by C. A. Rene
"Yeah, operative word being girls." I sneer right back. "I know exactly how you and your chief liked to operate. But I think I'm a little too old for your tastes right?"
I hear him grumbling, probably all the nasty things he'd want to do with my dead body-get in line bitch.
26
It's been twenty-one days and I'm in a dark room no more than ten square feet big. I'm sporting a shiner and a busted lip from a guard whose elbow slipped. It's all good because my fist slipped afterward and I broke his nose. Hence, being thrown in the hole.
I've lost weight, mostly muscle mass from not eating more than one meal a day. Having your food thrown on the floor will do that. I feel weak and no matter how much I try to work out, I have no fucking energy.
I haven't spoken to anyone on the outside except for my lawyer who brings me updates. My family is working tirelessly to get me out and he said he had to talk Emmett down a few times from trying to bust me out. Who the fuck does he think he is? Michael Scofield? He doesn't have the brain to even attempt it. He'd end up bombing the place and hoping I'd make it through the explosion.
I miss them. Every time I think of their faces, I want to scream to release the building pressure in my chest. It's not unlike how I was feeling while trapped at The Rampage's compound over a year ago. I push the thought away as I see Carm's face swim into my vision and the first time I found out he was my brother.
I don't have time to be depressed here, it's dangerous to lose my mind to it and leave myself vulnerable. I have to keep my guard up and prepare for anything to happen.
"Craven." I hear a cop call out just before the door to the hole opens.
I squint at the blinding light and wait for my eyes to adjust as I protect my face from any sort of attack.
"Get up." The cop demands as he grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet.
"Am I going back to my regular cell now?"
He doesn't answer me as I let him pull me down the corridor. I yank my arm out of his hold and glare up at him.
"Keep your grubby hands off of me, Pig." I spit out and he shakes his head.
"Just follow me."
I'm slightly shocked at the changed demeanor. Where are the threats of violence? Or better yet, the slipping of appendages?
I'm led into the intake room and I look around. A cop stands with the clothing I arrived in and a bag with my phone, shoes, and engagement ring. I’m relieved when I see that last item.
"What's going on?"
Of course they don't bother to answer me as they throw me my belongings and tell me to hurry up.
So I do because I am not looking a gift horse in the fucking mouth.
I knock on the door once I'm dressed and a cop leads me to the front where I can see the outside world through the glass. I want to weep at the vision in front of me.
"Sign these." The female behind the counter says as she slides papers toward me.
I read through them and my breath is lodged in my throat. These are release papers and a few others that state the terms of my 'acquittal'. One being I am never to speak of what happened here.
"I would just sign it for now and we can look over everything later." A female's voice says from behind me. "I think it would be prudent to get out of here quickly."
I don't recognize her but that's because she wears a scarf over her hair and her face is obscured by large sunglasses. She's short and petite but the air around her is charged with authority.
I do as she says and sign the papers. "I want copies." I tell the girl behind the counter and wait until she finishes photocopying them.
I turn to the woman, "are you working with my lawyer?"
"Something like that." She nods.
I'm handed back copies of the forms and I follow the woman outside. I can feel autumn in the air and I know it'll soon be time for Vin to begin school.
"Who are you?" I ask as I turn around.
"I'm the one who sprung you out of here." She says with her hands on her hips. Something about her feels so familiar.
"Why?" I ask slowly.
"I have many reasons but one stands out above the rest." She chuckles. "I miss having you trying to chase me down, life is utterly boring without it."
Her words hit me like a fucking freight train.
"Jennifer Talia?"
"Ding ding!" She sing-songs and I am left fucking speechless. "I think we need to have a lengthy conversation."
"Are you insane?" I ask her, shock lining my words. "I should just fucking kill you."
"You could." She nods. "But then my men here would kill you and then we'd never have the answers we both seek. Not everything is as it seems, Miss Craven or should I say Torres?"
"It's Craven." I snarl.
"One is just as bad as the other if you ask me." She shrugs, she fucking shrugs like I'm not standing here imaging all the bloody gruesome ways I want to kill her.
"It's imperative we talk, Emberlise. It's been a long time coming."
"We do need to talk." I know exactly what I need to ask her. "I need some clarification on a few things."
"I know." She nods. "Can we call a truce? At least for today? And if you decide you still want to kill me, we'll continue as normal tomorrow."
"Fine." I grit out.
"Excellent." She claps her hands and points to a guy standing in front of a stretch limo. "He's been instructed to see you home safely. You now have more enemies than before, astonishing really."
"How do I know he won't kill me on your orders?"
"You don't. You can walk home." She says coolly. "But again, you have a lot of enemies." She pointedly looks behind me and when I follow her sight I see a few cops watching from the window.
The fucking bitch has a point. I turn my back on her and approach the limo to which the man hurriedly opens the door. Trained dog.
"I will come by and see you later." She calls out. Of course she knows where I live.
I just flip her the bird over my head and fume as I hear her laugh. This world is a fucking mindfuck sometimes.
We pull into the driveway and I know I'm about to be bombarded. Everyone's phones are pinging right now, alerting them to the fact that a limo is approaching.
