Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 111 - 113

Chapter 111: Chapter 113

I surge down the steps. Luciano’s eyes flick up to see me clamouring towards them with my hand still grafted to my sore wrist. Silas opens his arms like the centre of his own gravity as I allow myself to be drawn to him until his arms envelop me whole. Kelsey follows down after me, welcomed warmly by Luciano.

"We’re leaving," our father announces.

"You should speak to Mr Vacheron about that," a security guard suggests with a threat at the edge of his voice.

"I’m taking my girls and we’re leaving," dad repeats without compromise. "You may have to report to Colton, but I sure as hell do not."

The elevator at the end of the hall dings open. Our attention snaps to the gliding doors as Colton strides out with his presence that demands acknowledgement. Two guards posted on the rims break away to follow him without signal or command. Silas shifts me to bring me to his side with a protective lock around me. Our father moves to stand in front of Kelsey and Luciano, meeting his challenge with a steely-eyed glare.

"I’m glad for your safe return."

"And a quick departure," dad retorts on beat. "We are so grateful for your hospitality, but we can’t intrude any longer. We can’t exactly hide away forever, and we now have no reason to."

He steps away and Colton snaps a signal—his men crowds around us and Silas draws me behind him so I’m aligned with Kelsey, and dad and my brothers around us as Colton’s guards close in.

"With all due respect," Colton begins with a shadow of a smile. "My security detail included former marines, ex special forces units, and they were gunned down like dogs at my father’s estate. The assailants, a few of them, were linked to the Russian mafia. I assure you. The threat is far from over."

"You don’t think I left only to facilitate ’trade agreements’, did you?" dad questions condescendingly, tone slick with amused scorn. "I’m not worried about Russian interference because I’m now reunited with the one thing they don’t want to stand against. Haru. I caught word that Botan launched an assault on Yad Zmei—the backbone—critical structure to their conglomerate organisation. Now that we have Haru’s protection. We no longer need yours."

For the first time, that aloof veneer deteriorates, withering to expose the rotten expression beneath it. "You and Haru are reunited?"

"Yes," he says with renewed confidence. "We have come to an agreement of our own. Other than Avara’s life at jeopardy. This ordeal has been the best thing to happen to me. My debt has been absolved, which means I no longer need you. Which means, for obvious reasons. This is the last time you see us on an intimate basis. Business otherwise, I will always welcome your handsome donations to my campaigns or charity galas."

Dad smiles triumphantly whilst Colton stands there seething inwardly.

"And don’t worry about our belongings, I’ll send people to transport them," he adds to twist the knife a little deeper. He then gestures to his guards still surrounding us, shoulders tense as if bracing to attack. "That is if we are free to leave?"

Colton makes a curt gesture and all the tall figures recede upon his silent command. "You are." His eyes puncture through Silas to reach me. Luciano sidesteps to block his view of me. "I’m sure we’ll all see each other soon." His eyes leap back to dad with wry derision. "For business purposes."

"There’s something I need first," I announce as I send my request with a single glance at Kelsey.

She moves away boldly to follow me as everyone else remains frozen in a stalemate. As tense as those Texas western films with piercing eyes and pistols ready in weathered holsters. We both trot back up the steps until we vanish down the corridor as we accelerate.

"What, you forgot your phone?"

"And a few other things," I say cryptically, then I expound. "Bugs, listening devices I got from Simon."

"Spy tech," she commends, sounding impressed. "You catch something worth listening to?"

I free a hard breath of dry humour. "One word. Incriminating."

"That’s good. Could use that against him? Show that to your detective dude."

I hesitate, lapsing into a moment of splintering silence.

"What, you protecting him now?" she whispers feverishly. "Or his sons perhaps."

"If you asked me that a day ago. I would’ve given you a different answer," I say, glimpsing the discoloured bruise beginning around the band of my wrist. "Vacheron look out for Vacheron. Du Ponts are no different. I just need to make sure that... whatever they’ve done hasn’t spilled over to us. I don’t want to line my sights on them and my family starts catching strays. There are things I need to confirm."

"And if your worst fears are the ones that are confirmed?" she tests.

"Well, then.... I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She says nothing, but the judgment she radiates speaks for her. Kelsey watches at the door as I collect what I need immediately, stuffing my pockets. My eyes dart to the rumpled duvet, still echoes of my efforts to get out from beneath him when he had me pinned. I retreat to the door and Kelsey taps my back on my way out. After a short while, we’re descending the steps once again.

Dad heads out first and we all thaw out from behind him.

Luciano casts a glance at me from over his shoulder. "What happened to your wrist?"

"Fell down the staircase in the east wing."

Silas glances at me askance, a sidelong glare that screams suspicion.

"What?" I snap.

"Avara, I’ve watched your brothers chase you up and down our uncarpeted, rough wood stairs at home," dad says. "And not once have you suffered an injury from your falls."

"That’s because she never falls," Luciano chimes in.

"We should stop at the hospital," Silas says to close the topic.

Instead of splitting us with security. We all take one car together and security clumps together in the following vehicle. No one breathes a word until we’re officially out of the Vacheron estate. When I look forward, I can’t help but smile to myself. My skin abuzz from the energy thrumming side me as the weight in my chest dissipates. Kelsey notices this and shares my relief as she leans her head against my shoulder. And I rest my temple against her.

"Was it true, what you said?" I ask.

Dad’s eyes snipe me through the rearview mirror, a quick and precise shot. "Every word. Some sacrifices had to be made, but what happened to you forced me to do so. And I’m grateful for it. The alliance is over."

"Colton doesn’t seem to think so," Kelsey mutters, giving voice to my own harbored fear.

"His denial or resentment isn’t our concern," Luciano breaks in, seated on the passenger side. "We got out from Haru just to get under Colton’s boot. Better to deal with the devil you know then the devil don’t."

My eyes slice up. "You think Colton’s more dangerous than a Yakuza boss?"

Dad chaffs at my question with an almost annoyed headshake. "Of course not. Haru is a simple man with simple needs. Vacheron over there is much more complex and I can’t trust a man whose motives are obscure."

Oh, I know the feeling.

***

After the hospital, Kelsey is dropped off to visit her mother for the first time after our half-hearted hostage crisis. I still can’t believe the alliance is over. Over all that turmoil and turbulence, I don’t believe that one sit-down with Haru solved everything. When I spoke with Haru when I was in France, Haru gave this distinct impression that he despised my father. A loathing stirred by his betrayal. So it must have been some agreement for him to expunge my father’s misdeeds against him. Another concern that looms over him is Colton; he’s clearly the type who doesn’t accept failure nor easily succumbing to defeat. But this time is different, we have leverage of our own.