Fatal Ex

Chapter 1

1.

Last life, my girlfriend’s childhood bestie, that jerk, was running around pretending to be some big shot.

I called him out on it, and he got so pissed he tried to run me down with his car.

I was clinging to life, and her sister was on her knees, begging my girlfriend to help me, but she didn’t give a damn.

“No way. Zeke’s too important to get his hands dirty with some nobody like him! Just ’cause you’re dating me doesn’t mean you’re special. Get real!”

Her sister was on her knees for three days straight, and then Zeke dragged her off and… well, it wasn’t pretty.

She died a horrible death.

Right up until my heart flatlined, my girlfriend was covering for Zeke, saying he’d never hit anyone with a car, let alone hurt her sister.

This time around?

I didn’t waste my breath begging her to visit me in the hospital.

I called my big brother first.

“Hey, Mac, some scumbag’s pretending to be me, causing trouble. Take care of it, will ya?”

“Also, that whole marriage thing with the Lees? Yeah, I’m changing things up. Ditch Amber Lee, and make the deal with her sister, Wendy.”

I’d basically bankrolled the Lees for years, and all they did was raise a freakin’ snake in the grass.

I wanted to see how Amber and her precious Zeke would act when I’m not there to help.

…

“Danny Hayes! You humiliated me in front of everyone tonight! I swear you’ll regret this! You were so smug when you called me out, did you ever think of this coming?

“You’re nothing but a poor slob. Amber wouldn’t spit on you. Even if I ran you into the ground out here, she’d protect me. You think I’m kidding?”

Zeke’s voice, dripping with arrogance, hit my ears.

I barely had time to react.

Then I saw those blinding headlights coming closer, the engine roaring as it slammed right into me.

My body was nothing but a heap of pain.

Then it hit me: I was reliving it.

I was back at the exact moment when Zeke tried to turn me into roadkill.

My phone, shattered beside me, was still connected to Amber, spewing her ice-cold voice.

“Danny, stop calling me. I know you’re just jealous of me and Zeke, so you’re trying to stir up trouble.

“Zeke would never run you over, that car cost more than you earn in a year, and he won’t waste it on someone like you. No matter what you say, I don’t believe you!”

She shut up after that, like she was waiting for me to beg for her attention.

But I wasn’t making the same mistake twice, and I didn’t try to explain.

I waited for Zeke to peel out.

Then, I dragged myself over to the side of the road, barely able to move, and used the last bit of juice in my phone to call my brother.

I gritted my teeth through the pain, “Mac, help me.”

My ears were ringing so loud I couldn’t make out what he said back, but I knew he’d come.

I was his favorite little brother, the heir to the Hayes Corporation.

I’ve been living with a different name for years, and that’s all they’re gonna let me do.

If he finds out someone put me in the hospital, they’d be sorry they were ever born.

I was inching my way toward the curb, when suddenly Zeke came barreling back.

He rolled down the window, his eyes like a viper as he stared at me. “Amber said you weren’t dead. Guess she was right.”

My stomach dropped.

If he hit me again, I was a goner.

I saw him stomping on the gas.

Just as I was ready to give up, a red sports car blasted onto the scene from the other direction, and smashed into Zeke’s Mercedes.

A woman jumped out, running to me, her voice full of worry. “Danny, are you okay?!”

It was Amber’s sister, Wendy Lee.

I flashed back to how she tried to save me in the last life, what Zeke did to her… I was flooded with guilt and gratitude.

I made a vow right then: I’d protect her this time, no matter what.

I didn’t even have time to think about why she was there. I shoved her out of the way.

“Get out of here! Run!”

Too late.

Zeke grabbed her by the hair from behind, hauling her back.

Before she could say a word, he kicked her right in the gut. “Bitch, where’d you come from?”

“You know who I am? I’m gonna be the next big thing, do you want to get killed?!”

Wendy doubled over, a cold sweat breaking out.

She bit his hand, refusing to let go.

Zeke screamed and grabbed a rock, slamming it down on her head.

Wendy went down, blood pouring from the gash.

I was freaking out. “She’s Amber Lee’s sister! If you hurt her, Amber will come after you!”

2.

Zeke paused.

Then he gave this creepy laugh, slapping her so hard she went sprawling. He reached for his belt. “So what? She’s a snack for me now.

“And I’m Danny’s replacement, so the Lees owe everything to me, okay? If I say she hurt herself, Amber will believe me! No one would ever suspect me! She’ll have to kill you, and I’ll be off scot-free!”

I was desperate, but my legs were crushed. All I could do was spit out the truth. “Enough! I’m the real Danny Hayes! She’s under my protection. If you lay a hand on her, I’ll unleash the whole Hayes family on you. You’ll wish you were never born!”

Zeke burst out laughing. “Nice try, but my brother already says I’m his brother. You think I’m gonna fall for that?”

My gut twisted. I knew nothing about any of this.

My parents were crazy about each other. I never heard about any step-brothers.

My brother promised me that I was his only brother.

Where did this guy come from?

Before I could figure it out, Zeke was right in my face, eyes burning with hate. He raised his foot to kick me over the edge.

The highway shoulder dropped off into a river. I was as good as dead.

I was scrambling, trying to save myself, when Wendy leaped on him from behind, wrapping her arms around his legs.

“Danny, get away from here! I’ll hold him!”

She bit him, hard. Zeke went ballistic, ready to take us both out, when the sound of a helicopter ripped through the air.

The Hayes were here!

Hayes’ secretary jumped out of the helicopter, saving Wendy and me.

