Chapter Nine
Abby
We enter the livingroom and four men are standing at the four points around the room. They’re all wearing suits, very nicely tailored suits and my memory is suddenly bringing me back to Club En Fuego and Mr. Mysterious.
I feel a little dizzy, I need to sit down.
“Oh good, how nice of you to join us,” a man speaks. I turn to my right and spot him.
He’s sitting on the couch in the same kind of suit as the other men. He’s an older man, gray hair, and very well kept. His leg is crossed over the other and his hand is resting on his knee.
“Join us, please.” He smiles.
“I’m frozen to the floor and Evan’s grip is so tight on my wrist I think he’s literally about to snap it. I want to scream for him to let go, but again, I’m frozen and I can’t.
“I insist.” He smiles again holding his hand up toward the couch across from him.
I turn to my left to see Evan’s face hard and cold. No expression nothing. My heart beats faster seeing him act like this toward me.
I jerk my wrist and he loosens his grip but doesn’t release it completely. I don’t know what to do.
“Evan?” I whisper in a shaky voice.
He looks away and releases me. I grab my throbbing wrist with my right hand and begin to rub out the sting. I move forward toward the gray couch that this man had gestured for me to sit on. I look back to Evan as I begin to sit, but he isn’t looking at me.
“Ah Abigale, it’s so nice to finally meet you. Evan why would you keep such a beauty away from your family.”
“Ah, ok.” I look around to the men that are hovering.
“Where are my manners? I’m Evan’s father Thomas Carter,” just as he speaks he snaps his fingers at the man standing to my left and he heads toward the kitchen. “Son, come and join us,” he says in a polite voice, but I know different.
“You’re Evan’s fath—?” I turn to look at Evan. He looks pained like someone's ripping his insides out or holding fire to him.
My eyes furrow because I don’t like the thought that something’s wrong.
This man that sits here speaking to me is definitely the conservative type. A brandy glass in one hand and a smug look on his face.
“Evan sit,” Thomas says, but this time the ‘nice’ guy is gone.
Evan meets my gaze as he walks to the couch I’m sitting on. When he finally sits, he grabs my hand in his and squeezes hard. I can tell he’s saying something to me with this gesture, but I don’t know what it is.
“Why don’t you knock off the bullshit and get to the fucking point old man.”
I’m completely taken back by Evan’s sudden demand, although I’m happy because this is the man responsible for Addie’s death. I wonder if he knows I know.
I imagine for a second what it would be like to watch him take his last breath. Maybe I can take that gun Evan had given me and I do as I’m told. Pull the fucking trigger.
“Are you in love with my son, Miss Hayes?”
I’m completely thrown off by this comment. “Huh? I…I… ” I’m shaken from the insane and completely appropriate daydream I’m having. I don’t know what to say to him though.
“She has amnesia, she doesn’t remember me, Thomas.”
“Oh yes, I did hear something about that,” he says as he gulps down the honey colored drink. “Are you well?”
I don’t know what to do. What do I say? Evan must feel my hesitation because he wraps his arms around my waist.
“She’s fine, now get to the fucking point.”
“Evan, you’re my son and I’d appreciate a little respect, after all I’ve come all this way to see you. I did warn you.” Thomas gestures for the man to my left and he takes his glass. “Well…” he pauses to stare me down. I shiver. “I don’t want to take up any more of your time, Abigale.” He rises from his seat approaching me reaching for my hand and Evan growls, literally.
“Abigale, it was such a pleasure to finally meet you and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again very soon.” He kisses my hand and I know that if I just grab onto his neck I could at least get a few good swings in. I know I’m so much smaller than him, but I could at least try.
I cannot believe the man that killed my sister is right in front of me and I’m doing nothing.
Two men follow Evan’s father to the door leaving behind the other two. The door opens and Evan jumps a little in his seat.
His father holds up a card and smiles. “I can get to you anytime I want, Evan. You’ve been warned, you’d be wise to remember that.”
