Thanks so much Chloetjie13 for this amazing cover xx.
Just letting you all know there is a small part in Italian but don't worry I got ya'll, the translation is below it, literally one of the characters asks what they said and the other person says what it means. There's no need to google transalre it.
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It's been a week and I swear I've gone crazy. Being chained to the wall is useless.
Just sitting here wrapped up in your thoughts and emotions.
I had given up on any hope and I know Mike isn't going to help. The whole reason he's in this mess is to save his brother. I can understand that. So he wouldn't risk anything for his brothers life. He shouldn't, especially if it's for me.
They had starved me completely.
Everyday Chantelle would come in and talk to me. She wanted information out of me. Although Xavier thought I was stupid I observed a lot. At the mansion I wandered around and opened folders I probably shouldn't have, but I was bored. I knew information and Chantelle knew that.
But I couldn't do that to Xavier. I wouldn't help Chantelle, especially after knowing what I have done.
So every time I wouldn't answer she'd respond with violence. Punching me, slapping and sometimes even kicking me.
I couldn't fight back or retaliate. They had pumped me with tons of those injections. The ones that make you physically exhausted yet mentally wide awake. All I could do was accept the blows.
Although it hurt at first, I found a way to accept the pain. Because feeling the pain was better than feeling nothing.
Each day she'd come in with the agenda of getting information yet I'd never say a word.
The only thing getting me through right now is thinking about Josh. I had to think about something good otherwise I'd lose everything.
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a red light began flashing.
I looked up rather confused as a loud blaring noise, sounding exactly like an alarm rang through my ears.
It was high pitched and I cringed at the noise.
I was exhausted.
I could barely lift my head up at this point and I felt dizzy as I tried focusing on one thing, yet everything came out fuzzy.
I saw a blur of guards running in different directions with their guns pointed in front of them rather alarmed.
They were in their kill stance and that worried me.
I had no hope, I know there's no way Xavier was coming, I know he doesn't even that I'm missing.
With the last bit of effort I had left I tried yanking the chains above me that my arms were attached to yet they wouldn't budge. It was made of steel, who was I kidding there's no way I'm getting out of this.
I gave up and sunk in defeat. No one's coming for me.
Who would come for me? There's no one left anymore.
The bars suddenly swung open catching my attention.
My vision was blurry yet I squinted my eyes trying to get a better picture.
The person kneeled in front of me and I realised who it was as my vision started to clear. What is he doing here? He pulled the needle from my arm, stopping the flow of whatever they were putting in me.
"Mike" I whispered exhausted. "You shouldn't be here" I tried speaking yet it came out just above a whisper.
He grabbed a key out of his pocket and inserted it in the bar above me. "I'm getting you out of here"
He looked different. A ghost look had crossed his face and a look of pain and torment cross his face.
"No" I told him. "You need to save your brother not me"
He stopped all of his movement and his eyes connected with mine. I was shocked at the look in his eyes. It was almost like he was in a place of hell, with excruciating neverending pain. I know because I've been there so many times.
"He's dead" he told me in a grief stricken tone. "Chantelle killed him the moment she took him away from me. She wasn't even going to tell me" he shook his head in pain "She was going to make me take people like you and send you to your death for the rest of my life"
I felt my heart shatter. This whole time Chantelle was using him and Mike endured it all for his brother, yet she repays him by killing his brother.
"Oh my god" I breathed out feeling a wave of sadness.
He was grieving over his brother, yet he also felt like it's his fault. His fault for not knowing and his fault for helping Chantelle execute his plans. He felt the burden and I know he will wear it forever.
He didn't deserve this. I barely know him yet I know he deserves so much better.
"They didn't tell me because they knew I would've done some crazy shit, like this" he laughed venomously.
"Please leave now Mike, I know you want to kill Chantelle and I know you won't leave until you do. But she will kill you or one of her men will. Please Mike don't give her the satisfaction of killing you. You can't be another one of her victims" I pleaded him.
I know it's going to be hard but he needs to leave now while he's alive and live his life. The feud between Chantelle and Xavier are between them and I can't let him get caught in the crossfire. He can't be another victim because of them.
