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“I won’t lie, I swear, please. I owe the Dario family nothing, all I ask is a swift death.” Xander, Tay and I all share a look making sure to keep our masks of disbelief in place, knowing he will start spewing details freely if we make him sweat it out for a few seconds and sure enough, it takes him all of ten seconds before he tells us everything. “Gio ordered us to take the stash to the new place.” That draws my attention.
“What new place?” I snap.
His trembling intensifies under the pressure of all our stares. “H-he said to take everything to the place in Winnipeg.” I keep my anger from taking over at the mention of Winnipeg. I can feel Tay and Xander’s gazes on me but I ignore them as I give our rat my full attention.
“He’s taking the guns and coke to Percy Deveraux, isn’t he?” Surprise covers his features but he nods, clearly stunned that I managed to put that shit together. I turn my back to him as I focus back on my guys. The fact Gio has made a move as bold as this is a fucking insult. Winnipeg is part of my territory, he controls Ontario over to Quebec. The fact he is ballsy enough to cross into my own territory and have a deal with the Deveraux’s means he’s preparing for a takeover. I see unease on each of my friends' faces. We haven’t been there in six years and now we don’t have a choice.
“Just let this go, leave the past alone, brother,” Xander implores me.
“We don’t get those guns back, we go to war with the Murdochs. We can’t fight Gio and the Murdochs at the same time. Bishop would team up with Gio just to obliterate us. We fly to Calgary tonight with our men then we go after Percy and take back what is ours,” I growl.
“And what about her?” Tay pushes, I inhale sharply knowing there is a chance I will see her but I swore I would never let that shit cloud my judgment.
“We put her down like we would any other bitch,” I force out through clenched teeth.
Lakeland
There is nothing worse than not feeling chosen.
I’m never the first, second, or even third choice. Never have been and never will be. I like to fool myself into thinking I’m okay with that, I’m used to it but the truth is, I’m not. It stings so fucking badly. People crave love and hearing those three stupid words from their significant other, but not me. I want them to tell me that they would choose me no matter what. I want them to want me before anyone else. I want that feeling of knowing that I am their person, their one and only. Love comes and goes but finding your person doesn’t fade, ever.
I wish I could have that but given what my last name is and who my father is, I have no chance of finding that one person that sets my soul ablaze inside me.
“Daydreaming again?” I shake my head and push away those silly thoughts as I smile at my sister when she claims the seat across from me. Riverland Deveraux is stunning, she puts no effort into her appearance at all, she just wakes up and deems herself ready. Her long black lashes enhance her moss-green eyes. Her brown hair is piled into a messy bun atop her head but it’s her style that gives her that edgy look. She has such a skater vibe about her and she constantly wears a pissed off look on her face. I hate that I can’t remember why she decided to change.
“Yeah, it’s the only way I’m gonna be able to get through this,” I mutter bitterly. God, I wish taking over my dad’s empire didn’t mean I had to marry some egotistical prick who thinks he is a prize to women. Giovani is a pig.
“I’m sorry, Lake.” River drops her gaze to her lap and guilt gnaws at me. I know if she could trade places with me she would.
“It’s not your fault. I’d rather it be me than you anyway.” I force cheer into my tone but River sees through my bullshit and pins me with a look that has my walls crumbling. I let her see the heartache and loathing I feel for my situation.
“Why do you allow him to do this to you?” Before she can continue, the front door opens and we both tense. I shoot my sister a worried look. She isn’t supposed to be here. Dad kicked her out a couple of years ago after they had a nasty fight. She tried to take me with her but he stopped it and had his men throw my sister out. I cried for weeks and begged him for months to change his mind and allow her back but even if he had, I don’t think she would come back. As Dad enters the room the smile vanishes from his face when he spots his eldest daughter.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing in my house?” he shouts. I push to my feet, ready to intervene but I’m too late.
“If I recall, this is my mother’s house and you just live in it.” Dad’s lips thin and his eyes blaze with anger, my head begins to throb like it usually does when my emotions heighten. I fight through the pain as best I can to block my dad from reaching my sister when he moves forward.
“Daddy, please,” I beg. He grips my shoulders and shoves me aside. I scream out for him to leave River alone and not to touch her but it’s no use. I watch as he backhands her and sends her tumbling to the floor. My vision turns hazy as pain explodes inside my head. I cry out when it becomes too much then quickly bite my lip to silence my screams.
“Come on, you old cunt. Touch me again and I’ll put a bullet between your fucking eyes.” I snap my eyes open and gasp. River has a gun pointed at our father, her cheek bruised and her lip split. Tears fill my eyes at the sight of her injuries.
“You have thirty seconds to get the fuck out of my house before I kill you,” Dad grits out through clenched teeth. River keeps her gun pointed at him and never turns her back as she slowly edges toward me and holds out her free hand. I stare at it in confusion.
“Lakeland, this is your chance to be free, you won’t get another one. Come with me now, please.” I dart my gaze from her to my father who is shaking silently with anger until his gaze collides with mine.
“Don’t even think about it. You gave your word to Giovani. You will marry him for this family and do your job.” I flinch at the cold tone and hesitate for a second longer before I place my hand in hers and allow her to pull me to my feet. “You walk out that fucking door and I will hunt both you worthless bitches down and murder you with my bare hands.” His threat sends a cold shiver down my spine.
“We’ll take our chances, you sadistic fuck!” Without warning River fires the gun and then blinding pain explodes inside my head as I pass out.
I come to, groaning and clutching my head. It feels like a band is playing heavy metal inside it. I fucking hate that I have these severe migraines. The doctor Dad took me to said it’s common. I have no idea what the fuck could be common about these things since I know no one who suffers from them this badly.
I haven’t been allowed out of the house unless it’s with my father for years and I have no cellphone or access to the internet, hence why the only way to see my sister is if she sneaks into the house.
“Take your time, Lake.” She may have whispered the words but it feels as if she shouted them. I hate that this is a common occurrence. I pass out whenever my stress levels are heightened. I slowly blink my eyes open and whimper when the stabbing pain in the back of my head intensifies. “Here,” River says as she gently slips her arm behind my shoulders and sits me up, handing me some pills and a glass of water. I hope she thought to bring my medication with her, without those pills my headaches are always present. I hate how they make me feel like a zombie but they are the only things that keep the pain at bay. I smile my thanks as I down the pain killers and look around.
We’re clearly not at my father’s house anymore. From the size of the room and the fact there is a tiny bathroom off to the side, I would assume we are in a rundown motel. The wallpaper is peeling and the ceiling is yellowed from guests smoking in the rooms. God, I hope this isn’t one of those rooms you rent by the hour!
“Where are we?” I croak out.
