by G N Wright
I watch his body react and my grin gets bigger. “I imagine right now you feel your legs and arms getting heavy, you want to move them, but you can’t. Your head will get fuzzy soon, you'll start to slip in and out of consciousness, until eventually you blackout. Don’t worry though it won’t kill you.” This would have scared him more if he weren’t already bleeding out, but oh well. What’s done is done.
He grunts as his body starts to shake, tears and sweat pouring down his face. “What's the matter Atkins? Don’t you love the rush? Aren’t you getting off on it? Or is the high not the same when you are on the receiving end of it?” I purposely bait him as his eyes begin to roll back into his head. He’s fighting it, or at least trying to.
I watch as his body slowly starts to shut down, but I can’t let him die. I hold my hand out to Marcus and he hands over the syringe I asked him to bring. This one is filled with adrenaline, and I pump it straight into Atkins. Time may be off the essence, but I like my enemies to suffer too much for a quick death. I don’t deserve this death, but so many others do. So many people have been hurt by him, he probably doesn’t even realize how many. The adrenaline takes root, and his eyes flare open as his grip tightens on the chair. I can practically see his heart beating out of his chest.
“People like you deserve to die. You deserve pain and suffering. Not just for what you do to all those girls, but for what you do to the people who get left behind.”
He gurgles as he tries to talk, but it’s just gibberish that makes no sense, getting lost in the choked sob he lets free.
“Pathetic.” I want to end him. Want to take my knife and sink it right into his fucking chest until it meets his heart. The only thing stopping me is the resentment and grief I can feel burning through my back. He deserves this more than I do. I shake my head giving Atkins one last look before I turn and walk over to Jace and hand him my gun. “He's all yours.”
He looks at me as he grips the gun, clasping his hand around it. He doesn’t have to say anything, I can see all the thanks I need right there on his face. This isn’t going to heal him, help him get over losing Rachel, or lessen the grief he feels. It will just allow him the pleasure of knowing he took out one of the people responsible for her death, If there is only one thing I could ever offer him, this would be it.
I leave the room just as the gunshot echoes out behind me, and instantly feel overwhelmed with a sense of pride. Jace didn’t even hesitate to pull that trigger, and that’s how I know that he’s going to be OK. We all are. One way or another, we will make it through this, together.
Chapter 33
MARCUS
After how we have spent the last three weeks, going back to school just seems so ridiculously normal. Lincoln is driving, Jace is up front, and Elle and I are sitting in the back. She had worried about leaving Cassie every day, but she knows that Asher has her, no matter what. They’re staying home with Zack, Arthur, Helen, and the twins. A couple of Max’s guys will stay with them too, while the rest of them are already waiting for us at school. They’ve gone back and forth with Lock and managed to get security cameras fitted fucking everywhere. Excessive, but necessary. Elliot Donovan isn’t playing, and neither are we. Mix that, with his fucking psychopathic son thinking Elle is his, it’s safe to say we are all on edge. We know a pushback is coming, we just don’t know when. When they inevitably get the news of Rolland Atkins’ disappearance, I know they won’t sit and wait any longer.
We’ve been off radar for weeks and this is the first time we will be doing what is expected of us. The hour drive to school has been spent mostly silent, but the nerves are practically screaming from our bodies. Elle got Lock to change our schedules, so all our classes match up, which eases some of my fear. I should be scared, I am scared, but not for me, for Elle, my brothers. I can’t lose them. We have come too far. I just want all of this to be over so we can actually live our lives.
“Starbies?” Jace breaks the silence.
“What the fuck does Starbies mean?” Lincoln asks, his tone even more blunt than usual. He has left no stone unturned as we prepared to come back, and I can tell it’s taking a toll on him. He still hasn’t forgiven himself for allowing Cassie to be taken, he thinks it’s his fault. I get it, I do, I feel so much guilt about what happened to her and Zack, we should have done better. I should have done better.
“I think he means Starbucks,” Elle answers from beside me, “and the answer is no, pretty boy.” Her tone is slightly teasing, but I can tell it’s forced, we are all still reeling from the events of last night.
