“But how would you explain your eight year old son?”

“I would have explained to my family that she was a long lost love and had gotten pregnant before we lost touch. My family had never met her before, nor had any of my friends.”

“But Keiran ruined your plan when he killed her.”

“Not quite.” Just then his phone rang and he sent me an apologetic smile. “Excuse me. I really must take this call.” Once he stepped out of the room I rushed for the door but heard the sound of a key turning. I tried the doorknob anyway and found it locked. I banged furiously against the door but he never returned for some time.

I sat in that room running through everything he had revealed. It felt like hours later when I heard any semblance of sound outside the door. I could hear heavy thuds and grunts that sounded strangely as if someone was being beaten. I hoped by some miracle that Keiran or someone had found me and began screaming for help.

Not long after, Mitch reappeared in the bedroom I was being held in. The scrape of the key in the lock alerted me of his return. “I want you to behave now. We have company.”

“Who?”

“In due time. I’ve just learned that my son has left Six Forks unexpectedly. This will certainly put a delay in my plans that I cannot afford. I need a favor.”

“You’re joking right?”

“Afraid not.”

“Well that’s too bad because the only thing I’m willing to do for you is to show you where to fuck off.” The hard feeling of his palm on my face sent me flying to the floor and burning pain followed.

“Now that was your first and only warning.” He pulled out his cellphone and handed it to me. I cautiously looked up at him from the floor. “Call my son.”

Despite his warning I wasn’t willing to put Keiran in danger. Yeah, I don’t get that either. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. You’re just going to have to kill me.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few hundred degrees that could freeze over hell. He watched me for a moment with unmistakable rage simmering within his eyes before he swiftly turned and headed back out the door. He was back before I could make a dash for the door and freedom. It sounded like he was dragging something or rather someone as I soon found out. I first noticed a familiar head, full of dark spiked hair. “It may not be you that I start with…” he warned.

“Keenan!” I was horrified at this sight of his still body bleeding in various places. I immediately crawled over to him to see if he was breathing. When I felt the shallow rise and fall of his breathing I sent a silent prayer.  How did he get Keenan and why?

“What did you do to him?” I screamed.

“My nephew wasn’t exactly cooperative with the men I hired. Took three of them to bring him down. They roughed him up pretty good.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter either way to him.

“Why Keenan?”

“I’ve decided to go after all of it. We are essentially the last of a dying breed and I could give two shits about continuing the line. If I kill them all then all the monies are mine.”

“No.” I shielded Keenan with my body. I had to do whatever it took to keep him safe.

“Oh don’t worry. I won’t kill him just yet. He is extra incentive to get Keiran here.”

“What about his father, your brother?”

“I’m saving him for last. I want his death to be slow and painful.” As he spoke about his brother I couldn’t miss the deep hatred lacing his tone.

“You would take your brother’s life too?”

“My brother has taken much more from me.” He looked in Keenan’s direction brief before shooting his eyes back to me. “Now make the call.” He dropped the phone in my lap but I let it lay there untouched until he suddenly pulled out a gun and aimed it at Keenan.

“Ok!” I held out my hands in surrender before picking up the phone.

“Good girl. Keiran trained you well.”

I dialed Keiran’s number and prayed he didn’t answer. But when he finally did I realized how much I loved and missed the sound of his voice even though now it sounded gruff and full of impatience.

“Who the fuck is this?” he barked.

“Keiran…”

“Lake? Where the fuck are you?” he asked. I could hear the rage but I could also hear the desperation in his voice.

“I don’t know.” I instantly broke down crying. Mitch snatched the phone out of my hands.

“Hello, son. You haven’t forgotten about your father all these years have you?” I didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. Mitch had walked out, locking me in the room with an unconscious Keenan.

I was afraid for him with not knowing the extent of his injuries. Not to mention being unable to form a clue as to how to get us out of all this safely. I wasn’t dumb enough to believe that Mitch would let me walk away from this. Not after everything he had revealed.

“Keenan,” I whispered. “If you can hear me, you need to wake up…please wake up.” I nudged him and amazingly he began to stir and groan in pain. When his eyes finally opened he instantly shut them squeezed them closed again.

“Shit,” he grumbled.

“It’s worse than shit,” I half joked.

“Lake?” he groaned out.

“Yes, it’s me. Can you sit up?” He exhaled and slowly moved until he was sitting on the floor next to me. “How bad did they hurt you?”