Cursed Soul (Cursed, 4) (Cursed Series)

  “No,” Jenn responds.

  Christian moves to leave the table, barely looking at me as he walks past and into the living room. Jenn’s eyes meet mine and I know she’s hurting. Sitting down at the table, I reach for her hand squeezing it with my own.

  “He loves her,” she whimpers as the tears start to fall. “He’s hurting so much right now and there’s nothing I can do to make it better. I don’t know how to comfort him, Kris, and it’s killing me.”

  The pain my sister is feeling right now is breaking my heart. The man she loves is in agony over another woman, one he had strong feelings for at one time. I can’t imagine what Jenn is feeling let alone how Christian must be.

  “What can I do?”

  “Nothing, sis, there’s nothing any of us can do but hope and pray she comes home safe. It’s been two days now that she’s been gone and a day since the report of her missing was filed. Dault, Steve, and Linc have been doing everything they can to find a way to get more answers, but . . .”

  Her eyes begin to steer away from mine. She’s hiding something, there’s something she doesn’t want me to know.

  “Jenn?”

  “Kris, you know that they are concerned this has something to do with Cliff’s past . . . right?”

  Nodding, I know. I understand exactly what everyone is thinking and I’d be stupid if I didn’t think the same thing. It all adds up to a point, but who or why someone would want to hurt Etty is left unknown.

  “Ever since yesterday morning, Cliff has been avoiding me and my calls. I’ve tried to be there for him, offer my support and encouragement, but I know it’s not enough. He doesn’t want my help, he’s pushing me away.”

  “I don’t think he’s pushing you away, not in the slightest. He’s gone.”

  “What . . . he’s gone? He left?”

  I can hardly breathe.

  My thoughts are suddenly so jumbled I’m not exactly sure what to say let alone think.

  “I don’t know much of anything. I overheard Christian on the phone with Dault earlier saying something about Cliff going off on his own to find answers. He wants this over with and apparently the only way he knows how is to go off on his own.”

  “Jenn!” Christian’s voice perks up from the other room.

  Both my sister and I dart up from the table and rush into the other room where Christian is pacing back and forth.

  “Yeah, great . . . that’s great,” he says looking to us with his hand raised in the air. “Call me if you hear anything more. Thanks, man.”

  “What is it?” Jenn asks. “Did they find her?”

  Chapter 25

  Once again, the answers I need to find are out of my reach. I feel useless, worthless, and worst of all helpless that I can’t do what needs to be done.

  My heart aches for Etty. I don’t know where she is, if she’s okay or how she’s feeling. That woman is so important to me. She’s stuck by my side when some may have otherwise turned their backs. Through everything, she has always been the rock that kept me sane and our crew whole. Without her in my life . . . in our lives, I don’t know if we would have made it through the past few years.

  Now, here I stand as our worlds are being flipped upside down. The greatest fear I ever could have imagined with my past coming back to haunt me has happened. They took someone who means the world to me, who means the world to my family. This is my fault. I’m the one who they came here to find and in order to bring me down to my lowest point they ripped Etty away from us.

  Exhaustion begins to plaque me. I haven’t slept much the past few days and I refuse to close my eyes until I have her safe and sound back home. Running into the local coffee shop, I step up to the counter to order the largest size they have. I need the caffeine to stay alert, I have to remain focused.

  I need to find her. If it’s the last thing I do, I will bring her back to Dault.

  With my back to the door, I hear the bells chime as it opens for another customer. As I wait for my coffee, my ears perk up to a police radio going off.

  Warehouse off Rural Road is surrounded. Immediate backup requested on site.

  The sound of feet shuffle behind me as my heart begins to race.

  Could it be?

  Have they found her?

  Tossing money onto the counter, I run out of the shop and down the street into my car. Adrenaline boosts through my veins the faster I speed toward downtown. As I approach the tall, rundown buildings, I see dozens of police cars surrounding the area with their lights flashing.

