her breath. Rising to her feet and taking the gun from the small of her back. Checking the bullets. She was not going into that place unarmed. No fucking way!

  By her feet, she heard a hiss.

  She looked down.

  And watched, as a snake slithered next to her in the grass.

  She lowered her hand, and pulled the trigger.

  Blood and snake guts spilled all over the grass.

  “Not this time, you Fucker.” She whispered. “I’ve already dealt with the pain of having to feel venom rushing through my body. Never again.”

  “Did you hear that?”

  She jerked her head up.

  Two of Abel’s men were walking around the facility.

  “Sounded like a gunshot. I’m going to go check it out.”

  Panic rolled through her body.

  She turned her head.

  There was nowhere to hide.

  They were going to find her.

  And both she and Kieran were going to die.

  A hand covered her mouth.

  An arm wrapped around her waist.

  And pulled her backwards, into the throng of trees right behind her.

  Elena gasped, her scream muffled, as she kicked her legs out. Struggling against the arms that held her.

  “Will you stop fighting me? I’m trying to help you!”

  She turned her head, blinking in the darkness. And stared at the woman who sat next to her in the trees. Her dark blonde hair was no longer long and running down to her waist. Instead it was cut to just above her shoulders. Her green eyes were as bright as ever, and she had a smile spread across her face.