Chapter 163

I knock on the door of an old townhouse, then a dark-blonde-haired woman appears at the door. She smiles when she sees us, but the bliss on her face quickly fades and turns into confusion.

“Jason?” she says.

Jason frowns. “Mariel?”

“You know her?” I ask him.

“Yes, she’s in the gang with me. I mean, was. Mariel Miller. What are you doing here?”

The woman’s face turns red. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to leave.” She glances at me but then attempts to shut the door. However, Jason is swift. He shoves himself to the door and steps inside.

“Mariel. I am asking you a question. Why are you here?” Jason questions as he steps further. I follow him.

“She’s his sister. The twins found out in the family records,” I say. I see quite a resemblance.

Jason nods, then shifts his attention back to the woman. “Where is Drake, Mariel?”

She steps back. “He’s not here.”

“But you’re expecting him.”

She doesn’t answer.

“You vanished, and now you’re here? You’re Drake’s sister?”

She nods.

Jason grits his teeth. “When is he coming?”

“I don’t know,” she answers nervously. “I was… I was waiting for him. D-does… does he know you are coming too? Is this why you are here? But he said you already deceived him.”

Jason doesn’t answer.

“But is he coming here?” I ask, walking closer.

She frowns at me. “And who are you?”

“He’s a friend,” Jason replies and whispers to me, “I think she doesn’t know.”

“When is he coming here, Mariel?” Jason questions her again.

“You didn’t answer my question. Did you really betray him?”

Jason sighs. “You know what he did to us, right? I didn’t betray him. He left us, and now you’re here. You didn’t tell us you were his sister. Now, who’s deceiving who? I just want to talk to him, Mariel.”

She swallows. She looks back and forth at Jason and me. “He’s coming here today with his girlfriend,” she mumbles.

What the fuck? My blood boils. “Girlfriend?”

“Yes, that’s what he said. Why?”

“Listen to me, Mariel.” Jason moves close to her. “That woman with him? She’s not his girlfriend. He only thinks she is, but she’s my sister and that man’s fiancée.” He points his finger at me. “Your brother took her here to Wichita against her will.”

“Your sister? She’s his girlfriend?”

“He’s not his girlfriend, but yes, she’s my sister, and he kidnapped her.”

She bites her lip. “He told me I’d be meeting her today.” She stares at him, then shakes her head. “But no. I don’t believe you. Drake might be confused, but he can’t do that.”

“But you know he’s violent, like his dad. So yes, he can do that,” Jason presses on.

“No!” She pushes him away. “He’s right. You betrayed him. Get the hell out of this house, Jason. You’re a traitor!” Her eyes begin to swell.

“Mariel, you know that I’m not!” Jason exclaims. “Deep down, you know him. Look…” He runs his fingers through his scalp. “Drake will do everything for you, but you know I will do everything for my sister. So please, I want you to believe me. Your brother is a madman. He’ll only hurt Alayna and—”

“Alayna?” She scowls. “I thought we were talking about Arianna…”

Jason nods. “Yes. Alayna.”

Drake’s sister clasps her mouth then glowers at him. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Hold on,” I interject. “Why, what’s going on?”

“I told him to stop with his scheme many times,” she opens up. “He’s been trying to take down Donovan for years, so he won’t stop. He told me he was coming today because he had already achieved his goals and would finally take a break. But now he’s with Alayna? Are you sure?”

“Yes. He abducted her last night,” he answers.

“I am so done with his obsession with Alayna,” she murmurs. “After all this time, he can’t forget about her.”

“So help us, Mariel. He has to be stopped.”

“What do you want me to do then, huh?” She raises her head. “Call the police? Don’t you think he won’t implicate you too? You’re a mobster.”

“We can take care of that,” I join in. “Jason won’t be involved. Please, Ms. Miller. We need your help.”

“But what if she went with him on her own?” she says.

“She didn’t. Your brother abducted her on our engagement night,” I explain.

She pauses, thinking. Eventually, she answers. “What can I do?”

“You only have to testify, that’s all. Turn him in.”

“What? You’re really calling the police?”

“Yes, but first, tell us where he is right now.”

She begins to cry. “Please, please. I don’t want him to get hurt, Jason. He’s all I have. What would I do without him?”

He holds her face. “I’ll take care of that… of you. I promise. So please, just help us.”

“He’s…” She snivels. “He’s in his suite on S Broadway. In the Ambassador.”

“Okay, tell us where exactly.”

“I go there sometimes. His suite is on the seventh floor.”

My heart raced in panic. Shit. I have to tell Oliver and Stan. Briskly, I draw out my phone and call his number. Oliver answers on the second ring.

“Brandon?”

“Oliver, where are you?”

“We’re already here, but we’re still looking around.”

“He’s there,” I utter. “He’s in the hotel. Seventh floor!”

“What, are you sure?”

I growl. “Yes, and hurry!”