He huffs in annoyance, throwing his feet up on the dash and sulking the rest of the way to school. Out of all of us, he is the least excited about the plan to continue as normal. He thinks we should have stayed in hiding, but that isn’t what Elle wanted. As we pull into the parking lot, he rolls his window down and lights up a joint. Is it too much to ask for him to tackle today with a clear head?
“Seriously?” His eyes snap to mine in the mirror as soon as I speak.
“Just cause you’re too pussy whipped to get stoned, doesn’t mean I have to be.” He replies, slowly puffing out a wave of smoke.
He looks at Elle as soon as he says it and I see his regret. “Real nice, Jace,” She sighs, shaking her head before getting out of the car and slamming the door.
“Fuck,” He mutters, swiping a hand down his face.
“Look brother, I know you are going through some stuff, but she doesn’t deserve your shit.” I don’t need to tell him. I can tell by the look on his face he already knows.
“I know,” He huffs, throwing the joint out of the window and leaving to run after her.
Lincoln watches them before turning to me. “Are you ready for this?” I nod and he continues. “Nowhere alone and anything out of the ordinary is checked out.”
“Agreed.” We exit the car in unison, both of us swinging our gaze around the lot. The fence is now brand new and there are cameras attached all along it. I can hear people commenting on the changes as they make their way across to the steps.
All hands-on deck really means, all hands. So, as we catch up with Elle and Jace we are also joined by a few of our main South Siders, Jack, Kai, Malcolm, and a few others. They haven't been told everything, just briefed enough to know that we are on high alert. I see all of them eyeing Elle, they’re still not used to being around her. I can’t help myself. I pull her in by her waist and see them immediately avert their eyes.
“You ready, baby?” I drop a kiss on the space where her neck meets her shoulder, and she leans into it.
“I’m ready,” she sighs, “I just want to get all of this over with and…” she cuts off mid-sentence as she tenses up. “This fucking cunt,” She mutters, before pulling away from me. She storms off and all our eyes follow to see what has snagged her attention. When I find what she has spotted, I curse inwardly. Fucking Cherry.
I follow after her quickly, but not quick enough, and before I can even take a couple of steps, Elle's fist is already cracking Cherry’s nose. Her dramatic scream of pain draws so much attention, that a lot more people see the second punch to her jaw. Someone shouts, ‘girl fight’, and all hell breaks loose. We push through the crowd and they part to let us through. I see a few people already recording.
“Phones away now!” I boom to the crowd and Lincoln moves to confiscate the ones who had already started filming, and the rest of my guys push the crowd back. Elle continues to beat on Cherry until she falls to the floor.
I grab her waist and pull her away. “Elle, what the fuck?” I know she hates her, but a public display like this is bad.
“It was her,” she replies without looking at me, she just stares down at Cherry on the floor.
“What was her?”
“She led them to Cassie. I saw Cherry that day we went shopping in Havensgrove, I thought I was seeing things at the time as she disappeared quickly.” She's panting heavily, the anger burning out of her body. “I could never figure out how Greg found
out about Cass or how he found the house and got to Peter. Then I remembered Cherry. With everything going on, I forgot about it again. But it was her, Marcus. She’s the reason.”
My hold on her releases immediately, no hesitation. Not after what she did. I wouldn’t care if Elle killed her right here and now. This is all her fault. We had the upper hand, had everything under control, until that night. Cherry almost ruined everything, almost cost us everything. The guys have pushed the crowd back far enough that they can’t hear what we are saying, but I know they still watch our every move. Elle steps back towards her, bending down next to Cherry until she is crouched by her head.
“I told you not to make me come for you, but you didn’t listen, did you?” Elle lifts Cherry’s head by her hair. “Did you think he cared about you? That he would protect you? You’re as insignificant to them as you are to me.” She lowers her voice so that I barely catch the next bit. “Tell Greg to watch his back, I’m coming.” With that, she stands and releases her head, and it smashes back into the ground.