The two men exit the door with his father and I hear Evan cuss under his breath. I breathe, I’m not totally sure I’ve even been breathing this whole time.
“Evan, I’ll see you in the hall before I go.” This is a firm demand.
“Fuck!” I hear Evan hiss as he jumps up from the couch running his hands through his hair.
“Evan?” I whisper in question because I don’t know how to help him, and I desperately need him to tell me what to do.
“Abby, I’m so sorry!” He kneels down to my level on the couch. “I never would’ve let you come here if I’d have known he’d do this shit.”
“What does he want?” Whenever I’ve asked him about his father he’s always said, he doesn’t have anything to do with him. So this whole thing has really surprised me.
Evan doesn’t respond, he simply holds his head in my lap. Grabbing my hand nonchalantly, he slides it in between the cushions while glancing to the two suits standing to the left of us.
Evan moves my hand until cold metal is all that I feel.
A gun. I gasp
“Shhh angel,” he whispers as he stands and leans into my ear. “Pull the fucking trigger.” He leans back dropping the hand that isn’t holding a gun under the cushion.
Shit!
Evan turns to the two men to our left. “If you touch even one cell of oxygen in her bubble, I’ll snap your fucking neck as you watch from that mirror. Do I make myself clear?”
I wish I could see what the two men are doing. I imagine them peeing their pants, but I can’t take my eyes off of this beast in front of me to look their way. He’s the fiercest man I’ve ever seen.
My eyes follow Evan as he walks out the front door. There isn’t anyone that can help him. I don’t even know if he needs help after that raw display of power he’s just shown.
My heart’s racing in my chest and I feel a full blown panic attack coming on. Sweat’s beading on my forehead and my heart’s pounding in my ears, again.
Shit!
“What’s wrong little girl? Are you scared?” the tall one asks.
I’ve turned my head in their direction and he seems to be the only asshole of the two, because the other guy has his hands in his pockets, kicking his feet mindlessly, but not really. Ya know?
I’m frozen in my seat, but imagine myself lifting up this gun that I don’t even know how to use, and shooting them in the balls. Hmm, maybe not the shorter one, but the tall one has to go.
No man should ever make a woman feel like she should be scared! Ever.
I’m not wearing a watch, but if I were I’m sure I’d hear the seconds ticking by. It’s been several minutes since he walked out the door and I’m really nervous with these idiots standing there gawking at me.
I blow out a harsh breath when the tall ‘suit’ walks in my direction and I’m suddenly terrified. Yeah, I was definitely terrified before, but I’m at a whole new level of alarm now.
I want to cry, but I’m a big girl and I’m not going down like that, even though I am shit scared right now.
I close my eyes because that’s all I can do. I’ll go to my dark and lonely world that only exists in my head, where I’m safe.
I begin to picture Evan in my mind and he’s smiling, taking my hand, and it’s happiness that I feel for that one single second.
He begins to speak and my body jerks causing my dark world to disappear, when I see
this man’s sinister and calculating eyes.
“Your boyfriend out there… can’t save you. He can act like a bad ass all he wants, but I could do anything I want to you and there isn’t a damn thing your Evan can do to stop me.” He grunts pulling out a large knife.
I’m paralyzed in my seat, my hands are shaking, and the grip my hand has on the cold metal under the cushion is crippling.
”Stop, this is bullshit, you know he’ll kill us.” The shorter nervous guy announces.
My eyes shift, in short, nervous guy’s direction, only he doesn’t look that nervous anymore. No, now he looks scared to death.
I take a deep relieving breath that my fear isn’t the only fear engulfing this room.
“Shut the fuck up!” knife guy grits through his teeth to his partner, and then looking in my direction he rolls his eyes as he backs away and makes a grunting noise.
What a very nicely dressed pig he is.
“Yea, what’s he gonna do? Shoot me?” He laughs.
“Umm… yea.”
That’s it, I’ve had enough of this!
