A Billion Broken Pieces (Incongruity Series Book 2) Read online

  I hope against all hope that she can comprehend fully that we are at war with something much greater than just Stefan Demetri. As of tonight, whatever reasons and hesitations I harbored before tonight are all gone. Gone without a trace.

  “Okay, another underground, mafia sort of thing. Great!” she exclaims sarcastically but I can see she is shaken by all of this new information. “Let me guess, they are also working with Stefan? Bank rolling him?” she inquires.

  “Well yes and no. The intelligence that we have at the moment suggests that your boss just recently established a connection with this organization.”

  For some reason I can’t explain, I doubt this is the first time Stefan has made some kind of sick, twisted relationship with that crime syndicate. I just don’t have the evidence to back it up so I keep it to myself.

  “We are not exactly sure but there is reason to search further and it’s only a matter of hours until this is confirmed.” Max responds, looking at Chloe.

  “Confirmed by who?” she asks. To which Max and I exchange a look.

  How much should we tell her without scaring her? She already doesn’t trust me. I feel it in the way she wants to put distance between us. Physically and mentally.

  “By a reliable source,” Max says dismissively, “but back to the events of this evening, I was going through some of the sensors and monitors that we placed in some not so important places, and I picked up on this command” and then he presses a button and a static recording starts playing.

  “Go get her. . . bring her here!”

  THE OMINOUS RECORDING plays at least three more times, each time turning my blood ice cold until I can’t feel the flow anymore.

  In this moment, the predator in me is awake. The need to kill, the need to hurt and destroy is alive and strong right now; that I know, there is no way this night will end and the sun rise without me doing the damage that I long for.

  I can’t deny it, I have been trying to temper my anger with the knowledge and awareness of her presence but upon hearing this recording, I can’t hold it together anymore.

  “Who was that?” I demand, my voice coming out hoarse and low.

  I don’t even recognize myself. My body is tense, aware of the violence crawling under my skin, burning and itching with the need to be released. With the need to protect. Her.

  Fury mixed with a bitter taste of fear churns under my skin, gearing me up to be a man I hoped never to see again. Hoped not to be again. That's all blown to hell now.

  I impatiently wait for Max to answer me, watching as he types something on his keyboard. He knows damn well that I need answers and I need them right now!

  “Still running voice ID, but so far, there is nothing. This is definitely not Stefan’s voice. Whoever this is, is someone else entirely.” Max says as he turns to look at me dead in the eye.

  “Someone wants Chloe and whoever they are has much more resources and connections than Demetri, a whole new player and he is after blood.”

  Chapter 4

  Chloe

  DREAD CREEPS INTO MY bones until the chill sets deep within me and doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

  There is a dense silence in this well-equipped room, with the latest technology covering every corner and square inch. There are monitors with brightly lit displays, showing different information and news. I can’t take it all in for fear of losing track of my mind even further than it is already. My vision is becoming blurry as I look around the room. Too many findings and data for me to process at my normal speed, swarming around my head like bees.

  Both Gideon and Max are looking at me as if I’m about to pass out and well, I think I might just do so. This is all too much and it’s all happening at the same time. As if heavy sacks, filled with rocks and stones are being hurled at me with both precision and speed. And I’m unable to duck in time to save myself.

  It almost feels like someone is using me in a sadistic game of wits and keep up, but the rules are unknown to me. How do I duck the unknown? How do you manipulate and win at a game you don’t know?

  There is someone after me. Someone else who I don’t even know. And whoever this person is, they are bigger than the monster who killed my parents.

  “Chloe, do you want to sit down?”

  I can hear Gideon’s voice, but it seems like it’s coming from somewhere far. So far away, I’m not sure how he moved away from me so quickly. And why is there an echo in the large room all of a sudden?

