Retaliation (The Assassins Book 1) Read online

  I get up to leave, but she grabs my arm to stop me. I don’t turn around to face her. If she sees me, she will know for sure it’s me.

  “Clara, I would know you anywhere. It’s all right, I’m your friend, remember? I won’t tell anyone you’re alive. You have my word.”

  I still can’t let her see that it’s me. I hate to do it, but I have no choice. I pull my arm out of her grasp.

  “Like I said, you have me mistaken for another. I hope you find your friend.”

  I hear her start to cry, and then I hear her whisper, “Forgive me, I didn’t have a choice.”

  I don’t know what she’s talking about, but I know something is horribly wrong. I start to make my way back to where Braden is sitting. He sees the panic on my face, and starts to get up from where he’s sitting. Someone grabs him from behind, and places a knife to his neck. I see the man whisper something in his ear before he slits Braden’s throat. I then hear Colonel Donavan’s voice through my microphone.

  “Clara, get the hell out of there, now!”

  I start to make my move when I hear his voice behind me, and it stops me in my tracks.

  “Ah, hello my dear sweet Clara. I had a feeling I would find you here. It’s time now for you to stop running. It’s time for you to come home where you belong, by my side.”

  αααα

  Jackson

  I can hear every word Clara is saying to me. I want so badly to wake up for her, but it seems near impossible. I hear her yelling at me now to get up. It gives me the extra strength I need to fight to wake up.

  I hear her and Captain Adrian talking. He’s telling her to leave. I don’t want her to go. I need to see her. I hear her leave the room and Captain Adrian soon after. It pushes me over the edge, and I’m finally able to open my eyes. I move my mouth, but no sound comes out. I close my eyes again, and hear the Captain reenter the room. I focus hard, and I’m finally able to get one word out. It’s barely a whisper, but it gets his attention, “Clara.”

  “Easy there buddy. Don’t take it too fast.”

  I say her name again. “Clara.”

  “Let me get you some water.”

  Now I’m getting frustrated. I don’t want any damn water. I want Clara. I let him bring me the water. I drink a little, and it makes my throat feel a little better.

  “Where’s Clara?”

  “She just stepped out for some fresh air. Poor thing hasn’t left your side for the past three days. I caught her in here yelling at you. She needed a break. She hasn’t been outside in over three days. I promised to call her the minute you woke up. I will go do that now.”

  “See that you do.” I know I’m acting like a child who wants his favorite toy, but I have to see her. I need her to know that I’m all right.

  It seems like hours before the Captain returns. The look on his face tells me that I’m not going to be happy.

  “What is it? You better spit it out, now!”

  “It’s Clara. She and Sgt. Jacobs went to Jonathan’s church. Colonel Donavan caught a man’s voice over the microphone before he killed Sgt. Jacobs.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He said, tell your friends that the President says hello.”

  My heart starts to beat fast. I know the answer to what I’m about to ask, but I ask it anyway. “Where’s Clara?”

  “Jules has her. Before her communication was cut off, the Colonel made out his voice.”

  “What did he say to her?”

  “He said that it was time she return home with him.”

  I truly believed that nothing could’ve stopped me in that moment. I started ripping off wires, and I pulled out the IV in my arm. I thought the anger would give me the strength, but when I sit up and try to get off the bed, it seems that’s not to be the case. I fall face first into the hard floor, and pass out.

  32

  Clara – Present Day

  Jules has truly succeeded in catching me off guard. He’s the last person I would’ve expected to see here. I’m quick, but he’s quicker. I now have my hands tied behind my back. Jules holds me in a firm grip. I watch as Ava walk up to us.

  “I’m truly sorry Clara. I really didn’t have a choice.”

  “We always have a choice. We were best friends once. How could you betray me like this?”

  “How could you pretend to be dead, and not tell me? I mourned you.”

  Jules cut us off. “That will be all. It truly isn’t her fault. You see, her fiancé is very sick. Our lab was able to give him a drug that will sustain his life, but without that drug, he’ll die. I threatened to cut off the supply if she didn’t help me. Well, that, and kill her, and her entire family. Tell me sweet Clara. What would you have done in her situation?”

  I don’t answer him. I get now that Ava was trying to protect her family, and the man she loves. I don’t have a right to judge her, as I would have done the same.

  “I forgive you Ava. I can’t blame you for what Jules has made you do.”

  I see tears fall down her cheeks. She wants to say something to me, but Jules cuts her off again.

  “I said, that’s all Ava. You better be on your way now. You never know what can happen to a woman alone on the streets of the Lower Class District.”

  I know that’s his way of reminding me about the night he had Jonathan and I attacked. I decide to stop struggling. This could be my one chance to kill Jules, and get retaliation. He feels my body relax against his.

  “That’s my girl. No need in fighting what is inevitable. I told you years ago that you’re mine. You didn’t listen, and look where that got you. Now, as fun as this game has been, it’s over.”

  I let Jules drag me out of the church. I don’t look at Braden’s body. He didn’t deserve to die this way. I will kill Jules for him too.

  I’m loaded in the back of a black SUV with tinted windows. I would recognize it as the capitals anywhere. Jules climbs in beside me.

