“You look so tired. Are you tired, baby? Or is the burn still there? I can make you feel good again.”
I shook my head, not wanting him anywhere near me. The pull for him was still there, but it had been numbed after what had just taken place. It was almost as if what happened was becoming a distant dream. It would be nice to wake up from it all and find that all the evil had disappeared. That the nightmare had ended.
It hadn’t ended, though.
It had only just begun.
Zac brushed his lips against mine and pulled my legs up onto the bed. He made sure my feet were under the covers before he slid in next to me. He pulled me to him so he was spooning me. He was hard…again. I didn’t think my body could take much more.
“God, Livy. I just can’t get enough of you. I will leave you alone because you have to get some rest, but always know that I constantly want you. You will never have to worry about that. There will never be a person I desire more than you.” He kissed my head and snuggled into me. I let him have this now because I promised him I would. I’d promised him the world and he was celebrating his victory. He had battled for his prize and won…
And I was lost.
*****
I dream of hearing shots. Lots and lots of shots. I could hear shouting, too. It was ringing through my ears and playing with my head. Then I heard a loud explosion, ripping me from my sleep. The whole house shook as the dust from the plaster on the ceiling fell down like sand.
“Livy, get in the bathroom and lock yourself in. Now!”
Zac was off the bed in an instant, grabbing a gun from the bedside table. He raced to the door and placed his ear to it before looking back at my shocked face. “Move!”
Scrambling out of bed, I raced towards the bathroom just as another loud explosion was heard downstairs. I could hear men screaming and guns firing as I locked myself in.
I couldn’t understand what was happening. Ian had warned me about the dangers, and I was wondering if there were men out there—worse men than Zac—looking to kill him. It made the fear creep up inside. I knew Zac was bad, but he was the devil I knew. Out there, I didn’t know what the hell greeted me.
A part of me celebrated in the fact that there was someone out there racing to get to my master, racing to take him out. The other part of me feared what would happen if they did. Who would I belong to then? Would these men take me, use me like Zac did…or worse?
My mind scrambled and, for the first time since yesterday, I felt that flicker of hope. My own survival was at the forefront. I didn’t want to die like I did yesterday.
I wanted to live.
Racing to the window, I opened it to find men running everywhere. There were some lying dead on the ground, and bits of debris were all over the patio. I looked around to see if I could find something to crawl out on, but there was nothing.
“Olivia!”
I looked towards the voice and saw Ian standing there with all his combats on. He also had guns and grenades strapped to his belt. He smiled up at me and winked. “I’m coming to get you!”
I almost cheered. I almost jumped up and down, clapping like a maniac. Ian was not hurt, or dead, or missing. He was very much alive, and he was coming to rescue me.
My heart danced in the knowledge that there was someone out there who cared for me. Someone who was willing to risk his own life to save me.
As I smiled back, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Kit. I nearly asked, but I knew Zac was probably still right outside the door.
No matter where Kit was, I hoped he was safe. I hoped he was healing. I hoped he could carry on without me.
He couldn’t be with me now. I knew that much. By begging for Zac’s help, he had sealed our fate. I realised why he did it, but it still wouldn’t take away the fact that he did.
As my heart raced, I heard a shot and Ian ducked down low to take position. He fired a couple of rounds, then raced forward. There was no doubt he was an expert at this. All his moves were done with military precision.
He fired a couple more times, then moved out of sight and into the house. I moved away from the window and started pacing. My heart was drumming at the anxiety of what could possibly happen next. I knew Ian couldn’t be working alone. Not when it involved this much ammunition and explosions. He had to have some others helping him. Whoever was out there, I welcomed them now. I welcomed them because I knew Ian was behind it all.
I kept on pacing for what felt like hours instead of mere minutes. More explosions sounded, more screams could be heard and then…
Nothing.
Complete silence filled the room and it made my heart beat faster. What do I do now? I couldn’t think. I didn’t know what greeted me behind the door.
As I slowly moved toward it, I lifted my hand to grasp the handle.
And then I heard it.
Bang!
Bang, bang!
For a moment, it was deathly silent. Then I heard a roar coming from the bedroom. There was a crash and I heard a voice…a voice that stopped me. A voice that I thought I would only ever hear in my dreams again.
“Where is she?!” he screamed.
I heard a punch and that was when it hit me. I had locked myself in there, not the other way around.
I quickly scrambled with the lock, my hands shaking violently. “Kit!” I screamed. Not hearing anything back made me more desperate to get out.
I was somehow able to unlock it. I opened the door, a big smile on my face, but what I saw wiped it away.
Kit was standing there, blood on his hands and face. His eyes were wide, making the fear shoot through me.
Behind him, holding a gun to his head, was Zac. His face was bruised and his nose was bloody, but his eyes left no room for error.
Evil… Just pure evil.
“I tried to be fucking nice about this.” He jerked at Kit and it made me flinch. “I let him live because I love you, and this is how you repay me? You promised me, Livy. You fucking promised.”
I put my hands out in a calming gesture. Zac looked two seconds away from pulling that trigger. “I know, and I still promise.”