  Without a thought, I stop the car, jump out and run toward the building. I need to get in there. I have to know what’s going on. I want to know why they’ve come here and why they’re looking for me again.

  Trying to avoid being spotted by the police, I move around to the other side of the building looking for another way in. Spotting a large delivery entrance around back, I step up onto the loading dock and creep inside.

  The area is huge, dark, and quiet. Standing still, my eyes roam over the area while I quietly listen to hear something, anything to let me know if this is where Etty may be.

  Voices begin to sound, but they’re still so far away. Slowly moving, I follow the muffled conversation. The closer I get, the more I can hear.

  “You stupid, dumb fucks. I asked you to do one thing. This wasn’t rocket science and the moment I get here the place is surrounded. What the fuck were you thinking?” a familiar man’s voice yells.

  “Dude, if I recall, things were nice and quiet here until you showed up. We did exactly as you instructed and kept put. For two days we’ve been sitting here, unknowing to what was taking place and babysitting a screaming wench,” another recognizable tone sounds.

  “Shut the fuck up. Everything I’ve plotted and planned for two years is fucked up. How the hell am I supposed to go back to Sabatino with this news? He’s going to kill all of us if I don’t bring him that bastard.”

  Silence draws on as my entire body goes numb realizing what I had initially thought was in fact now true. Sabatino is behind this, but why . . . and the sound of that one man’s voice, it’s familiar, but I can’t determine whose exactly it is.

  Trying to move in closer, I make my way down a long hallway to where an area of light opens up. Boxes, crates, and old equipment are scattered across the room. Ducking between two large pillars, my eyes spot three men. As they pace back in forth, I attempt to catch a glimpse of who they are. As one turns to face the other, my mind flashes back into my past.

  Him . . .

  Son of a bitch . . .

  Why the fuck would he . . .

  How could he do this . . . with them?

  Turning away, I attempt to catch my breath as the air is sucked out of my lungs. Nothing makes sense, I can’t fathom what is happening or why he’d be here doing this. We were so close, I saved his life. Everything I did was to help him and now . . . now he’s here to avenge me? This isn’t making sense, nothing that is happening is adding up.

  Fuck!

  I need to gather my thoughts. I’m here for one reason and one reason only. I need to find Etty and get her the hell out of here before . . .

  A crashing sound alerts my attention as a pile of boxes fall down onto the wooden floorboards. Needing to get out before they see me, I turn and move as quickly as possible while the sounds of feet moving come in my direction.

  “Someone is here,” Tony barks.

  “Move your ass,” Tim urges

  “We’re already surrounded by the cops. Watch yourselves it could be them,” the third man confides.

  “Get the girl. We need her to get out of here alive,” Tony insists.

  As I’m about to move around one of the pillars, I’m stopped by an object slamming me in the back of the head. A sharp pain courses down my spine. Everything begins to move in slow motion as my body falls to the ground.

  As my eyes slowly start to open, I come face to face with the man I considered a brother for so many years.

  “W
ell, look at what we have here. It’s about time you showed your face,” Tim’s voice roars with anger.

  “I don’t understand,” I respond shaking my head. “After everything we went through, why would you do this?”

  Taking a step toward me, he waves his pistol in front of me as he throws his head back in laughter.

  “I thought you were smarter than this, Cliff Benjamin. In fact, there was a point in time when I would have killed to be in your shoes, but now . . . now not so much. I brought you in to a world, a universe of possibility and selfishly you stole what was rightfully mine. You took what was Raphael’s and mine all those years ago and now I’m seeking vengeance. It may have taken me a while to figure it out, but I devised a way to get you back. Everything that has happened was carefully plotted and planned with the help of one man. Unfortunately for me, he died before he was able to see me take you down, but I know for certain he’s rolling over in his grave with pride to know we’ve finally met again.”

  “Mmm, mmm, mmm.”

