Chapter 38: Chapter 38

ESTRELA

I start when I hear shots from afar. My head is pounding like a jackhammer is stuck in my head. I look around only to realize I'm still in this damn room and this isn't a nightmare after all. No, unfortunately it isn't. This is the harsh reality I find myself in. My gaze wanders around the room. Where's Matthew? He's not there anymore. Where did they put him? And why is there no blood on the floor? Is he perhaps alive? After all, I didn't look when Domenico shot him. It was probably just another game for him. Like the gun he put in my hand. Maybe Matthew isn't dead. My thoughts are interrupted as the door bangs open so loud that it hits the wall behind it. An angry - very angry Tiago comes at me in agreement and yanks me off the bed by the arms.

"What's going on?" I gasp. I'm dizzy from the sudden movement and feel like I'm going to throw up at any moment. After all, I was unconscious not even a few minutes ago and I'm being dragged around again. It's definitely not good for my body. Tiago does not answer. His grip is so tight I'm afraid he's going to crush my wrist at any moment. Tears want to gather in my eyes again. Is this the end for me? I hear roars in the distance. It's coming from outside, and that's where he's dragging me. Humid, warm air whips at me and the sun blinds me as we step through the door. Tiago's rapid movements cause me to stumble and fall on my knees to the dry pebble floor.

"Mierda!" he yells at me. What's the matter with him?

"Estrel!!" I thought I misheard hearing Kian's voice. But when I look up, he actually appears in my field of vision and charges towards me. Infinite relief and happiness washes over me and I quickly pick myself up again. It has been almost a full week since I was separated from him and make me realize how much I missed him at the most horrific time of my life.

"One step further and I'll blast 'em!" Costello suddenly yells, appearing next to me. Kian stops abruptly and raises his hand, never taking his eyes off me. I see how difficult it is for him to stay away from me. I'm no different. I just want to run into his arms.

"Kian..." I whisper. I feel Costello's gun barrel against my head, but I keep looking at Kian. I can feel tears running down my cheeks and I can't tell if they're from Kian being here or from another gun being pointed at me.

"Domenico Costello." Another familiar voice breaks the tense mood Out here. It's Gabriel. But he is not alone. His men and a young woman I've never seen before stand behind him. I see fear and anger in the young woman's pretty face. Unlike me, she fights back and insults the men holding her.

"Papá, quítalos a todos. Estos bastardos!" shouts the young woman, with fluent Spanish.

"Shut up!" Gabriel growls at her. I look at Domenico. Sparks fly from his gray eyes.

"If you shoot Estrela Clark, your daughter will be next!" His daughter? So Domenico has another child? I'm starting to understand what this is probably going to lead to. You want a swap. Me versus Costello's daughter.

"You miserable bastard!" I can feel Domenico getting restless. So he's not invulnerable after all. "Kian has an obligation!" He then explains seriously.

"I'm not going to kill anyone just because of that shitty tradition you're following," Kian growls at him angrily.

"What tradition?" Gabriel asks. I look at Kian, who shakes his head and wants to convey something to Domenico. But he doesn't take it.

"He has to kill a Callahan!" Costello says. I see Gabriel frowning. Then the mood on his face changes. He quickly grabs Costello's daughter and throws her to her knees in front of him before pointing his revolvers at her.

"You are responsible for the deaths of my parents?!" Gabriel roars, furious and beside himself that it scares even me. Costello's daughter doesn't seem to care. She just stares at him emotionlessly. She's probably just as callous as her father.

"Your parents were a disgrace!" Domenico actually takes it to the extreme.

"You know who's a disgrace? You! An old man who clings to ancient traditions." Kian also seems to sense that the situation is about to degenerate, because he takes a few steps towards Gabriel, but doesn't take his eyes off me.

"Gabriel, don't forget the plan. We'll trade her for Estrela. Swallow your damn anger!" He talks to Gabriel and grabs his sister with his hand to pull her to her feet. Then Kian also accepts a gun that is handed to him by Gabriel's men. Costello's daughter looks at Kian, but I can't quite read her gaze.

"So you would rather shoot your half-sister than an enemy of the family, just for your little friend?" Domenico asks him maliciously.

"I don't belong in this fucked up family. You made that clear to me yourself! And no one will die here if you hand over Estrela to us!" It must be clear to everyone here that Domenico is not easily defeated. But if he loves his daughter, then he would have to accommodate this deal. Or?

