Alexander is not the forgiving type.
“You’re going to listen to me very carefully,” he aims the pistol at his head. “If you resist, I’m going to put a bullet through your head.”
Gavin sits there wide-eyed and shaking like a cold dog.
“Nod if you understand,” Alexander’s voice is deep and dark. He is possessed and bloodthirsty but feeling entirely like himself. As if the first time in forever he finally feels in control of his life.
Gavin nods.
Alexander ties Gavin to one of the chairs in the kitchen. Duct taping his mouth shut. He is not in the mood to hear him beg or cry or even deny what he did.
David is standing nearby feeling just as accomplished as Alexander. For years they have been a team. Now they finally caught the rat.
Alexander’s phone rings in his pocket. Liam again along with a slew of phone calls from his other siblings and father.
“What?”
“We’re in Nevada asshole, where are you?”
“What do you mean ‘we?’”
“I brought Scarlett with me.”
“Are you stupid?” He spits. “Do me a favor and take Scarlett back to New York. I have things handled.”
“No. I won’t let you go through with your plan. You’re obsessed. Do you want to ruin your entire life? Because you will if you go through with this. Ellie wouldn’t want this.”
“She deserves to be avenged!”
“I didn’t say she doesn’t,” Liam sighs, his voice growing softer. “Where are you?”
“Where are you?”
“In a motel here in Greenstone. Now tell me where you are,” he urges.
Alexander hangs up and Liam calls back immediately. He declines the call. Looking over his shoulder he says to David, “Watch Gavin. I’ll be back.”
There is only one motel in all of Greenstone, Nevada. The motel is just as rundown as the rest of the town. There is one car in the parking lot belonging to the lady at the front desk. She looks bored slouching in her chair reading a worn out book with yellowing pages.
“Can you tell me what room Scarlett Halloway is in?”
“No can do,” she doesn’t bother looking at him as she flips another page in her book.
Alexander rolls his eyes taking out a one hundred dollar bill and slapping it on the counter. “Now can you tell me?”
“There is a girl who just checked in. Room 203.”
The sky is dark and filled with millions of stars. Looking at his watch it is close to eleven o’clock at night. There is only one lamppost lighting the motel, outside the grounds is pitch black unlike the heavily lighted New York City.
He presses his ear to door and listens. Nothing. When the girl managing the front desk wasn’t looking he stole the master key that she so foolishly left sitting on the counter. He unlocks the door and inside the only thing he can hear is the shower running.
Alexander sits on the bed and waits. Not long after the shower stops and out comes Scarlett in a long bed shirt and too-short shorts.
She gasps, but with swift quickness he is in front of her in a second covering her mouth.
“You’re going to pack up your things and leave.”
She fights him, breaking free of his grasp. “No!”
“Trust me, Scarlett, you don’t want to be involved in this.”
“You’re going to hurt my father. I can’t let that happen.”
“And you’d rather take his place?” Amusement plays on his face.
“If it keeps my father safe then yes,” she raises her chin trying to look brave but he can see the fear in her eyes.
“You’d gladly pay for your father’s crimes?”
“My father is innocent!”
“Oh really?”
“Yes,” she says through gritted teeth.
“Then let's go see him? Hmm?” Alexander grabs her wrist forcing her out of the room, down the stairs of the motel and into the car of the employee.
Did he mention he stole her car keys, too?
Alexander remembers the coordinates and it’s only a ten minute drive before he comes up on the decrepit house. He walks around to her side opening the car door. She sits there stubbornly with her arms crossed. Rolling his eyes, he snatches her by the elbow yanking her out.
Alexander is breathing heavy with adrenaline by the time he enters the house and shoved her into the kitchen throwing her to her father.
“Daddy!” She wraps her arms around him, hugging him.
His cries are muffled by the tape on his mouth.
“What have you done? Let him go?”
Alexander rips the tape off Gavin’s mouth. “Would you like to explain to your daughter? Or shall I?”
“Scarlett you stay away from this man. He is crazy! I want you to run. Run, Scarlett.”
David is blocking her only exit. She looks around frantically but there is no escape.
“Why don’t you tell her, Gavin?” Alexander prompts.
“Gavin?” Scarlett looks confused. “What is going on?”
“Sweetheart, light of my life, please forgive me,” the bastard actually cries.
Scarlett starts to back away like she is about to run. Alexander grabs her forcing her to stand still in front of her blubbering father.
“Don’t hurt her! Please! Please don’t hurt her!”
A cruel idea plays in Alexander’s head. For years the plan has always been to torture Gavin, but maybe this way could break him. “Don’t hurt her?” He runs an index finger down her jawline and she jerks away. “Just like how you didn’t hurt my little sister?”
“I’m begging you. This is between you and me, don’t bring her into this. She’s innocent!”
“So was my sister!” Alexander lashes out. “Your family is going to pay for what you did to my family.”
“No!” Gavin kicks trying to get out his restraints. His fighting is futile.
“Your daughter is my newest prized possession. What shall I do with her?” Alexander’s fingers roam over both her arms causing goosebumps.
“Bastard! Don’t you touch her!”
“No?” Alexander loves how he is getting under Gavin’s skin. To watch his face turn red, his feet kick helplessly, to watch as the thing he loves most in the world be taken from him. “I think she will enjoy my touch. I’m willing to bet a large sum that your daughter has never been touched by a man. How sweet will it be when I’m the first to take her?”
“Get away!” He screams at the top of his lungs.
Alexander strides over closing his hands around Gavin’s throat. “You’ll never be free again. You ran from the justice system. We never got our justice. I’ve been searching for years for you. I was planning on killing you but now...now I’m going to keep you alive,” his eyes widen with hope, “So you can watch as I destroy your daughter.”
“Take me instead. Kill me but leave her alone,” he manages to croak out.
“We don’t always get what we want.” He lets go of Gavin’s neck. “David, get in contact with my private plane. I want to get to New York as soon as possible. I’ll be bringing two new guests with me.”
***
The plane lands early morning the next day. David helps Alexander get his prisoners from the private jet and into the car where he will take them to his private mansion in the Hamptons.