Chapter 41: Chapter 41

GABRIEL

Grinding our teeth, we all go outside. Costello - the motherfucker and his daughter right in front of us. The gun in my hand is gripped so tight my knuckles are white. It would be so easy to put a bullet in his head right from behind right now. But I can't take the risk. The fuckin' dude planted a freaking bomb in my Dark Palace and now we have to evacuate the whole hotel above us too because we don't know what kind of force that explosion could bring. Crap! I was careless and clearly underestimated Costello. He's put on a great show so far. He wanted it to come to this. He wanted me to bring him here.

Kian, walking beside me, stares deathly into his father's back. "She didn't believe you that he killed her mother?" I ask him softly. Kian turns to me.

"She didn't look like she believed me. But she didn't deny it either. I don't know what's going on here, or rather what's going on in her head. But her father, clearly has something to do with it I don't know, maybe he brainwashed his own daughter or told her enough lies," says Kian. It surprises me myself. But his daughter is probably just loyal to him. It's her father, of course she would buy everything he tells her. The only problem is that we don't know what Costello told her - what lies he told her.

"We have to convince her. She's the only one we can use to destroy him," I reply. Kian makes a dissatisfied face.

"She's mentally ill, Gabe. Like her father. Can't be trusted."

We go to the backyard. Two black SUVs that I don't know and men who surely belong to Costello are waiting for us.

"Did you think I wouldn't have more people by my side?!" Says Domenico and pulls his daughter to the cars. "You failed!"

"You're free! Now tell us where the bomb is!" Costello laughs.

"Why? Searching is a lot more fun!" Beside me, Kian takes a step forward, but I hold him back. If he does something rash now, we're all dead. And not from the bomb, but from his people pointing guns at us. Domenico wants to tease us, to the outside.

"You want to kill me, Costello. You've got a clear shot, why don't you?" I say, calmer than I really feel.

"Your time will come. I still have a child who can do it..." He looks at his daughter, who is staring at me with a grin. "You're not the only one Callahan I'm going to put down." His eyes fall on Kian. "I don't like hypocrites in the family. You're right, Kian, you're not a Costello and you'll never be able to be one. Apparently blood isn't that thick after all."

"You lousy motherfucker!", Kian blurts out quietly.

"Vamos Hombres!" Costello calls out.

"Adios, you losers! ... See you Gabriel Callahan," Heaven says to me with a devilish smile and waves to us all again. I watch her with a deadly stare until she gets into the car.

"This war has only just begun."

ESTRELA

A bundle of nerves. That's how I would describe myself right now. Talking to my father earlier felt good. At least it distracted me for a moment and I didn't have to think all the time about the fact that Kian is with this man who wants to kill everyone. But now that there is this silence in Kian's house, my fear returns. What if there are complications? What if someone gets hurt? Oh my God! My head is picturing the worst of things right now. I mustn't panic. I breathe in and out deeply. It will be alright. Gabriel and Kian are doing it. Then why the hell do I have this overwhelming feeling like the exact opposite is the case? God, I hope Kian gets home as soon as possible. It's driving me crazy. I can hardly stand it here without him. Yesterday I finally confessed to him that I love him and today all the chaos in my head is coming back. Kian said it would be the end, but it won't be until Costello is out of the picture. And his daughter? What is happening to her anyway?

I bury my face in the shirt I'm wearing from Kian, its scent calming me for a moment. I miss him. The front door is thrown open at this moment. I startle. I quickly sit up on the couch and just see Kian storming towards me. I don't like the look on his face at all, but I'm still relieved that he's finally back. When he gets to me, he pulls me into his strong arms and buries his face in the crook of my neck. I return his hug and wrap my hands around his neck.