  “I can’t wait to get you home, and have some fun with you.”

  He reaches over and buries his face in my hair.

  “How I’ve missed you. I should take you right now, but I won’t. When we get home, I want you showered, and prepared for me tonight. You will become mine tonight in every way. I’ve waited too long for you, and my patience is worn thin.

  “I will never be yours.”

  “I love how you fight me. How you’ve always fought me. Most women throw themselves at my feet, but not you. No, you make it interesting. Don’t worry. I won’t break you totally. I actually quite enjoy the fight. I will however, have you screaming my name in pleasure when I’m done with you.”

  I watch as Jules pulls a knife from his boot. He holds up Jackson’s knife for me to see. It was the same knife Jonathan had pulled on our attackers that fateful night. Jackson told me how he had found it at the crime scene. He felt it was like carrying around a piece of his brother. I knew I had to get that knife back for him.

  “Recognize this? Did you have anything to do with Apollo’s death? Don’t worry, if you did, I won’t tell. It would actually turn me on that much more. I hated that bastard. He thought he was so entitled because of his relationship with my father. No matter, he’s dead now. So tell me, did you kill him?”

  I don’t answer him. I don’t want to talk to him.

  “No, I don’t believe you did. I don’t think you have it in you. I do however suspect a few of the various murders of our capitals leaders might have something to do with you. I wonder where one such as yourself would learn to become a skilled killer. No matter, that’s all in the past now.”

  He toys with the knife a little more before he reaches over, and places it against my neck. He then lightly traces it down my neck to the top of my hoodie. He uses it to hook the zipper, and he unzips it a little to expose more of my neck. I have a black t-shirt on underneath. I hear it rip a little as he cuts it open to the tops of my breast. His breathing starts to become heavier. My hands are still tied behind my back, but if I have to
o, I will fight him with everything I have not to let him take me.

  “I want to see you bleed.”

  “You’re sick.”

  He laughs. “Yes, I know.’

  He cuts me a little. I don’t even flinch. I feel the blood run down my chest and between my breasts. I really am going to enjoy killing him.

  He leans over and licks away the blood. He truly is crazy. Dealing with someone as crazy as him is not fun. They can’t be rationalized with. I just need to keep him away from me until I can figure out how to kill him, and then escape.

  I watch as he pulls his head back to look at me. I see my blood on his mouth, and it turns my stomach. I see the passion in his eyes before he forces his lips on mine. He forces my mouth open, and he sticks his tongue down my throat. I try not to gag.

  “Excuse me, sir. I hate to interrupt, but we’re home.”

  Jules ignores the driver and kisses me for a few more seconds. When he pulls his head back, I spit in his face.

  “Oh sweetheart, you’ll pay for that later.”

  I watch as Jules get out of the car, and walks into the capitol building apartments. My door opens, and I’m roughly pulled out of the car by the driver. A guard steps forward, and the driver hands me over to him.

  “She’s all yours. Jules wants her taken immediately to her room.”

  The guard nods, but doesn’t say a word. He pulls me into the house, and then up a flight of stairs. Once we reach the top of the stairs, he pulls me down a long corridor. Finally, we stop in front of an apartment door.

  The guard knocks on the door, and a woman greets us. Clearly she’s a servant of the capital.

  “Thank you for delivering Ms. Mitchell. You may go now.”

  Again the guard doesn’t say anything. The woman notices my puzzled look. She pulls me inside before she explains.

  “He can’t talk. Jules cut his tongue out. He made the mistake of talking back to Jules when he was drunk. Poor thing.”

  Poor thing indeed. I really couldn’t wait to kill Jules.

  “Now miss, I need to get you cleaned up. Jules expects you for dinner in his apartment within the hour. I can’t deliver you late or he’ll have my head.”

  Yet another victim of Jules cruel behavior. I have no doubt that she would suffer if I were to show up late. I can’t have her blood on my hands. I try smiling at her to show her that I’m on friendly terms with her.

  “Well then, let’s make sure I’m not late.”

  She returns my smile. “Oh, thank you miss.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Sarah. My name is Sarah.”

  “Very well Sarah. Shall we get me ready then?”

  αααα

  Jackson

  I wake up back in the hospital bed. This time I’m surrounded by my entire team.

  “What are all of you looking at? Why are you standing around looking at me when you should be out there getting Clara back?”

  Donavan is the only one brave enough to step forward.

  “We’ve been instructed by the Leader to stand down. He says he has it under control.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “He said if we step one foot in the capital, then the rescue mission he has planned will be jeopardized. He said we have to trust him.”

  I hate not being able to be there for Clara. I have no idea what she’s going through or what Jules is doing to her. If he so much as touches her, I will personally cut off his balls, and serve them to him on a platter.

  “I want to talk to the Leader. I need to know his plan.”

  Captain Adrian nods, and turns to leave. He returns with a wheelchair. Nyx tries to help me into the wheelchair, but I wave him off. I don’t need help. I need to gain my strength so I can go after Clara. I have to admit, getting from the bed to the chair was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I won’t let my men know that though.

