
Chapter 32 - Asher
PRESENT
Hold on. Just hold on for a few more seconds, Ash. You need to fucking hold on.
It's all I tell myself while I count down the seconds until I can breathe again. My lungs are on fire, my body aches with pain, and I feel seconds away from passing out.
Just when I feel like I might, the hand gripping the back of my neck tightens and pulls my head out of the water. I suck in a huge breath, coughing and sputtering while water trickles up my nose and down my throat. It feels like I'm on fire from the inside out, like I'm burning alive. My knees dig into the bathroom floor to balance myself while I lean my body against the bathtub. I struggle against the rope that has my wrists tied behind my back but it's no use. I'm not getting out of this anytime soon. I've been getting my head ducked in this fucking water for close to half an hour now and I'm no closer to escaping now than I was then.
When my coughing subsides, Christian takes a seat on the edge of the tub, facing me. Fucker looks like the happiest person in the goddamn world right now. I'm not about to give him any more satisfaction so I keep my face bored and unamused.
"Where'd they teach you this overused maneuver? How to be a bad guy 101? You're goddamn lame, you know that?"
"You're way too cocky for somebody who I plan to kill in the next hour." He sneers. "I just want to have a little more fun and then we're done here."
"Wrong." I cluck my tongue and act disappointed. Christian's nostrils flare with impatience and I know I'm pushing my luck here but I'm not going down without a fight. "Are you forgetting the deal between you and Mister Handsy? You need me alive so really, I haven't lost just yet, have I?"
He growls right before grabbing my neck and ducking my head back in the water. I barely have time to hold my breath before I'm submersed, water seeping into my eyes and nose and ears. For a second I regret running my mouth but then I remind myself nothing is worth compromising my own pride. I don't know what'll happen to me but I will know that I kept my dignity through it all. So I hold my breath while my lungs burn and water crawls up my nose painfully and I feel like my insides are being ripped apart. He keeps my head ducked for so long that I think I might actually pass out from holding my breath but then I'm pulled out, water tricking inside of me and feeling like a thousand needles digging inside. I cough violently, hacking out the excess water that should not be inside of me and try to pull in some much needed oxygen.
"Are you ready to cooperate?" Robbie crouches down beside me. He thrusts my phone in my face. "Call. Her. Now."
"Go fuck yourself, bitch boy." I sound neutral as ever.
"Call her!" He screams in outrage, patience snapping. "Call Aria! Bring me Aria!"
"Let me think about it." I widen my eyes, pretending to mull it over. My lip juts out in thought before I shake my head. "So I thought about it. What was my answer again? Oh yeah. No."
"Fuck you!" He swings at me, decking me in the face with a decent right cross. It shouldn't hurt me as much as it does but I have no doubt I have so many bruises on my face by now that I probably look like a colouring book. "Call her for help and tell her to come here or I'll fucking kill you!"
"So kill me." I seethe. "I'd rather die than let you get your hands on her again. And if you think I don't mean that, I fucking dare you to kill me right now."
"No." He laughs quietly, shaking his head. "No, no, no. You won't get away that easy. We'll torture the answers out of you for as long as it takes."
"Then I guess it'll be the three of us forever." I smirk. "Better get used to this, boys. I call dibs on the bed. I have back problems."
"You arrogant prick." Christian grabs my throat and squeezes. I smile even though I can feel my blood circulation cutting off and getting trapped in my face, making my eyes and lips pulse painfully.
"Let him go." Robbie barks and pushes him away. Christian's hand releases me and I cough, trying to regain my breath. "We need him."
"No." Christian shakes his head, barking out a laugh and pointing a finger at Robbie. "You need him. And I'm getting really fucking tired of waiting. This deal is off."
"You can't do that!" Robbie explodes, getting to his feet.
"Who's going to stop me?" Christian raises his brow.