Zeke was KO’d and dragged off. Wendy was out cold.

I got them to rush her to the hospital, and I made sure they splinted my legs.

I sat outside the ER for what felt like forever, until Wendy was wheeled off to a room.

Then, I called my brother to tell him I was still kicking.

He blew a fuse when he heard what happened. “Who did this to you? I’m on my way, I’ll get him apart!

I didn’t want him to make a scene. “Mac, about that marriage deal with the Lees… I’m changing it.”

He sounded shocked. “You’re not marrying Amber? You’ve been obsessed with her for three years. I thought she was the one.”

“Nope. I don’t want her. I want Wendy.”

“And all the investments I made in Amber, I want them back!”

Amber saw me as some ATM. She let her friends walk all over me.

Last life or this life, she was always trying to protect that Zeke. I was done with her.

My brother’s voice dropped low. “Got it. Whatever you want.”

“I have to pull the secretary back, but I’m leaving Hayes security to protect you. You rest up.

“And don’t think you can hide anything from me. I’ll find out who did this. They hurt you, I’m hurting them twice as bad!”

Then he hung up.

I wanted to ask about Zeke, but I guess that would have to wait.

I turned to see Wendy, but heard footsteps.

Then, I saw Amber’s face, twisted with fury.

She raised her hand and slapped me so hard my head rang. “Danny Hayes, you’re insane! You hired people to mess with Zeke! He’s my boyfriend, and his brother is the head of the Hayes Corporation! Are you trying to die?”

My cheek burned, but I laughed. “He’s your boyfriend? Then why’s his last name different?”

Amber scoffed. “You wouldn’t get it. He’s in the Hayes family, but they had him go by Zeke so he could be normal!

“He’s been my best friend since kindergarten. You’re just jealous.”

Then I saw Zeke, the man who tried to kill me.

He was following the Hayes security detail.

Amber saw the same, and I knew I was done for.

I wondered why he was out of the interrogation room, when the head of security started to walk up to me.

I thought he was going to protect me, but then he pulled his billy club and started beating me.

“You think you can mess with my boss? I’ll show you what’s up! We’re taking this down!”

He was beating the hell out of me, and I could barely see through the blood.

I was confused. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you recognize me? I’m Danny Hayes!”

3.

He spat.

“You’re out of your mind! I’ve worked for the Hayes family for ten years, and I only know one Hayes son. Who do you think you are?”

Zeke came out from behind the bodyguard, staring me down.

I thought he wanted to kill me.

He looked at Amber. “What do you think, Amber? All I wanted was to have a nice night, but your boyfriend ruined my night. Now he thinks he can lie about me?”

“The Hayes family has always been discrete, so I bit my lip and let him talk, and even got my men to drive him home.”

“But now he’s saying I tried to run him over and ruined the Hayes name. What now?”

Everything that came out of his mouth was nothing but lies.

Amber went pale and grabbed me by the collar, pulling me out of the wheelchair.

She kicked me in the knee, dropping me to the floor.

She had the bodyguard slam my head to the floor. “Danny, I can’t believe you! Apologize to Zeke! Keep going until you forgive!”

I was shaking.

My brother always told me to never bow down, unless to someone you’d die for.

Since I was born, I only bowed down to my parents. I was being disrespected to the max!

Amber laughed and grabbed a vase. “You want to be difficult? I’ll tell you what’s going on, The Hayes and Lees are making a deal for me!

“Someone as high-class as me could never be with some scrub like you! Get it over with, and if you do what I say, I’ll see if Zeke can spare you.”

I glared. “Amber, if the Hayes ever make a deal with you, I will kill you.”

That started a fire in her.

She broke the vase and held a shard to my leg.

“How dare you talk to me like that?”

“If you want to be like that, then let’s end this. Then you’ll never ruin my life ever again.”

The bodyguard held me down, and I closed my eyes.

But I felt nothing.

I opened my eyes, and Wendy was on top of me.

Her medical gown was all red, and she was whispering to me. “Don’t listen to Zeke. He is lying! He is nothing but a scam!”

“And if you want to get to Danny, you have to kill me!”

Amber gasped, looking at the scars all over her sister.

Zeke grabbed her and punched her.

“Don’t lie! You are mad that you were never loved by your family, and you are jealous that Amber is marrying up! And you’re here with Danny. What do you want!”

Wendy coughed up blood.

She looked like she was about to fall.

The bodyguard laughed, and brought her to another room.

I tried to stop her, but Amber raised a part of the vase and hit me to the ground.

“I knew that you both were going to lie!”

I realized that Amber was remembering the past.

I was bleeding all over.

I could barely talk.

Amber smirked.

“You know what happens to those who mess with the Hayes.”

“He was stolen when he was born, and the Hayes didn’t care. The people who kidnapped him were dismembered!”

“At college someone tried to hook him up, but were caught. Now she disappeared!”

“You should be happy that I didn’t let Zeke kill you.”

She grabbed a blade and stabbed me.

I shook. “If my brother ever finds out about this, you’re dead!”

Zeke kicked me.

“You think someone loves you? Let me show you what you need to fear.”

They started to beat me, and the pain was real.

I got up and tried to escape.

The bodyguard grabbed me and slapped me.

“Where are you going? You get to pay for what you did to my boss!”

I was cornered, and I waited for my death.

But then, the door to the hospital opened, and my brother walked in with a crowd.

“What are you doing?”

Then he saw me.

4.

I was disheveled, and he couldn’t see me.

He was walking up, but then the bodyguard blocked him.

“Hey Mac, what brings you here?”