Heretic: The Clans Book Ten

by Knox, Elizabeth

  Last night. His friends. What he whispered to me.

  “Elena!” The man screams again, this time with his accent a tad bit thicker and I realize it’s Migual. I hop out of bed, grab the silk robe I see on the hook by the door and cover myself while I rush down the stairs. I know they’ve seen me naked numerous times, but if I don’t have to expose myself than I won’t.

  “Migual, where are you?!” I call out into the air, seeing him rush into the corridor from the kitchen. Swiftly, I go into the kitchen and see Luca’s body on the floor. He looks like he’s asleep . . . but I know he can’t be. An eerie feeling washes over me and I know something isn’t right.

  “What the hell happened?” I ask, trusting my instincts, and as Migual looks over to the counter with the empty prescription bottle . . . I realize what Luca did. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. What did he take?”

  Migual shrugs, looking more worried with every passing moment. “H-he took Vicodin before when he went down this path.”

  Looking around the kitchen I remember what happened the one time I snuck out to Amsterdam with my friend, Emilia. I’m pretty sure my boarding school never even told father about the incident. If they did, I’m sure I would’ve never been allowed to step foot in that school ever again.

  My eyes land on a pot and I rush over to grab it from the hook it’s hanging from, pull it down and go over to the faucet, turning on the cold water. The last time I was around someone who overdosed on that lovely trip to Amsterdam, I watched everything Emilia did. In hindsight, she must have someone in her life she had to do this for. When the pot is halfway full I dump it over his head, hoping the freezing cold water will somehow shock him into waking up.

  “Okay . . . overdoses, think, think!” I mutter lowly to myself. Migual gave me the impression Luca has done this in the past, which means he may or may not have overdosed in the past as well. Knowing what I do of Migual he would’ve prepared for something like this. “Do you have anything to give him, if he were to overdose? Naloxone?” I suggest, remember hearing about the drug. It’s been popular over the last few years in aiding those from having opioid overdoses.

  Migual draws his brows together, “What is Naloxone?”

  “The thing you spray up their noses, if they overdose.” I bark, needing him to sense the urgency here.

  “Yes, yes! I have it! I bought some last year,” Migual instantly replies, rushing over to the other side of the kitchen he opens one of the higher cabinets and pulls out a small box with a key lock. After he’s typed in a couple numbers he runs over with a small vile of the drug.

  I take it from Migual’s hand and go back over to Luca’s side, kneeling down next to him and hold one of his nostrils shut while I release the spray up his nose. After a few moments I take the small tube out and lean back, staring at his dark features, waiting for something, anything to happen.

  Nothing does.

  Nothing at all.

  Out of nowhere, it’s like the gates come crashing down and every ounce of anger, frustration, betrayal and heartache oozes out of me. I go from being a woman determined to handle this panic filled situation to someone who seems like she doesn’t give a flying fuck about the man laying unconscious on the floor before her.

  Scooting closer to him, I plant my hands on both sides of his head and stare at his face . . . waiting, but still, nothing happens.

  Pulling my hand back, I slap him once. Until I do it again, and again, and again —repeatedly slamming my flesh against his.

  How dare he have the audacity to take drugs after what he did last night, to be selfish in this way. How could he do this when he’s the one person I can depend on right now? Now that he’s made sure he’s the only person I can count on. For fuck’s sake, he’s my husband and while we don’t have a conventional relationship in the slightest bit . . . I still . . . need him in a way.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. Fucking dying right before my eyes like the selfish bastard you are. How could you do this to me?!” I cry out, tears rushing over my cheeks. I plant my hands back around his head and feel my tears fall onto the back of them. “You made sure I was yours, that I was your perfect little princess in that fucking cage, told me to fall in love with you and then you pull away and tell your friends to use me like I mean nothing to you. As if I’m a common whore. You don’t give a fuck about me, you only give a shit about your role in the Clans, your power. Well, how are you going to have power when you’re fucking dead, you smug bastard!” I cry into the air, sounding much like a wounded animal. Even though I know what I’ve said, the hiccups through my words make it barely decipherable.