Robbie stalks up to him, butting chests. He gets in his face and drops his voice. I have to crane my head to hear them but I manage. "Are you forgetting the leverage I have on you? One wrong move on your end, and I can ruin everything for you. One wrong move, and Pryce won't be the only one who dies today."
Woah. My brows rise in curiosity. How did a dumbass like Robbie get leverage over Christian? And what could be so bad about this information that it's enough to get Christian killed? And I still have no fucking idea how these two know each other or why they're working together.
"I have a request." I call out, interrupting them.
Both of them pause mid-argument and turn to me, looking equally incredulous.
"A request?" Robbie repeats.
"The fuck is this? Dr. Phil?" Christian scowls. "You don't get to ask us for shit."
"But I'm dying to know something." I shrug. "Literally dying. You two are going to kill me and there's one thing that I'm curious as fuck about. Can you just answer a question so I can die peacefully?"
Total silence. They blink at me, then at each other, then back at me. I think I stumped them.
"Come on. Don't be dicks. You can't show some common courtesy to the man you're about to murder? Pussies."
Robbie scowls, losing his patience first. "The fuck do you want, Pryce?"
"How do you two know each other? And what the fuck is this alliance?"
"Don't say anything." Christian warns Robbie.
"Telling him that won't do shit. It's not the kind of information that can backfire at us." Robbie brushes him off and I hold back a smile. Still so fucking dull.
Christian grabs him by the collar. "This is going to fuck you in the ass and I won't save you. Jeopardize your own life if you want to."
"I won't." Robbie shoves him away.
I find myself curiously watching these two. There's no way Christian would let anyone treat him this way and clearly Robbie is way too comfortable being a dick so whatever leverage he has on him must be good. Whatever leverage he has, I need to trick him into telling me. It might be my only shot.
"I need a few smokes." Christian grumbles. "And then I'm getting the guns from the car. Let's move this along."
My heart jumps. Fuck. I need to do this fast or I'm as good as dead.
"Well?" I raise my brows at Robbie, forcing myself to relax.
Robbie sits on top of the toilet lid while Christian heads out, leaving just the two of us.
"Let's get this straight." He starts. "The only reason I'm telling you any of this is to prove how fucking badly you failed."
I wisely stay quiet even though I have a few choice words for him. I hate that I'm forced to sit here and have a conversation with him instead of beating the shit out of him like I really want to be doing.
"When Aria first got me sent to jail, I thought I would never forgive her. I was dead-set on revenge. But time went by and I had years to think and I realized that she thought I didn't love her. I loved her more than you know, Pryce. She's it for me and she needs to know it. I mean, I went to jail for her. Not many guys would do that."
I blink at him. Does he even fucking hear himself? How delusional can he be? "You don't hit the woman you love, you cunt."
"Watch it." He scowls. "I admit my anger got the best of me sometimes but I was just keeping her in line. Discipline is part of human nature. I had to be the one to make sure she didn't step out of line because that's what you do for people you love and I love her. It was for her own good."
I'm going to be fucking sick. This guy either belongs in a mental institution or six feet under the earth. I'm shaking with the physical restraint of holding myself back. I want to fucking slice him open.
"Anyways, when I was released I went looking for her and found out she moved to California. I wanted to fly out to her but my parole terms stated no international flights for the next five years. I thought it was over for good when months after my release, she moved back here."
My stomach sinks. Shit. All this time...all this time we begged her to move back even though she never felt safe enough. Why did we push? This wouldn't be happening if we didn't.
"It wasn't hard to keep track of her. She moved back to her old home so I knew where she lived. Followed her around for a bit and found out where she worked, too. But that was all outside stuff. I needed to know what was going on in her life before I could formulate the details of my plan. I couldn't approach her because of the restraining order so I found Trisha, fed her a few sweet lies, and had her investigate Aria for me. Through calls and meeting up, she found out all I needed to know. I was going to take Aria where it would be just the two of us but my plan hit a few snags. For one thing, she started seeing you. She's also around Nate and yours crew, the boxing one. I couldn't fight off five guys who are professional boxers. I knew my chances. Then I realized I had to lure her to me and so I went after who she cared about most—you."
