“Thanks.” With the last word being his Darrien walked out and leapt into action.
He drove his car and parked it at the fourth cabin. The place seemed abandoned; he could almost feel the cobwebs that most likely inhabited most the cabins in this area. No wonder that sick fuck Kody picked this place. Even though Darrien wanted to go straight for the cabin he did a little check, the front door opened to a small dining area on the left along with the kitchenette, the right offered the living room space. Straight ahead was the hallway that leads to the bedroom and bathroom. He studied the map of the cabin until he was satisfied it was forever in his memory.
He started walking towards cabin number six, before Darrien started on the steps he looked around the area for a security camera, trip wire, anything that would be a danger to Gwen or himself. When he saw the area didn’t have any booby-traps he tested each step to the cabin door before he committed his weight to it. Kody did not need any advance notice he was there. Darrien listened carefully and he could hear Gwen’s muffled cries. She was screaming. He tested the door handle, it was locked, and he grabbed the key and began to silently work on the tumblers holding the door in place.
Kody had snapped awake from his reverie. Gwen was his, she was here, and she needed to be punished again. He removed a dagger from the one bag in the room that was his. He toyed with the edge first, testing it against his own hand. The copper scent of blood filled the air. Kody’s chest seemed to ease with the scent. “Don’t worry my love, we have time to cleanse you of your sins.”
Gwen’s eyes widened when she saw the blood, and the dagger coming towards her, she tried to scream and pull against the restraints. The effort was futile; Kody had tied her down and guaranteed she would not be going anywhere. Kody enjoyed her palpable fear. She knew what she did she knew it was wrong. This thought satisfied him immensely. He licked the dagger clean of his own blood and traced the tip over her bare stomach.
“Gwen you need to be cleaned.” After he spoke her voice fell and she began to plead with him.
“Now, now my love, hush,” he spoke softly but the dagger continued on a figure-eight track on her smooth stomach, “you knew that you had to pay, you broke the rules.”
His voice was oddly distant, he stopped the dagger on her hip and he started to dig it into her skin. His reward was her pain. The red liquid started to spill from her slowly, her white teeth stood out against the muted color in the room; even in pain she was exquisite. He was in awe. The blood trickled and started to pool against the mattress, Kody watched. Soon it was time for more pain, he dug the dagger deeper and twisted.
“The dagger that hurts the most is the one twisted slowly. You did the same thing to me Gwen.” Kody spoke low as he followed through on his threat.
Gwen’s body attempted to close in on her. He withdrew the dagger from her side and sliced near her wrists. Kody wanted to remind her of his rules. She should not be moving. He stuck the other side of her stomach, the gush of air that left her with his sudden stab made him want more blood, more carnage. He had to be careful with this woman this was his woman. She could be hurt but he could not let her die.
She screamed again, Kody relished the sound, he licked his lips and leaned down, his face was in Gwen’s he hesitated for a second watching her beautiful features twisted in agony did make this better for him, but the agony was necessary so she would know she did wrong. He pressed his lips to hers. She wasn’t responding she was still. Kody pulled back, Gwen’s stare was blank, like she wasn’t there. Kody brought his hand back and slapped her again. She sputtered this time blood came from her lip. He wanted to taste her, Kody leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, she wriggled trying to get away from him but he bit her hard, she stopped and cried out. The sound vibrated his lips and made him want her more. Kody was about to kiss her again and finish taking everything he wanted from her when he heard a creak from the direction of the door. He dismissed it, until he heard something fumbling with the door lock. He put the gag back into Gwen’s mouth and left to investigate
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The handle made noise as Darrien jiggled it. Darrien tried to quiet it by lifting on the door before he opened it. His eyes zeroed in on the bed across from him and his heart shattered when he saw Gwen. Her face was stained with tears and blood. Darrien was too focused on what was in front of him he rushed to her side. He pulled at the gag in her mouth; it was wrapped around her head. He growled audibly. Gwen was shaking her head violently left to right trying to get his attention. Darrien broke the clasp on the gag and pulled it away from her mouth. His hand moved quickly to the bind at her left wrist, he flipped out his Swiss army knife and cut through the bind before she could even speak. Her voice was hoarse.