He motioned towards me. “So what the fuck was that, ha? You should have been shouting my name, not his. Not the man who tried to kill you when you were a child.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Kit’s voice made me jump. “Olivia, why do you think he wanted to take you to the park that day?” My eyes widened when I realised what he was trying to say. “Why do you think he wanted you out of that hotel room?”
Zac jerked him. “Shut the fuck up. You were the one in that room planting the bomb, not me.”
Kit ignored him. “Olivia, listen to me. Your father was making some dangerous business deals with the Middle East. Ones that would earn him millions, but would cripple the country.”
My head shook, confused. “What?”
“Don’t listen to him, baby. Your father died because he was forever running away from him.” He jerked at Kit again. “He made me Godfather so I could look after you if anything happened. I was always there to protect you, Livy. I always loved you.”
The tears started brimming in my eyes as I looked back at Kit. “Your father was helping the Middle East come up with a new currency for oil. One they could set up by themselves. One where they could set up their own rates. The US and the UK got wind of this and acted. Hussein and Gaddafi weren’t brought down because of the uprising in their country. They were brought down because of this new deal in oil. One that would make them millions. One that would damage the super powers such as the UK and the US. The agency could never let that happen.
“I was sent to plant that bomb because I thought it was about the deal. Now I know I was wrong.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t fucking say it. I swear, I’ll put a bullet through your head.” Zac’s face was red with fury.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Ian appeared in the doorway, pointing a gun at Zac�
�s head.
Zac’s eyes snapped in Ian’s direction and he scowled. “What the fuck are you doing here? I thought you were dead.”
Ian laughed. “Your little trick of firing me so you could have me killed later didn’t work. I was ready, and I got the man when he came for me.” He looked over at me. “Sorry I took so long.”
I wanted to speak, but I was in shock.
He turned back to Zac. “Now, I suggest you put down your weapon before someone gets hurt.”
Zac’s eyes filled with absolute hatred. You could tell he was trying to figure out what to do next.
“Even if you kill me, there are others downstairs just waiting to get a shot at you.” Ian smiled, winking in my direction.
Finally seeing sense, Zac dropped the gun and Kit ran to me. He enveloped me in his arms and I immediately inhaled him, letting the happiness of having him so close surround me.
But Zac, seeing all this, turned and scrambled to get the gun from Ian. I ran towards the gun on the floor, picked it up, and shot at the ceiling.
“Stop!”
Zac threw his hands up and turned to me with a smile. “Baby, what are you doing?”
Then it hit me. All of it just exploded in my mind and made perfect sense. “The bomb wasn’t planted because of what my father was doing at all, was it? You planted it because you wanted my parents out of the way. It wasn’t about business deals. It was about me. It was always about me.”
When Kit didn’t tell me otherwise, I knew I was right. Zac just offered me a tender, calming smile.
“Livy, baby, I would never have harmed your parents. I was the one who took care of them after. I was the one who protected you all.”
Kit growled. “Only because you knew you would be caught if you didn’t. You couldn’t risk letting your Goddaughter slip through your fingers, could you?”
Zac’s nostrils flared. “The way they treated her was no different than a dog. I had to get them out of the way so I could look after her properly.”
I laughed. I don’t know why, but it just sounded funny coming from him. “And you treated me so much better? You even left me there so I would rot so much, it would look like you came to rescue me. You wanted me to get to my lowest point, didn’t you, Zac? You wanted me to almost drink myself to death so you could come in on your white horse and be my saviour.”
He pointed at me. “I was there for you when no one else was. I got you out of your personal hell and offered you the world. Remember that Manderville pervert? Remember what he did? Who was the one who kept the wolves at bay, ha?”
My head fogged with visions of the wolves chasing me. How did Zac know? How did he manage to get into my head so much?
Zac saw me hesitate and gave me a calming smile. “Livy, baby…” Closing my eyes a moment, I shivered, which made Zac extremely happy. He stepped a little closer. “I love you, Livy. I have always loved you. Ever since you were little, I loved you. It was in a different way back then, but now... Now I would give anything to have you as my princess. It was always you, baby. Never anyone else. I was only ever interested in making you happy.”
I faltered a little, but Kit placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. When I looked briefly into his eyes, all thoughts about Zac disappeared and my head cleared.
I gripped the gun tighter and looked at Zac. “Happy? You think this…” I gestured around the room, “makes me happy? You honestly think that by treating me as your slave, I could learn to love you for it? That isn’t love, Zac. None of what you did for me in the past was out of love. It was out of control. You just wanted to control me. And it worked for a while.” I laughed sarcastically. “Last night, you made sure it fucking worked. You made sure to show the one person who has ever truly loved me for me that you were in control. That you were the one who had me. No one else. You.”
“You are mine!” he growled.
I smiled and aimed the gun between his eyes. “Not anymore.” I pulled the trigger.
I watched as Zac hit the floor, the shock still in his eyes. He was dead, and I could finally be free.
Just like that, I was. Just like that, a switch flicked and the pull he had on me vanished. He was gone, out of my life for good.