  “I never g-gave a f-fuck about them,” He rasps.

  Luca blinks a couple of times before I realize this isn’t a dream. He’s actually speaking to me, and with one foul swoop I bring my hand crashing down onto his cheek, screeching my anger filled words. “Of course you don’t! This is all about Mariana, isn’t it!? You just want to be closer to her, as fucking close as you can be, even if it means being in a room with her . . . that’s all you wanted, you never wanted a wife and you surely never wanted me, nor have you ever given a damn. You’re only using me to try to make her jealous, to use me as your fucking show pony. Hear me now, and hear me clearly, Luca Ungur. I am done being your pawn in this ridiculous game. I am done with you.”

  I rise from where I had been kneeling when he says something I never expected of him, “You’re right. I did use y-you for those t-things. But I’m not anymore. I—I’m drawn to you, Elena.”

  “Lies. That’s the only thing that will ever come out of your mouth, only more lies. If you’re going to kill me then just get it over with. Don’t drag it out through this ridiculous time limit.”

  Luca starts to sit up, and glares at me with fury behind his own eyes. “Do you h-honestly think I want to kill y-you?” His voice still rasps through his tone, but I don’t give a fuck. I won’t feel sorry for the man since he did this to himself.

  Without a doubt, I answer him truthfully. “Yes, I do.”

  He scoffs, “Then get out. Get the fuck out of my house and don’t ever come near me again. I don’t want to see your fucking face,” Luca stops speaking to me and looks to Migual, “Migual, please give Elena some clothes and her belongings so she can finally leave us be.”

  Migual gives his boss a confused look but nods, taking ahold of my hand and leads me downstairs. He takes me to the closet on the outside of the oubliette and hands me a pair of designer jeans, with a blouse and finally stops. “I . . . I will miss your presence here, Miss Elena, even though all of our conversations haven’t been the best . . . I saw something different in Luca during your stay here. I’m saddened your leaving us, however I wish you nothing but the best.” Migual offers me a soft smile, but I can’t think of what to say in this moment.

  “I’ll be back in a minute, please get changed so I can escort you out.” Migual rushes up the stairs and I open the closet further and find a matching bra and underwear set, slide those on and then put on the clothing he handed me. Shoes are at the bottom, so I put those on as well and by the time he comes back down the stairwell I’m ready to leave.

  Migual takes me up the stairs and hands off my purse, phone and gives me a stack of money . . . which makes me feel disgusting, but I don’t object to taking it. I’ll need to start over, to reinvent myself and most of all, to figure out what I’m going to do.

  Migual opens the door and I walk out into the warm heat, only to feel my phone vibrate and see a text message from Ivana pop up on my screen. If this isn’t fate, I don’t know what is. I’ve never felt a part of the Clans in my life because I’m not the royal Romanian blood that they are. I’m simply the daughter of a priest. I know the plan was to double cross Ivana and Galina to benefit Luca, although, I have an even better idea. I’m going to double cross them for my own benefit, and to maybe even have a place. Not one that was ever given to me, but one that has been earned through loyalty.

  Chapter Sixte
en

  Elena

  I’m in shock, and I know it’ll fade soon. And then the panic will set in.

  For now, while I’m still feeling strong, I need to think of a plan on what to do.

  I climb into the back of the car that’s here to take me to meet with Galina and Ivana. I’m glad that there is a buffer, a time in between now and when I have to figure how and where to go after this. I know I can’t go back to my father for many reasons. And something tells me that it would be not just awkward but maybe not even a good idea at all to go to the king and queen of the Clans right now.