"Go into this shitty deal, Papa. What's it worth if he shoots Costello? You're Domenico Costello, you can kill a bunch of people!", she now speaks. "I'm your daughter, papá. Just give them this bitch and I'll be by your side again. ¡Y luego podemos vengarnos de ellos juntos! And then we can get our revenge on them together!" It seems like we will what his daughter said made an impression on him, because now he looks at me and slowly lowers his gun. I can see Kian taking a deep breath as he sees Costello agree to the trade.

"Fine, fine with me..." Costello steps forward with me. Kian also goes ahead with her until we meet in the middle. Kian looks at Costello, in whom there is only pure contempt, then at me and his expression changes abruptly; to relief and love. I'm shaking and I can't hold back the tears. Costello grabs his daughter's hand while pushing me forward to Kian so I can fall into his arms. Kian immediately wraps his arms around me and I press against his body, inhaling his familiar scent deep inside me. All tension and fear fall away from me.

"It's fine baby. You're safe. With me," Kian murmurs into my hair and he tightens his grip on me and I feel his muscles loosen but some tension remains.

"Do you really think you beat me with that?" Domenico's voice is angry and wild. I get chills down my spine and I just want to get as far away from this cruel person as possible. "I'll kill you all. For daring to attack me. For breaking tradition. For you being a disgrace to the family and for kidnapping my daughter..." With every word that Domenico says it turns my stomach. "First I'll kill your little one while you watch, then Callahan and last you!" His voice is scary.

"You're wrong there..." says Kian. Confused, I lift my head and look at him. But his gaze is coldly fixed on Costello.

"Go over to Gabriel. Now," Kian whispers in my ear in a sharp voice that brooks no contradiction. "Instantly!" He pushes me decisively in the direction of Gabriel. Astonished at his sudden command to me, I freeze for a moment. But I decide that the best thing to do in this situation is to listen to him. I walk away from them with slow steps and walk over to Gabriel, who greets me with a soothing look.

"What's Kian up to?" I ask. Panic vibrates in my voice.

"Not Kian, all of us... We'll destroy Costello in a few seconds," he whispers to me, looking into the distance. All this worries me greatly.

"What does that mean, Gabriel?" I get no reply from him. Instead, I am gently but firmly grabbed by the arm and pulled in the direction of the car by Gabriel's men. "No, what are you doing here? What are you up to?" I mean desperate. While I feel a lot safer in a car, knowing that Kian is still out there, standing in front of his father who just wants everyone dead, makes me think incredibly. Because I'm starting to think that the swap isn't the only thing that's going to happen...

"Stay in there! Believe me, this is for your own safety." That in no way answers my question. They immediately slam the car door in my face as I sit in the car. I look out of the window. Kian, still standing in front of Costello and his daughter, appear to be talking. Suddenly several shots ring out from afar and my heart almost stops. My eyes widen as several men are hit by Costello and fall to the ground. The next few minutes play out like a movie and like I'm just a spectator of a terrible act. Domenico gets angry when he sees that his men are lying on the ground. I look at Kian in shock, who is once again pointing the gun at Costello's daughter. Suddenly I suddenly realize what that means.

KIAN

Pointing my gun at my half-sister Heaven, I look Costello in the eye. His look says more than a thousand words. He wants me dead and everyone else too. But now he is trapped. "One wrong move and I pull the trigger!" I growl. Costello remains calm, only his clenched jaw showing his anger. His daughter is also far too relaxed for me to hold a loaded gun to her head. You probably think I'm just bluffing. But they have no idea what I'm capable of.

"Kian!" Gabriel appears next to me. He also has his gun trained on Costello.

"And all because of him!" Domenico growls, looking hatefully into Gabe's eyes.

"There's a lot more at stake here than just me, Costello. And you know it," Gabriel replies.

"You're in my way, asshole! Just like your parents were! It was a mistake to leave things to Kian. I thought he had the blood of a Costello running inside him. But he turns out to be the biggest coward I've ever met know!" I growl and want to put a bullet in his head immediately, but a loud voice tears my murderous lust out of me.

"Domenico Costello!" Julien comes towards us with quick steps. "You are under arrest!" When Costello realizes who it is, he laughs.

