Killer

by Heather C. Leigh

  “What did you do with her, you sick fuck?”

  His eyes bulge and his face turns a dark shade of red. Wheezing, he answers. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  I clamp down harder, now able to feel the rapid beat of his pulse through his jugular as well as the flexible cartilage of his windpipe.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Max. Tell me where Britt is or I’ll crush your goddamn throat with my bare hands.”

  Max fights hard, but tires quickly with no air pulling into his lungs. He pushes at my face and I catch a sweet, chemical odor on his fingers. That smell makes me snap. I let go of his neck and before he can recover from the lack of oxygen, I land a punch to his solar plexus, preventing him from taking in a deep breath. When he collapses to the ground, his skin taking on a white pallor, I kick him in the ribs, feeling immense satisfaction at the cracking sound that accompanies my shoe landing on his side.

  Killer raises his violent head, begging to unleash on this bastard. I allow one more punch to his face, the crunch of his nose and accompanying scream making the monster in me very, very happy. As much as I desperately want to continue hurting Max, making him suffer, causing him pain beyond anything he could imagine, I stop. It takes more willpower than I’ve summoned in my life to not beat Max to death. The only thing that stops it is the need to get to Britt.

  Max is on the ground, nearly unconscious. I roll him over roughly, not giving a shit about the bits of broken glass digging into his flesh. Once I have his wallet out of his pants, I read his address and throw his shit on the ground next to his bloody face. I’m far from perfect, so I bend over and grab a hunk of hair, yanking his head back.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t fucking kill you, but you better listen good. If I don’t find Britt or if she’s in any way harmed, I promise, I will finish you.”

  I let go, his head hitting the ground with a thump. I’m in my car, phone in hand, calling the police to direct them to pick up Max’s carcass in the parking garage while speeding toward Britt.

  I take the stairs three at a time, sprinting down the hall to number three fifty-five. I don’t give a shit anymore if I get arrested and can’t fight professionally. All I care about is Britt. Holding her, protecting her, loving her.

  Without bothering to knock, I raise one leg and begin to kick down the door. It’s such a piece of shit it gives after three hard blows, the frame splintering to pieces.

  “Britt! Britt! Baby, are you here?” I hurry past the broken doorframe. Close to losing it I mutter to myself. “She better be alive you piece of shit motherfucker!”

  I check a tiny kitchen and empty living room without finding a thing. The bathroom is next, also empty, which only leaves one door. When I grip the knob, it turns but doesn’t open. I glance down. The lock is on the outside? Son of a bitch. It’s a padlock. This door is even flimsier than the other and it splits with one kick.

  Patting the wall, I find the switch and flip it, illuminating the dark room. Every scorching bit of adrenaline and rage still boiling in my veins frosts over into pure, unadulterated fear. I hurry to the side of the bed in the center of the room, my feet heavier than blocks of lead. Britt is here all right. Her hands and feet are tied together and she’s in the middle of something I hoped I’d never have to witness again—a violent, bed-shaking, limb-twitching seizure.

  “Oh my god!” I dial nine-one-one, spit out the address, and climb up on the bed, pulling Britt’s head onto my lap. Once again, I’m struck completely and absolutely helpless. “Britt, please come back to me,” I whisper, stroking her cheeks as her small body thrashes on the mattress, her eyes rolled back in her head. I wrap my arms around as much of her as I can, trying to keep Britt from injuring herself. “Come on, baby. You’re strong.” More damn tears fall from my eyes, but I hardly notice. My only concern is the woman in my arms. The woman I know I can’t live without. “You’re stronger than anyone I know, baby. Way stronger than me. Please, Britt. I need you.” My sobs grow louder, the sounds ripping from my chest almost inhuman. “I love you! Don’t leave me.”

  Commotion outside catches my attention. Two large paramedics enter the room, bags slung on their shoulders. They begin talking in abbreviations and terms I don’t understand, pulling out various syringes and jabbing Britt’s pale skin.

  “Sir, please let her go. We need to get her to the hospital immediately.” I nod woodenly, watching as they load Britt up, looking so tiny on the gurney, and roll her out. It feels like they took my heart with them, placing it on top of Britt on the stretcher. Fitting, since she holds my heart in her hands.

