Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 49 Summary
In “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” the story unfolds with Garret and Daron inflicting brutal violence on a captive man, who reveals under duress that Mr. Zamora is behind their actions. Daron’s chilling demeanor and Garret’s relentless brutality create an atmosphere thick with tension and fear, as the man struggles against excruciating pain while trying to maintain a facade of defiance. The captives in the room tremble in fear, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere that Daron and Garret have cultivated.
The narrative shifts as another man, panicked and desperate, divulges that Hyman Hess orchestrated the attack, prompting a tense reaction from Marina. She learns that Hyman had previously betrayed his wife during a critical moment, leading to her disappearance and his subsequent descent into a life of excess. This revelation stirs deep emotions within Marina, who feels a mix of anger and betrayal, particularly as she realizes Hyman is using her own money to fund the attack against her.
Marina’s resolve hardens as she confronts the men responsible for the violence, offering them a bag of cash to turn the tables on Hyman. Her determination is palpable as she threatens them with dire consequences if they refuse to cooperate. The tension escalates when the men discover the bag contains hell notes, symbolizing the grim fate that awaits them should they fail to comply with Marina’s demands. This moment underscores Marina’s transformation from a victim to a figure of power, willing to take control of her own destiny.
The climax approaches with the entrance of Ben Cooper, a figure of fear and authority in Sicester, whose presence commands immediate respect and dread. He acknowledges Marina’s efforts in exposing Hyman and expresses gratitude, indicating a potential alliance in their shared quest for justice. The dynamic between Marina and Ben hints at a deeper connection, as they both seek to confront the malevolence that has affected their lives. The chapter concludes with a sense of impending confrontation, as the characters prepare to face the consequences of their actions and the dark forces at play.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises**
*by Asa Holt Vale*
Garret flung his slippers onto the floor, the soft thud echoing in the dimly lit room as he slipped his feet into them.
“Daron…” he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.
For a fleeting moment, an eerie silence enveloped the space, thick with tension. Then, without warning, a blood-curdling scream shattered the stillness, reverberating off the walls like a haunting echo.
With an expression devoid of any warmth, Daron stepped forward, placing his foot squarely on the man’s hand, which was braced against the cold floor. He pressed down slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the moment.
“Speak up,” Daron’s voice was as frigid as the winter air. “Who put you up to this?”
The man, his face twisted in agony, gritted his teeth, fighting back the pain long enough to utter, “Of course it was Mr. Zamora…”
But before he could finish his thought, another surge of pain shot through him, causing him to let out a muffled groan that echoed his despair.
Daron lifted his foot, his gaze lingering with chilling indifference on the man’s hand, where the knuckles were now grotesquely misaligned. He arched an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his lips, as he leaned closer. “Hm? I didn’t quite catch that.”
The man sprawled on the floor appeared ghostly pale, the sheer agony coursing through his fingers rendering him powerless to fight back any longer.
“Mr. Zamora… I won’t let you get away with this…” he spat defiantly through clenched teeth, trying to maintain a façade of toughness.
Daron’s lips twisted into a cruel smirk as he delivered a swift kick to the man’s gut. The impact left the guy gasping, the wind knocked out of him, struggling to regain his breath. Just then, Garret approached, delivering another vicious kick, ensuring the man stayed down.
The pain was overwhelming, and the man felt darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision. “You…” he managed to wheeze out, desperation lacing his voice.
As soon as he inhaled a shaky breath, Garret unleashed a flurry of brutal kicks, each one landing with increasing ferocity.
“I’ll talk, I…” The man finally broke, the weight of the pain forcing him to plead for mercy.
But Garret was relentless; he sent a brutal kick straight to the man’s mouth, silencing him.
“You wanted to run your mouth when I gave you a chance? Now I’m curious; let’s see how much fight you’ve got left in that mouth,” Garret taunted, his voice dripping with cold malice.
Daron stood back, an observer to the unfolding scene, his presence a silent threat. The others in the room huddled on the floor, trembling with fear, desperate to remain unnoticed, their hearts racing in unison.
As the clock ticked on, Daron walked over to one of the men, who, in his panic, snatched up his hard track like it was a lifeline. Before Daron could even utter a word, the man blurted out the truth, fear spilling from his lips.
