Demons From the Past novel Chapter 27

She wore her troubled past

like scars-

she had been through battle.

And though no one could see her demons

they could see the face that conquered them.

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My head throbbed painfully and I found it difficult to open my eyes. I could hear voices arguing.

"Why should I even trust you? You're probably a psychopath who resembles her deceased brother because of some weird coincidence!"

"For the last time, I am her brother!"

"You're an ever bigger asshole if that's true! How could you abandon her like that? You coward! Do you even realize what you put her through? She almost got killed because for you!"

"You don't know shit about me! You don't know what I've been through or why I had to do what I did so don't go throwing false accusations at me!"

"I don't care! I don't trust you. Stay away from Verena."

"That's not for you to decide."

I groaned, finally managing to peel my eyes open. At once the voices hushed.

"Verena! Are you okay? You hit your head pretty hard when you fainted." Nate's worried voice asked.

I winced as I sat up, my eyes meeting Nate's dark ones.

"Verena..." Another voice breathed out.

An incredibly familiar voice.

A voice I could never forget.

It was the voice I'd been wishing to hear again, every day since the past three years.

"T-Trevor?" I choked out.

My eyes finally landed on him. A strangled cry left my lips.

The same sandy brown hair.

The same hazel eyes.

"Hey there, little sister."

The same lopsided smile.

The next thing I knew I flung myself at him. I hugged him tightly, holding on to him with every ounce of strength I had. I was too scared to let go, fearing that it was just another dream, and that he'd be gone when I woke up.

My shoulders shook as sobs racked my body.

"I missed you so much. Please don't ever leave again." My voice was choked up, beyond recognition.

He hugged me back tightly, almost cutting off my air supply but at that moment I didn't care about anything other than the fact that my brother was alive.

"I'm so sorry Vinnie. I won't." His voice cracked, I knew he was crying too.

This was all too surreal. I couldn't believe this was actually happening. All those nights I'd lain awake wishing for this moment to happen, I'd never really expected it to come true.

"w-what happened to you?" I finally managed to stutter.

Trevor sighed, "It's a long story, but I'm here now."

I gasped loudly when it suddenly hit me. "We have to tell mom and dad!" I shrieked, "They'll be so happy!" I lunged for the phone.

However, before I could reach it I felt two strong arms clamp around my waist, restricting me.

"I'm sorry but you can't do that." Trevor's voice stopped me.

"What do you mean?" I asked incredulously, "In case you've forgotten, they're your parents! They deserve to know that their son, who they thought was dead since the past three years, is alive!"

Trever winced, "I need you to trust me, it's for their own safety."

"I don't understand." I could feel my voice rising.

He eyed me cautiously before speaking, "Verena before I tell you everything, you need to know that everything I did for the past three years was to protect you guys. It broke my heart but I had to leave so I could keep my family safe. You weren't supposed to come here Verena, I'm sorry for all that has happened it's all my fault. I'd been keeping an eye on you and Mom and Dad from a distance all this time, as soon as I learnt about your encounter with Kade I knew I had to step in. I couldn't just sit back while your life was in danger. "

My breathing became shallow as Trevor's words settled in. My eyes flashed.

He sighed. "I wouldn't have come back if things weren't this bad. This wasn't supposed to happen."

That's when I saw red.

"You mean to say that all this time you knew. You knew what we were going through, what I was going through but you chose to stay away! I thought you were dead! You made me believe that you were dead since the past three years! How could you do that to your own family?" I was screaming now.

"Verena, let me explain." Trevor tried again.

"I don't care about your explanation!" I screamed in rage, "All I know is that you purposefully abandoned me for three years. You made me go through hell! And right now the only reason you decide to let me know you're alive is because some psycho is after me!"

I hit his chest repeatedly with my fists. Tears streamed down my face, my voice was hoarse.

"Did you plan on ever telling us that you were alive, if Kade hadn't come after me would you have come to me then or were you planning on spending the rest of your life without us in it?" I whispered brokenly.

"Verena, please. . ." Trevor begged.

"Just answer the damn question Trevor!"

He raked his hands through his hair in exasperation, "I don't know how to answer your question without hurting you. I love you Vinnie that's why I couldn't risk it."

"If you loved me then you would have come to me when I needed you the most!" I wiped away my tears furiously. "I watched them lower your casket. I watched them bury you! I cried myself to sleep every night!"