  “Are you coming?” one of them shouts at me.

  I snap out of my daze and hurry to follow. “Yes.”

  As I climb into the back of the ambulance, Britt is still convulsing, her frail body twitching in the moonlight. It’s complete chaos as the medics continue shooting drugs into her system through an IV in her arm. One of the paramedics keeps giving me strange looks. That’s when I realize I’m still shirtless from punching out the car window and probably have streaks of Max’s blood on my hands.

  Like I give a fuck right now.

  I know I’d never leave Britt’s side, but a small part of me wants to go back to the parking garage. Take pleasure in hammering Max’s face with my fists over and over until it becomes unrecognizable. I know if I did, I’d literally kill him, and I can’t take the chance. All I can hope is the police got to him before he was able to get up. Britt needs me right now, and if I go to jail, I can’t be there for her.

  I need to be there for Britt. Hell, I need her to be there for me. Like I said, Britt literally owns my heart. I’m not strong enough to lose someone else I love.

  Britt

  My throat is as dry as the cracked brown earth stretching across Death Valley. I swallow, attempting to create some sort of moisture, but all I manage to do is stick my tongue to the roof of my mouth.

  Confused, I glance around the bright hospital room and find my mother asleep on one of the recliners.

  Why do I keep waking up in hospitals?

  Then I remember.

  Keller. The invitation. The memories that came back. Max. The cloth.

  Was any of it real?

  I hold my arms out and see raw red and purple rings circling my wrists. Oh god. It really happened. All of it. My eyes burn, but I’m too dehydrated to create any tears.

  “Mom,” I croak. She doesn’t move. Straining my parched throat, I try louder. “Mom!”

  My mother’s eyes open slowly, blinking back sleep. When she realizes I’m awake, she jolts upright and rushes to my side, taking my hand.

  “Britton? Thank god!” Her lip trembles and her eyes shine with moisture. “They weren’t sure of the extent of the damage from…” She pauses. “It’s not important. Let me get the doctor.”

  Before she can leave, I grab her hand. “Mom?”

  She tilts her head in curiosity. I can tell she’s itching to get out of here and fetch the doctor. “Britton?”

  “Keller? Where is he?”

  “Who, darling?” My mother’s guilty eyes dart to the side and I know she’s aware of exactly who I’m talking about.

  “Keller. Fighter. Tattoos. Big.” I lick my dry lips in another attempt to wet my mouth. “Where is he?”

  My mother grabs a large container with a straw and puts it between my lips. “Drink, darling. They said the medications would dehydrate you. They’ll hang another bag of fluids to help.”

  I suck in gulp after gulp of cool water, letting it soothe my ragged throat. “Thanks,” I say when I’m done. “Now. Where. Is. Keller?”

  “Let me get the doctor, darling. She needs to know you’re awake.”

  “Mother!” I shout, my voice more clear now that I’ve had some water. I know my mother’s weak spot, and I’m not afraid to use it against her. She will not manipulate me like she did ten years ago. “Tell me where he is right now or I’ll inform the hospital staff to keep you out of my room.”

  Her eye
s go wide. “You wouldn’t.”

  Mine narrow. “Try me.”

  With a huff, Rose Shelton-Reeves flicks her hand through her shoulder-length, blonde hair, tossing it back. “If you must know, that… man, is in the waiting room. He’s been quite rude and very disruptive.” She grimaces.

  “Send him in.”

  “Britton, darling, you can’t—”

  “It’s your choice, Mother. Send him in, or I’ll call the nurse, have you removed, and then they will fetch him for me. I’m over eighteen years old and not a child. I decide who visits, not you.”

  My mother gasps, probably remembering how she kept all of my friends from visiting me in the hospital after “the incident.” Either out of a misplaced sense of protecting me or because she wanted all of the sympathy for herself, I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter, because I’m not allowing her to run roughshod over me again.

  “Fine,” she says, her lips pressed in a tight line. “I’ll get your friend and the doctor.”

  “Great,” I respond, lying back and closing my eyes. I have so many questions for Keller, I don’t know where to begin.

