They both turned and faced the landing when they heard the metal stairs ringing, Henry climbing them.
With the lower level cleared, I headed up the rickety stairs, the Sig still in my hand. Both Erik and this Solly character stared at me.
“Saw you pull in. Nice Triumph,” Solly murmured.
“Thanks. I need to check out this level, too. I will be back in a few.”
“Be my guest,” he sighed, shaking his head.
I glared at him as I walked away. Luckily, the loft area was only a quarter of the size as the first floor. Clueless as to why they wanted to do the molding there and not in the lower level, I rounded back to the center. There was a white sheet hanging on the wall, and a photography light on a stand. Off to the side were a couple chairs and tables set up with buckets filled with different substances. Setting next to one was a drill with a mixer attachment.
I poked around the materials, straightening when Erik and Solly approached.
“You mind pocketing that gun, brother?” Solly asked.
I glared at him for a moment before sliding it back into my pants. “Fair warning… I don’t need a weapon.”
Erik placed his hand on my shoulder. “He’s here to help.”
“You have to understand my paranoia.”
“I do. Let’s get some photographs done. Strip down to your boxers. Solly will be making notes of your scars and such.”
“Great. This could take all day,” I muttered.
Once I stripped, I walked to the sheet where Solly stood, camera in hand.
“Okay. Just relax. Front side first. Stand straight, arms resting at your side,” he directed. The light and the flash of the camera blinded me. “Raise your arms as if you were crucified.” Oh, the irony, I thought, shaking my head, a quiet chuckle slipping out. Solly lowered the camera slightly and narrowed his eyes. “Is there an issue?”
“Nope.”
He grumbled something unintelligible, raised the camera, and took another picture.
Solly instructed me to turn in every direction. When we finished, I asked if he was going to submit the photos to modeling agencies. He glared at me, making me shrug.
He approached me. “Any significant scarring?” His eyes darted around my face, landing on my lip. He zoomed in and snapped a picture of my chin and lips.
I pointed to spots on my shoulder, then my chest. Turning, I showed him a couple scars on my head. My left forearm and my back had a few light scars, but nothing too noticeable.
A dozen photos later, Solly said, “Why don’t you have a seat?” I sat in the chair and watched him start mixing a blue-colored compound. He grabbed a tube of Vaseline and smeared in across my eyebrows, lashes, and around my hairline.
“I’m going to put this alginate on your face first. Then I’ll apply plaster strips. When it cures, I’ll pop the mold off.”
“All righty.” I settled back in the chair.
Leaving a small airway open for each nostril, Solly applied the compound all over my face. It was a weird feeling and I almost felt helpless. However, if need be, I knew I could battle blind.
My mind wrestled over what I was doing for several minutes as I waited for the alginate to cure. A short time later, Solly applied the plaster strips. The additional weight was tolerable, albeit uncomfortable.
It seemed like hours before the mold cured. After slowly prying, my face was free. I shook my head, moving my mouth. Erik handed me a mirror and a damp cloth to clean up.
“Looks good,” Solly murmured, admiring his work. “I think we’re all set.”
“So you will just make a face and apply it to a body?” I asked as I dressed.
“Sort of. We need to find someone extremely close to your body and facial structure for it to be convincible. With the coroner on the team, I have no doubt we will succeed.
As Erik handed Solly the briefcase, they nodded at each other. Erik turned to me. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, watching Solly smile when he opened the case. We jogged down the stairs and out the building.
I mounted my bike, Erik patting me on the shoulder. “Take care. I’ll be in contact.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I started the bike and slipped on my helmet, backing out from behind the building.
When I made it to the street, I was rattled. There was a deep tremor within that felt like a warning, but I ignored it. I had no choice in the matter. This was something I had to do. My ticket to normalcy. I pulled onto the street and rode hard all the way home.