  My vision blurs, I feel wobbly on my feet and there is a warm, sickly feeling in my stomach as if I’m about to throw up. I try to look down, but I can’t see anything. My vision is getting dimmer and dimmer by the second. Someone is shouting from somewhere within the abyss of the room that I suddenly see in front of me. I feel light headed and my mouth is open but I can’t seem to take in any breaths to keep my body functioning as it ought to.

  What’s happening to me? Why do I feel like I’m drowning?

  Suddenly, I feel like I’m airborne, as if I’m floating. Floating into nothingness. But why am I floating so fast, and why is there a white hue surrounding my vision?

  Why can’t I breathe properly? Why can’t I see properly?

  I’m having a panic attack!

  MY FEELING AND SENSES come back to me in slow paces of time. First my stream of consciousness, then the rest of the human senses that we need to be fully operational.

  I first feel like I'm resting on a soft, cloud, and I don’t want to get up. There is peace here, there is tranquility around me that I have never felt before in my life.

  I feel safe and secure. As if my life is in alignment and I don’t have to keep going about my life, searching for my own unique and purposeful place in the world. Riddled with so much grief than I can handle. Mourning the fact that my life was snatched away from me at a far too early an age. I feel none of that here.

  I not only lost my life when my parents were murdered, but with each move from one foster home to the other, I’ve lost pieces of myself. Even memories of my previous life.

  But the one thing, the one name I can never seem to forget or move past is, Stefan Demetri.

  But that’s a lie. His name doesn’t affect me the same way anymore. Not as it used to. In fact, the anger and fire branding me from within, all the hatred is different now.

  The one name that consumes my every waking moment and my every dream. Burning away anything else in my life, is the name of the man who is currently stroking my hand. In an almost sensual way. . .

  “Wake up baby.” He implores in that deep baritone that I know no man on this planet can replicate even if they tried.

  His voice is low, sweet and intimate. Making parts of me tingle deliciously. Wanting and yearning for his attention.

  “I didn’t realize that you were dehydrated and famished.” He says as my eyes flutter open as if in slow motion.

  I see his beautiful face clearly. Gideon Black is not just a handsome man, he is a gorgeous specimen of a being. I never tire of looking at him—or thinking of him for that matter—everything about him just draws you in. His savage beautiful face, perfectly groomed locks of amazing glossy black hair atop his head cut in this sexy way that matches his sophistication and class. His sharp, chiseled jaw and a blade of a nose, completing the package of sin.

  But for me, it’s his eyes that punch me right in the stomach.

  They are a deep, but shiny shade of emerald green, I swear I have never seen these gems before anywhere, in my life. His eyes have this uncanny ability of sucking me in, seeing me when I don’t want to be seen. I don’t know how he manages to peel me open with that sensuous mouth of his.

  How he talks to me, relaying what he wants to say with his eyes. I have never had this kind of connection with any other human being before. It makes me wonder if my life just turned into a kind of movie.

  It’s his voice that makes me fight the fatigue, makes me fight the need to stay under whatever drowsiness that is affecting me, robbing m
e of proper and full awareness that I normally possess.

  I don’t know what happened. One moment I was with Max and Gideon in this, large manly and intimidating command room, looking like a scene from CIA or one of those ‘crime fighting’ shows. And now, I’m here, on this soft bed with the softest Egyptian sheets.

  “What happened?”

  My voice comes out groggy and shaking. My throat is dry and I cough at the roughness. How long was I out?

  “You must be thirsty. Here, drink slowly.” Gideon says as he passes me a cup of cold, refreshing water and a straw.

  I greedily gulp it down like I was in a desert and I need as much water as I can get to quench my thirst.

  “You had a mini panic attack that sent you straight into a faint spell Miss. Smith.”

  A different voice cuts in. I try to look around the room that I’m currently in. I know one little fact though, this is no hospital room. The fanciness and priceless pieces of art adorning the walls can attest to that.

  I search for and locate the elderly voice that spoke and my slightly hazy gaze connects with a pair of soft but sharp intelligent pair of light brown eyes. The man has laugh lines around his eyes, a sign of a good, healthy life well lived. His brown skin, wrinkled, looking a bit aged and well. . . wise and comforting.

