Wicked Destiny

Chapter 18





I didn’t even care how long I’d been in this prison. It’s not like anyone would come looking for me. I laid there wondering how long it would be before I eventually broke. All I had was time. Time to sit and wait for whatever Simon had up his sleeve.

It felt like the walls were starting to close in around me. It grew hot and I stripped off the jacket I still had on, and rubbed my forehead vigorously. I guess I felt like the harder I rubbed my head, the more likely I could rub the memories away. Not just what Simon showed me, but everything in the past, too. I needed to get out of here before I went crazy. I kept hearing everyone talking—conversations that took place. I couldn’t tell if Simon was playing mind games or if I was really losing it.

It continued for however long. I thought it would be better when I went to sleep, but it wasn’t. Simon was always there waiting and I’d jerk myself awake.

“Why are you fighting me, Sloane? You and I are meant to be together.” Simon voice came from over my head.

“I have a choice in the matter. What are you going to do with me?” I asked.

“Well, we’ll continue until you break, so if you save us the trouble and time, maybe things can be a little easier for you.” He appeared in front of me again. “Think of what you will have. The world would be ours; everyone will bow at your feet. No more feeling helpless and out of place, because your place is with me. You will lead.” A chill ran down my back.

I could never do the things he spoke about. I didn’t want to lead, to be feared, or to be with him. I didn’t even know what Simon actually was. He had to be stopped. Maybe if I pretended it would buy me some time. So when he offered his hand to me again, I took it. I could see the smile on his face, and even though it was so dark, he still wore those damn sunglasses. He pulled me to my feet and held me close beside him.

“Do you really mean to surrender to me, Sloane?” he asked.

I honestly didn’t know what the hell I was doing or if it was the right thing to do, but I did it anyway. It was the only thing I could come up with instead of waiting for no one to arrive.

“I do.” Those two little words I’d been saving for a certain special day was all that came out.

And what happened next was so surreal. Simon kissed me, and to keep up the act, I kissed him back. But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and the essence of everything else became intoxicating. I remembered wrapping my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. I became greedy for more and he gave into my every wish.

I was his.

He won, I was broken.





DECLAN





“Where the hell is she?” Declan demanded from Viktor.

Viktor was sitting in his loft drinking shots of brown liquor. He looked as if he hadn’t showered in days.

“I don’t know. He has her. I can’t get to her even if I try.” Viktor continued to drink from his glass and refilled it.

Declan took three strides and he was across the room in front of Viktor, slapping the bottle clear across the room and shattering it.

“That was my last bottle. Now I will have to actually leave to get another.” Viktor shrugged and realized there was another beside him.

“What’s he going to do with her?” Declan cried out. “Or do you not even care?”

“Wake up, Almighty Declan. What do you think he’s going to do? He’ll start with making the pain go away.” He got up to look for another bottle. “Then she will surrender and give in to him. From there, she’ll be lost.” Declan grabbed Viktor by the neck. “Do you want to hit me? Then do it, because I’d rather feel that instead of the pain gnawing at me right now.”

“What did you do to her? Tell me, now.” Declan was on the verge of ripping him apart.

“I wondered. I started getting too close. It wasn’t in the job description to fall in love, so I tried to fall out.” Viktor didn’t move, but he had a realization. “But ask yourself, brother. What did you do to her?”

“What I did was years ago! Don’t put this on me. You were supposed to protect her, but you were a coward and left her alone!” He was beyond pissed at this point.

“Why do you care, little brother?” Viktor taunted. “Don’t you have someone waiting on you?”

Declan released Viktor. “You don’t understand. If I hadn’t left, they would’ve taken her. I couldn’t have that on my conscience. But if I left, I knew I could keep an eye on her. To maintain the position I had, I had to have a fill in.” Declan turned his back to Viktor, ready to leave.

“Does Gabby know she’s a stand in? Just someone to pass the time with?” Viktor tossed back what was left in his glass.

“She knows I’m not her companion and that I’ve been really distracted here lately.” Declan rubbed his hands together as if to wash something away. “Enough of all the small talk. You’re going to get a meeting with Simon and we’re going to get her back. She never wanted this, Viktor. Can’t you see that? All she wanted was a normal life, but we f*cked it up for her. It’s time we set things straight.” Declan was speaking through gritted teeth.

“Let me make a call,” was all Viktor said.

Viktor walked into the other room as he spoke with someone that sounded like a secretary or assistant. Viktor continued to drink the brown liquid and soon began to stagger. Declan took the bottle away from him as he hung his cell phone up. Viktor tried to grab it back from him, but failed. Viktor stumbled to his couch as Declan went through the loft looking for all the liquor bottles.

“What the hell is your problem? This is my house and you come in trying to take over?” Viktor was slurring his words and on the verge of passing out.

“I need you sober and so does Sloane. So why don’t you go take a shower and, please, brush your teeth.” Declan was helping Viktor to the bathroom. “I’ll cook something to help sober you up.”

“I bet you love this, don’t you?” Viktor was basically talking out of his ass now. “I’m your ex’s boyfriend and even though she still loves you, she loves me too.” He laughed to himself. “Do you know how I know? She painted your eyes—perfectly, I might add, which are quite beautiful.” Declan just looked at him and rolled his eyes at him. “It’s true, she loves you. So why should I help?” He began to yell at Declan.

Declan slapped him in the face to get his attention.

“Get a grip, damn it! This isn’t about you, it’s about Sloane and saving her from making stupid decisions like us, you big pompous ass.” He got Viktor to the bathroom. “Dude, I’m not undressing you, so are you good?”

“Wouldn’t you love to see what I was working with—” He was still jabbering when Declan shut the door.

When Declan knew Viktor was in the shower, he left him a towel on the sink. Seeing Viktor naked was not on the agenda. And Viktor was in the shower for almost thirty minutes. His cell phone began to ring and Declan ran into the bathroom, barging in while Declan was drying off.

“Really? If you wanted a peek, why did you bring the towel?” Viktor screamed at Declan.

“Just answer the damn phone!” Declan yelled back.

Viktor took the phone and answered it as soberly as possible. All he said were small words like, “OK,” or short phrases like, “I see.” It was beginning to irk him. He was on his way to pulling every hair out his head and Viktor’s when Viktor finally hung up.

“Well, is he going to see you?” Declan asked.

“Yeah, he wants me to meet him at the office,” Viktor said. He slammed the door in Declan’s face so that he could finish drying off.

“OK, so when do we go?” Declan asked through the door.

“You can’t go.” Viktor said as he walked out with the towel wrapped around his waist.

“Like hell I can’t,” Declan yelled.

“More like in hell you can’t.” Realization sat in Declan’s eyes. “You know the drill. The only way you are getting in there is if you fall and I don’t think you want that.”

“If it means getting her back, I don’t care. Let’s go.” Declan walked out of the room. “We’re wasting time.”

“Declan, I’m all for a great rebellion and all, but you know as well as I do that she wouldn’t want you to give that up for her.” Viktor was right, but Declan already made up his mind that if it came down to it, there wasn’t another option. He would go to Hell and back, literally, for Sloane.

“Trust me for once. Let me try to get her and if there’s no other way, you can make your decision then. Don’t do it like this. Give me a chance.” Viktor made his plea.

“Fine, you have one day and if you don’t bring her home, I will make my own decision.” Declan opened Viktor’s front door and cast him one final message, “Don’t make me come find you. I’ll be at the cabin.”

And then he was gone.