Chapter 104: Chapter Forty-Nine

Alice

I’ve always heard that every person, at one point in their lives, experiences a crossroads.

I was at that point.

Ax had brought me to a private airport.

The jet was pitch black and looked expensive.

I had my bag in my right hand as I stepped out of the SUV and stared up at it.

A man I didn’t recognize, a beautiful man, started walking down the stairs to greet me.

He was tall, muscular, extremely familiar despite the fact that I’d never met him before.

“Nikolai.” Ax held out his hand.

Nikolai shook his hand firmly and looked to me. “Any issues?”

“Issues?” I repeated.

“With getting out of the club before it was infested with more Italians?” His lips quirked like he said something funny.

“No,” Ax answered for me. “I just got a text. Everything seemed to go as planned… Unfortunately.”

Unfortunately? What did that even mean?

Both men gave me a pointed look.

I wanted to back away, I wanted to steal the SUV and drive it back to the club.

“Is Andrei—” I licked my dry lips. “Is Andrei okay?”

“He’s alive,” Ax said quietly. “Then again, are you ever really living when you don’t have those you care about by your side?”

“Deep for a made man,” Nikolai teased. “All right then, so I guess this is the choice you’re going to make?”

“Choice?” I almost shrieked. “I wasn’t given a choice.”

“She’s new,” Ax pointed out like I was an idiot.

I almost smacked him. “What do you mean I’m new? I wasn’t given a choice.

“In a way, he was.” Nikolai shrugged. “The death of part of his past, the rebirth of a new future. The question is, where do you fit in, Alice De Lange?”

I sucked in a sharp breath and started backing away from both of them. “H-how do you know?”

“Then again,” Nikolai ignored me. “He did lie and tell everyone you were married so you were safe.”

“He’s an idiot,” Ax pointed out. “Should have just done it and apologized after the fact.”

“I’m lost,” I whispered. Did I need to grab the knife I’d tucked away in my bag, or not?

“You can get on the plane with me. Fly to New York, disappear, new name, new identity, I’ll even let you work for me.”

“Huh?”

“He’s kind of a big deal.” Ax nodded. “In case you’re wondering why he looks familiar; he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his research with AIDS and other STDs.” He shrugged.

“Then again of course he was able to study it closely since he’s known as The Doctor or Dr. Death.

“It’s good that you work at the club.” Nikolai shook his head. “What if she tells?”

“She won’t.” Ax winked at me. “She’s in this now.”

I was in something all right.

My heart was breaking.

They were talking in riddles.

And I just wanted to know he was okay.

“What’s my other choice?” I asked quietly staring down at the asphalt. “You said I have two choices.”

“Your second choice is a bit more… adventurous.”

“Adventurous?”

“You stay and let him fight for you,” Ax said confidently.

“I’m a De Lange.” I gulped. “Chase will kill me, and if he won’t, one of the other ones will.”

“Chase’s wife is half De Lange.” Ax shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “She sacrificed herself for him. Blood must always be spilled.”

My head shot up. “What was that?”

Nikolai’s lips twitched. “Blood must always be spilled. Especially after Mil’s betrayal. Like I said, staying is more adventurous, dangerous, and you may not live.

“Figuratively.” Ax cleared his throat. “He means figuratively.”

Tears welled in my eyes.

Could I do it?

Could I get back in that car and face not just the monster I loved, but the ones who would kill me without a second thought?

He’d killed for me.

Spilled my own brother’s blood for me.

He had given himself to me.

I nodded at Nikolai. “I think I’d rather die than get in that plane with you.”

“Good answer.” His dark eyes flashed.

“You were hoping I’d say no?”

“I was already in the city for business when Ax called. You may need me later anyways. It seems I’m staying.”

“Why would I need you later?”

“Doctor,” his face fell.

Great.

I refused to lose my nerve now.

“Are you going to come with us then?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He grinned and then shoved Ax. “I’m driving, you’re a lunatic.”

“You’re not wrong.” Ax winked and opened the SUV door for me. “After you, Alice.”

The door shut with finality behind me.

I had promised him I would leave.

I had promised him I would be safe.

I had promised him I would ask him to kill me.

And it seemed I might have to follow through with it if things went wrong.

“Blood must always be spilled.” I repeated out loud. “Nikolai, how much blood does the human body have?”

“Around seven percent of your body weight is blood, why?”

The car turned as he drove us back in the direction we came.

“How much blood would appease Chase?”

“All of it,” Ax said without thinking. “You’ll need a different plan, stabbing yourself isn’t going to work.”

“I wasn’t going to stab myself.” I wrung my hands together.

We were back at the club too soon.

A dozen expensive black cars were parked out front. “What’s going on?”

“Oh.” Ax turned around as he loaded his gun. “The Sinacores are here to wipe out the remaining De Lange bloodline and take their place, and the love of your life is their new boss.”

I froze. “What?”

Nikolai’s face softened in the rear-view mirror. “He’s half Italian, he’s the heir to one of the oldest mafia dynasties in the world. And his first task is a mass cleansing.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “And if he defies his first task?”

Nikolai locked eyes with me. “To defy your own blood, or direct orders from the Capo, means death.”

“I’m walking into my own funeral.” My voice shook.

“Oh ye of little faith.” Nikolai winked.

I’d been at a crossroads.

I had chosen the road less traveled.

The one with signs that said beware.

The one with the broken bridge and enchanted castle.

The enchanted castle filled with bloodthirsty monsters, and no princes riding in on white horses.

“I need a minute.” I grabbed my bag and took a few soothing breaths, then very slowly got out of the SUV with Nikolai and Ax flanking me.

The club was loud when we walked in.

Men were laughing.

Drinking.

And my heart was breaking.

He’d known, hadn’t he?

Andrei had known.

And he’d chosen blood.

Over love.