by Reana Malori
Staring at him as if seeing him for the first time, she took a sip of her coffee. “You seem to have some firsthand experience. Care to share?”
“Not really,” he said, leaning back against the chair. Going down that road was not something he wanted to do in the middle of a restaurant. “So, are you coming over for dinner tonight?”
“Do you want me to?” she asked.
“I always want you,” he said with a smile.
“J-J-Jaidon…you say things I don’t expect.” Her words stumbled out.
“I’m only telling the truth.” Deciding what to say at that very moment, he continued, “But now, I have a question for you.”
“Okay. Hopefully, I have an answer.”
“We’ve only been back together for little over a week. And that’s after a twelve-year separation.”
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. It seems as if you’ve always been with me,” she interrupted.
He gave her a small smile. “But just as you’ve changed and gone through things, so have I.”
Glancing at his face, she gave him a sassy look. “Yeah, don’t I know it.”
Reaching across the table to grab her hand, he continued, “We all have secrets. Things that we’ve done, or happened in our past. That darkness that you’re so concerned with. We all have it. Some, more than others.”
“Jaidon, what does that mean? What are you trying to say?” she questioned.
“It’s important that you not blame yourself for what happened. You had a decision to make and that set things in motion that you never expected. What you do with it from there is up to you. You chose to continue to fight the good fight. Putting away the bad guys is what you do best. Each of us has our own way of dealing with the world around us.” He continued to gaze into her eyes as she took in his words.
“I know, but…”
“No buts. Trust me, babe. This world is darker than you know. Evilness is all around us. The world we live in doesn’t follow the fairy tales we grew up on. Sometimes the ugliness needs to survive and thrive right next to the good. If we know what our purpose in life is, that’s what should count most.”
Jaidon knew he was telling her more about him and how he lived his life than she realized. Even as they sat here eating lunch, he could feel the need grow in him. The face of the man from the courtroom was taking prominence in his mind. Something had to be done about him. And Jaidon was just the man to do it.
“Now, eat your lunch, sweetness. I need to get you back to work.”
And I need to get to work taking care of our little problem, he thought to himself.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A few days later, Jaidon stood in the shadows as he watched the man step out of his car and walk up to the front door of the home.
His next sacrifice. John Christopher.
He’d taken a few days to research everything he could about the guy who’d made his woman so determined to put him in jail. Jaidon’s connections, based on his role as a cyber-security specialist, gave him access and intel with all levels of the criminal element. What he’d found about John Christopher was enough to make him question why in the hell the man was still on the streets.
There was no way he should be walking free and endangering the lives of others. He was a danger to society and needed to be put down like the dog he was.
Patience was something Jaidon had become skilled at over the years. Tonight was the night and there was nothing that would stop him from taking this man’s life. Rubbing his fingers along the skin of his left hand, he knew this was why his scars were returning. Rather than a timing issue, the gift was changing. Opportunity was now his driver. He knew that now.
If someone needed to be sacrificed, it was no longer because he dictated it, but because their evilness required it. The scars were his phoenix rising from the ashes and he’d quickly understood that his world had changed again.
Focusing on the house in front of him, he waited another hour or so before he shifted positions. The shadows had hidden him as he waited for his prey to settle in. If the opportunity came tonight, he would take it. Even if he had to wait all night.
Turns out, fate was on his side. The lights went out in the house around one in the morning. Unfolding his body, he stood tall and began to make his way to his destination. He’d already figured out the alarm and access points. It was like taking candy from a baby.
A few moments later, he stood over the guy as he lay on the couch in the living room. The light from the television reflected on the piece of shit in front of him and his lip curled in disgust. The sting of the change came over him. Jaidon could feel the skin pucker on his face. The rippling of flesh on his arms and the side of his body was almost a welcome relief.
He’d been right. The gift was changing. No longer was it about his own vanity. It was so much more than that. The righteousness of what he was doing had become crystal-clear.
John Christopher had to die for the world to be put right again.
Jaidon was the instrument of that death.
“Wake up,” he said, in a voice loud enough to break through the man’s sleep-filled mind. When he only grumbled, Jaidon kicked the couch with enough force to jar him awake.
“What the fuck?” the guy yelled out as he went to grab the gun off the table. Too bad Jaidon had already removed it and placed it in his waistband. He wasn’t stupid.
“Today is the day of your reckoning,” he growled. The transformation was complete. He was again that freak show, the monster that snuck in during the dead of night. But this time, his motivation was pure. His love of Kenya. The need to make sure she was safe and sound. This guy was a threat to her, and her ability to do good. The threat had to be eliminated.
Shaking his head as the man scrambled off the couch and began to run toward the door, Jaidon gave a low laugh as he caught him in two steps, throwing him against the wall. “Idiot. Don’t you know, there’s no escape. Your reign of terror is over.”
“Fuck you!” he managed to yell, spittle flying across the room.