"You're fucked." I mumble. I think I might honestly throw up. "There's something seriously fucking wrong with you."
He shrugs. "At least I didn't kill anyone."
His words ignite pure rage in me. "Your bitch Christian tell you that? What does he have to do with this, anyways? Isn't that what I asked?"
"Oh. That." He nods like we're talking about the weather or some shit. "I had Trisha watch Aria while I watched you. You became my new project for the past couple months. Bumping into Christian was pure luck. He was going around Boston showing your picture and asking people if they recognized you or had seen you. I walked by him one day and stopped him, saying I knew who you were. We had a nice discussion about how we both knew you and hated you I and an alliance was immediately formed. I offered to lead him to you if he would help me take you out and he was stoked as fuck because he already planned to take you out. From there, it didn't take long to get a plan going."
Though the remaining pieces come together in my mind, Robbie has no problem rubbing them in my face.
"I wigged Trisha out knowing she would come clean to Aria about me. I knew you would lose your shit and track me down. Once I led you straight to Christian and gave him what he want, I told him he could have his fun torturing you while you led me to Aria. Even if you don't call her here yourself, she's going to come looking for you. Then I'll have my girl, and Christian can have his revenge, and all will be well in this fucking world again."
Jesus. It's like I'm stuck in the middle of an obscene nightmare except it's very fucking real and admittedly very fucking terrifying. What the hell have Ria and I gotten ourselves into? And how the fuck do we get out?
But then I remember. Robbie knows something that's somehow keeping Christian in line. It has to be something good or no way would Christian agree to this plan. If he had his way, both of us would be dead right now.
Wait a fucking second...
Both of us would be dead right now.
I try to read Robbie's face. He looks way too calm, like things are actually going to go his way. It makes me wonder how much about this he actually knows and since I know more about street gangs than him...I have all the leverage I need.
I sneak a glance at the door. No doubt Christian will be here any minute so I need to work fast.
"Fuck! I can't believe it's going to end like this." I groan miserably, letting my head hang. "I can't believe Christian is going to fucking win this and leave us dead."
"Us?" Robbie snaps. He can't see my face so I let my victorious smirk peek through. "You mean he's going to leave you for dead."
I lift my head, eyes wide. "No...I mean us."
Robbie shakes his head, scoffing. "That water boarding went to your head, Pryce."
"Dude. I'm not joking." I make my tone serious enough that Robbie sits up a little straighter. "How much do you know about Christian? Do you even know why he's after me?"
"You killed his partner. They were in a street gang together." Robbie supplies, telling me the extent of what he knows. If that's it, then I've got him right where I want him.
"His partner and him captured me. I'm in a street gang too and I was double crossed. I was only defending myself."
"No fucking way." He sneers. "You? In a street gang? I fucking doubt that."
"It's true. The Vice Lords. Christian ever tell you about that? My parents run it. Well, birth parents."
Robbie pauses, searching my eyes and obviously trying to figure out if I'm lying or not. He can see the genuineness on my face because I'm actually telling the truth.
"I know a hell of a lot more than you when it comes to street gangs. Your little alliance?" I wince for good measure. "This shit isn't allowed. He's involving a random civilian in the murder of someone else. The only people who know about this are you and me. He's going to kill me so that just leaves you and that risks his gang figuring out about this little project. Which means he has to take you out too. It's either he kills both of us or he gets killed."
"That...that's not true." Robbie laughs but it's tight and nervous.
Gotcha.
"You want my advice?" I ask him. He doesn't say a word but listens intently.
Before I can open my mouth, Christian comes barrelling inside the bathroom and narrows his eyes at us.
"What's going on?" He accuses. He swings his lethal gaze to Robbie. "You didn't fuck this up already, did you? I swear you're such a fucking dumbass."
