The Deliverance of Dilan (The Syndicate #4) (26 page)

“Excuse me?” His brows quirk.

“Anna.” Salvatore throws me a warning glare along with his stern voice. I ignore them all.

“No. Don’t any of you ‘Anna’ me, or excuse me, or say you’re calling the shots here. This man kidnapped me. His vile sister tried to kill me, and you have the nerve to bring me here. To make me face him. I disagree with all of you. It’s
me
who has the right to talk, to tell the truth, and it’s
your
job,” I point at the DA and the cops, “to listen to me. Whatever he has to say is more likely a lie. While all of you have been trying to blame those who saved me from dying, the one to blame for all of this is right there. None of us should even be here.” My breathing becomes short as a dozen or so pairs of eyes are glued to me. I don’t care. This is my show now. Not anyone else’s. I will sit here until this fucker tells the truth.

I stand, all eyes still on me. “Anna, stop.” Dilan grabs my arm softly.

“No. That includes you too, Dilan. You all want the truth. Well, here it is.”

Bravery consumes me, zings itself out of thin air. Maybe it’s because the closer I approach this animal, whose eyes are half-lidded, whose skin is pasty white, and whose hands are cuffed to the bed, the more I realize he is unable to touch me, to feel his slimy hands on me, or hear his threats. Wherever it comes from, I welcome and own it.

It’s quiet. Extremely so. The only sounds in this room are the beeping of the monitors and the beating of hearts, wondering what the hell I’m going to say.

I’m surprised no one is stopping me. But why would they? This entire situation of me being anywhere near this man is so far out of protocol with the legal system, I would laugh in their pitiful faces if the freedom of those I love weren’t at stake. They need to give answers to the public. Those who want to bring crime off the streets. To feel safe. Well, fuck that shit. The one man they should loathe and be afraid of is right in front of me, looking at me with spite and revenge in his almost dead eyes. He’s a fucking fool. Every word he said assaults me in one cold swoosh of air.

How he always wins. Gets what he wants. How he would kill. I’m going to drive this last nail into this self-absorbed son of a bitch’s coffin with the one thing he told me to never speak about in his presence. I doubt he will care. He’s a liar. A thief. His appearances on the outside makes him seem like a man, when in reality, he is nothing but a lurking, poisonous, shit for brains animal who attacks women. Weak. Asshole. And I want him to die.

He fucking lost. He’s lost it all. I really hope when he does die, he rots right alongside his buddy Royal Diamond. They belong together in hell. Burning. Continuously. For these people, who think they can control the lives of others, to kidnap and damn near kill people who have done nothing to them, even the depths of hell are too good. And his sister. Maybe they can make up down there for fucking each other over. Or better yet, they can repeat slaying each other. See who has the upper hand down there. I don’t care what hell does to them, as long as they live it. Eternally.

“I’m not going to waste my time telling you what I think of you,” I say with acrimony. The sight of him has my knees knocking together. Not out of fear. No way. It’s straight up hatred.

“What I am going to say is this. You’ve lost everything. You’re going to die with nothing and no one to give a shit that you’re dead. You’re all alone, until you meet your sister, who’s already rotting.” I temporarily halt when he makes an attempt to try and lift his lips into a smile. His nose and forehead pinch, revealing his pain. Good. Let me dig more.

“I hope you die. I really do. Do you know why? Because while you’re dead, I will be living my life with Dilan. A real man. A man I love. A man who I will give all of me to freely, and a man who loves me back.” If I didn’t know better, I would say a flash of sadness sweeps across his face, briefly. An indication that I got to him by saying Dilan’s name, a name he told me to never bring up again in his company. Did he honestly think he would ever compare to Dilan? The thought of that makes me sicker than I already am by standing so close to him. By being anywhere near this thing.

“Anna. Listen to me.” Soft-spoken, strained words escape his mouth.

“For the last time, Juan, you don’t owe them anything.” I look up to a man in a black, pinstriped suit. His jet-black hair is slicked back. He looks exactly like a gangster from the 20s. A true crime asshole, who has his shady hands on Juan’s shoulder, while his eyes are on me, trying to intimidate. Fuck him too.

“I’m dying, Roger. Let me say what I need to say. I’m halfway to hell anyway,” Juan speaks, not once taking his gaze off of me.

