The Deliverance of Dilan (The Syndicate #4) (15 page)

“You don’t have a clue what I’m going to do with you once I have you. And trust me, Anna, I will have you. Once I do, you’ll be begging me on your hands and knees to end your life, but I won’t. You see, my brother loves blondes. In fact, he wants you for himself. Now, listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you.” She emphasizes her threat in a deadly manner. This is some sick way to play the game twister. It definitely should be titled twisted instead.

“The only thing I’m going to listen to when it comes to you is the last breath you take, you fucking bitch. I’m not afraid of you. You underestimate me. You may be a cold, bitter woman, but I on the other hand, am not. What I am is a woman who will fight for those I care about, so you and your brother can bring it. And you can pass a massage along to your brother. He will never have me,” I spew.

“Anna, you have guts, I’ll give you that. What you don’t have is the knowledge or the power. I do. There’s a package outside your door. I suggest you get it. Although, you may want someone with you when you open it. It’s not red roses, sweetheart.” She hangs up. I stand there, looking at the phone, my mouth hanging open, my fingers gripping it tight to the point I feel it burn in the confines of my palm.

I place it back on the cradle, whipping my head toward the door. So many scenes are gravitating to my brain with what has been sent and what the hell they want with me. This is her way of trying to scare me, or to get back at me for stopping her when I did. No damn way am I opening that door. Fuck no.

I seize my cell from the nightstand and power it on. While I wait for it to power up, I pace the floor, contemplating on whether I should get a hold of Dilan first before I creep to the door to see if there really is something or possibly someone waiting on the other side.

My heart beats rapidly, my eyes blurring from the tears that threaten to fall. I swipe the only one away that escapes. I will not let her get to me like she wants. What could she possibly send me? It has to be some sort of trap for me to open the door. The damn irony of this situation astounds me. She knows who I am. It’s visibly clear she’s done her investigating about me by her threat about her brother wanting me. Of course she knows, he is her brother after all.

I would rather die than spend one second with that monster.

“Aidan,” I whisper frantically into the phone when he answers. “Anna. What’s wrong?” I rattle off quickly for him to get down here. I hardly have the chance to change into a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt before the pounding starts at my door. I hesitate with my steps toward the big steel frame, my steps light. I peer through the peephole before opening to make sure it’s him.

“Open up, Anna.” I unlock and swing the door open, my nerves somewhat calm now that he’s here. Aidan’s look of concern greets me. I look from him to the floor. There’s a box sitting off to the side. His eyes follow mine then travel back to meet my scared gaze.

“Put some shoes on.” His nature is alarming. He holds the door open as I move quickly, sliding my feet into a pair of ballet flats. “Where are we going?” When he doesn’t answer, my thoughts wander all over the place, my suspicions rising to the highest peak. I become panicky, asking him once again as I grab my keycard and phone.

“Aidan.” He bends down, inspecting the outside of the box carefully, without touching the intricate, black, shiny wooden surface. I gulp. I’m unsettled, conflicted about what the contents could be. Then I remember in detail one of the reasons he came to New York was because Calla received a mysterious box, delivered to her at work. “Oh, no. There’s a body part in there, isn’t there?” I scream, my head struggling to stay clear. I back away, shaking my head. My entire body is trembling.

“Get back in your room now, Anna,” he demands as he straightens his body upright. “No. I’m going wherever you are. I’m not staying here by myself.” I hardly recognize my voice. It’s low. Unsteady.

“Of course you’re not staying by yourself. Just calm down. There are other guest here.” Calm down? Is he crazy? This is calm. And I don’t care about anyone else. My concern is who’s in that box.

“I’m sorry Anna. Let’s just,” He’s interrupted by a deep startling voice.

“Is there a problem here, ma’am?” A security guard approaches. His eyes are fixed on me. Somehow, I find my voice to answer him. I tell him no. He looks Aidan over as if he doesn’t believe me, as if he’s the one who has my mind tumbling down the plush carpet hallway, trailing behind him, when he dismisses us with a glare and walks away. God, people are strange.