Robbie visibly shakes with rage, eyeing Christian with a new hatred in his eyes. Now that I've planted suspicions in his head, he no longer trusts his partner and Christian's attitude only helps the story I've fed him. I try to contain my hope. If I can turn them on each other, I have a solid chance of escaping.
"Aria is on her way." Robbie says and I try not to let my surprise show. What is he doing? "I convinced him to call her. He just needed the right threats to motivate him. Keep an eye outside for a silver sedan and make sure she doesn't bring anyone with her. Figured you should do lookout since you're armed."
Damn. Quick thinking on his part, I'll give him that, and it plays right into my hands.
"No shit?" Christian looks impressed. "Well, look who came through after all. Nicely done. Don't let this fucker get away in the meantime."
Robbie nods dutifully and Christian looks back at me. I keep my posture slumped, my eyes barely open, so I appear weak and exhausted. He must buy it because he nods in contentment and leaves the bathroom again. Robbie and I wait in a minute of tense silence before he leans in my direction.
"Start talking, Pryce." He hisses, keeping his voice a whisper. "What advice were you going to give me? And you better not fucking try anything."
"Why would I? I'm going to be dead soon." I shrug. On the inside, I want to laugh hysterically. This fucking meathead is about to save my life and he doesn't even know it.
"Then hurry up and tell me." He glances toward the door nervously.
"You need leverage." I tell him. "Something that you can threaten him with so he can't act out."
"I already do." He gloats, looking proud as hell.
Yeah, and I'm about to find out what it is.
"It has to be something good." I insist. "Something that makes him feel like his life at stake and you're capable of getting him killed. That way he won't kill you."
"That's exactly the kind of leverage I have on him." His body hums with excitement.
"I seriously doubt that. Trust me. I know how shit in the street works and there's no way you have that kind of leverage. He probably made you feel like you have the upper hand so you won't go against him."
"No." He shakes vehemently. "This is the real deal. His gang will want to kill him if they find out about this. It's just like you said."
"That doesn't make any sense." I say slowly.
Holy fuck. Keep going, you cunt. Keep fucking talking.
"His gang is already out for him. The dude you killed? A year after you killed him they found out he was laundering money they made to another gang. He was a thief. You killing him worked out so they dropped the revenge case against you. They don't have anything against you anymore. And they specifically told Christian he's not allowed to lay a hand on you or it'll start a street war."
"He's gone rogue." The pieces fall together and I suddenly see the bigger picture. This is it. This is my way out. "If he kills me, the Asesinos will kill him. Hell, if they find out Christian tortured me that's enough of a reason for them to kill him. He's the one with a target on his back right now, not me."
"Exactly." Robbie looks triumphant. "See? He can't kill me now that I know this about him. I told you."
"Yes, you did." I murmur quietly enough that he doesn't hear. Fucking dumbass. Christian had no idea who agreed to work with and right now, it's the downfall I plan to take total advantage of. "I guess you're right. I guess I'm the only that's dying today."
"Damn straight." He smirks proudly. "You shouldn't have underestimated me, Pryce. Your little girlfriend sure did."
I side-eye him. God, I fucking hate this son of a bitch. He deserves to rot in hell for everything he's done. That's why I have no remorse for what I do next.
"What do you mean he's gone rogue?" I say as loud as I can, practically screaming the words.
Robbie's eyes widen. "What are you doing? What the fuck is this, Pryce?"
He stands up in alarm just as the sound of thumping boots grow louder and louder. A second later, Christian bursts inside with a gun in his hand and it's pointed right at Robbie.
"You told him?" Christian snarls in outrage. "You outed me?"
Robbie finally catches up to speed and he cries out, looking down at me like he could kill me. "You fucking tricked me!"
"All I did was ask why Christian is walking around like your bitch. I didn't think you'd actually tell me the leverage you had on him." I say calmly.
"N-no!" Robbie puts his hand up in surrender as Christian seethes, stalking up to him. "He's lying! That's not how it happened!"