Shaken up from the molding and photography session, I blew through the front door and jogged up the stairs. I opened and closed my bedroom door, not paying any attention. Elaina screamed from my sudden appearance, and she was naked, trying to cover herself with the towel.
“Sorry, love.” I didn’t know if I should look away, but it had been a long time since I had seen her naked. My soldier was lurking right with me.
“I thought you were working out?”
“I did.”
“You’re not sweaty.”
“I showered at the gym.” Lies, lies, and more fucking lies.
“Oh.”
She stared at me for a moment, doe-eyed. Seemingly, she was unsure if she should believe me and drop the towel, or ask me to leave. “I can go if that’s what you would like.”
Our gazes held firm, my cock as hard as a fucking titanium rod. I know she could see because I only had workout pants on. She licked her lips and shook her head. Oh god, help me. That mouth and tongue… I would’ve done anything to get her on her knees. She let the towel go, dropping it to the floor.
“Suffering hell,” I whispered, reaching into my pants to adjust myself before my boxers cut off the circulation.
“I need to go to the store this morning.” She turned to the dresser and took out a bra and pair of panties. They were only cotton panties and her usual breastfeeding bra, but she would look sexy in a paper sack. As she pulled on the panties, Elaina asked, “Will you be okay to watch Nicky? I’d like some time to myself.”
I made my way to the bed and sat. “Of course. Anything you want.” She nervously glanced over her shoulder. “If I’m making you too anxious, I can go.”
After clasping and twisting the bra around her body, Elaina slipped the straps over her shoulders, then went to the closet and pulled out her normal attire…t-shirt and jeans. Quickly, she dressed, then grabbed a pair of lace-up canvas shoes from the closet floor.
“Is there anything you need from the store?” she asked, sitting as far away as she could on the bed. Elaina fidgeted with the shoelaces and slipped them on her feet.
“Um… Maybe some trail mix or almonds. Something I can snack on at work.”
“I’ll see what they have.”
“Thank you.” She stood, grabbed her purse from the dresser, and rushed to the door. I jumped up off the bed and headed right for her before she could turn the knob. “Elaina, wait a sec.” Turning to face me, she stood, arms crossed. “May I kiss you goodbye?”
She swallowed and nodded slightly, pointing to her cheek. Exhaling, I stepped forward and stroked her cheek with the back of my hand. She shivered, but relaxed into my touch. Regardless of my inexcusable behavior, it became quite obvious she missed me.
“’Laina,” I whispered. “I love you so much. I hope you know that.” She nodded. I tipped my head down and brushed my lips across her cheek. “If I could take back all the horrid things I’ve done to you, I would. I would trade my life for you to be happy, to raise our son accordingly. I’ve torn you, but I know your strength will keep you standing as tall as you are right now.”
It was a goodbye of sorts. I was unsure when Erik would be calling. Would he heal me? Maybe. Would Elaina be okay when I left? I had no fucking idea. But I was determined to make her know I loved her with every fiber of my being.
Elaina peeled away from me and left the room. I stepped into the hall and watched her walk down the stairs.
“Is she lea
ving?”
I turned around. My mum was standing in her doorway, Nicky on her hip. “Yeah. She’s going to the store.”
“I have some cleaning to do. Will you be okay with him?”
“Of course.” I reached out and lifted Nicky from her arms. “Hi, monkey.” He smiled at me, drool dangling from his lips. “What do you say we go read a book?” I kissed his forehead, thanked my mother for taking care of him, and headed down the stairs.
Chapter 48
It was early Sunday evening, a few weeks after Erik had met with Luke and Solly. Xander had been tailing a subject, waiting for the right moment. He stood in line at the grocery store with a pack of gum in hand, snapping a few pictures with his phone of the subject he had been following. Xander made sure it looked like he was just screwing around on his phone.
Xander immediately texted the pictures to Erik. The caption read, ’Uncanny.’ The guy was remarkably similar to Luke. The only true difference was his eye color.
Erik texted back.
