Chapter 143

It seems like an eternity we sit in here, the windows steaming up until they are too foggy to see anything clearly and Camilla has managed to get her breathing under control. It’s obvious she is in a lot of pain and trying not to move a whole lot. Stiff, immobile, and focused fully on not moving a muscle.

They put us in another car and moved us somewhere new. Another back-street alley, another group of terrifying men and I’m starting to become so dizzy and weak with lack of sleep and food. It’s been hours, it feels like days, since I watched Arry get in the cab and I have no idea anymore what time it is. It’s all become so surreal that I don’t even feel afraid anymore, caught in a dreamlike state, like this is never going to end.

Movement through the misty window catches my attention and I can just about make out two black four by fours entering the front of the alleyway. The driver’s eyes flicker in the mirror and I turn to look behind us automatically, to see what he sees. Another two identical four by fours pulling up behind us, so we are all trapped in this narrow lane with no escape. It seems like the cars start spewing more men than could possibly be in the vehicles as soon as they stop, and they all make towards each other. I nudge Camilla gently and nod with a head gesture.

She sits up a little and glances around slowly, taking in all the new vehicles. She’s been quiet, no more blood to be seen and doesn’t seem to be getting worse since they put us back in this car. She looks out of her head now, some of the booze taking effect from earlier.

“Guess your cavalry is here. Those are Alexi’s cars and men. Not that I have ever met him, but I’ve seen his entourage before.” She croaks, finding it hard to talk and slumps back down with a heavy exhale. I hold my breath, afraid to hope, afraid that this is real and watch silently.

A very familiar and welcoming sight saunters out of one of the cars, looking very much like the big mafia boss in a black overcoat and perfect groomed hair. That tall foreboding and familiar handsome sight, so clearly strong with Carrero DNA. Strong, muscular and like this, completely different to how I normally see him.

His men part as that Carrero swagger confidently moves him towards Tyler in a manner that screams power. I get the sudden rush of warm relief hit me in my throat, the unwelcome sob as tears hit me hard and I couldn’t love Alexi more than in this moment. Never been so happy to see him in my life. My nerves are held so taut that I feel like they just broke, and everything starts to fall around me with sheer relief.

Through a foggy windscreen I can barely define him from Jake, but I know that he has the palest grey eyes, rimmed with almost black, a defined jawline and flawless set of Carrero features. His tailored clothes molded on that tall Lothario body, his hair jet black, cropped in a neat modern style and groomed while Jakes has a hint of brown to its darkness. Like his cousins he’s another lover of tattoos, but his peek up his neck as one curls behind one ear into his hairline to disappear and one that covers the full back of his hand to his knuckles.

I always knew Alexi was a little sinister if I’m being honest, he has that same coolness as Arrick and you can never read him, but now, seeing him like this, in a tailored suit and expensive overcoat, there’s a tremor of uncertainty. Camilla watches him like a hawk, poised and still yet her eyes are trained on our rescuer.

“He’s something isn’t he? Never thought he would be so young.” She watches him steadily move through the sea of men. A powerfully built male that screams Alpha and he’s completely at ease; a glance this way as he asks someone a question and nods.

“He’s in his thirties, same age as Jake or thereabouts.” I answer impulsively and jump when the door next to me clicks open.

“Miss. Huntsberger?” A hand comes out to me and I relax when I recognize the familiar face of Arrick’s ex bodyguard, yet his name eludes me. As a teen his father insisted on his presence but Arry ditched him as soon as he hit maturity. I smile and literally throw myself out of the car and into a relieved embrace, feeling him stiffen with the shock of my unusual affection and pats me lightly on the back. I’m overcome with so much emotion that these are men I recognize, these are Arry’s men and I’m truly safe and about to go home. I cry and weep, let it go into his chest and only start to calm when he pats me gently on the back, leans back and hands me a handkerchief.

“I’ve to take you home. Reynauld’s will take your friend to a medical facility to be treated under the care of Mr. Carrero. Leave this mess to him.” I turn back and see Camilla being helped out the other side of the car gently, by another man in a black suit, one with a heart it seems, and watch as she hobbles away. Clearly the longer she has sat the worse she has suffered, and I turn back to grab onto the arm of my savior. Relief washing over me and leaving me lightheaded.

I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life and I’m so scared if I let him go, he will disappear. My chest is constricting with so much weight, my head aching with stress and I want so badly to leave, to go home and wrap myself in Arry’s arms…If he still wants me.

He starts walking me towards the cars in front, passing what seems to be a lot of strange men standing around. As we get near that familiar asshole from the strip bar, Alexi turns and glances my way.

“Hold on.” He snaps, and everyone stops around him, one command and literally the world stops turning. He walks from the group towards me confidently, scanning me with his eyes as he gets to me, taking in every inch of my obviously disheveled self and makes me feel a little self-conscious. He appraises me with scrutiny, runs a hand over my cheek, wiping a few tears, as he tilts my face and then lifts my hands as he gazes at the purple mess of my fist, frowning angrily. Those pale almost empty eyes focused directly on the swelling knuckles and I flounder nervously, suddenly feeling like I don’t know this version of him at all. He is so far removed from the Alexi I know back home. Ice in the air and his dead pan almost emotionless control has me afraid of him.

“I did that to myself. I punched Camilla in the face.” I blurt impulsively. Those soulless, almost colorless eyes back on me now and I feel like this isn’t the Alexi I know and love, there is something scarily intimidating about him and for the first time his eyes make me think of a hunting wolf. He’s handsome, like his cousins but there’s a darkness that I can’t put my finger on.

“Any marks or injuries… They do anything to you?” He asks in a low even tone, serious, and I shake my head. Knowing my face must be a little marked from how tightly they gagged my mouth, but I just want to leave and go home and wash this mess from skin, remove traces of men’s hands from my body and all the memories from today out of my head. His jaw twitches, that same tell-tale mannerism as Arrick and he leans in, kissing me softly on the forehead, a gentle graze of public affection, reminding me of the part of him I do know, and I relax a little. I have only ever met him as extended family.

“Take her to Arry’s apartment. I told him to wait there for her. I’ll deal with this personally.” The cold brutal tone, hint of a threat, makes my blood curl, and the silence of the men around hints that he is not someone you ever fuck with and I suddenly feel unsure. This is a side to the family I have never known, never seen and my gut tells me that the payback for this little mistake is going to cost Tyler’s men dearly. Alexi looks and acts right now that he is capable of so much evil and it sends cold fear through me, seeing him this way.

I’m ushered away from him, glancing back as he watches me leave. No one moves, no one says anything as I’m silently trundled away, guided into the car gently. He turns and throws that Carrero death glare at the dick head who refused to help Camilla, who seems to physically recoil a little, before I’m closed into safety and driven away.