Levels Of Exposure (Distortion Series Book 2) Read online

  The door opened and all of them turned to see a large man walk in the door. His salt and pepper hair was slicked back. He wore a black suit with a white shirt that stretched across his round stomach. He was closely followed by four men all dressed similarly as they filed in behind him.

  Jackson and the others stood as they rounded the table. “Steven,” the large man greeted curtly.

  Steven nodded uncomfortably. “Mr. Aiello.”

  Aiello’s breathing was exceptionally labored, a sign that his size was a strain on his body. “I see that you drank your wine. I hope it was to your satisfaction.” He sat down on the opposite side of the table with a groan.

  “It was,” Jackson confirmed politely.

  “It is one of my favorites from my home country.” Aiello reached for the empty bottle sitting on the table. “You see it has a rich, full-bodied flavor like a punch to the palate.” He brought the bottle to his nose and inhaled deeply. “Did you pick up on the wild berry and spices?”

  “It was great. Thank you for your hospitality, but we are short on time.” Jackson tried to be polite about rushing the conversation ahead. “We would like to jump right to business if we can.”

  Aiello sat the bottle down on the table. “Yes, yes. Let’s get to business, shall we. Steven informed me you are in need of guns.” Aiello flattened his hands upon the table as his eyes traveled over them. Steven made a strange, garbled noise in response. Everyone looked to see him suddenly clawing at his throat, trying to draw breath.

  “What the fuck?” Jackson stood up. He glanced at Aiello, who had a satisfied smile on his face. Jackson knew immediately that he was not surprised that Steven was suddenly suffocating. Jackson grabbed his empty glass and smelled the contents.

  “You won’t detect the poison. That is the beauty of the wine. It masks the flavor.” Aiello leaned back in his chair. “After I spoke with Steven, I received a call from none other than John Stodden.”

  Jackson dropped the glass and it shattered on top of the table, sending shards scattering in all directions. “Apparently he wants you dead and he was willing to make it worth my while.” Jackson knew they were in trouble. The men with Aiello were all armed and they were at a huge disadvantage.

  “You motherfuck―”Jackson grabbed for his throat, pulling at his tie. He gasped loudly as he pulled his tie loose. Dane and Teddy caught on and followed suit.

  “I’m sure you can understand that he made an offer I couldn’t refuse. It’s just business, after all.” Aiello’s deep laugh rumbled through the room.

  Jackson grabbed the edge of the table, leaning over and gasping. When Aiello turned around to address his men, Jackson made his move. He grabbed the edge of the table and threw his weight into it as he lifted it and flipped the large table on top of Aiello before his men had time to react. Aiello screamed out as the weight of the table crashed down on him and sent him to the ground.

  Teddy and Jackson both lunged over the table at the men scrambling for their weapons. They took them down and struggled to gain the upper hand. Jackson grabbed the gun of the man who had succeeded in pulling it from his holster. He forced the gun up under his chin and pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed over the faces of the others as they lunged toward Jackson. Jackson turned the gun on them and they were dead before they hit the ground. Teddy had his hands around the last one’s throat and squeezing as the man tried to reach for his gun on the floor.

  Dane kicked it out of the man’s hand when he wrapped his fingers around it and stomped down on the man’s face, snapping his neck. “I had him,” Teddy gasped as he pushed himself off the man whose face was now caved in.

  “I’m just trying to speed this show up because the entire restaurant heard those gunshots. It’s fucking chaos out there,” Dane said. He grabbed Teddy’s hand and pulled him to his feet.

  “Jacks, you all right?” Teddy asked as they both turned toward Jackson.

  “I will be in a minute,” Jackson said as he walked over to Aiello, pinned under the table. The man couldn’t manage any words as the weight of the table crushed his chest. His breath was now desperate as he fought to pull air into his lungs.

  “I’m sure you can understand. It’s just business,” Jackson said, stepping on Aiello’s throat, slowly forcing his weight down until his eyes bulged from his head and the light faded from his eyes.