“It was Mr. Hess? He paid us off, told us to rough her up, and even planned our getaway…” he stammered, his voice quaking with terror.
Daron cast a quick glance in Marina’s direction, his expression unreadable.
Marina inhaled deeply, her face tightening with the weight of the revelation. “Which Hess?” she asked, her voice taut with tension.
She already had a sinking feeling about the answer, yet she needed to hear it confirmed.
“Yeah, Hyman Hess! It was him! He had us do this kind of thing three years ago, and nothing happened back then, so when he came to us again, of course we agreed,” the man exclaimed, his voice trembling under the pressure of Marina’s icy gaze.
Marina’s eyes turned into two shards of ice, devoid of any flicker of satisfaction. She had guessed correctly, but there was nothing to celebrate about this revelation. Who would have imagined that Lavern would actually heed Hyman’s twisted advice and resort to such despicable actions against her?
Three years prior, Hyman’s wife had suffered a catastrophic accident mere moments before their wedding. That fateful night, Hyman had been out drinking with Lavern and their friends, while his wife had desperately called him, pleading for assistance. Yet, Hyman had turned a blind eye to her cries for help.
It was precisely this betrayal that had compelled Marina to warn Lavern to steer clear of Hyman.
After the accident, Hyman’s wife had all but vanished from public view. With the recent crackdowns affecting their family business, her parents had entrusted everything to Hyman, focusing solely on caring for their daughter, who had been through so much turmoil.
Once Hyman gained control of the family fortune, he indulged in a life of excess, drowning himself in parties, alcohol, and a new woman on his arm every week. The world around him turned a blind eye, pretending not to notice his descent into depravity.
But could Ben Cooper, the formidable figure who commanded respect in Sicester’s underworld, truly stand idly by while his own daughter endured the anguish of a shattered marriage, tolerating Hyman’s abhorrent behavior?
That day, while Hyman had been dispensing advice to Lavern, he had inadvertently revealed something that caught Marina’s attention, a detail she quietly filed away for future reference.
Hyman had shared his own underhanded tactics with Lavern, thinking he could use those same strategies to manipulate Marina.
There was nothing left between me and Lavern, not even a flicker of warmth or decency, Marina mused bitterly.
“Honestly, none of us wanted to do this kind of dirty work again, but Mr. Hess threw so much cash at us, we just couldn’t say no,” the man stammered, his voice quaking with fear.
“Plus, he said he’s already in with Mr. Zamora. If we help him out this time, once he hits it big, he won’t forget us; we’ll get to ride his coattails and live large,” he blurted out, desperation dripping from his words.
Daron merely scoffed, his demeanor cold and unimpressed. “How much did he pay you?”
“One million,” the man blurted out, his voice quivering with anxiety.
For jobless men like them, the allure of quick cash was too tempting to resist. They had played this game before and knew the risks.
If things turned chaotic, they could always vanish for a few months, party overseas, and return when the dust settled.
Marina’s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as fury coursed through her veins. One million was the exact amount Hyman had instructed her to bring.
He was using her own money against her, hiring these men to inflict harm upon her. His heart is rotten to the core, so twisted and vicious, Marina thought darkly.
With determination, Marina stepped forward, carrying the bag of cash she had brought in from the doorway, and threw it down in front of the man.
Daron shot her a brief glance before signaling for his men to release the captive. Once freed, the man hesitantly reached for the bag, disbelief flickering across his face. He ventured cautiously, “So… what do you want us to do for you?”
Marina’s voice was as cold as the steel of a blade. “Set up a meeting with Hyman. Whatever dirty tricks he wanted you to pull on me, turn them right back on him.”
“Uh, that’s not really our thing… We don’t mess with guys,” he replied, embarrassment creeping into his tone.
“Don’t worry, someone will make you cooperate whether you like it or not,” Marina replied, her eyes glinting with icy resolve.
“Otherwise, you’ll only get to spend that money in the afterlife,” she added, her voice laced with a chilling menace.
The man’s face froze in horror as he reached into the bag, only to discover it was stuffed with hell notes, money meant for the dead.
“Damn it…” As the realization hit him like a freight train, he spat out a curse, but Daron’s men were upon him in an instant, pinning him forcefully to the ground.
