Outwitting Destiny

Chapter 20

Raylee's POV

I feel my body slowly starting to grow weaker. My skin is ice cold because they took off most of my clothing. Fortunately, I wore men's underwear and I hid my wraps with a white tank top, then a black one over everything else. There is a window in the room I'm being kept in. I counted the sunrise and sunsets of each passing day. It's been at least a few days since I have been here. I am scared of nighttime because that's when she comes. She beats me every night. My hands are chained together so they hang me by the chains. The tip of my toes barely touch the floor. I have cuts and bruises all over my body. Even with my wraps, she managed to break a couple ribs. I don't show the pain she inflicts on me because that is what she will feed on. I try to focus on Lexi. She gave me a tracker, and I was lucky I broke it off before I was kidnapped. It's very small and unnoticeable. I was able to place it on the ledge of a window sill. It will make tracking me easier. I honestly don't know how much longer I can stand this. I refuse to break because the moment I do, she will win. I curl up on an old mattress they gave me. I get fed bread twice a day with one glass of water. I have gotten so thin from being malnourished. If my injuries get too bad, she actually has a doctor check me on. That only happens if she's mad and takes her anger out on me. She will nearly kill me, send for a doctor, and then she will apologize for almost killing me. I haven't showered in days. The orange color of the sunset shines through the window. Another day gone marking it five days. Now I just wait patiently for the beatings. I hear footsteps and flinch when I see a figure.

"You won't get a beating tonight." The guard spoke

"Oh, so our little date night is called, oh what am I going to do with my free time?" I said, sarcastically.

"Hey watch it kid. If the Boss hears you, she will really kill you. She had something come up so she couldn't make it." He said

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Just some of our warehouses have been broken into, so Boss won't be around for a while," he said.

"Oh must be serious if she has to go herself." I said.

"Yes." he said, he even sounds worried.

"Welp, it was nice chatting with you Mr. guard." He walked away. Well at least I can get some sleep. I lay down on the mattress. The break-ins are probably due to Cole using his trump card to get into those places. Viola is his mother and even though they don't talk, he still has access to everything. Viola doesn't know that her son is actually working with me. I fall asleep and my brain fills with thoughts about Asher. I miss him.

~

Asher's POV

Lexi has been trying to track Raylee but just as she said they were keeping her in a warehouse.

"Mister Asher, Lexi is looking for you. She says it's urgent." Charles said.

"Alright, take me to her." I said and he nodded. We exit the kitchen and go up the stairs. We headed to Raylee's office. He knocks, she responds and I enter.

"What is it?" I ask

"I did it." she said

"Did what?"

"I think I found Raylee." she said

"Wait? Really?" I ask

"Yes."

"But Wait, why now?"

"I think it's because she must have been able to place the tracker outside the building." she said

"We have been at this for a week and half already, are you sure this is her actual location?" I question

"I know we have to be careful but I believe it is her. Her location is very close to Viola's house." she said.

"Cole has been breaking into her other places and so far no luck. I have reason to believe that she is here. It would make sense that Viola would keep 'Ryan' close but not too close." she said

"That makes sense. She's going to use her as a bargaining chip against Leo. She will want to keep an on her." I said.

"Correct but there is one problem." she hesitated.

"What is it?"

"That place she's being kept is heavily guarded. It would take even longer to infiltrate it and to come up with an escape plan." she said. She faced palms in her hands.

"Rescuing Raylee might be harder than we thought." she said

"Not if I can help it." Cole's voice from behind me.

"Cole, I can't ask you to go up against your mother," Lexi said.

"Honestly, she needs to be taken down and I want to help," he said. Lexi looked at him with worry.

"Lexi, if this is going to save Raylee, I will gladly do it. She was my first and only love even though she chose someone else." he held her hands to reassure her. Wait? Raylee rejected him... that means she chose... me.

"Cole, if you choose this path, I cannot guarantee your safety." Lexi said

"That's right Cole. You are her childhood best friend, she can't lose you." I stepped in.

"That's amusing coming from the guy she chose over me." he said

"Hey, that was her choice." Lexi said.

"She did love you like that years ago but she only loves you now as family." Lexi spoke. Those words hurt him but that's why I think he's so set on doing it. Lexi sighs and agrees to let him help. This will take even longer to get the plan in motion.

"Is there a way we can spend it on our people to kind of protect Raylee until we can get her out of there?" I ask.

"Yes, there is." Cole said

"How?"

Some of my clan were once my mother's, as long as they still on their clan emblem." he said

"What does that mean?" I ask

"Well it means that no matter how they left or why, people with their clan emblem will always be welcomed back. Thankfully, I collected a few of them. I will send them to the warehouse where Raylee is being kept now that we have an idea where. Now, we need to come up with a plan to get her." Cole said.

The next couple days after Cole sent someone to go watch over Raylee finally reached out. Cole came into the office and we called for Lexi. A few minutes later, Lexi enters the room.

"Guys, my guy found her at the warehouse we suspected she would be at but..." he paused.

"What?"

"You are not going to like what you hear." he sighed.

"Just read it." I said. He said okay.

"Hey Cole, I found her. She looks very pale and is very thin. Her body is very worn down. She is covered in bruises and cuts. Viola was taking her beatings too harshly. She looks like she has no will to fight anymore. When I was able to enter her cell, she didn't even look at me. She wouldn't swallow water or eat. I had to hand feed her. I will do my best to keep her safe. Will keep in touch, take soon." Cole finishes reading the note then turns around and punches a bookshelf. Lexi was silently crying to herself. I am very upset. Cole leaves something out but doesn't want to say.

"We have to get her out of that place now." Lexi says, tears running down her face.

"But the plan isn't ready." I said

"I don't care." she cries more. Cole motions me to follow him. We walk out of the door and to his room.

"What is it?" I ask

"There was something else in the note," he said.

"What was it?"

"My guy said that Raylee is very weak and might survive much longer. We have to act fast. Raylee had training for something like this but her training lasted her so long. She's not eating anymore. Viola beats her more than she used to." He said.

"Okay, what do we have to do?" I ask. Cole gives me a look then I know what we have to do.