  Jackson stared down at Aiello’s red eyes that stared back at him lifelessly. “We have to go, Jacks,” Teddy said as he tucked a pistol down the back of his pants. “The police will show up any minute.”

  “Yeah.” Jackson grabbed a gun off the floor. Dane was already on the lookout at the door. “Everyone is making a run for it. Let’s head toward the back.” Dane slipped out the door.

  Jackson followed close behind Dane as he headed toward the kitchen doors. A woman huddled behind the counter just inside the kitchen screamed when she saw Dane walk in.

  “Whoa, sweetheart. We’re just trying to get out of here.” Dane raised his hands. “Shit’s going sideways.”

  The terrified girl pointed toward the back corner of the kitchen just as three men came barreling through the door with guns. The men stopped short when they noticed them heading in their direction. Jackson, Dane, and Teddy dropped down behind a large island in the center of the kitchen while grabbing for their guns. Jackson peeked over the counter to get a visual on the men and someone shot toward him, barely missing. The bullet lodged in the cabinet behind him. Dane made his move and leaned around the island, shooting off three rounds.

  “There’s still one more. I can’t fucking see him,” Dane said, ducking back behind the island.

  The girl was still huddled on the other side of the kitchen. She was completely frozen with fear and standing in a puddle of her own urine. Jackson watched her eyes as she looked across the kitchen. She told him exactly what he needed to know. Jackson stood up and shot the last man who was approaching around the island. The bullet caught him in the cheek and exploded through the other side of his face. He collapsed, taking out a stack of pots on his way down as he smeared blood all over the counter.

  The girl started to scream again and made a run for the door leading toward the restaurant. Jackson headed toward the exit, jumping over the bodies of the men. Shoving open the steel door, Dane and Teddy filed out behind him into the back alley of the restaurant with their guns readied.

  “I think we’re clear. Let’s get to the car and get the fuck out of here,” Jackson said, tucking his gun under his arm so it was concealed from anyone who might see them. The people from the restaurant were all panicked as they filled the parking lot. There was no way they were getting their car through the mass of people running for their vehicles.

  Evan was standing outside the car when they approached. “What the fuck happened in there?” he asked anxiously, his eyes flashing back and forth from Jackson to the people still funnelling out of the restaurant.

  “A fucking shit storm. Grab your things. We’re walking from here,” Jackson said. He opened the door and grabbed a few items out of the glove box. He rounded the car and opened the trunk. Once they had everything they needed, they weaved through the cars and headed toward the street.

  As soon as Jackson stepped foot onto the sidewalk, the police cars barrelled down the street with their sirens masking the hum of panicked voices.

  “Keep walking.” Jackson grabbed the back of Evan’s shirt when he stopped to watch the scene unfold. Jackson needed to make sure the police didn’t catch sight of them. No one spoke until they were blocks away and the sirens became a distant sound.

  “Where are we walking to? Our hotel is fucking miles from here. How are we getting back?” Evan asked finally breaking the silence.

  “Calm down, baby bro. Jackson always has a plan B.”

  A car pulled up beside them and drove up onto the sidewalk, barely missing them. “Whoa, what the fuck!” Teddy backed up.

  Jackson cursed angrily when he recognized the driver.

  �
�What’s going on, Jacks?” Dane asked, his hand on the handle of his gun.

  “This is our shitty plan B,” Jackson said, spitting on the ground as the car door opened.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Stephanie

  Stephanie leaned against the bars. They dug into her back but she didn’t care, she was growing used to the discomfort of being locked in the small cell. She could no longer smell the damp putrid odor that lingered in the air of this place. It used to make her feel sick, but not anymore. She was acclimatizing to this shade of a life because her mind was beginning to betray her and believe this was her new home.

  Stephanie tapped her fingers against her ribs. She couldn’t escape the hard, uncomfortable ball of pain which had settled deep in her chest. It felt like she was going to choke on it if it grew any more.