  There’s no time to gather my thoughts because Keller barges into the room, his expression one of exhaustion combined with aggravation, probably from my mother keeping him at arm’s length.

  “Britt! Oh thank god.” He rushes to my side and collapses to his knees, throwing his arms around my waist and laying his head in my lap. “I didn’t know if you’d wake up. Jesus, I’ve never been so scared.”

  My hands find their way to his head, threading through his messy dark hair. “I’m okay,” I say, a lump in my throat forming.

  Keller’s entire body shakes and I realize he’s having some strong emotions of his own. This beautiful man lifts his head, our eyes meeting. I suppress a shiver, remembering the silver eyes of the girl as she died in my arms. Keller opens his mouth to speak.

  “Miss Reeves!” the doctor interrupts, gliding into the room, electronic tablet in hand, skimming through what I assume is my chart. “Good to see you awake.” She gives me a kind smile and nods at Keller as he climbs to his feet. The doctor turns to Keller. “I see you finally got to see her.”

  “I did. Thank you, Doctor.” Keller takes my hand and stays at my side. I notice he’s wearing a blue scrub shirt with his shorts.

  “Well, I’m very sorry I couldn’t let you in. Next of kin has final say.”

  “What?” I nearly shout. Two heads turn in my direction and four eyes widen at my outburst. “Are you saying my mother wouldn’t let you see me at all? How long have I been here?”

  “Only twelve hours,” the doctor responds. “But you were missing for almost sixty.”

  Oh god. Sixty hours with Max. My stomach heaves at the thought.

  “Britt,” Keller whispers, noticing my distress. “We’ll talk later.”

  I nod, swallowing back the nausea. The doctor steps up and does her exam, flashing a light in my eyes, checking printouts, flipping through screens on the tablet.

  “What do you remember, Miss Reeves?”

  “Ummmmm.” I glance at Keller for help. He merely uses his chin to say go on and tell her. “I was going to my car.” I leave out the part where I remembered everything about “the incident” and how I freaked out in Keller’s condo and was mid-panic attack when I reached the parking garage. “Then I woke tied up.” My breath hitches as I think about Max and the horrible time I spent with him. “How did I get here?”

  “Mr. Bishop found you in the middle of a cluster of grand mal seizures. It’s my opinion that the chloroform used to sedate you plus the lack of your seizure meds are what caused the episode. Thankfully, Mr. Bishop called the paramedics, who administered medication. You haven’t had any more seizures and we’re monitoring you while we fine-tune your blood levels.”

  “You found me?” I ask, squeezing Keller’s hand.

  “Later,” he says, squeezing back.

  The doctor finishes her notes, informs me that the police will be by later to take my statement in regards to the kidnapping, and breezes out of the room.

  “Did… did they catch him? Max, I mean?” My heart hammers so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if Keller could hear it.

  His face darkens, his eyes turning lethal. “Yes. I found him by your car in my parking garage.”

  “He-he was getting the keys to my apartment.” Keller’s brows furrow. “To get my medications for me. I had to tell him about, you know…” My face heats up. I needed my meds.”

  “Fuck. He’s lucky I didn’t do more damage to his pathetic ass…” Keller closes his eyes, struggling to remain calm. “Let’s just say it’s better all around that the police have him in custody.”

  “I don’t want to talk about Max.”

  “Me either.” Keller sits on the edge of the bed, using one hand to brush my hair back, tucking it behind my ear. “Before you say whatever it is you’re dying to say, I need to tell you something.”

  I tense up, wondering if Keller is about to volunteer information about the invitation. Then his eyes go soft and his hand gently caresses my cheek.

  “Britt, I-I figured out some stuff while you were… gone.” He hisses the word gone as if it were laced with poison. “Bear with me, I’ve never done this before.” For a brief second, Keller looks uncomfortable, but it doesn’t last. His expression returns to soft and kind… and something else on his handsome face I don’t recognize. “I realized I love you, Britt. I never thought I’d find love. I definitely don’t deserve love, let alone from someone as sweet as you. But I can’t help it. I love you.”

