Page 44 of We're Not Strangers Anymore

“Come on now, Jc. I’d hate to have to drill into another tooth.” I say humorously. I managed to knock him out at Isola Bella and get him back to my house where he’s now strapped to the dining room table. I’ve been questioning him for hours with no luck.

“I don’t fucking know where she is, man.” He cries. Maybe I believe him, maybe I don’t. The fact is, someone knows something. Anyone who worked for Conejo will pay the price for what happened to my family and what happened to my men who were like family to me. Whoever has Rowan– they’re in for much worse. My brother and my father knew the risks involved with business like this, but Rowan– she’s innocent. She wanted nothing to do with this life.

Just as I’m ready to drill into another one of Jc’s teeth, his phone chimes with a text notification. “Saved by the bell.” I say, walking over to his phone.

Austin:I got into the street cams. She’s at Siracusa bus station. Get there ASAP. She’s alone.

She’s alone.She’s on the run– from me. After everything I fucking went through. After I told her I love her. She thoughtIwas manipulative? The fucked up part is, she got me to trust her. I’m going to make this fun. If she thought I was a monster before, she hasn’t seen anything yet.

I shove a dish rag into Jc’s mouth before grabbing my keys and heading out. My tires screech as I speed out of the driveway, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles are white. She’s definitely Frank’s daughter, no mistake there. Manipulative fucking liar. Every moment I spent with her I was falling in love with a character she was playing. I was right from the start, the thought of her is better than the reality. My foot presses down harder on the accelerator, anger flooding every limb on my body. As I pull up to the train station, I catch a glimpse of Rowan’s white dress. I need to figure out a way to get her to come around to the parking lot. I spot a group of teenage boys.The solution to my problem.

I approach them and pull out a stack of cash. “This is yours if you guys can pretend to fight in the parking lot.” I say in Italian, my voice low. They stare at me with wide eyes and nod to me. “Great, cause a scene.” I tell them, handing over the cash.

The boys run to the parking lot and three of them start pretending to jump their friend. Almost immediately, a crowd forms around them. Some recording and some trying to break it up. I take the opportunity to sneak up behind Rowan and jab the needle of a syringe into her neck. It has M-99 in it, so she passes out right away. I wrap her arm around my neck and walk her over to the car, trying my best to not look suspicious but fortunately for me, everyone is too focused on the fake fight going on. I secure her hands and feet together with zip ties and drive off.Let the fun begin.

Grayson

Rowan’s eyes slowly open up as she lays on the floor next to the table where I have Jc tied up. Her hands and feet are still zip tied. “Just like old times, right, Row?” I clip.

She panics as she tries to pick herself up from the floor, tears already filling her eyes. I have duct tape over her mouth but she knows better than to scream. “Don’t try pulling your fake tears on me, Row.” I say, my eyes darkening on her. It used to make me feel sorry for her, until now.

I charge over to her and she flinches as I rip the tape from her mouth. Gripping her neck, I press her face to mine. “Why the fuck did you run?”

“I– I,” she stutters.

“You fucking what? I haven’t been able to sleep, or eat or fucking think because I thought they took you.” I spit, anger heating my face. “You think that was fucking smart? Guesswhat, Row? They came here looking for you. Good job almost getting yourself killed.” I say, releasing her.

“I fucking hate you!” She finally manages.

“Well guess what, darling? The feeling is mutual.” I feel a pang in my chest as the words slip out but I push it aside. I’m too angry to care right now. “Meet the man that was looking for you.” Pulling her up to her feet, I face her to look at Jc. I grab the nine-inch dagger off of the table and wrap her hands around the handle. “Kill him.”

She looks up at me with a shocked expression. “No! Are you being serious?”

I grip her face with one hand and lean in close. “We’re not fucking friends anymore, Row. Do what I say or you’ll end up in his spot.”

“Fuck you, Grayson!” She snaps.

“Fucking kill him!” I wrap my hands around hers that are holding the knife and drive the blade into his chest. Her mouth is open but she can’t form words. Tears spill down her face as she stares at his bloody, limp corpse. “Look at you. Selfish just like your father. You just took a man’s life to save your own.” I say, a malicious grin curling my lips.

“I didn’t want to do that.” She says, barely above a whisper.

“But you did.” I say, still smiling. “That knife in his heart is what I felt when I thought I lost you.” My smile drops. She stares at me with the look I imagine she had every time Frank beat her. It hurts to actually see it. “If it makes you feel any better, he deserved it.” My tone softens.

“You don’t get to decide that!” She screams, her eyes filled with rage.

“Oh, but I do.” I say, pulling her to the couch and laying her on her back. “Remember when you told me you’re mine?” I cut the hem of her dress with the bloody knife and toss it to the side. “I took that to heart, Row.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” She cries.

“Relax, I’m just changing you into something more comfortable. It’s the least I can do since you’ll be tied up.”

“Wow. A perfect gentleman.” She relaxes and her breathing slows down. “Where the fuck is Laila and your mom?” She asks between breaths.

I let out a small laugh. “They’re not coming to save you. They’re in France.” I pull a pair of sweatpants up her legs and stop halfway. “You know, I poured my fuckin’ soul out to you. Then you ran. Why, Rowan?”

She sits silent for a moment. “Fuck you. I’m not having this conversation while I’m still tied up.”

I drop down beside her on the couch and pull her to straddle my lap, pressing my face into her neck. “Dangerous way to talk when you have no way to stop me,” I breathe, my hand trailing up her back and into her hair. “Say it again, and Iwillfuck you.”

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