  “I’m glad you are up though. You have been out for a while, according to the information I obtained from Gideon.” the man says as Gideon stands up to make room for the elderly man

  “Who are you?” I ask when I finish drinking the delicious water. I think it’s mineral water. Only the finest for Gideon Black.

  “My apologies dear, I can imagine how it feels waking up and finding a stranger hovering over you, observing you.” He says, “I’m Doctor Edwin Brown.”

  He smiles and I’m shocked. Why would I need a doctor? I supposed this wise looking man was of a medical profession but I didn’t think I would be correct.

  “Why do I need a doctor? Is something wrong with me?” I ask, feeling a slight tremble go through my body.

  I have a small but potent fear to death. I don’t know why. And why am I even thinking of death. No one said that. Talk about dramatic!

  “I called him.” Gideon says as he steps forward on the other side of me. His amazing emerald green eyes piercing my insecurities and fear in one fell swoop, making them all disappear until I feel normal again.

  “Doc here is an old family doctor and I just called him to be safe. You weren’t waking up after a few minutes when you fainted. I wanted to make sure you were alright.” He explains as he grabs my hand and strokes it lightly, softy. It’s a feather-light touch but my gosh, it raises all sorts of hell in my belly.

  I’m so easy when it comes to him, it’s a shame to all feminist movements out there.

  “Yes, truth be told he was actually panicking.” The good doctor says as he lets out a rumbling chuckle.

  When Gideon turns to glare at him without heat, I also join in. I mean, it’s hard to imagine the great and passive Gideon Black panicking about anything. The image is so ludicrous and so out of place, that I can’t stop laughing.

  “Et tu Brute?” Gideon says as he turns to look down at me. His eyes are soft, warm and intimate. I suddenly have this crazy urge and wish that I could wake up to those very eyes. Each and every single sunrise.

  It’s insane, I know.

  “You have a beautiful laugh, baby” he says softly.

  Time seems to stop as soon as he says that, my laugh dies down as I look up into his soft, twinkling green orbs. We have a little intimate moment between us right there. I have to confess, each time he says that term of endearment to me, a part of me that I didn’t know exists within, melts. It melts and it doesn’t exactly recover back to its hard, untouched by anything but grief, kind of state.

  The good doctor clears his throat, jarring us from this intense and vastly confusing moment. “Could I have a moment to talk to Chloe, if you don’t mind Mr. Black” Doctor Brown says.

  Gideon looks down at me, then back at the doctor. I know he doesn’t really want to go but when he looks down at me, I nod my head slightly, to let him know that I’m alright.

  “I’ll go get you more water.” He says softly. “And don’t go telling on me, Doc!” he says playfully to Doctor Brown who chuckles and shakes his head.

  I turn and look at his retreating back. I don’t want him to go. In that moment as the door closes softly behind him, I realize that in the short time I have known Gideon, I have come to trust him, even after all that has happened tonight or last night. Whatever, the point is still the same. And I’m not so sure how I feel about that.

  “I have to tell you. I have never been called by Gideon Black to come to his home directly. Especially while he was worried about a beautiful young woman nonetheless.” Doctor Brown says, with a small smile on his face.

  I have a sudden sense that he is maybe fishing for information and well, I don’t really know him that well to begin with, so I decide to turn the tables.

  “So, you have known him long then?” I ask as I try to sit up.

  “Yes, ever since he was a little boy, playing at the feet of his Grandfather in his office.” He says as he helps me sit up.

  “That long?” I ask, shocked. I suddenly want to know all about Gideon as a little boy. How he was. Was he as intense as he is now? A gorgeous heartbreaker, and troublemaker no doubt.

  “The good Lord has kept me alive to see him become the man that his Grandfather always hoped for him to be. It’s a little bittersweet though.” His voice trails off as he looks towards the door to which Gideon left through. He looks like he is far away, in another memory but he soon shakes out of it.