  I wheel myself to the command center. I’m followed by my men. I send a message to the Leader that we need to talk. I don’t wait long before he calls me.

  “General, good to see you up and around. I assume this call is about Clara. Like I told your men, I’m handling the situation.”

  “They told me. However, I’m not fully convinced. I want to know your plan if only to ease my mind.”

  “This doesn’t concern you.”

  “The hell you say. Clara is my concern. If you don’t tell me your plan to save her, I will dispatch my men to bring her home. Your choice.”

  “You always were a cocky one. It’s one of the reasons I chose you for this job. Very well. I will tell you, and only you.”

  I turn to my men. “You heard him. Leave us alone.”

  They nod and mumble as they walk out the door. I turn back to the screen.

  “We’re alone. Now, tell me what the plan is.”

  I listen to his story. When he’s done, I don’t know what to say.

  “Now, do you see how my plan will work?”

  “Well shit, with all due respect sir, I have to admit that I didn’t see that coming.”

  33

  Clara – Present Day

  As promised, Sarah has me ready within the hour. She has me dressed in a low cut, floor length, white, silk gown. She pulls my curls up into a loose bun with droplets lightly hanging from it. I haven’t worn makeup since the night Jonathan died, so she helps me with that as well. I’m given white silk slippers to match my dress.

  “What, no heels?”

  “Jules felt like you could use heels as a weapon. He said slippers were safer.”

  Damn. I was hoping for a high heel because I would have used it to defend myself. I take a deep breath, and resign myself to my fate.

  αααα

  Jules

  The site of Clara in that dress has my blood boiling. I have waited so long to make her mine. I invite her in. I can tell she’s scoping the room in order to find something to use as a weapon.

  “Relax Clara. I just want to have dinner with you right now. Can I get you a drink?”

  “Something strong please.”

  I laugh and pour her a glass of bourbon. She takes a big drink. It doesn’t faze her a bit. Her strength makes me want her even more. I’m going to enjoy every moment of this. I place my hand on the small of her back.

  “Shall we eat?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Well then, let me put it to you this way. If you don’t eat, I will make sure Sarah pays for it later. Now, let’s try this again. Shall we eat?”

  I know how to push her buttons to bend her to my will. I can hear the anger in her voice coming through her clenched teeth.

  “I would love to.”

  I guide her to her chair. When I release her to sit down, I notice that my hand is shaking. She has that effect on me. I can’t believe she is really here with me. I will never let her go again.

  I try to engage in small talk with her over dinner, but she isn’t having it. That’s fine, I prefer to eat in silence anyway. She pushes her plate away.

  “I’m full.”

  “As am I. Can I get you another drink?”

  She hands me her glass, and I obligingly refill it. I watch as her gaze goes toward the balcony.

  “Don’t think about jumping.”

  “I would like some fresh air. Don’t worry, I don’t feel like killing myself tonight. At least, not yet.”

  I lead her out onto the balcony into the cool night air. I watch as she overlooks the city. She is stunning in the moonlight. I can’t wait any longer. I take her glass from her, and set it down on the table. It’s time to enjoy her beautiful body. It’s time to make her mine.

  αααα

  Clara

  All through dinner I kept trying to figure out how to get out of this. I thought if I got drunk enough it would be over quickly. Unfortunately, Jules just took my drink from my hand. I know that look in his eyes. He wants me. My time’s up. He moves in like a predator ready to kill his prey.

  “Ju
les, don’t you want to wait. I mean, wouldn’t it be better if we got to know one other a little better?”

  I’m grasping at straws, and he knows it.

  “Oh, I know you Clara. I know everything about you. Now, enough talk. I want to taste every inch of you.”

  Jules backs me up against the wall. I’m trapped. He reaches down, grabs my arms, and pins them above my head. I try to fight back, but he is unbelievably strong. I have to relax. I have to remember what Brina had taught me to do in this situation. His nose is inches from my face. He kisses my neck.

  “You smell delicious.”

  He lets out an animalistic sound of passion before his lips find mine. Again, he forces my mouth open. This time, I’m ready, and I bite his tongue.

  “Shit.”

  He releases me and I run, but in this dress, he’s faster. He grabs me from behind, and throws me down on the bed.

  “Yes, fight me all you want, but this is going to happen.”

  He pins my arms down with his legs. I buck beneath him, but it’s useless. He reaches for something, and I realize he’s going to tie me to the bed.

  Panic begins to set in. “No. Don’t do this Jules.”

  He ignores me, and binds my wrists to the bed post.

  “Now, that’s much better.”

  I try to cross my legs, but he pushes them open with his legs.

  “Open up to me Clara. I promise you, that you’ll enjoy this.”

  “Go to hell.”

  “No darling, I’m about to go to heaven.”

  I feel him reach under my dress, and lightly caress my leg. I

  think I’m going to be sick. Just when he reaches for my panties, there’s a knock on the door.

  “Go away.”

  “Jules, open up.”

  I don’t recognize the voice, but it sounds firm.

  “I said, go away. If I have to open that door, I’ll kill you.”

  “I can’t Jules. The head of security is demanding to question Clara about the recent murders. Your father has agreed to it.”