I could finally live.
And that was my last thought before my world turned black.
Chapter 25
I came around in the back of a big car. I was being cradled in someone’s arms and when I inhaled, I smiled.
Kit.
“Morning, sunshine. I thought you’d never fucking wake up.”
I looked up and saw Ian smiling at me in the rearview mirror. “Where are we?” I stretched my arms and yawned, feeling my muscles protest.
“We’re on our way to Southampton.” Ian winked at me. “Someone once told me of a boat down there called ‘The Little Princess’. I thought maybe we could hide out there for a while. I think we made a bit of a mess back at the house.”
And then it hit me. Zac, what he did the night before, what I did this morning. I killed a man. I actually held a gun to a man’s head with no remorse or regrets and pulled the trigger. The enormity of what I’d done took over.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
Ian slammed on the brakes and pulled over, and Kit helped me out of the car. I threw up the minute my feet landed on the hard shoulder of the motorway. My gut twisted as I thought about what had happened yesterday and how I could ever get through this.
“Olivia, are you all right?”
I waved my hand out to find Kit. He placed his hand in mine and I pulled at him. “Doctor. I need a doctor.” I wiped my mouth and looked up at Kit’s panicked face.
“What’s the matter, Olivia? Are you in pain? Where does it hurt?”
I shook my head. “I need the pill. The morning after pill.” I saw the understanding in Kit’s eyes, and I turned to face Ian. “I need it, Ian. I don’t want anything of him left inside me. I want to be rid of the evil. I want him gone for good.”
Ian nodded and raced to get back in the car. Kit placed a loving hand around me and picked me up to place me back in the car.
“I’m with you, Olivia. Every step of the way.” He held me close as Ian started the car back up. For a moment, I allowed myself to get lost. For just one moment, I allowed myself to feel happy again.
*****
We drove to the nearest clinic we could find. Considering what I needed, I was seen as an emergency patient. I was checked out and, after an hour of waiting, I was finally given it. I was told I may feel sick for a few days, but that was normal. I would rather feel that than the alternative any day. The other piece of good news was I managed to get another six months’ worth of my contraceptive. Whether I needed them or not, they kept me regular, which was the reason I was on them in the first place. I was told to wait a week, or use condoms. I highly doubted I had any trouble as far as that was concerned. Right now, sex was the last thing on my mind.
Once I was done, we were on the road again. Somebody had dressed me back at the house whilst I was unconscious, and a few items had been packed for me. Ian had his with him, and so did Kit. After being forced out of hiding a couple weeks back, he had emptied out the locker he had at the post office.
“What happened to Craig?” I didn’t know why I suddenly thought of him.
Ian looked at me in the mirror. “He’s gone his own way.”
I gasped. “You mean, he was with you guys?”
Ian nodded with a laugh. “Yeah. I told you he was all mouth.”
I started stuttering. “But… But… What about the clinic? He was watching my every move.”
Ian laughed again. “You really don’t think he knew what was going on? He was playing his part. Looking at how shocked you are, he was playing it really well.”
I huffed. “He was like a walking hormone.” I felt Kit stiffen beside me. I turned to him. “I’m sorry,” I muttered.
And I was. I was sorry for everything, and Kit knew that because he smiled and pulled me
to him. “You never have to be sorry, Olivia.”
I noticed Kit and Ian smile and I saw something pass between them. “Do you two know each other?”
Kit squeezed me. “We’re actually cousins.”
I gasped. “Cousins?”
Ian laughed. “Yeah, who knew? Kit’s mum is my mum’s sister. Kit told me about this agency when I was in the Forces. I was intrigued and looked into it. By the time Kit disappeared, I knew I had to dig a little deeper. Eventually, I was able to join after a few years. I wanted in and I wanted to find Kit before the agency did. I knew he was in trouble and wanted to help. When you came to the house and mentioned Kit’s name in your sleep, I knew I had to step in and help. I just wished I knew earlier. The Boss had assigned a guard to watch over you at your place.” He saw my surprise. “I suppose you didn’t realise that?” I shook my head. “Luckily, it was Craig, but I wished it had been me. Craig mentioned something to me about a man coming in and out of your house, but I told him to keep it quiet. I knew both you and he would be in big trouble if you got caught. I wished I knew it was Kit. I could have prevented this whole thing from happening. I could have warned you.” He looked apologetically in the mirror at Kit.
Of course. It all made sense now. Why he was so eager to be there for me. He was there to protect me from the very beginning.
It made me shudder to think about Zac finding out about Kit earlier. I should have known he would have had people watching me. I was stupid not to notice I was being followed.
I sighed, thinking about all that had been happening since. It made me wonder how everything went down today.
I turned to Kit. “What happened after I left the room?” I felt the tears well at my shame, but Kit placed a soothing hand on my face.
“Ian rescued me. Despite Bartholomew’s promises of letting me go, he had every intention of killing me. He didn’t want anything coming between the two of you. Even though you said you didn’t love me, he still would have had to make sure I never showed my face again.”
Chained Page 32