“Darrien look out!” She screamed a split second too late.
Kody had come from his hiding spot in the closet beside the door; the knife in his hand was stained from Gwen’s blood. He was livid; the tall blonde man from the hotel, the one with the cocky swag was trying to steal his female. The man started by undoing Gwen’s beautiful mouth. The gag was something special he had purchased just for her, the careless bastard just threw it from her mouth like it was trash. Darrien, as Gwen called him took out a knife in a flurry of movements he cut the binding on her wrist. Kody had to strike fast or else this bastard was going to desecrate his woman again. Kody’s arm jabbed the knife deep into Darrien’s side and twisted it. The most satisfying cry of anguish came from Darrien’s mouth as he crumbled to the ground beside the bed.
“She is MINE.” Kody growled and kicked Darrien’s body.
“OH GOD DARRIEN! NO” Gwen screamed.
The scent of blood blossomed in the room as it spilled from the downed male. He sat on the edge of the bed and traces his knife along Gwen’s nude form once more, he dragged it down the center of her chest digging it slightly, blood of her own and Darrien’s smeared on her milky flesh. She sobbed, and begged for Kody to stop. The sound of her begging him was music to his ears.
“Say you’re sorry.”
“Please dear God I’m sorry.” Her voice was much too loud.
“Again.”
“Kody I’m sorry.” She begged again.
“Where were we before this fuck interrupted us? Oh yes, you need to be cleansed of your sins my darling Gwen.”
“Stop please.” Her tears were fat and falling down her cheek.
“No you need to truly be sorry.”
“I am please Kody.” Her voice was getting weaker; the shower curtain she was wrapped in was covered in her blood.
“It will be over soon, a pound of flesh to repay your sins my darling, then we can be together forever.” Kody sounded as if he was in the thralls of a trance.
Gwen’s face contorted in anticipation of the pain she knew was coming. Kody started to dig the knife deeper. Her scream was blood curdling. She thrashed against the remaining restraint Kody caught her free hand before she could use it against him, Darrien had cut the restraint closest to him so Kody dug his fingers into Gwen’s wrist forcing her to submit, she couldn’t move her arm. He could feel her dainty bones beneath his fingers. He could snap her, this power he had within him over her got him off. He hard he knew her life, her limbs, heart were all in his hands, quite literally. She whimpered when he tightened his grip even more so to continue his cleansing of his woman.
Darrien was floating; he was brought back down to Earth by Gwen’s screaming. He was fighting with his mind. Her pain was his. She was being tortured. His eyes refused to open at first. He tested his limbs, they wouldn’t respond. Another scream, this time accompanied by the coppery smell of blood, he couldn’t tell it was his or hers. He remembered getting stabbed. Darrien kept his breathing even and deep, he tried to force his eyes open yet again, success. His vision was blurry; Darrien closed his eyes hard and opened them again. His switch knife was still in his hand. Kody hadn’t kicked it away; it was a stroke of luck. He gripped the handle on it, Kody was too enthralled torturing Gwen
to notice any small movements, Darrien was slowly testing his limbs to make sure they worked, his side was burning he ignored it and pushed through. Every instinct said to stay down, but fuck instincts Gwen was in trouble and it was his fault she was in this situation.
Kody was hovering above Gwen’s body, Darrien forced himself up in a fluid motion and launched himself at Kody’s body, punching his meaty fist into the side of Kody’s face as he tackled the unsuspecting male to the ground, the force at which Darrien knocked into Kody had the large knife falling from his hand, Darrien didn’t have time to react to grab the knife, he hoped it didn’t stick Gwen again. She was losing enough blood she didn’t need another cut because of his hasty action. He landed in a pile on top of Kody on the other side of the bed.