  I think about all the times it became clear to me that there is some history between Mariana and Luca. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, if it’s a one-sided situation where she rejected him, or if it was on both sides and she was forced to marry the man she’s with now. For all I know it can all be an elaborate illusion considering the man has a drug problem, among other things.

  There’s no denying Luca is crazy. Certifiably insane. And yet, something in my heart pulls me to him even now, even while I am ready to rip his throat out for the way he has treated me and basically thrown me away like trash.

  I still have a hard time believing he kicked me out of his house after everything that he has done to keep me a prisoner.

  What was the fucking point?

  The last words he said to me are ringing in my ears. I don’t know why he felt the need to try and lie about his feelings for me now. There’s no point in wasting my time or his time when I already know the truth. And yet, what he said to me when he believed I was passed out, calling me his queen and bringing me to his bed. I wonder if there’s a little piece of him that maybe started to feel something for someone other than Mariana and himself. His heart is dark, though, and I don’t know how much of a place I can dig out in it. I don’t even know if he’d let me.

  But it’s too late for that right now. It’s something I’ll have to think about later.

  So, knowing I can’t go to Mariana and Ion for help, I have to think about what my next move is after I talk to Galina and Ivana. There is no way in hell that they’re going to give me a place to stay. If I told them the truth, then they would kill me, point blank. They already have trust issues, and probably for good reason. Maybe they don’t even really know what happened to their father. They don’t really know that he is not innocent.

  Not that it makes it right for them to go and try and kill an entire group of people over it. Especially with some of these people having been children when all of this went down. Some of them not even born yet.

  That’s why it’s my job to save everyone, because I’m the only one with the information that can. With the connections. So, despite how I feel right now, I have to put on the best act I ever have so that I can finally figure out what their plan is and how they’re going to target this London event. So that I can save everyone that I possibly can.

  Then, I can worry about my husband and me.

  I hold my phone in my hand, and I wonder if Migual, with the way he has become almost a friend, if I could call anyone in my life that anymore, might have set up something to help me other than just giving cash and handing my phone back.

  Going to the contacts, I scroll through to see that a few of the Clan members’ phone numbers have been added into the list. There’s one I immediately recognize.

  Stefan Dhaka.

  This is the man that sat there during my wedding and watched me get choked, forced to marry Luca, and dragged out as a passed out prisoner. He seemed pretty damn amused by it too. However, when I think about it, he is as close as I can get to Luca. He is the loose cannon that I need that might be willing to help me without blabbing his fucking mouth to everybody.

  At least, not until the opportune moment for him to blab.

  I dial the number, hoping and praying that he answers. And that he doesn’t hang up on me.

  I mean, I don’t know how he feels about women. I know he is married, but I’ve never even met his wife. It’s the tendency of the Clan men to look down on us and think lesser of women. But I’m hoping that Stefan is just a little bit different. That he will listen to me if it might benefit him.

  After all, it seems like Luca wanted to be the hero at some point, so maybe Stefan feels the same way. Maybe he wants to take all the glory. And that’s fine. I only want a tiny piece of it. I just want to be recognized as part of the Clans. Especially considering I’m risking my life for them.

  “You know I don’t normally answer numbers that I don’t know, but since I am curious today, I did. So, I hope this is fucking worth it.”

  Yes, this is Stefan Dalca himself who has answered. I need to be careful about what I say.

  “This is Elena Ungur,” I say to him, being sure to use my married name so he at least might have some kind of semblance of respect for me. “I have some information for you, and in exchange, I need your help.”

  “Elena, interesting that I hear from you. You and Luca have been so far off the radar, the king and queen have been worried that they would have to replace the entire Clan. Luca, is, after all, known as a loose cannon.”

  Ironic that this was Stefan calling the kettle black.

  “I don’t have a lot of time right now to explain what’s happened, but would be happy to do so in person if you’re willing to fly me out to you in about two or three hours. The situation is complicated, and I find myself with nowhere to live right now because of this loose cannon, as you say. But the information I have if you help me can make you a hero. It could get you even more fame and glory than you already have. And it could save your own fucking life for that matter, and the life of your wife.”