  Stephanie tried to envision who the girl was that had left the ring. She wondered if this poor woman was stuck within these walls for eternity, doomed to remain in this prison without any alleviation from the pain she had suffered. She hadn’t believed in ghosts until now, but the feel of this place made her question everything. The air felt too thick, the darkness seemed filled with something when there should be nothing. She questioned if she was destined to the same fate. No tears came with these thoughts because she felt too numb. She had been avoiding sleep to stay awake as long as possible so when she finally did submit, it would be dreamless.

  Her arms and legs ached uncomfortably from exhaustion and hunger burned a hole in her stomach as she sat on the cold, unyielding floor. She had counted every bar that caged her in and every crack in the floor. She felt like she knew this place better than the apartment she had lived in for the past two years.

  Stephanie scrambled to her feet when she heard that disheartening sound of footsteps as they descended down the creaky steps. She held her breath and closed her eyes as she heard the door lock unlatch. She didn’t want to see him enter; she didn’t want to see him at all.

  “Rose,” he said in a pleased tone. “I have a surprise for you.” He had called her Rose since she had first woken in this dungeon. She hadn’t given it much thought, but now she wondered if Rose was the owner of the ring.

  Stephanie crossed her arms and instinctively took a step backwards as he approached the bars. “Open your eyes, Rose.” His voice made her shiver. Stephanie squeezed them tighter and shook her head. “Open them!” he hollered abruptly.

  Stephanie snapped her eyes open. He grabbed the bars, rubbing his hands slowly down the smooth metal. The look in his eyes always terrified her, especially when he insisted on staring at her like he wanted to cut her open and see what was inside. A cold, sadistic smile spread across his face. “That’s better. I brought you a treat.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar.

  “I don’t like chocolate,” Stephanie responded in a quiet voice.

  “Yes, you do.” He pulled the key to her cell out of his pocket and opened the door. Stephanie backed up until the cold metal frame of the cot touched the back of her legs. He pulled open the wrapper and exposed the chocolate. “This is your favorite.” He broke a piece off and held it out toward her mouth. He stepped closer and touched the chocolate to her lips.

  Stephanie opened her mouth and accepted it, not knowing what else to do. She was famished because he hadn’t brought her any other food since the day before. She wasn’t expecting the satisfying flavor as the soft texture melted on her tongue. It tasted wonderful to her starved body.

  He moaned as he watched her eat the chocolate. “That’s a good girl.” He folded the package and placed it back in his pocket. “You can have the rest afterward.”

  “After what?” Stephanie shivered in fear.

  He touched her neck and Stephanie pulled back with a gasp.

  “Everything is almost perfect,” he said, unfazed by her reaction. “If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have to drug you again.”

  Stephanie shook her head erratically. “Please no.”

  “Come with me.” He held out his hand.

  She looked down at it without moving. “Where are you taking me?”

  He pointed to the far corner of the room toward the small run of cabinets. Stephanie took a deep, shaky breath before she placed her hand in his. She didn’t want to, but the threat of drugging her again terrified her. She was defenseless in that state.

  He led her out of the cell. It was the first time that she had walked out on her own. She had dreamt of this moment but it brought no relief because she was scared it might be more terrifying on the other side of the bars.

  He stopped in front of the cabinets and turned to look her in the eyes. “Don’t move, Rose.”

  Stephanie nodded, unable to bring herself to speak. He turned around and lifted a few boxes off something that was draped in a black tarp-like material. He grabbed the fabric and pulled it off to reveal a chair that looked similar to a dentist chair but it had restraints for the arms and legs. A whimper escaped her lips as she looked at it. Stephanie glanced toward the door that led to her freedom. She wondered if she made a run for it if she could make it before he caught up to her.

  When he turned away, she decided she needed to try. She thought it might be her only chance for escape. Blood rushed in her ears as she darted across the cold floor. The only thing she could see was the metal door on the other side of the room. Everything else blurred as she tried to keep her balance. The floor felt like it was moving under her feet as she fought light-headedness. Her fingers barely brushed the handle before she was shoved into the door by a crushing weight. Her head hit the door hard enough to disorient her. She could feel his breath on her neck as she attempted to struggle against his hold.

