She jumped in startled surprise.
On the other side of the door, she heard a heavy thud, and whatever it was, it fell hard. The cabin door even shook from the hard impact. Through the door, she heard Quincy’s frantic pleas. But, an additional shot silenced them.
Her horror intensified.
She was in the presence of a mad woman.
No doubt, she was the next intended victim.
“Dear God, am I going to die?” she sobbed quietly, balling up beneath the covers. “Please, help me. Please…”
She started when the door creaked open. Scrambling fast, she pushed herself up in the makeshift bed. She swallowed hard against her fear again.
The woman stood framed in the open doorway.
A candle flickered in her hand, and the flame twisted and jumped at different angles and heights. “There she is, my little timid kitten,” the woman purred with a laugh, stepping inside the bedroom, and then closed the door quietly behind her. “Too scared to breathe in her skin as usual.”
Again, the familiarity rang.
“Who are you?” she asked in a trembling voice. “What do you want from me?”
The candlelight caused shadows to dance around the strange woman, and she seemed more monstrous as they did. “I’ll tell you what I want. I want back what’s rightfully mine.” Walking slowly, she approached the makeshift bed. Then, holding the candle firmly in one hand, she pushed the hoodie back, and the mussed auburn curls fell to her shoulders. Her icy blue eyes settled on her in the shadowy darkness. “Remember me, you little slut?”
The shock ran through her.
It was Red Widow, in all her crazed glory!
“W---why did you bring me here?” she stammered, fully knowing the answer already. But, perhaps, before dying, she could understand the woman’s reasoning and lunacy. “What do you want?”
Red Widow’s face screwed in disbelief. “Are you that fucking stupid, bitch? You know exactly what I want. I want you to die. You’ve ruined everything,” she accused her, and coldness laced her tone. Then, she edged closer to the bed before staring down at her. “You took Reign away from me. If it weren’t for you, we’d be together.”
She gulped hard. “I’m sorry that we hurt you,” she lied, trying a different defense. “Reign didn’t mean for things to---”
“Stop lying to me!” Red Widow shouted and whipped out the long butcher’s knife. “The last thing that you’re concerned about is my feelings!”
“No,” she said instinctively, shrinking against the wall, and her pleading eyes met hers. “You don’t want to do this.”
Red Widow smiled wickedly. “Trust me, I do.”
“B---but, there has to be a better way,” she tried again. “Do you really want my death to be on your conscience?”
“Conscience? Trust me, honey. If there’s anything that I lack, it’s that.” She tapped the knife against her thigh gently and eyed her. “Wonder what it’ll feel like to gut you? I’ve killed before,” she smiled coldly, kneeling down until they were eye level, and inched the knife towards her. “But, I’ve never actually mutilated anyone. Since that dumb fuck neglected to bring extra bullets, it’s the only remaining option.”
Her breath hitched as the blade met her neck.
There was little doubt that it’d gash her flesh wide open.
“You’ve literally driven me to the point of madness,” Red Widow said icily, centering her eyes on the silvery blade. “First, I’m forced to kill my husband. The old, farted-out coot had the nerve to question my reasons for going to the club. If he’d been half the man that Reign was, I wouldn’t have been there to begin with.” A look of disbelief seized her features. “And the bastard had the gall to think that he’d divorce me! But, I wasn’t about to let him steal my power and wealth.”
She took in a shallow breath. “So you killed him in cold blood? You took an innocent man’s life?”
For some reason, her question affected her.
Red Widow stood abruptly and whirled wildly in a circle. Mumbling indecipherably, she seemed to fall further into her deranged state. “Why are you trying to make me sound like a monster?” she raged, advancing towards her again, and stopped just short of the bed. “I simply had to fix the situation so things wouldn’t be horrid and difficult for me and Reign. My husband was in the way. He was keeping me and Reign apart. I couldn’t allow that.” Her crazed gaze met hers again. “That’s why you’re here. You’re part of the fix.”
“Where’s Quincy?” she probed further, gulping hard, fearing what she knew already. “Is he still here? Or have you hurt him, too?”
“Quincy was no longer useful to me. But, he did his due.” Closing her eyes, Red Widow clutched her head as if in pain, and then her wild blue eyes clashed with hers again. “Why are you trying to make me think, bitch? That’s the problem with you! You take people like Reign and make them believe that you’re so sweet and gentle. They fall for the act.” She twisted the knife fast in her hand. “But, I’m not like them. I see right through you. After I finish gutting you, I’ll be able to do just that, literally.” Approaching slowly, laughing maniacally, she raised the knife high in the air. “Say your fucking prayers, bitch.”
Shrinking against the wall, pushing against the mattress with her feet, she sobbed wildly against her frightening pleas. “Please, don’t hurt me…no, no, no---”
The sound of the police megaphone interrupted the dangerous moment. “Frieda Jones---we have the place surrounded. Please surrender peacefully.”