Sure enough, as we stop beside the front door, my family is standing outside with varying degrees of annoyance on their faces. They don't know it's me yet because I haven't called ahead to let them know I'm out.
I take a minute and look each of them over. Adri looks like she hasn’t slept in weeks, her hair is greasy and her skin an unnatural gray colour. Travis has a fucking beard and his hair is shaggy and unkept… he looks like he needs a bath. Emmett looks sickly and pale, the slouch of his shoulders relaying the stress he’s under.
Then there’s my Vin. He’s standing with his arms crossed across his chest and his face stone cold, not betraying any of his feelings. But I see it in his eyes, he’s sad and he looks like he’s about ready to snap.
“This is the correct address Miss Craven?” The driver asks.
“Yeah.”
I open the door and stand, watching the expressions on each of their faces.
“Ember!” Adri is the first to react and for once I welcome that squeal.
She slams into me, throwing us both back against the limo. Her body is shaking as she sobs into my neck.
“E?” Travis is standing behind her, watching us with wide eyes.
“Fuck dude,” I snort. “Did all grooming products get arrested with me?”
He ignores my jab and wraps his arms around the both of us.
“Thank God.” He murmurs.
“Guys,” Emmett’s voice is quiet and filled with sorrow. “Can I please see my sister?”
Travis backs off and pulls Adri with him. Then Emmett is standing in front of me with tears streaming down his cheeks. The pain in his eyes could drown me in their depths and my heart breaks as he steps forward, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I’m sorry.” I croak and my breath hitches with emotion. “I wanted him to come with us but he wouldn’t. He wouldn't move from that spot, Emmett.”
“Shh.” He says and shakes his head softly. “I don’t blame you for that, he made the same decision I would’ve made too. I understand exactly why he did it.”
“No.” I sob and fist his shirt in both of my hands. “I am not worth anyone’s life. Don’t say that to me Emmett.”
He pulls me forward into his arms and closes the limo door. He gives it two quick raps on the roof telling the driver he can leave.
As much as I’ve missed Adri, Travis, and Emmett, there’s one person I’m dying to touch and smell.
“Who owns the limo?” Emmett asks but I don’t answer as I pull away from him and look my soul in the eye.
He hasn’t budged, his arms still crossed and his face a mask over his emotions. He’s been silently watching and waiting for me to come to him. I slowly walk forward and stop in front of him.
He still has a few healing marks on his face and a nice looking scar on his neck from Moore’s knife. Anger renewed pours through me as I look at them.
“There she is.” He whispers as his finger comes out to stroke my cheek. “My rage filled girl.”
His hand wraps around my throat as he drags me into his chest and his mouth devours mine. His taste, a mix so tantalizing nothing will ever compare. My hands immediately run up and under his shirt as his hand tightens making me moan.
“You need a shower, I smell jail on you.” He says against my lips. “Then you’re going to explain how you’re home.”
“Okay.” I nod as he releases his hold on my throat. “I need some updates too, like where the fuck Moore is now.”
He nods and I feel myself slowly rejuvenating. I know they would’ve been keeping tabs on the man that tried to kill my fiancé and succeeded in the death of my brother.
The hunt is back on.
My fingers are like skinny prunes but I can’t make myself leave the warm stream of water. I’ve washed my hair three times and I’ve used a whole bottle of body wash. I’m about to wash my hair again when the shower door opens and crashes against the wall.
Vin is standing there in all his naked glory and my mouth waters as I run my eyes over all his defined ridges.
“You’re taking too long.” He growls.
I don’t know if it’s just me but Vin seems a bit changed, harder and angrier.
“Sorry, it’s all that jail smell.” I shrug and watch him get into the shower with me.
“I can’t wait any longer Em, it’s been over a month since I’ve had you.”
“I know.” I whisper.
He wraps his hand into my hair and turns me to face the tiled wall. My hands shoot out to brace myself before my face meets tile. His hand runs down over my spine and he smooths it over my left ass cheek.
“I’m mad at you.” He says angrily.
“I figured.” I smirk.
“You take too many chances with your life.”
“Yeah.” I shrug. If it means it saves theirs, then so be it.
It’s like he can read my response because his hand cracks down on top of my ass cheek.
I gasp as the sharp pain spreads. “Vin.” My voice holds a warning.
“You ran into the basement like this body is bulletproof.”
Smack.
“You rushed Moore like there weren’t twenty cops there waiting to get a good shot at you.”
Smack. Smack.
“Then you got yourself arrested.”
Smack.
“Hey!” I squirm as the stinging pain on my ass intensifies. “That last one isn’t my fault!”
“Pisses me off nonetheless.” He snarls and then he’s pushing his big cock inside me.
Nothing about this is a sweet homecoming. He’s pissed and he’s making sure I feel it. I do, I fucking feel it.
I’m not prepared for him. Not only has it been a while, I’m not lubed enough for his girth. Vin doesn’t care as he forces himself in deeper.
“This isn’t for you.” He growls. No shit. “You don't deserve it.”