They were a flurry of motions, arms and legs flailing attempting to knock the other one off balance. The loudest sound was their breathing followed by cries from Gwen. Darrien was a split second quicker than Kody, his years of working for the witness protection program on protection detail was on his side. He gained his wits and straddled around Kody’s midsection and began to pummel him. Kody knocked Darrien in the jaw sending him to the side; Kody wormed his way from under Darrien, Darrien’s hand reached for the knife that spun from his hand after the powerful clock to the jaw. Kody scrambled to get the knife on the side of the bed that was lying next to Gwen. He used the bed to stand, he moved over Darrien. Darrien pretended to be more hurt than he actually was, opossum. Kody thought he had won. His sick sadistic smile crossed his face. Kody reached down and held Darrien’s head still by his hair; the knife was tracing Darrien’s cheekbone.
“You touched what is mine, you die now.”
“Go to hell.” Darrien said.
“You first.” Kody said and he started to dig the knife in.
The fight or flight reflex took over, Darrien brought his leg up hard, rocking his body up he kicked Kody hard and sent him into the wall, his knife stuck into his arm. Kody turned back towards Darrien and licked his blood off of the knife. Darrien flipped up again and connected with Kody’s face yet again. He flipped the knife out and quickly buried it into Kody’s side. The knife plunged deep into the kidneys and Kody froze, blood bubbled from Kody’s purpled lips. Kody fought against Darrien to take a step towards Gwen’s crying body spread-eagled on the bed. Darrien pulled the knife out and plunged it into him again his arm pumped in and pulled out over and over his movements were frenzied he had to protect Gwen.
Darrien couldn’t stop himself. He was lost in a haze of fury. He saw red. There was blood spattering on the walls whenever he pulled the short blade out of Kody’s body. Darrien finally regained his composure his body was fading fast. He collapsed onto the bed; he felt his blood leak from his side. Kody had dealt him a blow that might prove deadly. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“Agent Darrien Davis I found Gwen Bjorkman, and Kody McQueen, suspect is dead. I am wounded and so is Gwen, send a bus to the,” Darrien started to black out, darkness was closing in on him he recited the name and most of the address of the cabin, “hurry, federal agent down.”
The person’s response wasn’t important; Darrien dropped his phone and unclasped Gwen’s hands. She was still frozen in fear. Her eyes as wide as a doe caught in headlights. There had been so much death around her and Darrien just joined the ranks of killers she knew. She must find him so repugnant at this time. He tried to slow his breathing, he held onto the vision of her face; he needed to look at her to make him pull through.
Gwen sat up despite her injuries. Darrien had just killed Kody in front of her and the only thing she felt was relief. She didn’t need to have more nightmares, she didn’t need to worry he was coming for her whenever she felt any happiness. She was free of him. She felt no remorse that a human life had been taken in the line of her protection. Her hands worked on the bindings around her ankles, she felt woozy. She had been frozen in fear while watching Kody and Darrien fight. She couldn’t move even if she possessed the strength. She doubted her dubious balance at the moment but she forced herself to move to the edge of the bed, she moved one bloodstained limb at a time. She tried to recall her first aid training not only for herself but also for Darrien. His eyes were open but they were glassy like he wasn’t truly awake.
“Shit, Darrien.” Her voice was several octaves too high.
He was lying on the bed holding his side but blood was leaking fast between the gaps in his fingers. “Don’t worry Gwen.”
His voice was too far-gone. It didn’t sound right for him.
“Darrien…” Gwen couldn’t complete the sentence, her voice hitched.
She left the bed using the wall and whatever stationary object she could to push herself along, she felt the warmth trickle down her body; she needed to make it to the bathroom. She crashed through the door; she slid on the tile, her own blood covering her feet slipped on the smooth white tile beneath them. She grabbed for the white towels and the robe. Gwen had heard Darrien call for the medics and they would be here soon. She slipped the robe on and took the towels back out; she got to Darrien’s side. His blood soaked the quilt beneath him. She touched his face to wake him and he was icy cold compared to his normal temperature. Gwen cursed and panic flooded her system pushing any pain left in her body away, she had to do something.