"Kian..." I whisper. A throat clearing sounds behind us. I look questioningly over Kian's shoulder, who slowly pulls away from me, but before that he blows a kiss on my forehead. I should be reassured that Kian is back, but I'm not because of the people standing in Kian's house now. Gabriel, a couple of his men and this DEA man who was also at the motel are standing in Kian's living room. And now I'm pretty sure something's wrong. "What's happening?" My voice trembles slightly and I look at Kian. I can't read his gaze exactly.

"There was trouble. The Dark Palace and the hotel had to be evacuated because Costello planted a bomb the day they took Matthew. He threatened us that if we killed her he would blow it all up We couldn't take the risk and had to let her go," the DEA guy replies, all professional. That said, needs something to sink in with me. A bomb? My heart stops beating for a few seconds. Does that mean Costello is free again and so is his daughter? And now there's a bomb in the Dark Palace, which is directly above a hotel where innocent people are staying?

"Estrel." Kian's voice tears me out of the horrible image that has just appeared before my eyes.

"Where's the bomb? What are you doing now?"

"A bomb disposal team and some of my guys are going to find her and defuse her as soon as possible," the DEA guy replies again. I take one look at everyone in the room and then collapse onto the couch in disbelief. Kian looks at me worried. I feel pretty bad all of a sudden.

"And what's your plan now?" I breathe into the silence.

"We don't know for sure yet. But it definitely includes Costello's death," Gabriel growls, and I get chills down my spine.

"What is Costello doing now? What about his daughter?" I ask, my voice cracking. Nobody answers. Not a good sign. Kian sits down on the sofa next to me and hands me a glass of water. I didn't even realize he picked it up.

"He still wants me dead..." Gabriel replies.

"He wants to kill us all," Kian corrects him. I look at him in shock.

"What?" I wish this was all just a bad nightmare. But the arm of Kian wrapping around me proves to me that this is the reality. A terrible reality.

"Nothing will happen to you... I'll make sure of that," he whispers to me and looks at me seriously.

"It's the least of my worries about anything happening to me, Kian. He wants to kill you damn it. All of you. E-he's too dangerous. He's got a bomb an-nd..."

"We'll destroy him," Kian cuts me off.

"We do. I have enough weapons and men to take action against Costello. He will not destroy us. Before that, I'll put a bullet in his head," says Gabriel. Words that don't soothe me, rather frighten me even more.

"No!" I'm trying to hold back the tears. "Kian. Don't do that. I don't want to lose you..." I voice my greatest fear.

"We have no other choice, baby. There's only one winner in this game and if we don't do anything, we're the losers."

"You can't ask me to let you go to fight him, Kian. I love you. If I lose you, I just can't take it." He looks down for a moment, then looks up again and puts his hand on my cheek.

"I'll be ok ..."

"No, Kian. You can't say that." Now a tear rolls down my cheek, which Kian gently wipes away. He's just saying all that to calm me down, but I'm not stupid. I know how dangerous it will be when Kian and the others start a war against Costello. My gaze wanders to the other participants. They turned their backs on us and Gabriel was arguing with the DEA guy. They haven't heard anything from our conversation for a long time. "And what is your exact procedure?" I ask cautiously. Kian brushes my hair back from my forehead.

"Heaven - Costello's daughter, we want to get her on board somehow. She would be a means of destroying him..."

"I don't trust this woman."

"I know. I don't have a good feeling about her either. But we have to try." I nod. "I love you, Estrela. You just have to trust me." I look at him.

"I trust you, Kian. It's the fear for you that's crushing me."

"I have to do this."

"I know..." - And I hate that it's true.

KIAN

It is quiet. too quiet Silence I'm not used to. I can't even hear my own breathing. It's like I'm in a room. It's all white. So white it blinds me. I close my eyes. Try to feel something, feel something. But there is nothing. I feel nothing. I open my eyes, look at my hands. They are dark red. Dark red like blood. My upper body is naked. No injuries, I can make that out on my own. Where's that damn blood coming from? It's practically running down my hands. The white beneath me turns red, literally swallowing up the light color as if it's eating up the white. My eyes close again. It's so damn quiet. I can not stand it. It's crushing me. This silence, it's like fucking hell.