"That doesn't matter anymore." Christian clicks back the lock on the gun and Robbie freezes, gaping at it. "I don't trust him or you. The only difference is, you just gave away my weak spot. You're collateral damage and I don't need you anymore."
Robbie's eyes widen right before he swings his gaze back at me. He's angry but desperate. So, so, desperate. "Fuck you, Pryce! Fuck you and your cunt of a girlfriend for getting me in this mess! Both of you got what you deserved when I beat the sh—"
A loud bang rings out and I can't help crying out, tucking my chin into my chest and curling up on instinct.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. The last time I heard a gunshot...I can't afford to think about that right now.
Instead I scoot all the way back as Robbie's body slumps to the floor, blood trickling out of his mouth. He's on his stomach, face turned to the side, already paling at an alarming right. His body is still, growing whiter. Dead.
For a brief second I feel a flash of guilt knowing I let this happen and realizing I caused yet another death but then I think about what he could have done to Ria and I feel nothing. He was a lost cause. A sick man. And I would do it all over again if it meant protecting the woman I love.
"Fuck!" Christian screams in outrage, kicking the tub. "Just another fucking body to deal with. Fuck!"
I don't say a word, unable to pull away my eyes from Robbie. Somehow I knew that my plan would lead to Christian killing him but I didn't think about what comes after that. Robbie asked Christian to keep me alive and that's the only reason I'm still breathing. Now that he's dead, Christian won't waste any time killing me.
I lick my parched lips. Fuck, I should have thought this through better.
"Wait here, asshole." Christian scowls at me, crouching beside me and tightening the rope on my wrists before leaving the bathroom again.
As soon as he's out of sight I sit up on my knees and survey Robbie's body to see if I can find a weapon. I'm pretty sure it's fucked up as hell that I'm searching him in less than a minute after he was murdered but I can't find it in me to feel completely guilty for causing his death. God, I'm so fucked up. And he isn't carrying jack shit on him except his phone which is stuffed in his back pocket.
Another idea pops inside my head and I turn my back to Robbie's body, reaching for his phone with my hands still tied behind me and taking it out of his pocket. It clatters for the floor noisily and I wince, eyes darting to the door. I face the phone again, sitting cross-legged so I can peel one sock off with my toe. These assholes already got rid of my shoes so I wouldn't be able to kick my way out of their hold when they first tied me up. Once my foot is free, I use my big toe to press the home button of Robbie's phone. It's locked with a passcode and I immediately enter the digits of Aria's birthday. I have to try it in a couple of different orders but it works because that's how fucking predictable he is. I glance at the door again, my body vibrating with adrenaline and nerves. I can't hear Christian so he likely went to grab another weapon or some shit. It takes another minute but I find the recording app and open it up, pressing the red button to start a new recording before kicking the phone behind the toilet and out of sight.
It doesn't matter what happens to me in the next few minutes. Whoever finds me needs to know Christian went rogue so they can use it against him for their own safety. I might not be able to save myself but I can save them. I have no doubt that I'll be able to make Christian talk and admit everything on recording for tangible evidence against him. I know I'm going down right now but so is he.
I straighten up just as Christian reappears and narrows his eyes at me. "What are you doing?"
"Ordering some food." I deadpan. "You feeling like Italian?"
"Such a fucking wise-ass." His face comforts with anger and impatience. "I'm going to have fun finally getting rid of you."
"Nah." I say easily, leaning back against the cupboards beneath the sink. "The only thing that's going to happen once you kill me is you being on the lookout. Constantly looking over your shoulder. Your gang is not about to be happy you disobeyed their direct orders to not kill me."
He growls, stalking right up to me and sneering down at me like I'm the shit beneath his shoe. "Exactly how much did my idiot of a partner tell you?"
"Before you killed him?" I speak loud and clear for the recording.
"No, dumbass. After I killed him."
"Wow. Impressive sense of humour." I snort. "He told me enough."
"That doesn't matter." He shrugs. "The only people who know about me going rogue are the three of us and since I'm the only one walking out of here alive, I have nothing to worry about."