Elle turns to me, flexing her fist out, examining the blood coated there, before eyeing everyone in the crowd. For a moment, I think she might slink back into the silent and stealthy Elle, but she proves me wrong. “Nobody touches her. Trash belongs on the ground. Help her out and you’ll join her there.” Her voice is loud and clear, and I see everyone looking at her in a new light, including me. She’s never looked hotter.
I smile at her as I allow my voice to echo around the lot. “Everyone, fuck off to class.” They scatter immediately as Jace and Lincoln join us again.
“Fucking hell, Queenie.” Jace starts lifting her bloodied fist for inspection and she snaps it away from him, eyeing him with a cocky smirk.
“It was her or you, pretty boy.”
He bursts out laughing, “Nah you love me too much for that, even when I’m acting like a dick.” He slings an arm around her shoulder, as she shakes her head at him.
“Someone’s got to, Conrad.” Her tone makes me smile, in a few short, albeit drama filled months, they have grown so close. I’ve never seen him let his guard down the way he does with her. I imagine this is what he was like before Rachel. Before her murder tainted his soul. It’s the same with Lincoln, he has his own demons that he never talks about, his darkness always on show, but with her, he is somehow lighter.
“You alright?” Lincoln asks her and she nods.
“All good, Superman. Sorry I know you said to keep a low profile.” Her tone is genuine, and I can tell how much she means that.
The corner of Lincs mouth tips up. “If you didn’t do it, I would have.” Even with the ghost of a smile tugging at his features, I can still hear the seriousness of that threat.
She smiles big at him. “That's why you're my favorite.” She pushes away from Jace and links her arm with Lincoln instead.
“Ouch, Queenie,” Jace says at the same time as I say, “What about me?”
She just laughs and they both turn and walk away. I look to Jace and he shrugs and moves to follow them. I turn and look at Cherry. She is crying in a ball on the floor, and I feel zero sympathy for her.
I use my foot to roll her on her back, and then bend down as she looks up at me. “Come for my family again and I’ll finish what she started. Are we clear?”
She nods, and, feeling semi-satisfied, I get up. Cherry may have been just another fucking pawn in the Donovan’s weaponry, but she took it too far. Her mistakes need to be paid for. Elle may have started it, but I’m not afraid to finish it if I have to.
I turn and head off into school, leaving her in the dirt where she belongs.
Chapter 34
ELLE
Considering how the week back at school started, the rest of it has been quiet in comparison. I haven’t seen Cherry since I delivered my less than obvious message on Monday, and I have no doubt the Donovan’s are aware of my return to school. I’m still awaiting their retaliation. Not for what I did to Cherry, I know they don’t give two fucks about her or her wellbeing, nobody does. She’s lucky she landed the role of spy and not ‘whore for sale’. No, I await retribution for all my other crimes. The ones I haven’t stopped committing against them ever since I got back to town.
I am simply waiting. I know they’ll be planning something, it’s not like they will have suddenly grown morals and decide to let me be. That was never going to happen. I know too much, have done too much. The price they will want me to pay is astronomical, which is why I have to fight harder than ever. If they get me again, I won’t survive.
I know they’ll be pissed that we got into the estate and got Cassie back. Well, at least Elliot will be. Greg probably got off on it. He thinks we are playing a game of cat and mouse, just toying with each other until I’m his again. That’s just how his sick, twisted mind works. But I’m not playing, not anymore. I want their deaths and nothing less, which is why, while they continue to hold back, I’m pushing on. Dr. Atkins was an unplanned but welcomed mission. Yes, he was a name on my list, but I hadn’t decided when or how to deal with him, not until he went after Taylor. I can’t help but worry about her, she spent most of Saturday at the house with me and the guys, even though I refused to answer most of her questions. It was nice to just have a friend, one that isn’t tainted by my crimes. I’ve had Owen, one of Max’s guys, keeping an eye on her all week, he hasn’t reported anything unusual.