“It’s me,” Aidan clips tightly into the phone. “There’s a box outside of Anna’s room, similar to the one you described Calla received. And some fucker claiming to be security just approached us. Nametag read Jared. No damn way some fucker is randomly going to be prancing around on the 8
th
floor. Get someone to find that fucker.” His eyes narrow down at me. I know he’s searching for my reaction to what he’s saying. I’m scared out of my god-blessed mind. I hide it well, though, by narrowing my eyes right back at him. Maybe the guard was the one who put the box here. I don’t know. All I do know is I want out of here.

“Motherfucker,” I hear bellowing out of Aidan’s phone. Cain. His words are short and precise, telling us both to head up to Salvatore’s room.

“Let’s go.” He checks my door to make sure it’s locked, pulls his sweatshirt over his head, tosses it over the box, and picks it up. “Fuck,” he thunders and plows down the hallway. I’m practically running to keep up with him.

“This is wrong in so many ways, Aidan. And Dilan. If there is someone or something in that box he cares about, it will send him over the edge. He’s fighting his guilt as it is,” I whisper softly as we make our way to the elevator. There are people milling about. I don’t know how much the staff knows here. I’m sure they know something with the type of influence Salvatore and Ivan have. And that guard. What if he was coming after me? Aidan doesn’t mention his suspicions; therefore, I let it go.

“Hit the up button please,” he tells me. I do as I’m told, while he stands stoic, all the color slowly draining from his face. I’m about ready to throw more salt into the wound when I tell them I know Juan Carlos. I hate this. I decide against telling Aidan at the moment, choosing to tell them when they’re all together. I know this information will surely send Dilan past his limits. It may break him.

I step in and hit the button to the floor he tells me to, saying nothing. It’s eerie in this small compartment, knowing there could possibly be the remains of someone we know in that box. It isn’t until we step off the elevator, greeted by both Cain and Roan, that I see the alarmed communication they express to one another. They know something they’re not telling me. They either know or suspect who it is. My brain races, trying to figure it out. Everyone is here in this hotel. Right down to all of Alina’s brothers. I stop. Tears begin to flow down my face. “Anna.” Cain grips me by my shoulders.

“It’s Jackson, isn’t it? He’s the only one who isn’t here.”

“We can’t be sure. You let us take care of this. What you need to do before we enter this room is get your shit together. Salvatore is going to want you to tell him everything you know. Then get the fuck out of there and keep yourself occupied. Cecily is on her way to be with you. You stay with her and you keep quiet. Do you get me? Not a word to anyone about this.” Cain shakes me gently. Not enough to hurt me, just enough to get his point across. I nod in agreement, knowing exactly what I have to do. When he releases me, I look to Roan. His demeanor is slumped. If this is Jackson, he’s going to lose it. I know the two of them have been friends for a long time.

“Why did Jackson leave?” I ask. I need to know why, when all the rest of us are here. If only I would have known that the man I know as Carlos is really Juan, then Jackson would be alive. This is all my fault. I should have paid more attention whenever I heard them talking about Dilan. Instead, I was shattered by him leaving. Every time someone brought up his name, I either left the room or tuned out every word they said.

“He’s a big part of our security. Against my dad’s better judgment, he let him go. The man knows these streets better than anyone. Fuck me,” Roan thrashes, his hands gripping his hair.

“Get in here.” The door swings open to a very angry-looking Salvatore. His eyes sparkle with fury. I swallow back my nerves and walk into the immaculate suite first.

Dilan is perched on a chair in the corner, a beer in his hand. His face is full of dread. He stands when he sees me. I run into his arms and lose it. The fear, the anger, all of my emotions rip out of me. Unexpectedly.

“Hey. None of that. You’re safe, sweetheart.” I sniffle while his soothing hands rub up and down my back. Here I thought he would be freaking out when instead it’s me. This is so wrong. He rubs my back tenderly, resting his chin on top of my head. I want to stay like this forever, but I know we can’t. The quicker I tell them what I know, the faster they can do what they need to. Cain is right in more ways than I will admit right now. I need to be strong. A weak woman has no business standing by a man who leads a dangerous life. I proceed to pull myself together.