  The muffled sound of crying pulls my attention to the left, where I see Etty bound and gagged in the corner of the room. My heart stops seeing her crouched down looking so uncomfortable and in pain.

  “Damn it, she’s waking up again. Shut her up until I’m finished here,” Tim instructs the third man.

  “I’m on it,” he responds moving toward Etty.

  “Let her go. She’s not who you need or want any longer. You have me here, she shouldn’t matter.”

  “Oh, you are so very wrong, Cliff. You see we have a bit of a messy situation outside. The plan was for Sabatino to come, see that Tony and I finally brought him the man who attempted to destroy his empire. Then I was going to sit back and watch as he put a bullet through your skull. It was a beautiful plan and finally I would have the revenge I’ve always wanted. Now all of that has gone to shit because cops surround us. So, I see this working one of two ways. Either I kill you both now and flee or you help us get out of here and I take you to Sabatino. You will die regardless . . . the choice is yours.”

  “Jesus Christ, just kill them both already. We’re fucked either way,” Tony says. “Never mind, let me just finish what I should have taken care of all those years ago.”

  “No! Not this time. You had your chance to kill him and your lack of skilled aim fucked that up. This time, if it’s what I choose to do . . . his death will be on my hands.”

  “Shut the fuck up and let me do my job,” Tony shouts moving in front of Tim.

  Watching as Tony lifts the revolver in my direction; a moment of déjà vu plays out in front of me.

  He removes the safety and points the barrel in my direction. Sweat begins to fall from my brow and a churning sensation builds within my stomach. I feel as though I’m about to be sick. Perhaps it’s the fear coursing through my veins. I close my eyes as I attempt to swallow the golf ball sized lump in my throat. With eyes closed, I begin to count to ten. These are the last ten seconds of my life so I want them to be at peace. The revolver goes off, my now limp body falling to the ground as a loud noise sounds from the doors of the warehouse. Voices shout through the large space, orders thrown in a million directions. There’s no way this is happening. How . . . why . . . what the fuck is going on? My world begins to spin, my heart beating so hard I feel as if it’s going to beat through my chest.

  Pain filters through my entire body. I’m now lying on the floor, but I can’t comprehend if I’m dreaming it up or if this is my reality. A piercing agony begins to take over. I can barely breathe. I can’t see what’s happening or hear the sounds surrounding me. I’m falling back under in a world of darkness and there’s no way of knowing if Etty will make it out alive.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Etty. This is my fault. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I never wanted this to happen. Please forgive me,” I slur as my mouth fills with spit and blood.

  I close my eyes, unsure if I will survive, picturing the best moment of my life . . . the view of Kris lying next to me.

  Chapter 26

  Three Weeks Later

  “I’m not sure if I should stay here Jenn. It has been weeks and he’s still ignoring my texts and calls. I’m lucky if I can get two words out of him before he goes silent for another few days. He’s pushing away from me . . . only me. I don’t see the point in trying to fight for someone who doesn’t want me to be a part of his life.”

  “Kris, he’s been through a lot. I can’t image what he must be feeling like. Hell, I wasn’t even a part of the fiasco and I’m still mentally exhausted from it all.”

  “Are you . . . are you defending him?” I ask with a pout. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side here? You are my sister after all.”

  “Oh shut your pretty little face. His life hasn’t been the easiest and we all deal and grieve with our circumstances in our own way. He needs time to heal. Don’t give up on him,” she responds giving me a look.

  “I don’t know. I think it would be best if I went back to South Carolina and figured some shit out. I need the closure and the only way I can do that is to go back home and put away my past that is still there waiting for me. I need to do this and besides you, there’s nothing holding me back from going.”

  “You are one stubborn woman. If I had a magical sign telling you it’s best for you to stay I’d give it to you, but I don’t have that power. I understand and I’ll support you in whatever you decide to do. You need to do what’s best for you, even if I believe it’s going and smacking the tatted hottie upside his head. Either way, I’ll be here ready and waiting for you when you’re ready to come to your senses.”