Gwen started pushing on Darrien’s wide chest; one, two, three, four, five compressions then she took a deep breath, tilted his head back, plugged his nose, and blew air into his lungs. His chest rose as she forced the air in but no other body response. She tried again; one, two, three, four, five, more air. Again, this time she checked for a pulse, she checked for any sign of life. Her head rested against Darrien’s chest. She kissed his heart and continued CPR.
She started pushing harder and harder until a hand settled on her shoulder. Gwen managed to hear a faint thrum of his heartbeat before she was pulled away. She finally noticed the metallic taste of copper on her lips. Gwen slumped back against the wall; she wasn’t connecting what was going on. There was movement around her. Three paramedics in pristine white collared shirts with black pants quickly took command over the scene of the crime. Her entire body was shaking. The female paramedic stooped down to Gwen’s vision.
“Miss, miss are you okay?” She asked.
Gwen didn’t answer she couldn’t speak.
“Miss I fear you are going into shock, you have wounds I am going to treat them.” She prompted again for an answer from Gwen.
The woman pulled on the robe lightly, her movements were slow and deliberate in case Gwen began to panic. The knife wounds were bleeding ruby red against the white of the cheap robe she found. Gwen’s fingers had a death grip on the tie of the robe, when the paramedic touched her hands Gwen pulled away her startled eyes pegged the paramedic.
“Ma’am are you alright? It’s okay I’m here to help.” The paramedic repeated herself.
“Go help him.” Gwen aimed a weak push against the other female’s shoulder; she was still fighting to stay upright.
“My partners are helping him. I am here to take care of you.”
“NO,” Gwen managed to scream, “go help him I need you to help him.”
The paramedic looked over at her partners who were working to get Darrien up, only seconds had passed. She looked back at Gwen and offered her hand, attempting to smooth things over with an olive branch.
“Miss please, we need to get you and him to a hospital.”
Gwen nodded; the shakes had taken over completely. Again she couldn’t speak. Her eyes were trained on Darrien’s massive body. The other two paramedics lifted him onto the gurney and Gwen’s eyes followed. She fought to stand up, the pain rushed back to her body. She fought through it and kept walking towards the ambulance waiting outside. Her knuckles where white from the grip she still had on the robe. She slipped in after they loaded Darrien. She tried to stay out of the way by his head, she tried to rub his head the way they had the night before. The two male paramedics cl
imbed into the back and slammed the doors, Gwen jumped at the sound. One male held up his hands slowly to make Gwen calm down.
The medical jargon started flying around. One male was working on getting an IV started before the ambulance started on it’s way towards the hospital. Gwen was still stroking Darrien’s head when they started working more and more frantically. His blood loss was staggering. He was barely surviving. The radio was scratchy but they seemed to know what the operator on the other side was saying.
“White male, approximately mid thirties, multiple knife wounds to the abdomen, possible internal bleeding, cuts, and faint heartbeat, a civilian was doing CPR when we arrived on scene.”
Another gargle came from the other side somewhat loudly, the male that was operating the radio responded with what sounded like a very weak pulse. Gwen leaned down and kissed Darrien’s cold clammy head. She was starting to close her eyes, allowing herself to black out after all the adrenaline that she lost through the day when she heard the words that made her heart sink to the pit of her stomach.
“Fuck he’s coding!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
She had succumbed to the darkness. Hearing that Darrien had coded was too much for her system to take. Gwen’s hearing came back on first she heard mechanical noises. She flexed her fingers and soreness screamed from her muscles to the point her entire body jerked which caused more pain. Her eyes sprang open and she saw she was in a hospital room, panic immediately set in. Gwen tried to breathe deep but the pain was too intense and her hand came up to her side to hold herself together. She looked at the machines she was attached to, a heart monitor chimed that her heart rate was climbing so she took off the finger clamp and reached to turn off the machine before a crash team came in. She shifted on the bed and uncovered her legs, she saw the damage Kody inflicted and she looked away but she kept trying to move.
The Deadliest Secret (The Deadliest Series) Page 30