Jaidon walked over to him, the black gloves and clothing he wore made it clear that he was here for one reason only. He was a fucking bird of prey and his talons were ready to rip at the skin of his victim.
“I’ll fucking kill you. You won’t get away with this, you fucking freak,” the scared man yelled, just as the smell of urine filled the room.
Going down on his haunches in front of the terrified man, Jaidon gave him a look of derision. “Well, I was going to give you an easy death. But now you’ve gone and insulted me. That wasn’t very nice, John. I don’t like when people try to hurt my feelings. Now I must make you suffer,” he said with a snarl as he grabbed the man by the neck and lifted him from the ground.
A gargled sound came from the man’s mouth. It sounded as if he were pleading. Too bad the families who were hurt and the people killed because of this slime weren’t given mercy.
“Before this night is over, you will die. That’s a guarantee. Now, let’s go have some fun.”
*****
Kenya walked into Jaidon’s apartment the next morning.
She’d called him last night, but he hadn’t answered any of her calls or text messages. They’d arranged to meet today since she was heading out for a dinner with some colleagues last night. At the time, he hadn’t seemed upset about not seeing her, but ignoring her wasn’t like him at all.
“Jaidon,” she called out. Taking off her shoes and placing her bag on the foyer table, she had a funny feeling in her stomach. His place was eerily quiet, not even the hum of the television or the radio. But she smelled the leftover remnants of his fireplace, as if he’d burned something, but then turned it off. That was odd.
He knew she would be here this morning. Maybe he’d gone out for breakfast or something. But why not text her?
Walking back toward the bedroom, she finally heard a sound as she approached the bathroom. The shower. Glancing down at her watch, she noted that
it was just after ten in the morning. Still a little concerned as to why he hadn’t contacted her, she retraced her steps and went back to the living room and turned on the television to wait for him to come out.
“Hey, baby. When did you get here?” His voice interrupted the show about people rebuilding fixer-upper homes.
Looking over at him, she couldn’t help but lick her lips at the vision standing in front of her. How one man could be so absolutely perfect, she’d never understand. If she hadn’t known him when he was a kid, she’d never believe it was the same person. “A few minutes ago. You were still in the shower when I came in.”
Walking over to her, he flashed her a sexy grin. “You should have joined me.” He sat down on the couch next to her, the smell of his soap comforted her.
Rubbing one hand down his T-shirt-covered chest, she smiled at him. Leaning over, she snuggled on his chest. Being close to him was what she needed this morning. Especially after the news she’d gotten.
“I got some news this morning and I’m not sure how I want to deal with it,” she ventured.
“What kind of news?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Remember that guy from court the other day? John Christopher?”
She felt him stiffen before he answered, “Um, yeah. The guy that got bail.”
“Yeah, that’s the one. Well, he was killed. They found him this morning.”
“Oh yeah?” he murmured.
“Yeah, the cops got an anonymous tip. They went to his house and found him. Apparently, he must have pissed off the wrong person,” she said in a flat voice.
“Hmmmm…” he said with a noncommittal grunt. “This is the same guy who got that family beaten and had been accused of multiple other crimes, right?”
“Yeah, that’s the same one,” she said as she tilted her head up to look at Jaidon.
“Well, that’s one less bad guy on the streets, right? Do they know who killed him?”
“They don’t know who did it, but they have a good idea,” she shrugged. “But the general thought is that he did or said something that pissed off his cronies. No one’s going to be looking too hard for his killer.”
“Yeah, I imagine they wouldn’t,” he said, pulling her in closer and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
“But…something seems off.” Pulling her body away from his, she sat up and turned to look at him.
“What do you mean, off?” he asked.
“I don’t know, actually. What confuses me is how anyone could get the drop on this guy. He’d gotten away with so much over the years because he was so good. Whomever got to him was better.”
“Sweetness, there’s always someone out there who’s better,” he countered.
She knew that was true, but… “That means, someone out there is more vicious than John Christopher was. What if this is just the beginning?” she questioned, worrying her bottom lip.
“Do you really think that’s the case?”
“I don’t know. But that’s not my real issue,” she admitted.
Sitting up as well, he rested his arms on his legs as he looked over at her. “So, what’s bothering you?”
Standing up, she took a few steps away from him. Crossing her arms over her stomach, she looked as if she were in pain, “Because I’m glad someone got to him. I’m glad he’s gone. They should have killed him sooner. I’m not sorry, either. I know you think I’m a good person, but I’m not. I wanted him dead. He didn’t deserve to live and if I could thank the person who ended his miserable life, I would.”
There, she said it. Looking over at Jaidon, she waited for the condemnation. The horror that was sure to come over his face at her words. If he told her to leave and never return because she was such a fucked-up person, she would understand. What she got instead shocked her.
He laughed.
“Wait…Why are you laughing?” she asked. Damn, this was confusing. “Jaidon?”
