“Jolie?”
“Oh, you remembered! How sweet. I told you, you should have been on my team.”
“Where’s Laila?” She starts laughing and talking about nonsense. “Where’s Laila?!”
“I don’t know. Damn! All worked up and wasting that manly energy for nothing.”
“Jolie, I swear if you did anything to hurt her I will …”
“You’ll what? Kill me? I doubt that. Besides, I own this house now, and you have no power here. The only way back in, Ben, is to beg me, sexually.”
“I’m going to walk in there and kill you.”
“I wouldn’t try that if I were you. I have some of the best security guards there are, remember? I have to go now. Lots to do.” Jolie hangs up. I grab my keys and rush to the estate to strangle her until she tells me what’s going on.
The estate is in complete disarray. Titus is nowhere to be found and not answering any of my messages. Just as Jolie said, there are guards set up to keep me from getting inside. Unfortunately, for her, they’re loyal to me and hate her. I make it inside without a scratch, but I’m highly pissed off. I find her pouring a drink and expecting to turn around and see me subdued.
“I am so glad you decided to come, Ben,” she says, turning and noticing that I’m alone. “How?”
I rage at her, taking her by the neck and forcing her against the wall. “Where’s Laila?”
“Ben, you’re hurting me.”
“You better answer me before something happens to her. I promise you, you will meet the same fate she does. Make your choice.” She grabs hold of my hand and stares at me in shock.
“You really love her.”
“Jolie!” I swear at her, squeezing her neck harder.
Struggling to breathe, she finally gives. “Nathan took her!”
“Why?”
“She’s a cop.” I shake my head. “Yes, she is, and I can prove it to you if you would just let me go.” I slowly release her, and she happily leads me to the team room where I find blood everywhere. My heart sinks with fear when Jolie hands me Laila’s phone. “Look at the messages. I used her finger to turn it on and changed the password. Go ahead read them.”
I look through the messages between her and Henry, and now understand why she kept pushing me away. “Where is she?”
“I told you. Nathan took her to his special place. Wherever that is. I guess it’s the same place Laila was looking for, and now she’s found it. She’s good but not so much anymore.” Jolie laughs like the bitch she is.
Her text to Henry never got sent, and she only got part way through.
I found Noah …
I look around the room, seeing the fallen picture on the floor. “She did find him, didn’t she?” I say, picking it up and knowing exactly where it is. I hope it’s where she is still. I push Jolie out of my way as she screams at me to give up on Laila, the cop. I give some final orders to subdue Jolie and for my men to scatter and save themselves from whatever may be coming. I have a feeling all hell is about to fall down on us all.
I don’t stop for any stop sign, light, or anything else. I use Laila’s phone to send Henry a message. I send him the address and to hurry with a full force. Time is critical. The place isn’t easy to find unless you’ve been there, and I have once, a long time ago. My mother used to work there. The company cheated her out of benefits after they fired her for being sick. The low down troll who was her boss disappeared one day and was never seen again. After my mother died, Titus bought the company and left the building to rot, his way of taking out his frustrations and something about him I have come to learn only recently. Titus doesn’t openly show his feelings, but he does have them. I find the old place and Nathan’s car right in front. I load up and leave Laila’s phone outside for Henry to track. That should help him find it. I walk in slowly, checking every corner and trying to think of where he might take her. It’s been a while, but I think I have an idea. When I get closer, I hear screaming, one of the voices is Laila’s. The other sounds like someone I used to know. I walk in on Nathan approaching Laila with a powered rod, touching her and sending her screaming even more. He’s electrocuting her, and I don’t think he’s planning on simply touching her with it much longer. Before he can touch her again, I shoot it out of his hand. The rod flies back against his shirtless body, electrocuting the psycho to his knees. He’s bleeding and minus a hand.
“Ben, you don’t know what you’re doing. She’s a cop. She set you up. She set us all up.”
“Step away from her, Nathan.” I back him away enough to check her and let her down. He jerked off and came all over her.
“I didn’t rape her. I don’t fuck pigs.”
“You killed her parents, and you’re shocked she came after you?” I say, filling him in on what I already know.
“Wow, you did your homework. Did you know she was a cop too? Doubtful.”
“I’m not letting you hurt her.”
“You prefer to go to jail?”
“If I have to, but I’m taking you with me.”
Nathan laughs. “You are a special kind of stupid, Ben. And to think, I thought you were actually smart. But you’re not as smart as I am because I knew all along she couldn’t be trusted. She played you, and you are still letting her control you. Maybe I should have fucked her if the pussy is that good.” I shoot off his right ear. “Fuck! You son of a bitch! I did you a favor. She killed your brother.” I pause, searching him for his tell, not breathing, as he realizes I don’t find the lie. “Yeah, that’s right. We found out she was a cop, and she tried to get away. Luca tried to stop her, and she shot him, right in the head.” I shake my head. “You don’t believe me?”
Nathan reaches into his pocket. “Don’t move!”
