Carnal Desire

by K. T Fisher

  I notice he's left the tool box open on the floor, the hammer and nails discarded beside it. I hope Cassie has some pliers in here. I'll need something like that to get these fucking nails out. I spot them inside the box and reach over to start taking the nails out of her hands.

  He's hammered these bastard nails in tight. I get a grip of the head of the nail and pull harder. It comes out of the wall suddenly, and at the same time there's an almost inaudible wheeze at the side of me. I step back, startled. I look around expecting the fucker to jump out at me from the shadows but there's nothing there. Then I realize what it must have been and kick myself for not checking when I walked in. There was so much blood, and she was so still.

  Carefully, I place my hand on the side of Cassie's neck. Shit. Fuck! There's a pulse there. It's so faint it's almost nonexistent. With a roar I yank out the rest of the nails quickly, supporting her body so it doesn't fall from the wall when I release the last nail.

  I carefully take hold of her, cradling her in my arms and moving her to the bed. "I've got you Cassie, you're safe now sweetheart. I'll get help, you just hold on." I'm sobbing as I say the words to her. Why the fuck didn't I check sooner? I've wasted so much time.

  Cassie tries to talk, but it's barely a whisper. As her mouth moves it causes small bubbles of blood to escape. I move my ear next to her mouth, trying to catch the words.

  "He's going ... Severed... kill Eve." It takes her ages to get the words out and I can barely hear her. She's so fucking weak. I reach for my phone to call the ambulance, but with that last wheeze I've lost her. Fuck. If I'd called for help sooner she might have made it. Why the fuck didn't I check?

  I close her eyes, saying a quiet prayer, asking the angels to keep her safe. I'm not a religious man. You can't see the shit I do and believe, but she was a good person. I hope for her sake there is a better place out there for her.

  I lay the discarded comforter over her; the guys will be here later to clean the scene. I'm not waiting for them. Picking up my phone to warn Prez that Satan's on his way for Eve I leave the house, shutting the door behind me. I'm not staying here. I've got work to do. I'm going to track that fucker down if it's the last thing I do. I want to be the one who gets to put a fucking bullet through his fucking head. I think there may be a queue of people wanting to do it, but I sure as hell plan on being there when it happens.

  I fire up the bike and turn in the direction of Severed, the guilt that I let her down, that I wasn't quick enough lying heavy in my gut. I break speed limits on the way back, my anger boiling over. I've got a fucking death warrant to serve.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Elle

  Considering the fact that I didn't think I had a lot of stuff, I've spent nearly all day packing boxes. Shit, I have way too many clothes, half of them I'd forgotten I had as they've been packed away in boxes under the bed. Many of them still have the store labels on them. They're my guilty pleasure when I'm away travelling and writing. I love to wander round little boutiques and treat myself to gorgeous outfits. Thing is I never wear them. When I travel I tend to wear more sensible, comfortable clothes like jeans and t-shirts. When I'm at home here in Australia I live in shorts and vests.

  I finger the soft silk of the blouse I'm packing into the charity bag. It's beautiful, but it's not something that will fit with my new life. I told Ink I wasn't giving up my job¸ but it's not suitable for work or the clubhouse. It's more suited to someone working a nine to five job in an office. That never was going to be me. I read something once that said women only ever wear a third of the stuff in their wardrobe. That's probably right. I have hangers full of clothes that are 'too good' to wear every day, and yet I never make the effort to go anywhere to wear them.

  I'll leave some clothes here. I'm actually keeping the place. It's not that I don't think the future will work out with Ink, but I'm a cautious girl after all. I need somewhere to run back to if it does fail, and if it doesn't, it can be our escape. It's only an hour away from the clubhouse so he can get back if he needs to, but it's far enough away that he won't think about casually dropping in if we're supposed to be having some alone time.

  I reach for the brown tape to seal the box of items from my dressing table that I'm taking with me. I don't know where Ink is going to find room for my stuff. His room seems pretty full of his shit as it is, but he assured me that he'll make this work.

  I look at the pile of boxes already by the bedroom door and am grateful he's sending a prospect over with the truck. There's too much here to fit in my little car. I'll call the charity tomorrow to come get the bags of stuff I'm leaving outside for them.

  I open my underwear drawer to pack it up, fingering the sensible knickers I used to wear with distaste. I bin them. I'll go to the mall tomorrow and treat myself to some more lace for Ink, he'll love that. I get hot just thinking about the look he gets in his eyes when he sees me in the sexy lingerie I wear when he's around. I'm hoping he didn't throw away the stuff I bought in England that I left behind when I walked out.

  I wouldn't say it's making me sentimental packing my things up, but it’s bringing back memories. The next drawer down contains my scrapbook. It's a history of the writing that I've had published, or the one's I'm proud of anyway. I'm a writer. When times were hard I had to take on jobs I wouldn't have done otherwise. I've written crap just to make a living. I'm lucky that now I get to pick and choose who I write for, I get to choose which articles I want to do. One day my dream is to write a book, but for now that's a distant dream. Maybe by living with Ink at the clubhouse, that dream will happen sooner rather than later. It's not like I won't be surrounded with inspiration around those guys, that's for sure.

