Page 27 of Heretic


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Chapter Sixteen

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.

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