I swallow hard, fear flowing through my veins faster than any of the drugs I have been given during my stay here. If he lies, I will kill him and send him the rest of the way to his final destination.

“Whatever it is you have to say, make it quick, Juan. This room smells of trash. The filthy fucking kind,” Salvatore informs him.

“Someone put this goddamn bed up. I need to see them all.” Immediately, a nurse or an orderly I never noticed before appears by his side, along with a young doctor, whose nametag I caught a glimpse of. Juan cries out when they slowly adjust his bed and body into a position where he can now see everyone in the room. God, the man looks like he could die at any moment. He better say what he needs to and now, damn it.

“I’ll confess to nothing, except kidnapping. That evidence is apparent. Besides, I’m dying anyway. I have nothing to lose.” He begins to cough. His words are barely audible. He tries to lift his hands to embrace his pain. All we hear is the rattling of the cuffs against the steel frame of the bed.

“Isn’t that enough of a confession?” My head whips around, my eyes narrowing on the DA. Surely, it has to be enough to help everyone get off on whatever bogus charges these assholes are trying to pin on my family.

“It is as far as saving you. This information is nothing new to us. What I’m after is an answer as to why I found a dozen dead men, stolen guns, and a dead pilot, along with several other people, dead spread all across my city, Miss Drexler. Men I believe were killed for no reason at all. Other than revenge.” This pompous asshole is out of his ever-loving mind. How in the hell he was elected is beyond me.

“You have nothing on us, and you know it. This has to be a fucking joke. Exactly what kind of game are you playing here?” Ivan moves to stand right in front of the DA. I have no clue what the man’s name is. He told me, but I sure as hell don’t remember anymore. The only name I want to call him is a damn fool. A liar.

“What I’m trying to do is clean my streets. To get rid of the garbage that loiters on every corner. The drugs you sell. The guns you steal. You people control this city, hell, you control half of the damn world, and it’s about time someone takes charge and swipes my streets clean.”

“Then I suggest you bring in a sweep cleaner, because it doesn’t matter what the hell is said in this room. None of it will stick, and you damn well know it. You have nothing on us. Not a crumb. Not a morsel to save the life of a rat. A rat like you. Let me repeat Ivan’s question. What kind of game are you playing?” Dilan asks.

“No game, Dilan. I know none of this will stick in court. You’re all here on a last wish from Juan. Rest assured, I will find a way to bring all of you down. Every last one of you.”

“Good luck,” Ivan remarks sarcastically.

“Enough. This isn’t a courtroom. This is a hospital. Against my better judgment, I agreed to let you all come in here. Please, take your arguments elsewhere. I have a patient to attend to here.”

“A patient? More like a dead man walking. Except the fucker can’t walk. He’s crawling to his death,” Roan responds angrily to the doctor.

“I told you these people care less about me dying than I do. Let them say what they have to say. It doesn’t change a fucking thing or the fact they better all watch their backs for the rest of their goddamn lives. I will haunt you. Come for you when you least expect it. This plan of mine may have been mangled up by my crazy sister, but rest assured, I always have a backup plan in place. Always.” Juan begins to cough profusely now. His eyes are watering, his expression suffering from the pain he’s in. As morbid as it sounds, I would love nothing more than to stand here and watch him gasp and suffer until he takes his last breath. However, the mere sight of him makes my skin burn to a degree that repulses me.

“As you can see, we’re all standing here very much alive. Very much a family. Whatever you have in store for us, we welcome it.” Dilan takes the steps necessary to reach my side. “ If you’re done tossing out threats from your fucking grave that we all know will never reach the surface, I’d like to take my lady home.” Dilan entwines our hands. His strength is comforting. His touch alone makes me feel safe from Juan’s idle threats. I have no doubt he has a second-in-command. Someone who will come after us. If that day comes, we will fight them too. Together, standing strong.

“I have one more thing to say,” Juan speaks up. His head is bent, his eyes looking down at our adjoined hands.

“We don’t want to hear it. Save it for hell, motherfucker.” Dilan tugs lightly on my hand, indicating it’s time for us to leave. But I can’t move. My feet are rooted to the floor. I know I should leave with the rest of them. I see them walking out of the room out of the corner of my eye. They’re all done here. Finished. Why is it that whatever he has to say I feel like I have to hear?