  A sharp prick on her arm made her cry out ad she immediately began to feel the effects. Her arms and legs began to feel too heavy to move. Her eyes closed and she lost herself into the strange dream-filled state the drugs always took her.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lexie

  Lexie backed into the room, refusing to turn her back to Flint. She was aware of the fact that she was locked in a room with a wild animal. She needed to gain the upper hand without Flint knowing or she would fall victim to whatever he had planned.

  “That was quite the party. Are all John’s parties like that?” Lexie started slowly so she could gain her confidence. She tried not to look at the pocket he had slid his phone into. She wanted to get her hands on it without him knowing, and to do this, she knew she would have to take things further than she dared let herself imagine. She just had to make sure he didn’t become suspicious of her intentions.

  Flint shrugged his shoulders “Most, yes.” Flint looked like a starved animal would look if a piece of meat was waved in front of its face.

  “I like that dress,” Flint said as he moved closer to her.

  Lexie backed up. “I thought it was me you liked.” She raised her brow playfully. It was taking everything she had to act the part and be convincing. She concentrated on the girl she had seen in the mirror. She had no choice if she wanted her life back. She would walk whatever path would lead her home. His eyes met hers questioningly before his brow relaxed. She could tell he was falling for her bait.

  “I like you much, much more,” he clarified as his eyes skimmed over her entire body.

  “I have a confession to make…” Lexie trailed off. She walked away from him toward her night stand before spinning around, playing nervously with her lip. The distance between them made it easier for her to think.

  “What?” He tensed as he watched her pull her bottom lip between her fingers.

  “When I first saw you…” Lexie closed her eyes and thought of the first time she saw Jackson. “It was like I was suddenly granted a wish I hadn’t even known I had longed for.” Lexie looked up and met his eyes. “Does that make sense?”

  “Yes, I know exactly what you mean,” Flint said as approached. Lexie felt the edge of the bed against her leg as Flint placed his hand on her cheek. She forced
herself to lean into his hand and she closed her eyes so she didn’t have to look into his. She was terrified she would see exactly what he was.

  “It gives me something good to focus on while being locked in my room all day.”

  “I want you to be mine.” Flint leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. “All mine,” he whispered against her mouth before he tilted her head back and closed his mouth over hers. Lexie ignored the voice screaming inside her head. Her heart raced so fast she could taste the coppery taste of her own blood as it rushed through her body. She raised her shaky hands and wrapped them around Flint’s waist and submitted to the kiss. He explored her mouth with his tongue, trying to taint her with his dark lust. She ran her hands around his waist and toward his pocket as discreetly as she could.

  Lexie thought of her mother locked in that room. She had no idea what John was doing to her. This was a small price to pay when she considered what was at stake. He pulled the zipper down on the back of her dress and Lexie gasped.

  Flint pushed her back against the bed before she had a chance to get a grip on the phone and began to pull down the top of her dress, tearing at the fabric. “I want you naked. I want to see you now.” Flint fumbled with the fabric.

  “Whoa,” Lexie gasped. “Let’s go slow.” Lexie tried to smile when he looked at her face but it was frozen and refused to express any hint of happiness. Panic held her close to the edge. She needed to be smart about this before things went too far but all she could think about was the sickening feeling of what he was going to do to her.

  He pulled down the fabric of her dress so she was left only in her underwear. She tried to grab for it but he refused to let her stay clothed. “You will be mine,” he said, staring down at her body. He didn’t even notice her discomfort was written all over her face. He was past caring about anything but his own sexual desires.

  Flint slid his jacket off his arms and tossed it beside her on the bed before he dropped to his knees. He ran his hands down the inside of her thighs and she tried to stop her legs from trembling. “Do you want me?” Lexie only nodded her head. “Say that you want me, Lexie.”