***

I hit the punching bag over and over again. It's been exactly two days since Costello left with his daughter and so far, it's quiet. But this is surely just the calm before the storm. I thought my life would finally get some light when Estrela stepped into this one. It was light for a moment too and I saw and felt happy with her - I still do, of course. I'm freaking lucky to have her and because she's the best thing that has ever happened to me. But in this life, what haunts me, she doesn't fit. If I could, I'd let her go so she wouldn't have to endure all that shit. But I can't because she's the one who gives me all the strength to get through this. It's selfish I know. But I have already told her that I will protect her with my life. I would take a bullet for her.

My movements slow down until I'm staring at the punching bag, breathing heavily. Sweat is running down my bare chest and my muscles are burning like hell. "Hey," I hear her soft voice behind me. I turn to her. She is leaning against the door frame of my gym. Her expression is thoughtful and worried as her gaze falls on my body. She surveys the wound from the knife that Costello's men rammed into my body. Thinking back on it, I'm trying to get my breathing under control. Boxing actually helps me calm down. But this time it just did the opposite and made me want Provoked to wrap my hands around Costello's throat and squeeze until the life drains from his eyes.

Estrela approaches me. My pulse calms down a little. Even though I'm sweaty, she puts her hands on my chest. It's unbelievable how my body trembles when she touches me. I was wrong. It's not boxing that relaxes me, she is. It always was. "I love you," she whispers. I smile broadly at her, then wrap her in a big hug. She screams. "Ewww...you're soaked in sweat!" she scolds, drawing another grin from me. She is so cute.

"Then we must take a shower!" I laugh.

"You. You need to take a shower!" she says seriously, but she wears a smile on her beautiful lips.

"For real?" I look down at her and then throw her over my shoulder.

"Kian!" she shrieks again. A slap on her butt silences her instantly. She gasps in shock.

"Oh, you didn't do that!" I grin and lead us up to the bathroom. She fidgets and her sweet slaps on my back don't stop me from standing in the shower together. I lower them, turn on the water and... Shit! Ice-cold water flows over both of our bodies and makes us gasp. I quickly turn back to a more comfortable temperature. "Kian! My stuff!" I try to hold back my laughter, but I can't. She grabs the spray and holds it directly in my face. I close my eyes and blindly reach for her hand. Grabbing it, I see her playing angry at.

"You bad girl!" I growl. Your eyes get really big. I put down the spray and turn her to face the wall. Then I move closer to her body and press against her back. I hear her frantic breathing mix with mine as I slide my hand forward and pull up the shirt she's wearing.

"Kian..." she gasps. The mood changed suddenly. I get hard as more skin is exposed. She raises her hands so I can pull her wet shirt over her. I unbutton her shorts, which are a bit difficult to get off her legs because they are soaked and stuck to her skin. Freed from the annoying, wet clothes, she stands there with her back to me in her underwear. My hand slides down her spine. I am fascinated by the goosebumps that form on her soft, light skin.

Arriving at the tailbone, I move closer to her ear. "I love you. You trust me. Yes?" I breathe.

"I trust you, Kian." It's more than just words. They mean more than words could ever put into words. I know how difficult it used to be for her to do this. I didn't even trust myself. But now it's different.

"Good." I undo her bra clasp, which then lands carelessly on the floor, followed by her panties, which I slowly slide down from the waist down, squatting down. Her beautiful ass is floating right in front of my face. "Feet up," I murmur darkly. My hands gently roam up her legs, I straighten up again and clasp both buttocks – firmly. She gasps excitedly.