  “I know and I love you for it. Now, I need to pack and get a flight out of here as soon as possible,” I respond with a yawn, wrapping my arms around her.

  “You’re obviously tired. Why don’t you take a nap? I’m not busy right now so I’ll see what flights are available first thing tomorrow.”

  “You’re the best, Jenn. Thank you. I’m just going to plop down here on the couch for a few minutes. Don’t let me sleep too long, I still need to pack.”

  “You got it, girl, go get some rest.”

  Lying down on the couch, I pull a blanket over top of my body before closing my eyes. Within seconds, I feel my body begin to relax as sleep takes over.

  I’ve been walking for what seems like days. I’m once again in search of the car, that man and the answers only he can provide to me.

  My legs are tired and my feet are killing me. The space around me is dark, with only the light of the moon to see in which direction I’m walking.

  A gust of wind sweeps through me, a chill running over my body. Once again, I’ve lost my way. I’m unsure of what’s happening in this exact moment or if I’m even heading in the right direction. I need to find him. He has to give me the answers to what I need.

  The familiar sound of his car approaching pulls my attention to the opposite direction I am facing. My heart begins to race, my body tensing as my legs start to move me toward the noise of the engine. I’m terrified I could be going the wrong way. I’ve felt so unsure about where I’m heading, but I can’t give up. I need to find him. I haven’t felt this strongly about something since the day I first saw him.

  The purring of the vehicle is so close yet I can’t see a thing . . . is it him?

  The light of the beaming headlights strike my line of sight causing my eyes to squint shut. Raising my hand over my eyes, I try to see but I can’t.

  The sound of the car door slams shut causing me to jump. My heart begins to race so fast. I can barely gasp a single breath of air. His feet move forward, the shadow of his body coming closer. Dropping my hand away from my eyes, I try so hard to see if it’s him coming toward me.

  Please, dear God, let it be him.

  A deep voice calls to me and I finally know who the man hiding in my dreams is . . . it’s him, it’s always been him.

  My body starts to tremble, my breathing labored . . . oh my God, it’s really happening. I’
ve finally found him, the man who holds the answers to all I’ve needed all this time.

  My entire world spins so fast around me I can’t decide if I should stay or go.

  His voice resonates through my ears; he’s telling me to leave, to stop trying to find him and instead find my own way.

  All this time he’s been telling me to move on, to follow my dreams, and continue on with my life. Now . . . now it all makes sense.

  Taking a step forward, I extend my arm out to him. Accepting my hand in his, he pulls me into his arms. The feel of his body against mine, this is all I wanted. This is the moment I’ve waited to feel again.

  As the tears fall down the sides of my face, I lean back and look up into his eyes.

  “Kris, you need to go. You need to let me go. Please do this for me. Live your life and love again.”

  Leaning my head against his chest, I make him a promise that will last me the rest of my life.

  “I will do as you ask.

  “I will always love you.

  “I will never forget you.

  “I will live on and keep your loving memory with me forever.”

  “Kris, Kris, wake up, girl,” my sister’s voice pulls me out of my sleep. “You’re sobbing, Kris. What’s wrong?”

  Opening my eyes, my fingertips wipe away the falling tears as I sit up on the couch.

  “Umm, I just dozed off and . . .”

  “And? You’re a hot mess, lady. What just went down in that head of yours?”

  Realization hits me with what just happened. That dream. Everything about what just filtered through my mind was what I’ve been waiting for. No matter how hard I was trying to move on, to allow myself to let go . . . he was still there, but now I have exactly what I needed.

  “Sis, you’re beginning to freak me out. We’ve had enough drama and crazy to surround us, please don’t tell me you’ve fallen off your rocker now too,” she says with a hint of laughter to her voice.

  “No, no I’m good. Actually, I’m better than good,” I respond sitting up and tucking me legs beneath me. “It was a dream, one that I’ve needed to have for a long time.”