My word. Strikingly similar. Well done. When will you…take care of matters?
Let’s just say the frozen pizza he’s buying won’t be eaten.
I’ll call Solly.
Xander smiled and tucked his phone in his pocket. The murmur of the subject’s voice drew in his attention. After he cashed out, Xander put the gum back and followed right behind.
They walked at the same pace down the sidewalk. The subject turned at the corner, heading toward a row of new townhouses. Because of the lighting, a flash of worry hit Xander, but he still felt he could get the job done. After all, from all his stalking sessions, he knew the neighborhood was empty. The subject was the only resident.
Reaching inside the left side of his coat, Xander pulled a Sig out of his holster. Since he was the fixer for Luke and Gunther when they arrived in the States, he knew the exact weaponry with which they started out. He dug into his pocket for the silencer, mounted it on, and quickened his pace.
The subject glanced over his shoulder when he heard the unmatched footsteps. “What do you want?”
“You,” Xander said with a sick smirk.
The subject noted the gun in his hand and took off running, dropping the plastic bag containing the pizza. Luckily, for Xander, he tripped over his own two feet as he ran behind one of the townhouses. Xander stalked straight to him and dragged him to his feet, slapping his hand over his mouth.
“Shh… Be quiet,” Xander murmured.
He pushed him into the woods lining the side of the property, which separated the houses from the next set. Pressing him against a tree, Xander pushed the gun up under his jaw.
“Really quick… I owe you an explanation. You’ve done nothing wrong. Unfortunately, you look just like someone for whom I need a body double. I hope that comforts you when you face the pearly gates.” The subject’s eyes grew large and he tried to scream. “Would you like to pray? I’m a good Catholic boy. The priest’s favorite…or so he told me. I was in the choir and have been told I have a voice of angel. Want me to sing you a song?” The man continued to struggle. “Okay, fine. Say goodbye.”
The subject shook his head just as Xander squeezed the trigger, blowing out almost the entire left side of his face. Xander hissed and pulled out a hanky, allowing the man to fall into a seated position at the base of the tree.
“Sonofa… I didn’t say you could bleed on me. Now I have to burn everything. This was my favorite jacket, asshole.” He wiped the blood from his face and hands.
After popping the silencer off, he tucked the Sig back into the holster, then grabbed his phone from his jacket pocket to dial Erik’s number.
“Hullo, Xander. Any news for me?”
“I need a lift. I’m in the woods behind the townhouses on Victory Street.” Then he chuckled. “Victory Street…”
“Very well. I’m right around the corner at the coffee shop…Zom-Beans. How tacky is that?”
“Whatever. Just get here ASAP.”
Xander ended the call, leaving him to wait only five minutes before the car turned on to the street. He walked out to the driveway and flagged Erik down, who backed the car up to the house.
Jumping out of the driver’s seat, Erik popped the trunk and grabbed a sheet, then followed Xander into the woods. They rolled the subject up and carried him to the car.
Placing the subject in the trunk and shutting the lid, Erik dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out another one of his envelopes. “Fifty.”
“Solly ready for this?”
“Yes. Now you need to finish up with the coroner.” He pulled out another envelop. “There’s fifty in this one, as well. Do see that he receives his full share.” The warning in his voice was unmistakable.
While Erik was a scrawny, rat-faced bastard, Xander knew he was a dangerous man and would stop at nothing to achieve whatever he wanted. There would be no fucking around. Xander would deliver the cash.
“Of course, boss. What kind of shady dealings do you think I’m involved with?”
Erik smirked and patted the trunk lid, excited his plan was coming together. “Need me to drop you anywhere?”
“Yeah. Take me back to my apartment. Gimme a sec, though.” Xander jogged down the street.
“Where are you going?”
“Grabbing my dinner.” Erik shook his head when Xander picked the bag up off the side of the street. When he made it back to the car, Erik glared at him. “What? I haven’t eaten dinner yet. This is a perfectly good frozen pizza. My daddy always said, ‘Waste not, want not.’”
