Page 13 of Eternally Bound

It has been twelve years since I saw Daniel Carrington and over five years since I’ve attempted to seek him out. If I hadn’t pushed him out of my mind and my heart by now, it was a moot point to think I’d succeed in doing it in the next twelve years.

I begged Lachlan to obtain the address for Daniel Carrington. Imagine my surprise when Lachlan told me his family was connected to the Carrington mafia that ruled the underworld. He made me promise not to seek him out. But even as I made that promise, I knew I’d break it. I needed to see Daniel.

I caught a cab in front of my hotel, The Stafford, in the heart of London. I kept my focus on the outside, the upscale restaurant, bars, mansions, and expensive cars all around till the views changed into the battered warehouses, boarded-up windows, and run-down pubs. I stared out the window of the cab, the streets of East London passing by.

The streets were empty, but I could practically sense the dangers lurking in the dark alleys and shadows of the evening. The realization of how little I really knew about Daniel didn’t escape me.

“Are you sure this is where you are going, ma’am?” The cab driver interrupted my thoughts.

“I think so,” I murmured.

Now that I thought back, we rarely talked about his childhood or upbringing. I knew that his family was rough, but he never elaborated. I assumed his family wasn’t close, but mafia. The fucking mafia!

The car came to a stop in front of the large grey building. The windows weren’t boarded but the place was just as scary and gloomy.

“This is it, lass,” the cab driver told me. This was the address that came up connected to Daniel Carrington. I swallowed hard, finding myself scared to exit the vehicle. “How about I stay here and wait for you?”

My head snapped to the driver at his offer. Even he could sense this was no place to be.

I nodded eagerly. “I would be so grateful,” I told him. “I’ll pay you for your time, I promise.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about that,” he assured me. “I want to make sure you get back safely. I’m from Scotland myself, and would want my own daughter to come back safe.”

Exhaling a shaky breath, I offered him a grateful smile.

“I won’t be long.”

Opening the door, I exited the cab and slowly made my way closer to the building. Now that I was thinking about it, I wasn’t sure what to do. It wasn’t like this place would have a doorbell. It didn’t look like a home. More some kind of scary place of business.

Pushing the iron gate open, the screeching of the hinges sounded in the dusk of evening, sending a creepy sensation down my back.

Glancing over my shoulder, I could see the cab driver was still sitting there, his car running. As if he was expecting we’d have to leave in a hurry.

I turned around just in time to stop abruptly. A tall, dark man stood in front of me, his arms folded across his wide chest and dark eyes with something disturbing lurking in their shadows. His dark hair was the same shade as Daniel’s; there was a strong resemblance between the two men.

The calculating look in his eyes mixed with an air of cruelty. His stare locked on me as he lit a cigarette, inhaled a long drag, and then slowly exhaled, blowing smoke right into my face.

Instinctively, I took a step backwards, sensing a threat, and at the same time, choking out a cough.

“Lost, baby?” His mouth twisted into a menacing smile and my heart race sped up. This man reeked of brutality, causing my heart to thunder under my rib cage.

“I’m looking for Daniel,” I told him, surprised my voice wasn’t shaking. My insides were definitely shuddering in fear. “Daniel Carrington.”

His one eyebrow lifted in surprise, and it was his only tell. Otherwise, his face was unmoving with the exception of his eyes that gleamed with a savagery shining in their depths.

“He’s fucking with someone,” he spat, his lips curving up with some sick satisfaction I couldn’t quite understand. “I had my turn, now it’s his.”

I flinched at that statement. Daniel had other women! For some reason, that one never crossed my mind. Stupid, stupid girl! I thought he’d wait for me, like I was waiting for him. Even worse, he shared a woman. Maybe multiple women.

My cousin was right; I should have stayed away. My stupid determination would get me killed one day. God knew it got me into trouble a lot.

I took another step backwards, but this time, the man took a step forward, his big frame threatening. He felt like a dark cloud, looming over me, preparing to thunder. One more step back by me, he inched forward. There was no hiding my fear anymore, and by the way he smiled, I knew he could see it. And he got off on it.

My ears rang with my racing pulse, my entire body shaking with fear.

“Lass, let’s go!” My head snapped back. The cab driver was still here, outside of the car, waiting for me. I could have cried from the relief. I forgot he was waiting for me.

Without delay, I turned and ran; the cruel laughter behind me filling the hot evening air. The humidity of the air matched the sticky, dirty feeling inside me. Fighting the lump in my throat, I finally had to face reality.

---