“Anna, let’s go. It’s over, baby. Let this piece of shit die.”

“I may be dying, Dilan, but rest assured, even after my death, I will get my revenge.”

“Just like Ivan said. Good luck. Now, go to hell, Juan.”

“You make me sick.” I yank my hand free and grip the side of the bed. My fingers burn as I twist them around in a tight grip to hold me back from choking the last bit of life out of him.

“It’s been one thing after another with you. You have nothing left. You’ve lost.” I bring my face down close to his. I’ve got one last thing left to say, then he can die.

“It seems Dilan wins the game of revenge. Not you. You set him up. You tried to destroy him for reasons you’re too scared to admit. Even on your deathbed. I get it. I really do. You made this too easy. Revenge is bitter; it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Now that you and your sister are gone, all that’s left is your bitterness turning into something sweet. Your death.”

DILAN

I damn near fall into the chair once we reach Anna’s room. The thought of having to leave her even for one damn second has me telling the DA to go fuck himself. The lowlife traitor. He’ll stop at nothing to try and bring us down. If he were doing his job correctly, legally even, that would be one thing, but he’s not. No. We all know how corrupt he is, pretending he cares about the citizens of this city. Fuck him. He’s as low as the rest of us. Dirty fucking lawyer. How the hell he was elected beats the shit out of me.

And Juan and his idle threats. Fuck them all. His empire will be burned to the ground before they even make a sliver of an attempt to come after us again. I know my family. They will do whatever it takes to make sure nothing like this happens again. It doesn’t matter who tries. I’d give anything to kill him with my bare hands. Drain the last bit of life out of his useless body. Break every bone in his hands for touching Anna. ANY. DAMN. THING.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Anna once I have her settled in bed. She looks like an angel, my angel, as she straightens the covers across her legs, her head resting on her pillow, her skin glowing as brightly as the deep colors of the sun.

“Do you think he means what he said? That we will never be safe from his madness?” I give her a sly smile. One that lets her know no. That we’re untouchable at the moment. That everyone will keep their noses clean, staying low for quite some time, until this shit blows over. I won’t sugarcoat shit for her though. She needs to always watch her back.

“I have no damn idea. I don’t care anymore. All I care about is you and me right now. Danger is a part of our lives, Anna. It is what it is.” She looks up to me with those deep blue eyes I could swim in for days, floating peacefully. Suddenly, an idea pops into my head. One I need to talk to everyone about and hope they all agree.

“Go talk to that asswipe. Make sure all of you are clear. My mom should be back with our food anytime.” I lean down and lightly brush my lips across hers. My stomach is growling. I’m fucking starving. Thank god Grace was pacing back and forth outside of Juan’s room when we left. The minute she saw Anna was okay, she damn near lost it. Good thing all the ladies were standing outside with her. Including Cecily, who I owe so much to for being strong and telling us everything.

“I love you,” I tell her. It’s the truth. I’m a better man with her.

“I know you do. I love you too. It’s over. I choose you. This life. I knew there would be danger along with it. I will always worry about losing you or anyone else, but none of that comes close to walking around for the rest of my life without you in it. I’ll always be by your side. No matter what.” Her voice is barely a whisper. I lean into her soft hand, her fingers trailing across this scruff on my face. I cannot wait to bury my head between her thighs and watch her come while I fuck her sweet pussy that will only ever be mine with my tongue. I need to get my ass out of here before I actually do it right here.

“We have enough food here to feed this entire floor,” my aunt says as they all stroll in, carrying trays and bags, puling me away from this woman who I will never go a day without making sure she knows what she means to me. The aroma damn near does me in. My mom and Grace fuss over Anna. She’s going to be fine. She’s in good hands until I return. I need to get this shit done. Not only am I starving for food, I’m also starving to get Anna out of here and in a bigger bed. Christ, I want her in a bad way.

“Thanks. Let me meet them. Get this done. Keep her safe,” I say as I walk out the door. “Always, Dilan.” Cecily looks at me, her eyes saying what our mouths haven’t yet. ‘Thank you and you’re welcome.’ God, I love these people. Every one of them.