"Kian..." I hear the excitement in her voice. I also strip off my shorts and the boxer shorts underneath and toss them carelessly out of the shower. Judging by her moans, she's noticed that I'm naked now, too. She looks over her shoulder. Your lust, veiled eyes meet mine. My cock hurts just looking at her. I push back the wet hair that is plastered down her back and kiss the back of her neck. "I want you," she moans impatiently. My hand travels forward over her waist, over her stomach, and to her mons pubis until my fingers reach their destination. Groaning, she lets her head fall back onto my shoulder. I love it. as she surrenders to me, I run my finger over her labia, circle her clit with my thumb, then slowly slide a finger inside her. "Ah..." A second follows. "It's good!" My other hand wanders to her breasts. I grab them and knead them until they get heavy in my hand. My fingers slide out of her, making her sigh, then I grab my cock and rub it up and down a few times. I take her hands and press them against the wall together with mine, before slowly penetrating her from behind, piece by piece. A deep moan escapes my throat as I fill it. which makes her sigh, then I grab my cock and rub it up and down a few times. I take her hands and press them against the wall together with mine, before slowly penetrating her from behind, piece by piece. A deep moan escapes my throat as I fill it. which makes her sigh, then I grab my cock and rub it up and down a few times. I take her hands and press them against the wall together with mine, before slowly penetrating her from behind, piece by piece. A deep moan escapes my throat as I fill it.

"You feel so damn good!" It's so fucking intense with her every time. I used to think sex was always just sex. But it's so much different - more intense when you're doing it with the person you adore.

***

I'm just going down the stairs when I hear the front door open. Estrela is still upstairs, getting dressed. "Kian Warren!" I hear a female voice call out, making me frown. As soon as I turn the corner in the hallway, a shock of blond hair pounces on me. "Well, did you miss me?!" purrs Jennifer in my ear What the hell is she doing here?

"Jennifer, what are you doing here?" My voice doesn't sound happy.

"Well. Gabe just sent me away for no reason and it was getting a little boring in LA. I actually want to hide out with you for a while, but I didn't know that there were two of Gabe's men at your door. Did something happen? There must be a reason why my brother sent me to LA?" she babbles. I'm about to answer her when one of Gabe's men walks in.

"Jennifer, your brother won't be happy that you're back." Jen rolls her eyes and waves him away, bored.

"Then don't tell him anything. I'm staying at Kian's for a few days... That's okay, isn't it?" she asks me with a teasing smile that I might have used before, but now it leaves me completely cold. Little does she know her sudden appearance is at the shittiest time. After all, Gabe didn't send her out of Nevada for no reason. Jen is of course the best leverage for Costello and therefore in great danger.

"That was a crappy idea to come here!" I growl. "You should see your brother. Otherwise he'll be pretty pissed when he finds out that you're here with me." I want her to go again. Estrela is the only woman I want in my home.

"I'll tell the boss," says one of Gabe's henchmen, who also thinks it best to let Gabe know. I nod to him. Jen looks at him annoyed, then at me.

"What's the matter with you? You didn't just kick me out before, didn't you?" she remarks and runs her hands through her long, blond hair. I hear footsteps behind me and inwardly curse. The first time Estrela met Jennifer wasn't great. Sometimes I curse myself for not being able to keep my cock in my pants.

"Kian?...Oh," says Estrela, noticing our Surprise Guest.

"Wow, you still fuck that girl?" There's nothing I'd rather do right now than send Jennifer to the bloody moon. Unfortunately, she always says what's on her mind. Just like her brother.

"Jen!" I growl. "Keep your mouth shut."

"What is she doing here?" Estrela comes to my side. I can feel the tense atmosphere between the two women.

"So, can I stay here?" Jen asks me with a pout, ignoring Estrela's question to me.

"No, Jen. You can't do that!" I say sternly. Annoyed, her gaze slides back to Estrela.

"Aha, I see. So Kian lost his unapproachable heart to a girl," she says condescendingly. "Let's see how long this lasts and you get enough of her." With these words she walks out of my house again. I clench my jaw as I watch her leave.