"Really? You've landed the ridiculous DEA!" Julien, standing next to Gabriel, puts his hand on his gun and pulls it down.

"Gabriel don't forget the deal!" He whispers to him. Stunned, I look at them both angrily. Gabriel, noticing my confusion, calls his men and orders them to arrest Costello and his daughter Heaven. Then he pulls Julien and me towards him.

"What? What deal? There's no fucking deal, Gabriel! We'll kill him!" I growl when we're out of earshot of the others. Stunned by her apparently secret plan, I glare.

"Kian, I'm from the DEA. We have to interview Costello first!" Julian explains to me.

"He'll never tell you anything!" I say the most logical thing. How naive can you be to think Costello will ever tell you anything about his business?

"You don't decide, Warren! ... Gabriel?" Julien turns to him. I would laugh if the situation weren't so fucking serious.

"We'll kill him! Period!" I snarl, wanting to punch Julien in the face because he's bringing me to a hundred and eighty. But before that, Gabriel grabs my shoulder and pushes me away from the idiot. If a few hours ago I thought bringing the DEA to our side was a good idea, I regret it very much at this moment.

"He killed my parents, Julien. He doesn't deserve to live..." Gabriel says seriously. Now Julien looks at him in bewilderment. I exhale I thought Gabe was going along with that shit.

"But we have a deal, Gabriel! We have to take him with us and question him. Only he has the answers!" There is silence for a moment. "So you lied?" Julien states.

"No, I'll keep my promise Julien. But you won't take him with you. We'll lock him up in the Dark Palace. You can try to ask him there if he answers, it turns out. But I'll only give him one day. Then I put a bullet in his head." Julien runs a hand through his hair, cursing.

"Fuck, man! Gabe..."

"Calm down, Julien! We're going to take him and his daughter with us now and you're coming with us." Gabe looks at me now and I nod. "See you at the Palace in two hours. Take your little one home first," Gabe says to me. Gabriel and Julien - who still doesn't look happy with this plan - lead Costello and his daughter into the other car. I watch her. Costello doesn't take his eyes off me until he's put in the car and they drive away. A few more of Gabe's men are there now covering the tracks. Just as I'm about to turn to get to the car Estrela is in, a voice stops me.

"Hey!" I turn to see none other than Matthew, more or less crawling onto the floor, clutching a wound in his leg. Fuck, that's what I was missing! I really expected Costello to have killed him. Looks like this motherfucker keeps getting away with it.

"You fucking asshole," I growl, stepping up to him and grabbing the collar of his shirt to pull him up.

"Please help me!" he howls, but falls silent when he realizes who I am. "Shit!"

"I should kill you, motherfucker," I growl. Just the thought of him touching Estrela again makes me want to kill him right now.

"Do it!" Surprised, I let go of him and he falls to the ground. His face, contorted in pain.

"No! Death would be far too good for you." With a satisfied grin, I push him back to the ground before shouting to Gabe's men. "Don't forget this one!" This Matthew should burn in hell. Then I get up and turn around quickly and walk briskly towards the car she's in. I can't see her through the dark windows of the car, but I know she's watching me. I open the car door with a cautious smile. She exhales audibly as I get into the car and close the door behind me.

"Kian!" she sobs. Without hesitation, I pull her to my body. I inhale her scent as I rub her back to calm her trembling body.

"Shh..." I do. "Everything is fine. You are safe now."

"I was so scared, Kian..."

"I know. I'm with you! I will never let you get into danger again. I'm so sorry." My emotions take over and I hold her body so tight to me just to be really sure that she is there - with me, where she belongs. Fuck! If anything had ever happened to her, I could never forgive myself. I love this woman so goddamn much life without her wouldn't make any sense to me.

"Kian II..." Her voice trembles and she breaks off.

"Shh, baby. You don't have to say anything else. It's all good! We're going to your house now. Okay?" She shakes her head.

"Can we go to your place?" she asks, soft and so fragile at that moment that my throat tightens. Domenico will pay for scaring her like that.

"Of course," I answer her and instruct the driver to take us away from here.