“Fuck!” Pivoting away from the bed, Red Widow fled to the window and pushed up the shades. “How could this have happened?”
Shaking all over, huddling against the wall, she watched her assailant silently. Heaven only knew what she’d do next.
“We’re willing to negotiate for Ms. Grace’s freedom,” the voice said again on the megaphone. “On the porch, we’ve left a burner phone, and it will be your port of communication with our negotiating team.”
“Oh, I’ll show them fucking negotiations!” Red Widow shouted angrily, rushing back to the bed, and grabbed her. “Get your ass up! You’re coming with me!”
As she was snatched from the bed, she almost stumbled. But, Red Widow seized control quick and positioned her against her front, and then held the knife against her throat. “Try something and I’ll slit your throat,” Red Widow warned, tightening her hold, and pushed her forward. She kneed the back of her legs. “Now, move.”
The candle flickered wildly.
Their shadows were monstrous against the candle lit walls. After they walked across the threshold, she caught sight of Quincy’s dead body.
A horrified shiver chased through her.
The henchman lay flat on his back with a bullet straight between his eyeballs and one to the chest. An empty revolver lay beside his dead body. In a truthful sense, he’d brought about this comeuppance. For hadn’t he willingly chosen this dark path?
When they reached the front door, they halted.
As Red Widow cracked the door, she held her breath.
“If you try anything, she’s dead!” Red Widow yelled, using her as a shield, and pushed her out ahead of her. “I swear on my life, I’ll slit this bitch’s throat wide open.”
The dark night was cruel.
Drenched in darkness, it revealed no light at all.
It signified a horrible ending.
“Mrs. Jones, the burner phone is on the porch, just at your immediate right,” the police said calmly. “Get the phone, and we’ll negotiate terms.”
“I don’t want the fucking phone!” Red Widow shouted loudly. “There’s only one thing that I want, and that’s Reign.”
No!
Her terrified eyes widened.
He couldn’t be hurt!
“Reign is here with us, Mrs. Jones.”
“What? Don’t shit me whatever you do.” Behind her, Red Widow sucked in a desperate breath, and her craziness clawed its way out fully. “Reign? You mean my beautiful lover i
s here?” she asked in a weird tone. “I---I have to look my best. You didn’t give me time to dress up or change.” She shook her head fast. “He can’t see me like this.”
A bright light suddenly kicked on.
Within the brightness, she caught sight of him.
As bad as she wanted, she couldn’t stop the helpless sobs. The tears blinded her, and her fear for him outweighed the fear that she had for herself.
He was a broken man.
Though he fought to hide it, she sensed his stark terror. Across the way, his tortured gaze centered on her, and she felt every bit of his love. Then, his resolve returned as he focused his attention on Red Widow.
“Red, what are you doing, sweetheart?” he called out, centering his gaze on Frieda. “You know this is not the way. There’s a better way to handle this.”
“Why are you, here, Reign?” Red Widow asked in a weird way. “What do you want?”
“I came to see you, Red. Me and you, we have unfinished business.” He stepped further into the light and granted them a fuller view. “I just wanted to talk to you and see what you thought about it.”
Tightening her hold, Red Widow held the blade closer to her nape. “What about this bitch? What are we going to do with her? She’s in the way. She’s ruining everything.”
She shuddered violently at the feel of the cold blade, and inside, she felt nothing but numbness.
Christopher held up a cautious hand. “Hold on, now. Take it easy. There’s no need for anyone else to get hurt.” The agony played in his tone. “Please, let her go---”
“Wait a minute,” Red Widow hissed, shaking behind her, and her anger flashed back. “You’re not here for me. You’re here for her.” Her laugh was wicked, darker than the night that’d fallen. “Guess what, bitch? You can’t have her.”
In that fraction of a second, she closed her eyes tight and waited for her violent ending. But, as the bullet whizzed past her and into Frieda’s skull, the whistling noise barely penetrated her ears. Upon impact, her assailant’s grip loosened as she fell to the ground dead.
Weakened, broken, limp, she dropped to the porch.
There was no controlling her endless sobbing.
The next minutes were frantic.
From various sides of the cabin, the swat team swarmed in, and within seconds, they had her up. All around, the red lights from emergency vehicles flashed. In a daze, numbed, she allowed herself to be led away from the cabin. At some point, someone placed a white blanket along her shoulders.
Yet, reality still seemed out of focus.
A short distance away, Christopher stood and sobbed uncontrollably. As he opened his arms wide, she broke free and ran to him. When he closed his arms around her, she was finally freed.
Epilogue
“I officially pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiator beamed at them. “You may now kiss the bride. Congratulations.”