He shook his head knowing all too well. "There is no point in living without the people I love. My fate is sealed. From the moment I told your friends exactly where we were I was as good as dead"
He risked his life to alert others? It's not like I had any friends anyway. I lashed out, directing all my anger at Xavier. He should hate me.
He looked at me with a glimmer of hope. "Yet there is one last thing I can do. I can help you escape"
I instantly declined knowing the risks. "No Mike, I will be fine trust me I've found peace with the fact that I'm not making it out of here"
He pleaded me giving me a heartbroken look. "If you won't do it for you at least do it for me. I will not find peace if I don't try"
He looked completely and utterly broken. Like one last push and he will go off the deep end.
I know what I wanted to do which was to tell him to save himself yet I know the burden of wearing all of this including leaving me behind will hold me down. Something possibly worse than death. So I knew what was the right thing to do for him.
I nodded.
He didn't need me to say anything else as he quickly unlocked the chains and my arms fell limply onto the ground.
He looked over my face noticing the deep cuts and bruises across my face. A wave of pain and guilt crossed his face. "God what did they do to you?"
I didn't know how to answer that. "Nothing I couldn't handle"
He had a look of determination. "I'm getting you out of here Avery, if it's the last thing I do"
He hooked his arm around my waist as I leaned on him for support. I tried balancing yet I felt my legs go limp.
He led the way out of the cell and into the madness.
The bright red flashing lights made me feel more dizzy and the loud sound made it hard to focus.
"Try and stay beside me" He yelled out over the loud noise as we turned more corners.
I know that if any men were to see us they'd instantly shoot. They all know I'm a prisoner. After all they all saw me being dragged in.
As we rounded another corner two men moved towards us. When they saw who we were they raised their runs yet Mike was too fast and shot them both, one in the leg and the other in their chest.
It was almost scary how he did it off instinct.
I wonder how long Chantelle had kept Mike under her control. I honestly didn't want to know.
We stepped around the groaning men who couldn't get up as I tried steering my eyes away from them.
They're bad. They both have done awful things.
Yet when I tried repeating that inside my head different thoughts popped up in my head. Like do they have a family. And are they also held against their will like Mike is.
It brought a lot of guilt onto me and I couldn't even imagine what effect it would have on Mike.
We turned another corner and I could faintly see a group of men.
Yet my eyes met the dead guards on the floor. Somebody must have beaten us to it and I didn't even want to think about the person who might be here. Xavier can't be here.
Why would he come for me?
A glimmer of hope filled me. Maybe, he did come.
I heard Mike cuss as he tried thinking of somewhere else to go. He led me another way as we didn't go into that hallway and continued our way out.
He opened a door and we were met with a bright blaring light.
We noticed a small group of men ahead of us. They were far but close enough range to shoot. We were outnumbered.
I knew we were dead. We were caught and there was no way getting out of it.
Suddenly those blue eyes resurfaced from the group.
He was wearing a black suit with a few red dots on it. His hair was tousled, as though he had been running his hands through it many times. Yet those blue eyes. As his eyes met mine I felt relieved.
He was here.
He started running towards me and I found any remaining strength in me to try and run to him.
When Xavier became in arms reach his arms circled around me in a tight embrace. I wrapped my arms around him as I leaned into him. I felt safe and secure.
His body was holding up mine as I was too weak to stand on my own.
I slightly pulled away looking over him. "Your here" I said rather surprised.
His eyes searched mine, taking in every inch, afraid that I would disappear. "And I'm never letting you go" he spoke in a soft and reassuring tone.
His hand cupped my cheek as his thumb slightly caressed my cheek.
I closed my eyes breathing in knowing everything's going to be okay.
I opened my eyes and noticed a look of anger cross his face. He was looking at specific spots on my face and I knew he was looking at all of the bruises and cuts.
"Who did this to you?" He asked in an angry tone.
He looked furious.
"Xavier I'm okay now" I replied softly as I covered his hand with mine.
His eyes softened.