  I sit down on the bed and look around the room. What's sad is that all of these memories of mine are recent. I've kept nothing from my time in care. They weren't memories I wanted. I'm proud of how my life has turned out. I've worked hard to have nice things; I have a house I like, clothes I love. But still, I've never called it a home. I'm hoping that I'll find that with Ink. Growing up all I ever wanted was to be loved, have a home and family. I'd given up on that dream, but now Ink's given me hope it might happen. I smile, hugging my scrapbook closer to my chest.

  I'm about to go grab a coffee when I hear a truck pull up outside. That's odd. I was sure the prospect was going to arrive in the morning. I reach for my phone and see a missed call from Ink, I must have had it on silent and not realized. I can be ditzy like that at times. Putting the phone down I head for the door to greet the prospect, Ink was obviously ringing to tell me he was coming early. I’m excited. I've only got a few things left to pack, so I can surprise Ink and be back there tonight with him. I can't wait to see the look on his face.

  ***

  Ink

  Shit.

  Elle's not answering her fucking phone. I need her back here now. I've just heard from Cowboy and it's scaring the shit out of me. Satan's killed Disney's little sister and he's coming after Eve.

  I reassure myself that Elle isn't even on the sick fucker’s radar, but I'll still be happier when she's back here at the clubhouse with me. She'll kick up a stink when I ask her to stay put. She hates me being all macho and shit on her, but she'll understand it's for her own safety.

  I'm still trying to get my head around what else has happened today. Everything was great this morning. I went off to work after a hot morning session with Elle, happy that she'd agreed to move in with me and see where this thing between us is going. And then I get back to the clubhouse to find all hell's let loose.

  I can't believe Disney would be a rat. Surely I'd have known, the club would have known? The guy didn't have a sneaky bone in his body, and looking back over the past few weeks, I can't think of anything that would have pointed to him either. He was quieter than normal sure, but he often had times like that. He was either in your face happy all the time or he'd go quiet for a few weeks then come bouncing back.

  I grab my keys, shouting to the guys in the bar that I
'll be back in a couple of hours. I'm going to go get Elle and bring her back here, I haven't got time for her to check her messages, and if she does, I'll pass her on the road anyway.

  ***

  Eve

  Angel is in Prez's office. They're trying to work out what to do next. He's told me some of what's happened today but I'm sure he's holding back. The mood around here is so somber I'm hiding out in our room with Elizabeth. Even she's picked up that something's not right. Everyone's been very tight lipped around her, but she's commented that everyone seems sad today. She wanted to draw them a picture to cheer them up but fell asleep over her crayons.

  I move over to her cot and check on her, she's fast asleep still, sucking her thumb. She's got her cuddly koala tightly gripped in her other arm. It's rarely left her side since Angel gave her it back in England.

  I hear a text message come through on my phone and smile when I see it's from Elle. The smile soon leaves my face when I read it and see the picture attached.

  Elle is slumped on the floor, chained to a wall, a gag covering her mouth. Her eyes are wide, tears shine on her cheeks. I read the message below the picture.

  You have a choice to make. Turn yourself over to me or I deliver what's going to be left of Elle to the clubhouse gates. I know she's your friend. I've been watching you and her for days. You've got one hour to get here or I start to cut her up into tiny pieces. Tick Tock

  My legs give way, and I fall into a sitting position on the bed. There's an address for the warehouse he's asking me to go to.

  I look at my sleeping baby girl, trying to decide what to do. This shit isn't ever going to end; at least, not until he has me. He's proven he's invincible time and again. How many more people are going to have to die because of me? If I don't go then it could be Elizabeth or Angel next. I can't live with that.

  I can't believe I'm even considering this. How can I give up a chance of happiness with Angel and Elizabeth? The selfish part of me is shouting at me to stay. But Elle is my friend. I can't sit back and let her die, especially not in my place.

  Oh, shit. What do I do? I can't even talk it through with anyone. There's not one person here who would let me go. Not even Ink. I suspect he loves Elle, but even he wouldn't let me swap places with her right now. No, this is a decision that only I can make. I look up the location on my phone and see it will take me nearly an hour to get there. I don't have time to think about this. I have to decide now, one way or the other.

  I kiss my sleeping child on her forehead. "I love you all the way to the moon and back and lots, lots more baby girl." I hold back a sob. "Tell Daddy I love him."

  I take one last look at my daughter before striding from the room, wondering how in hell I'm going to get out of this place unseen. I know she’ll be well loved and looked after here.

  I set about trying to find a way out. It's locked down like a fucking fortress today. There has to be a way. If I don't get there soon, Elle will be dead.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Eve

  I fall lucky when I sneak outside the clubhouse via the kitchen door. It’s laundry day and the van is loading up. Sue is chatting to the delivery driver so I take the opportunity to sneak inside the rear of the van and hide between the oversized laundry bags. The smell inside the van is a mixture of sweaty socks and the delicate perfume of freshly laundered sheets. Sadly, the heat inside the van seems to be letting the sweaty socks win.