I try to breathe through the stinging but it intensifies and a whimper escapes.
"Hurts?" He yanks my head back.
"Yes." I growl through my teeth.
"Good." That's the only warning I get before he releases my hair, grabs my hips, and slams himself home.
I scream as the pain becomes too much and tears run down my cheeks. He doesn't stop the onslaught, if anything it spurs him on and his thrusts become harder.
I let my head hang and try not to tense through the pain, I know it'll only make it worse. I take no pleasure from this and he knows it. This is the only way Vin could punish me and it's working.
I've missed him so much, a part of me has been dead for nearly a month and I envisioned this differently.
Vin is like a nuclear bomb. He holds all emotions in and in one critical moment, he explodes. He's exploding now and I'm having to endure the damage. I will bear it because I understand that my actions, my ideals have brought him to this moment. It's my fault.
He finishes and withdraws from my body without a sound. Nothing to enjoy, just a punishment I will never forget.
I stand up straight, my core aching and I'm unable to press my thighs together due to the stabbing pain in my center. I rest my forehead against the tile and I'm shocked when tears fall from my eyes.
I'm not crying from the physical pain, I'm crying from my broken heart, Vin's broken heart, and my family's broken heart. I feel the burden of all my choices and how it's affected each of their lives. Would they have been better off without me? Did my coming here set their lives down a path leading to death and despair?
Vin's hand lands on my lower back and I tense as I wait for his wrath.
"Em?" His voice sounds like the Vin I know, like home. "I'm not sorry for this."
Right. I just nod.
"But this was just for your total lack of regard for the thing I hold most precious."
I turn to look at him and a sob catches in my throat. Vin is crying, his face is red from the effort of trying to hold it in and failing.
"I can't live without you." His voice catches and he drops his chin to his chest. "I don't see a life without you. So, I need you to see that, I need you to see we're one now. You die, I die."
I didn't see it this way, it was always their lives above my own, protecting them at all costs, and exchanging my life for theirs if ever need be. But when I turn the tables, put myself in Vin's shoes, I can see how my disregard for my own life is a direct disregard for his as well.
"I'm sorry." I whisper. "I didn't see it before."
"I know, Em." He sniffs.
I shakily reach my hand out and place it over his heart-over the infinity tattoo with our initials. His heart is pounding wildly and his breathing is erratic. His eyes shine with so much love and unshed tears. I have been wrong this whole time, our lives are so intertwined that I don't know where I end and he begins.
"I love you, Vincent Greene."
"I've always been yours, Ember Craven."
"I need an ice pack." I grab my sore vagina and step out of the shower.
"Still not sorry."
"You will be when you can't fuck me for another month." I sneer and wrap up in a towel.
"A month?" He asks aghast.
"Maybe two. The labia is extremely fragile."
"You know what else is going to be fragile?" His eyes narrow. "Your fucking ass."
"Sounds good, Baby." I say and blow him a kiss as I waddle away.
27
I’m still not sure what came over me in the shower. I wanted to make love to her and show her how much she meant to me, but then she acted so blasé about her life. I just snapped, after everything I’d been through and then not having her here with me, I couldn’t take that attitude.
I don’t regret it and
I would do it again if it meant we came to the same conclusion.
“She has bruises on her face and a busted lip.” Emmett mutters as we sit in the family room and wait for her.
“I doubt she was treated well,” I answer him. “She was the one who shot Moore.”
His face reddens and he looks like his insides are boiling. Now, we’re on the same page.
I’m still trying to figure out how to tell her about the package we found in her mailbox from Carm. None of us has opened it but Emmett has confirmed it’s his writing. He must’ve put it in the mailbox himself because there are no stamps or mailing info, just Em’s name. Emberlise Torres.
Carm’s death has impacted us all but Emmett in particular is handling it badly. He was practically raised by the man and for so long, Carm was his only family. It’s also sad that when his brother dies, his only other sibling was locked away in a jail cell.
Emmett spoke about breaking her out every single day and it took all three of us to talk him down… every single day. He was a wreck and he couldn’t hide it. I was a wreck too, Travis and Adri as well, but we held it together. Yes, the strain was evident on all our faces but we knew we would somehow find a way.
I don’t know how she got out, we just spoke to her lawyer this morning and he told us she’d be in there for the unforeseeable future. He was still trying to pull phone records and video surveillance from houses. We just lacked the evidence to get her bail decision overturned.
According to the judge, Em was a flight risk because of the amount of money she possesses. I know most of that was bullshit, the judge was looking to punish her, too. But then she just showed up like nothing happened and everything was back to business.
When Em went on her murder missions, I always took a backseat and let her do her thing, but for Moore? I want to be the one to watch as he struggles for his last breath.
Now I understand why anger possesses Em and she becomes someone outside of her usual self. I feel it. It’s almost debilitating, especially when it has no outlet.
I’ve been angry for most of my life, but that was based on resentment. Yes, it felt all consuming at the time, I felt like I was a monster because I saw everything in a negative light. This is different, I’m filled with rage and most of my days are spent dreaming up different ways to dismember Moore.