I’ve survived too much in my life to have some sick sadistic bastard make me feel like my life is in his hands.
My sister, baby, and memory have all been taken from me. I vow from this moment on I will be as strong as possible. I will determine my own fate. I’ll be responsible for my happiness or at this rate my sadness. Not some idiot that has a hard-on for control.
“Hey asshole,” I whisper from the depths of inner sexy girl’s closet of darkness. “Get out of here and if he doesn’t kill you I will.”
Where does this shit come from? Holy hell!
My heart’s pounding and I’m shaking way more intensely now. No doubt I’m scared to death. But, who cares. I can’t live like this anymore. I’ve always been scared. Always worried I’m going to do something wrong. Always worried I’m going to disappoint someone.
“What did you say, bitch?” he sneers at me with his beady dark eyes.
“Um Drake,” the other suit mumbles nervously.
“Bitch, I will kill you right here. You have no idea who you’re fucking with, do you? I could fuck you, kill you, and make you disappear so fast, and there isn’t anything you can do about it, and your boyfriend out there…” he pauses when his partner yells at him.
“Drake!” the other guy hisses
“What the fuck?” Drake snaps.
I can’t feel my fingers or my toes or… hell, I can’t feel anything. I’m frozen in my own body, paralyzed with pure fear. I’ve never been spoken to like this, and yeah, I’m scared to death. This man’s gonna kill me and there isn’t anything I can do about it.
I could shoot him, but I can’t even feel the gun anymore. My hands are ice cold and I’m trembling so much that my teeth are beginning to chatter.
Shit!
I close my eyes tight and pretend that any moment I’ll wake up from this nightmare and be safe and sound. I hear a lullaby that my mom sang to Addie and me when we were little. Addie always slept in my bed. She would have a bad dream and bring Oscar the bunny clinging to him at her side. My mom would hear her from the baby monitor and come in to check on us. Addie would hide her head under the covers to keep the nightmare monsters away. The only thing that ever seemed to help her sleep was the lullaby my mom sung to us.
I’m lost in the tranquil memory when I hear a noise. I quickly open my eyes to see Evan standing behind Drake.
“Have you ever considered the afterlife?” He cocks his head to one side staring down the man that just seconds ago threatened to kill me.
“You can’t touch me, Evan. You can’t fucking touch me.” Drake laughs.
I notice from the corner of my eye that the quiet suit, whatever his name is, backs away putting his hands up in front of him as he does. “This isn’t my fight.”
He’s smart.
“I asked you a question,” Evan grunts to Drake.
“What’s the problem Drake, I’m late?” Thomas enters the apartment again.
“This lunatic is threatening me,” he answers.
I think Thomas must consider him important and maybe that’s why he thinks Evan won’t hurt him. I want to get up and knock the shit out of him myself. I really don’t need Evan to fight my battles.
I don’t want to be weak and pathetic and need a man to rescue me. I’ve had a lot of things happen to me, but isn’t that what makes us strong, eventually?
“What is the problem, Evan?” Thomas asks using a bored tone as he begins to enter the living room.
I think I’ve had it with this crap.
Before I realize what’s going on I stand up from the couch and speak, “This man you left to babysit me has threatened to fuck me, kill me, and get rid of me.” I take a deep breath.
I need to yell, curse, or throw something because the adrenalin is now taking over and I have courage enough for five men. Seriously, not kidding, five men. I feel the fire spark from somewhere deep. Fire that was never there before, maybe it was or maybe it wasn’t but either way, it’s there now and I damn well intend to use it.
I’m a strong independent woman, who’s been through a lot and while life has dealt me a darkness at the edge of a cliff which I’ve almost walked off of many times; I’ve been told I’ve also had happiness. Happiness I would’ve had all along if my sister hadn’t been taken from me.
I grip the gun that I’ve now realized is in my hand. I look down to the dark metal and recall what Evan had said, ‘Flip this, aim, point, and pull the fucking trigger.’