"Don't you think the Asesinos will find it suspicious that I died while you were out of New York? It won't be hard to put two and two together. And you just killed a random civilian which is the number one red card in street work. You're getting sloppy, Christian."
"You think I'm a rookie, Pryce? All I have to do is make it look like you and Robbie killed each other over the girl you're both so fucking obsessed with and no one will even blink in my direction."
"Solid plan except for the fact that I've had help tracking you these past couple weeks. I'm not the only one who knows about your involvement."
"Maybe so, but I'd like to see them try anything without evidence. It's my word over anyone else's."
Yes, the fuck it is. More than he knows. The recording has everything necessary to take this fucker down and I can breathe easy knowing I've done everything I can.
"Time for talk is over." He pulls out his handgun from the waistband of his jeans and points it at me. "I've waited long enough."
My heart thumps wildly as I stare into the hollow opening of the gun, fearing the power it holds to decide my fate. I think of all the promises I made to Aria, how I'd marry her and have kids with her and how much I fucking meant that. I think of Nate, who was always the only true friend who stuck by me my whole life no matter how much we fought like assholes. I think of my parents, who sacrificed everything for me yet don't even know who I truly am. I think of Coach and the guys, who made me realize there are selfless people in the world that genuinely care about you.
Then I think of Aria again and how much I love her. How I at least got the chance to show her how much I fucking worship her, how much I've always loved her since the day she smiled at me from her balcony for the first time and shone so much fucking light in my dark world. I think of that smile now, and her beautiful laughter that always comes with it. I think of the love in her eyes every time I moved inside of her, every time I kissed her because I felt like it, every time I smiled at her even though I hate smiling but knew she loved mine. I think of how she's gotten me through every last thing in my life, including this.
Thinking about her, imagining her here with me, brings me the peace I need to let go. So I close my eyes, knowing that even now she's with me, and I'm ready to die.
I hear the click of the gun and my pulse thrums. For some reason, the memory of Ria and I when we were ten comes to my mind—the time I was teaching her cool tricks with a soccer ball and I accidentally kicked it straight through the Hunter's front window. Her parents had stormed out and Aria quickly jumped in, saying she was the one who did it. Even then she protected me no matter the cost. It somehow feels like she's protecting me now, making me brave when I'm so fucking scared to die, and I cling on to the memory to make this easier.
I love you, I tell her in my mind. I need to believe she can hear me or I won't get through this. Always you.
I somehow feel the pain before I hear the gunshot. I've had a lot happen to me today but none of those things compare to the pain I feel now. It feels like my insides were sliced open and set on fire all in the same breath. The pain consumes me and I buckle over, sprawling on the floor besides Robbie. I grit my teeth and stop myself from crying out, refusing to give Christian the satisfaction. I shakily glance down, my throat tightening as I watch blood pool all over my shirt from the gaping hole in my gut. Looking at my wound somehow makes it hurt even more so I close my eyes and go back to imagining Aria.
I hear another gunshot, and then another, and another. My eyes squeeze shut and I'm begging my mind to pretend I'm somewhere else. My lungs burn and I can't breathe. I can't even catch my breath because it's simply escaping me and there's no chance of getting it back. Instead, short bursts of air and wheezes leave my mouth and I can feel my body giving up on me. Fuck, this is really it.
It's weird. I expected my final moments to be calm and quiet. Instead there's a commotion of noises and even more gunshots. There's sounds of fighting, of booths thumping and fists punching and mouths cursing. There's chaos and I briefly wonder if this is the end I've deserved all along.
Then there's warmth. Gentle hands that cup my face, that hold me with so much love that I'm confused because I don't deserve to be loved like this. There's soothing whispers in my ear, thumbs swiping my wet cheeks, and soft lips pressing against mine.
And then...there's nothing.
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A/N
.............there's absolutely nothing I can say for this author's note. This is all so overwhelming. Deep breaths, everyone. It's almost over.
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