  I wait until the doors are shut and the van is moving before I pick up my phone, opening the photo app. I scroll through until I find the photo of me, Gabe and Elizabeth laughing in the play area at the clubhouse. We look like a happy family and that’s how I want to remember them.

  A tear falls down my face as I stare at the image in front of me. Whatever lies ahead for me is going to be tough, it’s going to hurt and the sad brutal truth is that I won't be coming back. I'm not stupid; I know what I'm walking into. At least my baby girl has Gabe now. I try to stamp the image in my brain. This is the last thing I want to see before my life ends. I need this memory to stay with me and get me through the ordeal that’s coming. I take a last look at the picture, kissing the screen before I shut it.

  “I’m sorry.” I whisper. “I’ll love you both forever.”

  I scare the crap out of the driver when I bang on the partition between us, when I think we’re a safe enough distance away from the club. My mind is losing it already because I think to myself, it could have been worse, he could have been driving a hearse. I snicker to myself.

  The driver apologizes profusely for not realizing he’d shut me in. I reassure him it was my fault; I’d been too slow and needed to add something to one of the laundry bags. Thankfully he believes me. He drops me off on the next corner after I refuse his offer of a lift back to the clubhouse. I tell him I’ll be fine. There’s still enough daylight left for me to enjoy a stroll back there. I wave goodbye, and as the van turns the corner out of sight, I pull up the maps app on my phone.

  The warehouse is around forty minutes away by car; luckily we’re already on the outskirts of Severed town so I head to where I know the taxi office is located. I check my pocket, ensuring I haven’t lost the cash I stashed there earlier. The crinkle of the notes reassures me.

  Getting into the cab I give the driver the address and sit back. I open my phone once again, taking a long last look at the family I’m leaving behind.

  ***

  Ink

  My hackles rise as I approach Elle’s house. Everything is still, too still. Even the birds in the trees are silent. It's fucking freaking me out.

  Her car is parked out front, the bonnet warm from the sun, but not from recently being driven. There’s no sound from the house which is unusual for Elle. She hates silence. She’s always playing music in the background and tunelessly singing along, but I can’t hear anything right now. It's deadly silent and I don't like it.

  I move towards the front door, my gun ready in my hand. There’s no answer to my knock, so I ease the front door open, moving in quietly and stealthily. The table in the hallway is knocked over, lying on its side. My gun rises in reaction to the sight of some sort of struggle. I move on silent feet as I search the house room by room but there’s no sign of Elle. I go back through the house a second time, looking for clues. Her purse is still here, along with her wallet and car keys; another sign there's something not right. Elle always has her purse with her. There’s no sign of her here and oddly enough no sign of her phone.

  An icy chill goes through me. There has to be a simple explanation for her absence, but right now I can’t think of one. I take out my phone and dial Angel.

  ***

  Gabe

  Can today get any worse?

  I’ve just had Ink on the phone. Elle’s missing. The way her stuff has been left at the house and the fallen table lead us both to believe it’s Satan’s work. I breathe a shaky sigh of relief that it’s not Eve. I’ve got her locked down here and for a good fucking reason. It’s the only way I can keep her safe. None of us ever thought Elle would be at risk, she’s a stranger as far as Satan is concerned. But then, none of us thought Disney would be the rat either.

  I head to my room to go give Eve the news and to ask her if she’s heard from Elle today, hoping that there’s some simple explanation for her disappearance. Ink’s already heading back here in case she knows anything.

  Quietly stepping into the room because I know Elizabeth will be asleep I look around for Eve. She's not here. I take a quick look in the bathroom, but come up empty. Elizabeth innocently snores away in her cot. She can't be far; it’s not like her to leave her daughter alone, even if she’s asleep. She must have popped out for a few minutes. She could be out in the bar or in the back yard so I go in search of her.

  By the time I reach the back of the clubhouse I’m getting scared. None of the members I’ve asked have seen her since she went to put Elizabeth down for her nap. Teresa is over in the corner, laughing with Justice. When she sees the loo
k on my face she stops mid laugh, standing quickly, on high alert.

  “What’s wrong, Angel?”

  “Nothing Tess, just trying to find that woman of mine.” I laugh but it even sounds false to me. “She must be playing hide and seek with me and just forgot to tell me.”

  Teresa frowns, trying to recall when she last saw Eve. “I don’t think I’ve seen her for a few hours. Its Elizabeth’s nap time isn’t it? I thought she was in your room.”

  Both Teresa and Justice offer to help me search for Eve, but I assure them I’ve looked everywhere.

  “Where’s her phone?” Justice asks. I look at him, puzzled by the question.

  “Why?”

  “We were comparing apps the other day and I showed her one I have on my phone to help find it if I lose it. I’m sure she said she was going to download it.” He pauses. “If she did then we can use it to find her. I just need her phone number.”