The journey is silent. I hold Estrela in my arms all the time. Luckily her body has stopped shaking, but I can tell she's still in shock. At my house, I lead us into the kitchen together and pour her a glass of water. She slowly sits down on a bar stool at the counter while I put the glass in her hand. "Are you hungry? I'll order something for us. Okay?" I ask her. She just stares at the counter, not even touching the water. "Fuck man! I'll kill him!" I mumble in a choked voice. The anger overcomes me. I tear my hair and pace up and down. Crap! She's totally traumatized...

"K-Kian..." my name trembles from her lips. I look into her eyes and my body relaxes a little. "Please do not go!" I immediately walk up to her and turn her face to me so that she looks at me. Her green eyes meet mine.

"I'm not going anywhere. Do you hear? I'll never let you go. I'll protect you with my life, believe me. God! Knowing he's got you drove me crazy, Estrela. But I needed a chill Keep your head, for you. Being able to take you in my arms again today was the best thing in my life. Knowing that you are with me again now...Fuck! I love you so much Estrela. So much that it driving me insane. If someone takes you from me again, I will break and at the same time kill anyone who dares to take you from me." I clasp her pretty face with both hands and lean in so far that our foreheads touch. Her mouth is open and there is a telltale gleam in her eyes. "I love you", I whisper, close my eyes,

"Kian..." she whispers softly as we pull away. "I love you too." This is the first time anyone has said those words to me. I always thought hearing those three words would never trigger me because they are never really meant. But Estrela is different. Because her love for me is real.

"Say that again," I whisper, kissing the tip of her nose.

"I love you, Kian. So much that it takes my breath away." I smile and put my mouth on hers. Our lips gently touch each other. I cup her face and deepen the kiss as she slips her hand onto my hip. Her scent, the taste of her lips, is definitely one of my favorite things. I tilt my head, penetrating my tongue to taste more of her. After a while, we break up and look at each other breathlessly.

"I didn't think you could love someone so much," I say my thoughts out loud. Estrela smiles and strokes my cheek with her hand, into which I nestle.

"I feel the same way," she whispers, kissing me softly on the lips before we pull away and look deeply into each other's eyes for a moment. "Can I take a shower?"

"Of course. I'll order us something to eat. You can take clothes from me." She nods and slides off the stool. I can't take my eyes off her until she's gone around the corner and up the stairs. A few minutes later, I hear the water rushing from the shower. I'd like to follow her to see if she's really getting along. But I think now she needs a moment, just for herself. It's not easy for her and even if it's difficult, I have to ask her later what happened with Domenico. Every detail, no matter if it will tear me apart.

When the food is delivered, Estela also comes downstairs. She's wearing one of my shirts and shorts. I smile softly at her and point to the food in front of me. I hope she got something to eat at least the last few days. "Thank you," she murmured, sitting down next to me

"Do not agree." I study her profile and put my hand on her thigh. I feel the need to constantly touch her. That's the only thing that makes me feel like she's safe.

***

We lie in my bed together. Estrela snuggled up to me. She strokes my bare chest and traces the tattoos that cover my body while I can't stop looking at her. Of course she notices my look. "He didn't hurt me. Neither Matt nor anyone else. But it was horrible to think they were going to do it at any moment. Just the thought of being so vulnerable and helpless scared the shit out of me... I thought Costello killed Matthew. I only heard the shot..." I listen to her words in silence, and I'm more and more relaxed that no one dared hurt her. Still, she didn't deserve to go through something like this. "What are you going to do with Costello now?" I avert my gaze and instead focus on her hand that has stopped

"He will die for what he did." She is silent and I assume she doesn't object.

"But his daughter. She..."

"We won't do anything to her. For now. But she's a Costello and she won't like what we're going to do. But her father wasn't honest with her. Domenico killed her mother because she betrayed him at the time. She has no idea about it." Estrela nods slightly and closes her eyes exhausted. She has probably hardly slept properly in the last few days.

"I'm so tired," she whispers softly. I kiss her forehead. "Kian?"

"Yes?"

"I love you," she murmurs. "So much." I smile and kiss her temple.

"I love you too." She keeps snuggling up to me. Her head rests on my chest, right where my heart beats for her alone. My phone buzzes and I pick it up. Leave a message from Gabriel.

WHERE ARE YOU?

NO TEN HORSES WILL GET ME AWAY FROM HER NOW!

MORNING. 10 O `CLOCK. BE THERE.

I turn off my phone and snuggle up to Estrela, who is already fast asleep.