Pull the trigger Abby, this is your chance, this is it. A tear falls from the darkness that my fear frequently hides in, it releases and the light shines brightly. I can do this for Addie, I can make it all right. I can stop the pain, make him pay for what he did to her, to me, and to my family.
I raise the gun looking up and into Evan’s eyes. The bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. I see so many things in his eyes, but it’s not the past that I see, it’s the future. I see my future in those eyes and I have no intentions of letting that be ruined by anyone. Especially these men that are standing in front of me now.
Ever…
Chapter Ten
Evan
Have you ever wondered why humans feel fear or what process the body has for the thoughts that run through our mind when we know that someone we love is about to die or be hurt?
What would you do to save the person that consumes your soul and sets your heart on fire?
A wild animal doesn’t think twice about taking action and ripping its opponent’s throat out when put into a situation of kill or be killed.
I’m standing in front of the most beautiful girl in the world. I see something in her eyes shift. The green becomes dark and uncontrolled by the normal human response to emotion. Her head falls to her right, my eyes follow the trail of darkness I feel emanating from her as I’m pulled by her gravity.
The gun’s in her hand.
Life can come to an end at any moment and in a second with no warning or forgiveness. Life isn’t promised. So again, I ask you, ‘What would you do to save the person that consumes all things that you are?’
I will kill to protect my love, my light, my angel. She’s everything and without her I’m nothing. End of!
I know that the men that are in the room with us have no soul and as soon as they see the gun in her hand they’ll shoot her with no remorse, because they’re here to protect their fearless leader Thomas Carter, and that they will. I know what these people are capable of and I won’t let them take her.
There are two things that I know. One, I need to deal with Drake and two I need to take that gun from Abby before anyone realizes it’s in her hand. My problem though – Drake will see the gun before I can get to Abby.
I have to deal with him first and quickly.
I feel the pull from vibrations centered in Abby’s eyes as she looks up bringing the gun with her and I know that I have no more time.
Everything’s happened
in slow motion since Abby stood from the couch. I hear Drake running his fucking mouth and I know that they haven’t noticed the scene unfolding in front of them.
I gave Abby the gun to protect herself if she had no other option with me being out of the room. But, I’m here now and you can damn well bet I’ll be the one protecting her. I won’t let her play in the fire and burn her soul if I can take that burden from her. End of.
Today I’ll kill, in a second with no remorse or second guesses. I’ll do what needs to be done.
“Evan,” I hear my name, but it’s distorted and I don’t know who’s saying it. ”What the fuck?” I hear the muffled words continue.
Drake is standing to my left as I face Abby and his back is to her. As he turns his body in her direction, I take him from behind. What happens next comes quickly and he has no time to react or save himself from the pain he’s brought onto himself.
I hear the crack of his neck in my hands as they wrap around his head. He didn’t feel anything, it was quick and painless and he had no idea what was happening.
Thomas’ bodyguards are near him at the front entrance so they don’t know what’s going on just yet, and the other douchebag Martin isn’t going to say a fucking word if he knows what’s good for him, and I happen to know that he does.
Drake’s body slides to the floor from my hold and I take three long strides to Abby raising my hands to hers taking possession of the metal.
Tears are streaming down her face and I know that she’s in pain. Pain I can never deliver her from. I will, however, make sure that the pain doesn’t follow her into the future. I want her to feel happiness and know that she deserves it.
“Shhh,” I whisper as I tuck the forty-five in the front lip of my jeans.
I reach up quickly wiping away her tears. “Excuse yourself to the bathroom, now,” I continue with my voice in a monotone whisper.
She runs her tiny hands through her hair and over her face. She pulls a smile from somewhere as she begins to speak, “If you excuse me I need to freshen up.” She turns on her heels.
I watch until she’s turned the corner into the hallway and I know she’s safe and out of harm’s way.
My Demons (The Angel Trilogy #2) Page 7