Chapter 70: Chapter 70
“What do you mean Edwin and Co’s senior program?” I cried, my face hurting from where Alex had hit in frustration at my latest failed attempt. I never saw the blow coming and it stunned me but what shocked me, even more, was his declaration that I follow Siobhan Hayes and go undercover just to bring her back to Mainland. “It’s such a stupid idea! At this point, I would look like a creep and they would suspect that I have dark motives for moving halfway across the country and for what?! Why does it have to be her? Let’s take someone else please,” I begged.
“Your incompetence disgusts me, baby brother. It is Siobhan Hayes or nothing.” He slammed his palm on his face. “God, I can’t believe you! You had this opportunity! How could you let it go?!”
I swallowed the tears burning in my eyes. Carol was in the room and Dez too. First of all, I didn’t want to cry in front of Carol and secondly, I didn’t want to buck down and show Alex my weak side. He would pounce on it mercilessly and tear me apart until I break down and finally lose my sanity. That thought sobered me up and once again I remembered the freedom I felt talking with Bianca. I wanted to experience it again. It gave me the strength I needed to take a deep breath and face Alex again.
“Alex,” I said and was proud of my firm voice. “I am not doing this.”
He stopped pacing to turn and narrow his eyes at me. His eyes, just like mine were dark and stormy as my words settled. Even Carol had a look of fear on her face and Dez’s eyes began to twitch as they all waited for Alex to react to my words.
“What did you say?”
I stood my ground even though the dark tone of his voice held murderous intent.
“I said I am not doing it. I want out. I will not go to Edwin and Co. just to secure a girl for you to make easy riches off her.
He moved toward me and stood toe to toe with me – even though he is my elder brother we stood at the same height. “Carol, Dez?”
They didn’t need him to say anymore before making their quiet exit from the room.
I thought he was going to hit me again and I was ready to stand and fight even if it costs my life. My brother, the brother who used to be my best friend as a kid has become a monster. I watched his decline for years and prayed that he would retrace his steps but it looks to me that all that’s left now is for him to sprout horns and a tail to become the devil himself.
He didn’t hit me, he simply stared into my eyes, holding my gaze to pass his message across as he spoke words that chilled me to the bone.
“Carol told me the girl you spoke to at the beach wasn’t Siobhan Hayes, instead that was Bianca Davis, her friend and you seemed to be enjoying your conversation with her far too much. You had one assignment and that was to get Siobhan Hayes to truth you enough to follow you here and you chose to fail.” He smiled mirthlessly. “Now you stand here to tell me you want out of this? As if you could ever!”
“I never chose to do this in the first place,” I reminded him, lowering my voice like he did to pass my message across. And as much as he held my gaze I held his too. It is funny how I never had any reason to be at loggerheads with my brother before but for this one time, I will lock horns with him and fight him to hell if I have to. “I wanted a normal happy life, I would have chosen the hard way out of this financial mess we found ourselves even if the road would have been tough and difficult. I would have found my feet eventually but you chose to pull me into this mess. You decided that I should abduct an innocent girl, and for what? I will not do it, Alex.”
“You are an ungrateful bastard. Just like father!” he raised his hand and once again I thought he was going to hit me but he balled his hand into fists and with a grin dropped it by his side. “This girl Bianca Davis do like her don’t you?”
Warning bells went off in my head. “What do you mean?!”
“Young love. You were positively burning for her when you spoke to her yesterday. Her name is Bianca Davis, a final year student at Edwin and Co. Her dad works under Hayes in his company, her mother is an indie painter, they have a cat and live on Lines Street.”
My heart began to thud heavily in my chest. I took a step forward, “What did you do?” I asked, my heart in my throat because I know Alex. He may be my brother but I know what he and his gang are capable of. And he got all this information about Bianca in just a day…I don’t want to imagine what else he can do. My heart was a steady, heavy beat in my chest as I waited for him to speak.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I found all I could about the girl. I know where she lives, I know how close she is with Siobhan Hayes, I know the route to their school.” He stopped smiling and I shivered. “And I know that with just a ticket I can be in her house as soon as she gets home and hurt her. So baby brother, would you like me to pay Bianca Davis a visit or will you get your things ready to begin a new term in Edwin and Co.?”
I knew I was trapped. If I thought my brother was a monster before, it’s sad to say he is even more than that now. How did he find all these out? And would he really hurt Bianca?
I didn’t want to think about the things he could do to her just to get me to complete my assignment. Get Siobhan Hayes.
I have heard stories about the Mafioso. Even though the local gang Alex runs here are not as violent as the main gangs, I know they are merciless when dealing with anyone they consider an obstacle, and if Bianca and her family fall prey to Alex…
“No!” I said suddenly before even realizing I was speaking. “You can’t do this! You can't hurt her I beg you!”
“You watch me. Dez can do a good job of it and you know how merciless he can be.”
I fell to my knees and began to sob, begging as my heart broke with fear. “Alex, I beg you there has to be another way to save ourselves. There has to be someone else we can kidnap…we don’t even have to kidnap anyone! We can open a stall…an ice cream shop on the beach and make some money from it but I beg you don’t hurt her please!”
He stared at me crying pitifully on the floor. Suddenly he hit me and I fell on my side. When I rolled on my back I felt his foot in my ribs as he kicked me violently, my side hurt and I swear a rib broke. The look on his face was one of rage and disgust.
“Are you a Rios?!” he asked. “Rios don’t beg, we don’t kneel, we don’t sell ice cream on the beach like stupid pathetic people. We used to have it all and even if Dad lost everything it doesn’t mean we have to give up our pride too. Get up!” he kicked me harder and harder and I cried unable to defend myself.
“You don’t beg and crawl on your knees like losers! You exact dominance like a Rios and damn the consequences. I am not a man to cower, Andre, it is Siobhan or nothing and I don’t care if you die trying to bring her here, you will bring her. I am doing this for you. Imagine how much we could ask from her father. You wouldn’t have to work for anything, you wouldn’t have to drop out of school or give up your dreams!” He punctuated every word with a kick to my ribs.
“I – I am not like you,” I cried shielding my face from his unforgiving attacks. “I am not heartless like you!”
The kicks stopped and he stood still staring into my face. His eyes cleared as if he suddenly realized what he was doing and he fell back.
I forced myself to sit up, cradling my midsection with care.
“I haven’t sold my soul to the devil like you have Alex. What happened to you?” talking was a pain because of the pain in my ribs but I continued to talk because words were all I have. I am not a bully like him, I cannot beat him as much as he beat me. Words were my weapon. “You are not the brother I used to know. And now you will kill your own brother just to get someone else’s money!”
Carol entered the room at that moment and assessing the condition of things in mere seconds quickly ran over to me.
“Oh my God, Alex! What did you do?”
He started to come close again.