“I am just getting my phone. See my phone,” he says, holding it up for me. “I am going to send you proof. There. Check your phone and see for yourself.” I look at the image of my brother with Laila hovering over his limp body and step away from Laila. “That’s right. You trusted the wrong person. She would do anything to get what she wants, and she used you to get it.” I review everything I know in my mind while I struggle with the death of my brother. I curse the world, stepping back and forth, trying to decide who to kill. “I am trying to do you a favor, Ben. Titus knows about her now, and he has ordered her death and yours. It was his idea to bring her here. He’s out looking for you.” I focus on him. “If you help me, I can help you. Jolie and I have a trap set up for Titus. He knows everything, and you know he will not stand for traitors. Your only chance is to work with me, kill her, and kill Titus.” Nathan steps towards Laila. “Better yet, walk away and let me finish her.”
I stand silent for a time as I watch him approach her, excited all over again at the opportunity. The moment he does, my blood boils over as all the pieces come together. “Don’t touch her.”
“What?”
“Titus would never order her death without talking to me.”
“You are so full of yourself. Why would he ever consult you when you betrayed him? He wants to kill you.”
“My father would never kill me,” I growl with a renewed anger. “I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out yet, Nathan. And I thought you were smart.” I fire, backing him away from her. Titus dated my mother all through high school, got her pregnant, and promised he would find a way to take care of her. The only problem was, she didn’t like his choice of careers and refused to be a part of it. Didn’t stop him from continuing to try and see her though. And Laila wouldn’t kill Luca. She warned us to leave. I have the note to prove it. She would have warned him to go too, not shoot him.” I step forward as Nathan steps backwards, searching for his weapon. “He stayed though, didn’t he? He stayed to help her. And you, you shot him.”
His expression tells me all I need to know. I secure my stance. “I’m telling you, Titus is at fault here.”
“Titus is going to kill you himself when he finds out you killed his son. I wouldn’t want to be you
right now. It’s going to be a painful death for you, Nathan. I hope you enjoy it, you sick fuck.” Nathan begins to shake in fear, little consolation for my brother. I track him with each step he takes, letting his mistakes sink in and enjoying the bastard’s dread. He knows what Titus will do, and he knows Titus will find a way to get to him, no matter where he is. I wait for his move, knowing it’s coming, and when it does, I shoot. Nathan flies backwards, and I feel good about it. Luca would approve, and so will Titus. I look over at the broken man in the cell and realize who he is. “I thought you were gone, switched sides. At least that’s what they told us.” I release the lock on his cell door.
“It won’t do any good. I can’t walk, Ben. I can barely see.”
I carry him to a softer, more comfortable spot, and hand him my gun. “Use this if anything goes wrong. The police should be here any minute.” I walk over to Laila and take her into my arms. She’s barely conscious, but she’s alive. I hold her close, taking my shirt off to wrap around her and keep her warm. I take the few minutes I have with her to hold her and hide my tears in her hair. “You should have told me. I could have helped you. I would have helped you find him without all this trouble.” I tell her I love her one last time before the police handcuff me and take me away. I find out Titus has been arrested along with most of his crew. Jolie was in shock when it wasn’t Titus coming through the door tonight. She was ready to kill him, but instead, she had to surrender the house, the cars, and everything she was arrogantly taking for herself. I wish I could have been there to see the expression on her face. Instead, I am begging to check on Laila before she is taken away in an ambulance. No one is even considering it until Henry shows up and allows it briefly.
“You sent me the message from her phone, didn’t you?” he asks.
“Take care of her for me, Henry,” I say before I am taken to jail.
CHAPTER 30
Laila
I wake up with a severe headache and hurting all over. I find Henry sleeping soundly beside my bed as a nurse notices me awake. “You want some pain killers? Now that you’re awake, the doctor said you could have some. We couldn’t find any broken bones, but there are a lot of bruises, honey.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine, and yes, she will take as much pain reliever as you can give her. You need to rest, and I know you won’t unless they drug you,” Henry insists. I have to admit, moving doesn’t feel too good right now.
All the memories of what happened begin to piece back together, and I jump up without thinking. “Ben?” Oh shit, I think I broke something.
“He’s fine,” he says, easing my mind while the nurse gives me something to calm down.
I make sure I don’t stay in the hospital any longer than necessary. Henry does his best to distract me and brings me straight back to his house rather than Ben’s. I have asked about him every day, and every day they drug me so I stop asking. I assume Ben’s too angry with me to see me and wonder if he hasn’t left like we talked about. “I would like to see Ben. Is he still in town?”
Henry sighs. “He’s in jail with the rest of them.” He knows what I’m thinking. “There was nothing I could do, Laila. I even put in a good word with the DA saying he helped save you and the senator’s son, but Ben won’t turn on Titus for some reason. He would rather go to jail, and the DA is determined to make a point with the rest of them. He’ll use Ben to do it. No matter the evidence, they’re planning to ask for life.” Henry shakes his head. “Anything they find on Titus, they are pinning on Ben too. I’m sorry. The only other person high enough in the organization that could help them just got out of the hospital, so maybe he can help take some of the heat off Ben. That’s what I am trying to push for anyway.”
“Nathan.” Henry nods. “I thought Ben shot him for killing Luca?”