“Three years ago, did Hyman ever tell you who that person really was, the one he sent you after? Did he mention what kind of family power they had?” Marina’s voice was sharp, her gaze piercing into the man’s soul.
This man was the most timid of the group, and at Marina’s words, he visibly shrank back, fear dancing in his eyes.
“What kind of background?” he stammered, his voice quaking with trepidation.
Marina remained silent, her gaze shifting toward the door.
Suddenly, someone pushed the door open from the outside.
A middle-aged man in a silver suit, leaning on a cane and wearing a hat, stood in the doorway, backlit by the light, exuding an air of menace.
He stepped onto the soft carpet, each footfall echoing ominously, causing the hearts of the men on the floor to clench tighter in fear.
As he entered the dimly lit room, the ugly scar on his face became visible, sending shivers down the spines of those present.
Anyone who grew up in Sicester knew all about Ben Cooper, the man who was the subject of many hushed whispers.
In his prime, he had been the Night Emperor of Sicester, a figure of power and intimidation.
Though he may not wield the same influence as before, he still commanded a loyal following, men willing to take a bullet for him if the situation demanded it.
Ben scanned the room, his gaze finally locking onto Marina.
Sensing the dangerous aura radiating from Ben, Daron discreetly pulled Marina closer, positioning her protectively by his side, prepared to shield her if the situation escalated.
Marina, however, tightened her grip on Daron’s wrist, signaling him to relax. She stepped forward, taking the initiative to greet Ben herself.
“Mr. Cooper, I’m sure you caught every word they said just now. You wouldn’t have shown up if you planned to let the one who made your daughter suffer walk away free,” Marina stated, her voice steady and resolute.
Ben removed his hat and handed it to his attendant standing behind him.
“Thank you, Ms. Finley. I’m in your debt,” he replied, his voice low and sincere.
If it hadn’t been for Marina, they would still be in the dark; the tormentor of his precious daughter had been hiding in plain sight all along.
Conclusion
As the tension in the room began to dissipate, a palpable shift took place. Marina stood resolute, her determination crystallizing into a fierce resolve that resonated with Ben Cooper, a man who had once ruled the shadows of Sicester but now found himself at the mercy of a new generation’s strength. The revelation of Hyman Hess’s treachery ignited a fire within her, illuminating the dark corners of betrayal and deceit that had plagued her life for far too long. No longer just a victim, Marina had transformed into a force to be reckoned with, ready to reclaim her narrative and confront the demons that had haunted her for years. The fear that had once gripped her heart now fueled her resolve, as she prepared to face the man who had orchestrated her suffering, emboldened by the knowledge that she was not alone in this fight.
In that moment, Garret and Daron exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment passing between them as they recognized the shift in power dynamics. The weight of their previous actions hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the choices made in the name of loyalty and fear. Yet as Ben Cooper stood tall, an unyielding protector for his daughter, the two men felt the tremors of their own conscience begin to stir. Marina’s commanding presence had turned the tide, and in the face of her unwavering strength, they were forced to confront their complicity in the darkness that had enveloped them. The winds had indeed shifted, carrying with them the lost promises of vengeance and justice, and as the chapter closed, it became clear that a new dawn was on the horizon—one where the echoes of the past would no longer dictate the future.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter of *Winds Carry Lost Promises*, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Marina and Ben Cooper confront the web of deceit spun by Hyman Hess. With Hyman’s manipulative tactics laid bare, the stakes have never been higher. Will Ben, driven by a father’s wrath, enlist Marina in a calculated plan to dismantle Hyman’s empire, or will their alliance be fraught with distrust? The clock is ticking, and with each passing moment, the threat of retaliation looms larger, setting the stage for a confrontation that could alter the course of their lives forever.
As the narrative unfolds, the dark undercurrents of Sicester’s criminal underbelly will be explored, revealing the hidden alliances and betrayals that bind its players. Expect unexpected twists as Marina’s resolve is tested against the backdrop of a city steeped in shadows. Will she find the strength to harness her newfound power, or will she be consumed by the very darkness she seeks to eradicate? The arrival of Ben Cooper is merely the beginning; the true battle lies ahead, and the winds of change are poised to carry lost promises into uncharted territory. Prepare for a gripping continuation that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the fate of these entwined lives.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