  It’s in that moment that my mistrust of him, of new and unknown people really, falls away. He isn’t a threat.

  “Sorry my dear, I didn’t mean to float away like that.” he says as his sharp gaze focuses on me once more. “You however, need to tell me why you haven’t been eating and keeping yourself hydrated properly?” he inquires, suddenly so serious, reminding me of a pissed off Grandpa.

  “I . . . I guess I forgot to do so?” I say it in a form of a question. I’m suddenly nervous, he looks serious and as I look at him, my heart tugs. He looks like how my own father would have been, well maybe at least a few years younger.

  “You forgot?” He asks sarcastically and I can’t help but laugh at his comical facial expression. He doesn’t believe me.

  “Yes, I’ve been busy.” Nervously laughing, I look down at my hands resting atop the soft, maybe one thousand count sheets.

  I like this man, I bet Sam would too. Doctors admire other doctors. I wonder if she knows or has heard of Doctor Brown. He just has that kind of inviting, humorous personality that invites you to put your guard down.

  “Young lady, let me tell you something.” He starts as he takes a seat at the edge of the large, utterly soft bed. “I have been in this field for a long time, since before you were even born. And within that time, I have seen a lot of things, things that shouldn’t happen at all.” He glances my way, now serious and somber.

  “I have seen young, beautiful girls such as yourself suffer from big things that they could have avoided by doing the little small things. It’s the small things that kill them, because it’s the smallest things that snowball into such detonating effects.”

  He looks directly in my eyes inquisitively, as if he wants to know something. As I put together what he is trying to say. I realize that he thinks I’m starving myself intentionally.

  “No, no! That’s not it.” I say as I look at him, I don’t want him to think that and then go ahead and tell Gideon. No way. “I really just forgot to eat and drink something. There is a lot that’s been happening in my life and I think I’m under a bit of stress but I swear, I’m alright.”

  I’m speaking fast, trying to explain myself and dispel the notion that I’m a wacko who is trying to kill herself. Doctor Brown looks at me for a while, taking me in and it feels
like an eternity.

  “I didn’t think that was the issue.” he says softly, then he reaches for my hand. “I’m talking about the shadows in your eyes. You are too young to have those.” he whispers under his breath. As if speaking to a child.

  Can he see how lost I am?

  As I look back at him, I think he does know. So, I do the one thing I’m good at. I look away. If I can’t physically run away, then I will mentally. He doesn’t let me though, as he tugs my hand to gain my attention once more. I can’t help but turn back and look at him.

  “But you, you are a fighter. I see that fire in you now. You have been fighting your whole life.” He says knowingly, and I feel like melting there and then. I don’t want to cry. I hate crying.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be alright, Doctor.” I say, but my voice comes out all wobbly and embarrassing. That’s not my voice. I’m a strong, independent woman and should speak that way too!

  I hate this conversation. I hate the way this man seems to care about me. I hate seeing the sympathy in his eyes but most of all, I hate that he reminds me of a father that was snatched away from me too early.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that, you have this aura about you that I can’t seem to move past. You are a special young woman and you have to keep on fighting.”

  There is a softness in his eyes, eyes eerily familiar to the ones I vaguely remember as belonging to my father. But then again, Baba has been gone for fifteen long years now, I can’t say I remember the exact shade of brown he had.

  We understand each other in this moment, and I can’t help but squeeze his hand before he moves away.

  “Thank you, Doctor. That means a lot to me, you have no idea how much.” My voice is still too soft for my liking.

  “And, I see why he is so into you.” he says with a big smile and suddenly, with the appearance of that smile, the mood in the room is suddenly light.

  “Oh, no. I think you got it wrong. There is nothing going on between Gideon and I.” I rush to explain, feeling the slight heat that assaults my cheeks and quite frankly, my body. Just the mention of his name wrecks havoc within me.