  My mouth falls open in shock. Keller loves me? This time, when the tears well up in my eyes, there’s enough moisture for them to fall.

  “I love you too, Keller. Sometimes I’m strong, but when I’m not, you make the darkness go away. You make me feel safe.” I glance down at my lap. “It sounds stupid.”

  “No,” he says, putting a finger under my chin to lift my face back to his. Keller leans forward and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “It’s not stupid. Nothing about you is stupid.”

  “Keller…” I take a deep breath, knowing I might be about to ruin everything, destroy the budding love we have for each other. But I have to know about the invitation and Keller deserves to know about me. No more secrets. “I freaked out when I saw your invitation.”

  I hear his sharp inhale and his face goes a little pale. “Yes.”

  “I have one too. I-I was there, Keller. At the school. I was the only one who…” My voice cracks and the tears flow faster. I sniff and grab a tissue from the bedside table to wipe my nose.

  “I know,” Keller says.

  “What?” My head jerks up.

  “I know you’re the survivor. The one they never named.”

  “How? How long have you known?”

  Keller trails his fingers down my cheek, swiping away tears with his thumb. “I kind of suspected it after you freaked out, but I didn’t know for sure until…” He tapers off.

  “I went to your parents’ house when I couldn’t find you. I spoke with your father.”

  “Where is my dad?”

  “He went to get food for your mother.”

  I snort and roll my eyes. “My mother doesn’t want him here because it takes attention away from her.” Keller lurches back at my scathing words. “Oh, please. Tell me you didn’t notice that everything is about Rose Shelton-Reeves, even when her daughter is unconscious in a hospital bed it’s about how much sympathy she can get from the nurses, the staff, whoever happens to be around.”

  Keller’s cheeks turn red and he looks away. “Yeah, I noticed. I wanted to tell her off, but I knew if I did, I’d never get in to see you.”

  “She’d never have let you in no matter what you did, Keller. That’s just how she is.” I reach up and this time, I pull Keller’s chin until he’s looking at me.

  “Now,” I say. “I need to tell you what happened in your condo.”

  He nods, so I begi
n.

  Keller

  I don’t know if I should have stopped her and mentioned my sister died in the shooting, but once Britt begins telling her story, I don’t want to interrupt and blurt a bunch of shit out. So I remain silent.

  “I was shot in the head, behind my left ear. I got lucky. It wasn’t a direct hit. It… it went through…” Her voice cracks. “another person before hitting me so the bullet was slowed down enough that the bullet didn’t go in deep.” She stops and shudders. “I didn’t remember anything from that day. None of it. Or any of the days leading up to the shooting. The doctors said the memories might come back eventually, but I was glad I couldn’t remember. I didn’t want to remember. Who would?”

  Britt shudders and all I want to do is pull her into my lap and tell her everything will be okay. But I can’t. I don’t know if it will be okay or how she feels. Besides, she needs to say this out loud. She needs me to hold her and listen.

  “After they took out the bullet, I had to relearn how to do a lot of stuff. They said I could do it physically, but I couldn’t remember how. I had to learn to walk again. That was the hardest part.” My heart breaks for Britt, for the struggle she went through to regain her independence and make a life for herself after going through so much physical trauma. “I’m deaf in this ear.” Britt taps the left side of her head.

  “I’m so sorry, Britt.”

  She scowls. “I don’t want pity, Keller. That’s why I don’t tell anyone. My life isn’t about being a victim or a survivor. I just want to put it all behind me and be Britt. I’m not broken.”

  “I can understand that, and you’re not broken, Britt. It might have broken a weaker person, but not you. Never you. I’m in awe of your strength.” I understand where she’s coming from. I would give anything to put my past behind me. I’ve created an entire other persona to pretend the past doesn’t exist.

  “But not remembering didn’t mean I wasn’t traumatized. I have random panic attacks, bad ones.” I remember how she hid under Gabriel’s desk when the door banged against the wall. How shaky she was after being in the crowd backstage at the fight. “I never feel safe at home.” Her big blue eyes meet mine. “That’s why I work at a gym filled with strong, muscled men. The fighters, you, make me feel safe. Protected. Anyone who comes through the door to hurt me would never get to me.”