The instant I turn around, with so many familiar faces waiting patiently for me, Dilan draws me back, clinging my back to his front. I face both Salvatore and Ivan, and all of these men whose hearts are breaking. That damn box sits on top of the table, taunting every single one of us. I tell them all about my phone call from Jazmin, leaving out the part of knowing Juan. Dilan’s body goes stiff. His arms tighten around me. I choose to let them deal with this blow to their hearts first before I tell them the devil has been stalking me at work.

DILAN

“We’ll be in our room if you need us. I will make all the necessary arrangements to have the two of you transferred up to this floor.” Cecily’s voice is harder than normal, her position showing her years of being by the side of a known killer. Hell, she was one herself. This life is new to Anna, and right now, Cecily is exactly what she needs. Someone to explain to her that if she cares about me as much as I know she does, she has to be strong to be able to survive this kind of shit. Bury it deep. Doesn’t mean she can’t express her emotions. Or let things pull her under. But she needs to hide it. Keep it buried in a secret spot in the back of her mind and her heart. There’s a time and place for letting your emotions become unchecked. To cry and then let the anger set in, only to make you stronger. The time is not here. Fuck, there really is never a good time to be weak or defenseless. Not now anyway.

I’m not worried about her sticking by my side. She’s proven her strength by showing up here. By doing the right thing and calling Aidan before she attempted to open that goddamn box.

If I weren’t so fucked up about this whole thing my damn self, I would tell her how proud I am of her, but fuck, this shit needs to get moving. They struck first, struck us hard. Now, plans have changed once again.

“Come on. Go with Cecily. As soon as I’m done here, I’ll find you, okay?” I fit her body as closely to mine as I can get her. She spilled her guts out. Stood strong when she delivered the conversation she had with Jazmin. That cunt needs to be the first to go. I would love nothing more than to be the one to slice her the fuck up. I don’t give a shit if she is a woman. She needs to fucking go.

The door swings wide open, and in walks John with whom I assume is one of Juan’s men, and the first candidate to die. He doesn’t care about anyone. Just tosses his soldiers into the pit. Kill or die, fuckers. Simple as that. He’s notorious for sending his gang of brainless assholes to do his shit work for him. It will be my pleasure to try and get him to talk before John disposes of the man. Stupid fuck.

“Okay. But I need to tell you something else before I leave.” Her voice is shaky. Fearful. “Whatever it is, it has to wait, Anna. You need to go now.” I tell her the truth. She needs to leave, not bear witness to any of this. “It’s important, but first I need to do something.”

Despite the vulnerability I hear in her enunciation or the way her pulse is racing beneath my firm fingers that are holding her tight, she stands tall. Then she shocks the shit out of me, out of us all actually, when she moves away from me, my hands dropping to my sides, missing her touch.

“You asshole. You were sent to kill me, weren’t you?” She probes a finger into the chest of the fucker whose face had to have looked better ten minutes ago than it does now. He’s all kinds of fucked up. I can almost see the heat rising from the top of her head, she is so mad. My once scared little spitfire has turned into a tiny, little devil. My cock has the worst timing. He swings away like the second hand of a clock, hanging fucking free in my sweats, then as if his clock magically strikes midnight, he stands tall. Straight up. Fucker.

“Fuck off, you dumb cunt. I would have killed you quickly. Now when you die, you’ll be crying for your fucking boyfriend here to save your ass,” he growls. I move. John tightens his hold on both of his hands he has secured behind his back, making him wince slightly.

“You’re the only one who’s going to die.” I stand in front of him. The urge to cut his damn tongue out for even speaking to her has me wishing I had my knife.

“Cecily, please take Anna and go.” John cranes his neck to look at his wife.

“Come on, sweetheart.” She takes Anna by the hand. Anna briefly shifts her head back to me. I give her a wink. “I’ll be fine,” I articulate. I have the desperate need to kiss her before she goes, to reassure us both that what I say is true. I’m this close to breaking, worried about who I know in my gut is dead. Her eyes lock with mine. Pleading. I move to stop them. She said she needed to tell me something. I want to know what it is. But I’m halted in my tracks when my uncle grabs my arm, stopping me from going to her. I exhale and close my eyes briefly, getting myself back under control.

The instant the door clicks shut, John slams the fucker down in a chair, then spins it around to face both my uncle and Ivan. I turn around to face this scum, listening to Ivan.