Jaidon leaned back and laughed harder, which caused her to smile and chuckle. Okay, so maybe her grandstand announcement wasn’t so grand after all. Thinking on the words she used, she’d been overly dramatic.
After a few seconds, he looked over at her. “That’s what you’re so upset about? That you’re glad he’s dead?”
“Well, yeah. Doesn’t that make me just as bad as he was?”
He began chuckling again and she got upset. “Jaidon, this is not funny!”
“I know, baby, and I’m sorry for laughing.” Lifting from the couch, he walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. “But he was a very bad guy. You said so yourself. If his bad actions got him killed, that’s karma. You don’t have to feel any way that you don’t want to feel.”
Peeking up at him for a moment, she wrapped her arms around him as she lay her head on his chest. “I told you I was different now.”
“Yeah, I recall telling you that I didn’t care. Nothing you tell me would make me change how I feel about you. Now that I have you back in my life, I’m not letting you go again.”
Hearing him say the words released the tension that had her coiled tight. Being able to share her deepest thoughts with him, even when they were dark, was something she’d never had before. “I love you, Jaidon.”
“And I love you right back, baby, warts and all,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. “Now, you’re here. It’s early and we have the entire weekend all to ourselves. What are we going to do about that?” he asked with a wag of his eyebrows.
Laughing out loud at his antics, she breathed a sigh of relief. Jaidon had always been her one, the person who made it all better. “I need a shower. Want to join me?”
“You like taking showers over here. I wonder why?” he asked, knowing full well exactly why. They always seemed to get a little naughtier when a shower was involved.
“Because I like to get a little dirty before we get clean,” she said in a low voice. Turning toward the back rooms, she grabbed his hand and began making her way to his bedroom.
“Well, then lead the way.”
*****
“Fuck me, Jaidon!” she screamed.
“Take this dick, baby. It’s all yours,” he growled as he drove his cock deeper inside Kenya’s body. He couldn’t get enough of her. Would never get enough.
“Yes, Jaidon. It feels so good,” she wailed as he continued pounding inside of her. Her sugar walls pulled and sucked at him so good. Nothing had ever felt so fucking amazing.
This woman made him weak and strong at the same time. He was upset she would be afraid he would reject her earlier. He needed to show her that it was okay to feel the way she did. That there was no shame in wanting evil to be eradicated.
Did he question if he was being a hypocrite? Sure. But at the end of the day, he didn’t ask for this gift. It was bestowed upon him from the day he was born.
There was a reason why his life had taken him along the path it did. Why Peggy and Dennis Swanson had accepted him into their home and their family. Why he’d met a pretty young girl that day in the school hallway. And ultimately, why providing death to the guilty was the way in which he’d found his way to acceptance.
“I’ll never let you go,” he whispered as he continued to love the woman in his arms.
A few minutes later, they exited the shower. Picking her up, he carried her to his bed, their bodies still dripping with water.
“Don’t you want to dry off?” she asked. “We’re going to get your bed all wet.”
“Oh honey, that’s been my plan all along. Now lay down and show me your honey pot,” he demanded.
“Make me,” she purred.
“Hell, yeah. Now you’re talking,” he said in response as he gripped her legs with his strong hands. Spreading her wide, he lowered his mouth to her slit and settled in for a tasty morning treat.
A few hours later, they lay together in his bed. His hand traced lazy patterns on her naked skin and she shivered in his arms.
“You okay, sweetness?”
/> He heard her sigh deeply, “Yeah, I’m okay. Just…”
“Just don’t. Stop questioning yourself. There’s nothing wrong with what you’re feeling,” he responded.
“Why do you accept me so easily? I mean, you probably don’t hear many people saying they’re okay with people being killed,” she said as she glanced up at him.
Now’s the time, Jaidon. Say something! His brain and heart were pressing him to say the words. To tell her more of his story. Share with her what was going on with him.
“Kenya, life has been different for me since I left town.”
“I know. You live a life I never would have expected. You travel all over the world. Your life is totally different than either of us would have expected,” she admitted.
“My scars… My face,” he began.
“Don’t matter to me. I’ve told you that,” she said in a firm tone.
“And I believe you,” he paused, rethinking how he would continue. “Do you know, when you’re happy, you glow with the colors of the rainbow. But when you’re angry, your light turns dark, shot through with sparks of lightning?”
“What? Jaidon, what are you talking about?” she asked hesitantly.
“You’ve actually only ever lied to me twice. Once when we were in high school and you told me that you didn’t want to go to our junior prom. The second time was right before you left for college. You told me you were excited about going and that you’d chosen that specific college because they gave you a scholarship. Both of those were lies. I knew it as soon as you opened your mouth and said the words,” he said in a flat tone.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
“How did you know that?” she asked, sitting up and looking into his eyes.
“Because when you lie to me, your rainbow turns to absolute mud.”
“My rainbow…” she said slowly.