“He did, but he missed killing him, and hopefully, that will end up helping him. If Nathan talks, then Ben’s off the hook and can get a better deal. Nathan is headed to a secure area as we speak, until they can talk to him.”
I shake my head. “Ben doesn’t miss.”
“Well, he did. He was pretty distraught when we got there, so I am sure he wasn’t …”
“No, you don’t understand. Ben doesn’t miss unless it’s on purpose.”
Henry suddenly realizes what I’m trying to tell him. “Shit!” He gets on the phone immediately and begins screaming to stop the transport of Nathan to the prison. By the time he gets a hold of anyone that could help, it’s too late. Nathan was savagely beaten and torn to shreds, left to bleed to death in pieces.
“Damn it. Titus must have been afraid he would talk.”
“No, he was seeking revenge for killing his son.” I am remembering everything now. Henry looks at me with wide eyes and jaw dropped. “Ben and Luca are Titus’s sons. His only children and the only children he could ever have.” I recall asking Ben about Titus’s fear of getting one of his prostitutes pregnant.
No, he took care of that worry a long time ago. He is too focused on one thing, and he doesn’t want any more distractions than necessary.
Any more distractions. He nearly told me then. “I need to see him.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I don’t budge and demand the use of his car if he won’t drive me.
The senator welcomed me to the force while I was in the hospital, handing over a badge in a ceremonious occasion in front of his son and others officers. It’s an odd thing to hold onto, after everything that has happened, but I use it to my advantage to see Ben. I say I need to question the suspect since visitors’ conversations are not private. I wait in a small room for him, and when they bring him in, I can hardly breathe. He looks okay. Even in an ugly, orange jumpsuit, he looks good. I fight a full on smile so no one questions my being here. He gets one look at me and rolls his eyes. This isn’t going to go well. “Release his restraints,” I tell the guards. He walks in and sits down, looking away from me.
“That badge looks good on you,” he says, pointing out the chain around my neck that holds the badge I never thought I would have.
“If it means anything, I really had quit and was going to tell you that night.”
“Forget it. It’s not like I didn’t have secrets of my own. So what are you doing here? I don’t get conjugal visits yet. Come back after I am sentenced to life, then maybe. Although, there’s a couple of fellow prisoners eyeing me for their own, so you may be out of luck.” He continues smarting off, ignoring me.
“Ben.”
“What do you want, Laila? Why are you here? How are you not off with Daisy setting up your perfect little life as a cop. You can have little Daisies together,” he laughs.
“I don’t love him, Ben.” He slams his fist on the table, startling me and raising concern from the guards. I hold up my hand and calm them down.
“I don’t want to hear it, Laila! Don’t say it.”
“Don’t say what? That I love you.” The words seem to only cause him pain.
“No, you don’t.” He looks me in the eyes, taking in a deep breath. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m in prison, and I’m going to be here for a long time. There is no way in hell you are going to wait for me.”
“I’m working on a deal for you …” Ben laughs bitterly.
“There is no deal. Not without me talking, and I’m not talking.”
“Because he’s your father?”
“No, because he made sure I didn’t know anything, not anything of value. I am damn sure the DA isn’t going to believe that.”
“You had Nathan killed. He was your option out of here.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just sorry I missed him myself. Laila go, leave me here and forget about me. I’m already forgetting about you. All I see in front of me is the bitch that ruined my life.” I shake my head and reach out for his hand, taking hold and trying to reach something inside of him that will make him want to fight. It doesn’t work. Jerking his hand away fro
m me, he breathes in deep and meets my eyes. “I hate you. You will never know how much I hate you. My brother is gone because of you …”
“Ben, no. Please. I would never hurt Luca.”
“Stop it. You have taken everything from me, including my freedom, and you come here looking for what? Forgiveness? Well, you’re not going to get it. I hate you, Laila. I want to strangle you right now.” He gulps, getting up and walking away from me. “Just go and leave me here to rot. It shouldn’t be too hard for you. You’ve got the life you always wanted now,” he says coldly.
My worst fears come true. “You said you wouldn’t hate me, no matter my secrets,” I force out with tears already streaming down my face.
“I lied,” he says as I cry, begging him to change his mind. My body, beaten and bruised, trembles. I’m beginning to believe his hate for me until I catch a reflection of him in the window. He hovers over me with his hand stretched out, fighting himself from comforting me. He loves me and is doing his best to make me think he doesn’t. He looks up, realizing I see him, and huffs. “Fuck.”
“I don’t want to live without you, Ben. If you could just help me, help you, then one day …”
“Then what? What would we have, Laila? Even if I get out of here one day, what could we possibly have? A convicted felon and a cop? And I will be, convicted. They are going to pin everything on me because I’m the closest thing to Titus now. Someone has to pay and we both know it won’t be him.”
“You don’t know that.”
“It doesn’t matter Laila, it won’t work, you’re a cop, and I’m a criminal, convicted or not. We would forever have something between us that we could never get over. We could never truly be together. Even if you don’t want to believe it, I do, and I’m not doing that to you.”
“It’s better than being in prison forever,” I plead with him.
“No, there’s no difference, because me being without you is prison,” he says, giving me one last tender touch before he bangs on the door for the guards to take him back.