I found it hard to stand upright because my body was shaking so bad. A familiar pair of arms encircled my waist, reassuring me. I leaned into Nate's embrace, welcoming his support.

"I think you should leave." Nate growled.

"I'm not going anywhere without my sister!" Trever spat out.

He started to reach out for me but in a second Nate had pushed me behind his back protectively.

"Come on, I'll take you back. I think it's time you hear your brother out."

I just nodded my head mutely. I knew he was right.

My fingers intertwined with his and I allowed him to guide me towards his truck.

**************

"How do you know he hasn't left yet?" I asked Nate as we stood outside his apartment.

"He wouldn't leave without making sure that you were safe. Now go."

"You aren't coming?" For some reason I felt utterly terrified.

"No, I think this is something you should do alone." He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking away.

I took in a large gulp of air before stepping inside.

I could see Trevor sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, his shoulders were slumped.

"Hey." I greeted softly.

The sound of my voice had him jumping to his feet. "Oh thank God you're okay! You shouldn't run off alone like that Verena, it's dangerous."

"I needed some time to think."

He raked a hand through his unruly hair. "Can we talk?" He asked finally, his voice was pleading.

I just nodded.

He sat back down on the couch and motioned for me to join him.

Once we were both seated he took in a deep breath and began.

"Joining the Bureau had always been my dream. I was thrilled when I'd gotten accepted as a recruit. I was at the top of my class, that's why they chose me to go under cover along with one other agent, my friend Gavin. Kade Cross's growing mob was becoming an increasing problem, the agency wanted inside information. It didn't seem too dangerous, Gavin and I assumed that they were just another bunch of those amateur drug smugglers. We had to go undercover for a month, get close to Kade, collect sufficient proof and information to take them down. We didn't realize what we'd gotten ourselves into until it was too late. It wasn't a simple drug heist, we'd gotten ourselves involved with a full blown Mafia. These people weren't amateurs, they were trained killers. And don't even get me started on their boss. Kade is the most dangerous man I've ever encountered in my life. He's unforgiving and ruthless and I will never forgive myself for getting you involved with someone like him." Trevor closed his eyes and when he opened them I could see the pain behind them. I wanted nothing more than to comfort him but I knew better than to interrupt him right now.

"We couldn't back out. We were too close, the risk of them finding out our identity and getting ourselves killed was too high. It was horrible, the things I saw, the things they made me do, all the special training in the world couldn't have prepared me for it. They weren't just smuggling drugs, they were trafficking ammunition and women, they were killing innocent people. We had to stop them. Finally we managed to come up with a plan, Gavin and I had been studying them long enough to know their weak points. We chose the day for the strike, we knew most of Kade's men would be away to take care of an arriving shipment, leaving him vulnerable for the attack. We were instructed to go back and wait for the forces to arrive, we were supposed to stay undercover and act normally to make sure that Kade and his men didn't suspect anything. That's when things took a turn for the worst, the minute we stepped back into Kade's territory we were seized. Somehow, they knew. Our cover had been blown, it was all a big scam! I managed to get free somehow. I searched everywhere but I couldn't find Gavin. I couldn't waste any more time, I had to get out. Before I could reach the exit one of Kade's men cornered me. The guy had a gun on me and I'd probably be dead if it weren't for my special training. I disarmed the man and shot him with his own gun."

"I escaped but I knew I couldn't go back after that. Kade would find me and he would find a way to hurt the people I loved most. The agency gave me a new identity, I had to start over. Trust me when I tell you that I spent every day of the next three years wishing I could take it all back but I couldn't. A few months ago I just couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't bear the pain I was putting you through. I had to let you know that I was alive, that it was going to be okay. So one day in a drunken haze I messaged you, I was staying in this town, I knew that you'd probably track down the location and try to find me but that didn't stop me. I know that message is the reason why you came here to this town, I shouldn't have done it. I have no idea how Kade found you but I'm the reason why you came here and I'm the reason why Kade wants to kill you."

I gasped, "That message was from you! I knew it."

My face drew into a frown, "I still don't understand why Kade wants to kill me so badly?"

Trever sighed, "Remember a few minutes ago I told you that I man tried to stop me from escaping and that I killed him?"

I nodded.

"That was Kade's brother."

My eyes widened I shock.

"He wants to take his revenge on me by killing you."

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