Smiling happily at each other, they moved in for the kiss amongst the thunderous applause. Then, pulling back, they turned and faced the wedding party in the gymnasium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander.”
Smiling amidst the applause, they raised their joined hands in the air.
The Stedman Outreach Center was beautifully decorated for their wedding. All across the gym floor, the white chairs were perfectly lined and draped with floral lacing and lining. To the side, the tables were laden with food, and their wedding cake sat dead center of one of them.
Their guests included Ms. Jess, volunteers and mentors from Stedman Outreach, co-workers, the Claytons, and their friends were there.
Now, the crowd milled about and socialized gaily.
Her skittered gaze moved amongst the burgeoning crowd.
Still, though, no one from either the Johansson or Grace families had shown, she realized with a sinking heart.
Quickly, Christopher noticed her disdain.
“Come here,” he murmured, hugging her close, and kissed her forehead. Then, as a wedding song kicked on, he smiled before pulling her in for the dance. As they talked, it was for their ears alone. “Princess, I know you’re disappointed, and so am I. But, we can’t let the fact that they’re not here ruin today.”
“I know,” she agreed quietly, staring up at him, and followed his lead. “Still, it hurts that they’re so closed-minded that they can’t accept the fact we love each other.”
“And me loving you will not change whether they accept it or not.” Then, his eyes smarted with tears. “But, at least we got Josephine’s blessing before she passed.”
“I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, growing teary-eyed herself. “I know that her passing is hard on you. But, at least, you got to know her in some capacity before she was gone.” She tightened her hold around his neck. “Too, I know that you’re racked with guilt about Crystal’s incarceration. She’s responsible for the awful choices that she’s made, however.”
“Though justified, it still doesn’t make me feel any better,” he admitted, shaking his head. “I feel like I owe her something.”
She smiled at him gently. “Of course, you do.”
“Why don’t we focus on the best positive?” he suggested, firming his hold on her waist. Stepping back slightly, he eyed her bulging stomach. “Like celebrating the fact that someone else with be joining our little tight knit family soon.”
Her giddiness won over. “Can you believe it? I can’t wait to see her.”
“Me either,” he grinned, and then the light dimmed in his eyes somewhat. “I’m going to do everything to teach her some real values. Being a good father---I’ll work hard at it. Yes, I know I’m fucked up---”
“No, you’re not,” she said gently. “And if you say that ever again, I’ll be forever mad at you. You’re not fucked up, baby. You’re human like the rest of us, and none of us are perfect no matter how much we believe so.”
“But, you are. I’ll attest to that fact.”
She smiled again. “No, I’m not---”
“Oh, your denial is bringing back some naughty memories,” he warned huskily. “Remember what I told you before? If you call me a liar, you have to pay up. You remember that?”
A thrill ran through her. “Of course, I do.”
As the song suddenly changed, he led her from the dance floor. Everyone passed them a knowing smile as they crossed the gymnasium and headed for a quiet spot away from them.
Giggling, she clasped his hand as they fled down the narrow hallway. When they were safely inside Ms. Jess’s office, he locked the door. Then, after dimming the lights, he approached her in his sexy gait.
Her laughter died when he reached her.
“I love you so much,” she whispered softly. “I’ll never stop.”
“And I love you, too, princess.”
She moved in for the kiss.
As usual, it was tongue-thrashing and drugging.
She didn’t protest as he walked her backwards. When her hips met Ms. Jess’s desk, she started in surprise. “Christopher, what are you doing?”
He gave a wicked smile. “Don’t worry. I got permission to use her office.”
She arched a brow. “I don’t quite think that sexing it up would hardly qualify as being permissible.”
“I beg to differ,” he shrugged, sitting her on the desktop gently. Then, slowly, he began inching up the wedding gown. “If there’s anyone who knows how wild, untamable, and unpredictable I am, it’s her.”
As his hands began peeling the thin stockings away, her dark needs seized hold of her, and kicked in high. Her brown eyes sparkled with both mischief and desire. “You’re such a fucking whore.”
She gasped as her panties met the floor.
“You’re right, but, I’m your fucking whore,” he rasped hoarsely. “Now, this very second, tomorrow, forever…”
The sound of a lowering zipper was next.
As he stepped closer to her, his heated body blocked the light.
&nb
sp; When his lips were a breath away from hers, they exchanged the fractured air.
A tremble coursed through her as his hands slid up her thighs, and she eagerly opened them wide in invitation. As her hot, wet heat was exposed, he edged agonizingly closer, just enough for her to feel the pointed end of his penis. Slowly, taking his free hand, he slid it in a slow, up and down motion against the slight opening of her vagina. Just so subtly and damagingly enough that her anticipation peaked to significant heights…
She robbed them of what little air they shared. “Christopher, I love you.”
When their bodies joined, she was complete.
Reign on Me Page 44