  I try to speak with power even though my hands are shaking.

  “I’m not going to pretend to be your friend or appreciate the fact that you are basically telling me what to fucking do. But I like your spunk, and considering there seems to be a threat possibly against my life, which I love myself, and my wife, I will accept you into my home for a time. But if you don’t have something to really fucking give me, expect to be fucking dead before the sun ever comes up again.”

  Spoken like a true Clan leader. “Trust me, you’re not going to be disappointed.”

  “Fine. Send me information about your location and the closest private airport. I’ll have a plane for you to take and bring you here to my place outside of Rio. And please, don’t bring that nut job Luca with you. I am the only crazy person here.”

  I roll my eyes. You would think that the two of them would be friends considering they are both completely insane, but it seems like they are more like usurpers of each other’s territory. I text him immediately the location where I’m going to end up being. Then, I prepare myself for this meeting with Ivana and Galina. I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to frown, I’m not going to panic. These are the things I tell myself in my head, knowing that I will have a chance to break down afterward, once I’m on the private plane on my way out of here.

  Once I’m as far away from Luca and his reach as fucking possible and the two Badescu women. I can be alone to fall apart over all the things I’ve been through. The roller coaster that has now replaced my heart and soul.

  If I thought I was broken before, I was sorely mistaken. I was simply bored and trapped. Now, I’m fucking shattered.

  When I get to the right spot, both Galina and Ivana are there. They seem to be bickering about something in hushed tones, but it seems less like some kind of issue with the Clans and more like a typical sibling spat. It’s good to see that they can actually act like humans in some way. And honestly, I kind of feel bad for Ivana in all of this. I feel she has been honest about the things she’s been through, and she’s being dragged around into this by her older sister, Galina. I wonder if Galina weren’t around if she’d even be going for revenge like this.

  But it doesn’t matter. There’s no saving Ivana now, and I don’t want to even fucking try. I’m too concerned about saving myself, and the Clans.
I can’t afford to get a bleeding heart now.

  “There you are, bitch. So good to see you again. You’re going to fucking flip when you find out the plan. I think this is really going to work this time.”

  “Shush,” is all Ivana says, looking around as if they are being listened to. But the thing is, this place is busy, and no one is paying attention to anybody else but themselves.

  “Is that so? Because I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m so ready to get back at the Clans for allowing this kind of shit to happen to women, being sold off to these fucking alpha men like this. The only reason I can stand to be around my husband right now is because, number one; the sex is amazing, and number two; he’s at least kind of on my side here. He hates the Clans as much as I do for snubbing him all these years. But I tell you what, I’m not a woman to be tied down for very long.” All us bitches start laughing, and I know that I have struck a chord in the right way. This is easier than I thought; maybe my time in the oubliette has taught me a little bit of something useful. Like how to pretend to feel one way when you feel another.

  “See, I knew we were one and the same. So, let’s talk.”

  Galina begins to talk in Romanian, and hopefully, no one around us can speak it. Looking around, I sincerely doubt it. It turns out, that these two women, the Badescu sisters, are worse than I even thought.

  At first, there was something appealing about them. I felt like we were cut from the same cloth. Especially Ivana and I. And in another lifetime, maybe we could be friends. But now that I see the complete hatred in their eyes, a hatred that’s blind, and learn of the type of plans these girls come up with, I know that it’s never going to work. That I’ve chosen the correct side of things even if I don’t necessarily feel like the Clans are my family in any way. They’re just the only place I think I’m going to fit in now.

  Galina is unhealthily obsessed with explosives. Evidently, she has had some training in this matter. Whether it’s because she’s watched online videos on the dark web or she’s slept with someone to gain the knowledge, I can’t tell. But she plans to infiltrate the event and blow it up. Plain and simple. Cut and dry.