Something behind me shifted and Xavier immediately pulled away aiming his gun at the person near me. Out of instinct the person at the other end of the gun put their hand under the gun.
He held a gun at Mike's head and my eyes widened.
"Xavier don't!" I yelled out in an urgent tone.
Xavier didn't back down. He thought Mike was going to kill me.
"He saved me, he told you where we are and helped me out" I explained in a pleading voice.
Xavier glanced at me before setting his eyes back at Mike whos hand was still under the gun wearily.
Xavier slightly lowered the gun about to pull it away yet Mike suddenly mumbled something holding the gun with his hands firmly in place. "per la miafamiglia"
(translation is literally below - keep reading)
Suddenly he moved his hand up and pulled the trigger.
"No" I screamed out as a loud bang erupted.
His body slumped onto the ground and I stared at his body not believing he would kill himself.
I felt crushed, Mike killed himself. Was the pain too much?
Another door opened from the building and Steve held a gun against Chantelle who held a scowl.
As they neared us a dangerous look swept itself across Xaviers face and he looked furious.
Steve brought her directly in front of Xavier.
Chantelle looked next to me at Mike's body and stared coldly at it. "Well saved me the time of killing him"
No remorse, no guilt and no sadness. She didn't care.
She turned her head to Chantelle and a smile crept it's way up her face. "I bet you didn't see that one coming baby bro" an annoyed look crossed her face. "Although you ruined my perfect plan. Everything I had done all led up to this moment and it's gone just like that"
I couldn't read Xavier's expression.
He glared harshly at her.
"Put her on the ground" He told Steve waving his gun at her.
Chantelle seemed slightly scared yet replaced that look with a blank look.
Steve did as told and put her on the ground.
I didn't want to watch but I couldn't steer my eyes away from them.
She smiled with a look of mockery. She found this amusing. "I will die in honour of my gang, I will die knowing that someone out there is going to kill you and everyone you love" she looked at me with a sinister look "starting with her"
She looked back at Xavier. "Kill me Xavier. Do it. I killed our parents and I tried killing you. You have all of the motivation you need"
He placed the gun in front of Chantelle's head and she looked happy.
Something I couldn't quite put my finger on.
In a swift motion he shifted the gun to the side and pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit Chantelle straight in the stomach.
Xavier never misses which means he wanted her alive.
She groaned out in pain with a look of confusion.
The edge of Xavier's lip tilted upwards. "You think it was going to be that easy? You betrayed us and you betrayed your own family" he leaned down closer in a dangerous tone. "You are going to suffer, for the rest of your life" and with that, he punched her square in the face knocking her out.
He stood up. "Tie her up and put her in the car, I'll deal with her later"
He turned back to me with an unreadable expression.
Xavier helped me into the car and it was quiet ride home.
Although it was a peaceful quiet. I wasn't in pain, it was nice for a change.
For some odd reason Xavier let me lean my head on his shoulder the ride home.
"What was his last words?" I asked Xavier referring to Mike.
"For my family"
That sunk in. He really just wanted peace and to be with his family. Just like Damien.
As we arrived at the house Xavier made sure I was alright and left to go deal with Chantelle. This side of Xavier is what I was waiting for. The soft and vulnerable side.
Richard helped me up. "So we're having a party tonight"
I frowned. "What!? Why are we having a party?"
I have to admit it's pretty weird to have a party right now. Especially after everything that had happened.
"It's more of a victory celebration. A tradition where we host a party for our gang" Richard explained.
"Is there going to be alcohol?" I asked in a hopeful tone.
He nodded.
"Well I'll be there" I replied. Anything to drown my sorrows.
He quickly stuck his head in. "Xavery will happen tonight". He shut the door and made his way into the mansion.
"What the hell does that mean?" I asked Steve.
He smiled amused before getting out too.
Xavery?
It didn't take long for me to understand what it means.
"Hell no"
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So much drama in this chapter. I honestly felt so bad for Mike.
One more chapter left. I'm excited and really sad. And don't worry, there is no cliffhanger!
Update coming soon.
Remember to comment and vote.
~ Ashley.