We’re attempting to cover all our bases, but that still leaves Carter Fitzgerald as my biggest issue. As far as we know, he is still holding Rebecca O’Sullivan somewhere and we need to get her back. If we get her, then we get the Hallowed Crows on our side and the balance of power in our war against the Donovan’s, will tilt in our favor. I’m slowly taking their world apart piece by piece and I won’t stop until there is nothing left.
Max has Elijah tracking Carter’s every move. He spends his weekdays at the Mayoral offices and his weeknights at numerous restaurants across town. Saturdays are spent at the golf club, and Sundays at Church. Yet, it’s his evening weekend activities that interest me most. He spends every Friday night at the warehouse on the corner of Middleton and 5th. Lincoln and I followed my father there once, or we tried to, but were interrupted. We have since learned that it’s a very exclusive club called ‘Crimson’, whose members have, what you would call extremely specific tastes. Doesn’t take a genius to figure out what that means, when their members include the Donovan’s, Carter Fitzgerald, and my father.
We have managed to dig up enough information to know that there are three levels. First floor is a nightclub, where members can drink, and watch beautiful young men and women dance on poles and in cages. Top floor is a BDSM club, where members can explore the life of dominants and submissives, and then there is the basement. We don’t have any information on what happens down there, but I think we all can guess just how fucked up it will be.
Unsurprisingly, Mayor Fitzgerald is a remarkably busy man, constantly surrounded by people and yet, not once has anyone laid eyes on Rebecca, until now. I’m sitting on the back patio with Marcus, Linc, Jace, and Asher when Max and Elijah come out, with Zack not too far behind. As soon as I see their expressions, I know something is up. I’m immediately grateful that Cassie is already in bed.
“We got her. She’s on the move with Fitz, destination unknown at present.” Elijah starts and then he looks at Max, before concentrating on me, “but it’s Friday.” He doesn’t have to say anything for me to catch his meaning. We know where he spends his Fridays. Fucking Crimson.
“How do we know it’s her?” I ask them, concentrating on Max.
“Seb IDed her from her picture. It’s definitely Rebecca O’Sullivan.” he confirms and my stomach flips in excitement. She’s alive. For now.
“Well, come on, let’s go.” Ash stands without hesitating; he’s been so on edge about Rebecca. It’s easy to look past all the girls being hurt by his father and brother when they are lost in a sea of nameless faces, but when you can put a face and a name
to it, it becomes real. He sees her as me, imprisoned against her will and probably being broken beyond repair.
My frown is instant, we haven’t yet been able to find a way into the club, short of becoming a member, so we don’t really have a plan. “How are we going to get in?”
Ash just smirks that deadly Donovan smile, “through the front door, they’ll let me in.” He’s that confident in his name, and in this town, I can’t say I blame him. He doesn’t wait for my response before he pushes past Max and heads inside. Max just shakes his head but follows after him anyway. Well, alright then, looks like we are going out.
It isn’t long before we are armed to the teeth and spread across two black Escalades as we speed toward Black Hallows. Seb has since confirmed that the club is where they headed, and they have been inside for around ten minutes. Already too long if you ask me, especially considering that even with the speed we are going we still aren’t close.
Twenty minutes later, we arrive. I exit the car with Asher, Marcus, Jace and Linc. Leaving Max and his guys to check out other entrances as we move towards the front door. It opens easily and when we step inside, we find an elegant lobby area. There is black satin covering the walls, a large black gloss desk and a plush rail of black material. We agreed on our way over that Ash would do the talking and I would act as if I were there as his party favor. Leaving Marcus and the guys to act as Asher’s security. The guard eyes us immediately.
“Members only.” He states before any of us even have a chance to speak. Not shocking considering we don’t exactly look like their usual clientele.
“Asher Donovan.” Ash responds and I see the recognition in the guard’s eyes at his name. He flicks his eyes down to his tablet and taps away before looking back to him.
“Sorry sir, but I only have two Donovan members registered and you aren’t one of them.” I hold in my eye roll. Just as his hand goes to his ear as if he is about to communicate with someone, something flashes past me. I don’t even get to recognize what it is before Lincoln has the guard unconscious on the floor.