“Just get in the car, you twat!” Erik yelled as he sat in the driver’s seat. “Bloody hell. Like I need someone to complicate things.”
“Nothing complicated about frozen pizza.”
“Honestly…,” Erik grumbled and pulled away.
When they made it to the corner, Xander asked, “Would you mind stopping at the store first? I could use a twelve-pack.” He glanced down at himself and wiped at the blood and bits of flesh on his jacket, smirking. “But you’ll have to go in since I kind of look like I murdered someone.”
“Really?”
Xander reached into his pocket and grabbed one of the envelopes. Unsealing it, he pulled out a one hundred dollar bill. “I’ll even let you keep the change,” he said, waving it in front of Erik.
Erik let out a sigh and snatched the bill from Xander’s hand.
Chapter 49
I hadn’t heard a peep from Erik. It left me wondering if he trashed the plan, but he would’ve let me know.
There were so many times I wanted to phone him and call off the whole ordeal, but I knew I had to do go through with it. If I could get well, I could be whole for my family. We needed that.
I made sure to play up the depression, OCD, and my demons as if I were continuing to go backward. However, it wasn’t much of an act because it really was the case. My anger was still a lit fuse. I had to walk out of the house many times so I wouldn’t put a fist through a wall or hurt someone.
Elaina and I still hadn’t made love. We had kissed and cuddled a bit, but I couldn’t blame her for the disconnection.
To be honest, I was shocked she even allowed me to stay. I was definitely a fucking lucky bloke. She had every right to run far away from me, but it seemed as if she had drawn in closer than before. It felt odd, like she was hovering, wanting to baby me, treating me as if I were fragile.
She did so much more for me than she ever had before. Preparing my meals, making sure I had everything I needed, waiting to eat dinner until I came home from work… The attention to detail was confusing and I didn’t understand her kindness.
I allowed it to play out how she wanted. The last thing I wanted to do was upset her because of what her future held. Without a doubt, she would never be the same.
I went to my attorney and had a will made, also setting up a trust fund for Nicky. The bulk of my cash would go to Elaina, a smaller amount to my mum. I knew they would do what was best with it.
Also written in was that Elaina would take over as part owner of the gym at forty-nine percent versus my fifty percent, giving that one percent to Gunther. It would be up to him to make all the decisions. She would mostly be a silent partner, but would help when he needed it. I had high hopes, but I wasn’t counting on it.
The day finally came when Erik called mid-morning as I was finishing payroll in my office. What a way to start a Monday.
As my phone rang, I stared at it, feeling my heart thunder in my ears. I wiped my sweaty palms on my gym shorts and let it go to voicemail, deciding whether or not to answer.
He phoned again seconds later and I relented. “Daniels,” I said in a near whisper, a croak in my voice.
“We’re on for tomorrow afternoon at one.”
“Okay.” I swallowed hard. It was too soon. I felt like I hadn’t been able to spend enough time with my family.
“We’ll drop the body off later tonight and text you. When you set the scene, use one of your Sigs.”
“Wait-”
“Don’t worry. I just want you to fire the weapon so there’s a gunshot, then leave the gun with the body.”
“They’ll figure out he didn’t use the same gun. Plus, a random bullet-”
“No worries, mate. I’ve got it covered. Remember, I have an entire team for this.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Have you been a good lad and been acting?”
“Yeah. We’re good there.”
“You ready to be free?”
“Yes…and no.”
“Well, like I said, my team will do the best we can to ensure you make it through this process.”
“I’m holding you to that, Erik. And I am holding you to our deal about going to my wife if something does happen.”
“Absolutely. I’m here to help, not hinder.”
“Okay.” I let out a long sigh. “Fuck,” I said softly, feeling my chest tighten with every passing second.
“It’s going to work. I have confidence in the process.”
Blind Faith (Shattered Lives, Book Four) Page 42