The buttons made a God awful sound from being pressed as I typed in my code at the ATM. There was enough money in there to get me lunch in celebration of being out there in the world again.
Hitting the balance button, my mouth fell open. $1,000,000 stared back at me as shock hit me from every angle. One million freaking dollars. What the hell? I entered in my information again thinking it had to be wrong. I’d never had a million dollars in my life, let alone never would. It had to be a mistake.
Entering the information again, it came up the same. I darted into the bank and talked to the first woman I saw at the help desk, who made me sit in a waiting area for one of the loan officers to come and talk to me.
My knee bounced rapidly. If it were true, it had to be from Onyx, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Part of me thought it was thoughtful of him to give me a leg up, but the other part felt like it was a nail in the coffin of our time together, like he was paying me for my time.
That thought made me sick to my stomach. I guessed I had a little bit of hope that Onyx would show up for me. That he would do like he did before and carry me out of my sister’s house. It was sick how much I wanted that to become a reality again. If his name was on the deposit, that’s what it would be though—really goodbye.
Closing my eyes, I began to pray, pleading with the man upstairs that the money wasn’t from Onyx, that by some miracle I won the lottery and the gaming board put the money in the account. All of it was a lie and when the officer took me back and confirmed it was from Onyx, my insides hollowed, no longer wanting a coffee or lunch.
Instead, I made my way back to my sister’s and climbed in bed.
Breaking up with James never felt like this, and he and I dated for three years. It was how I could tell with one hundred percent accuracy that I had no idea what love was until Onyx Blake.
I didn’t want the money or the kiss off from him. It burned so deep my soul cracked and ached. Two weeks since I hadn’t seen the man and he still invaded my thoughts, life, and soul. I curled into a ball and let myself have one more day of sadness. When I woke up tomorrow, my big girl panties would be on and I’d face life once again, forgetting all about Onyx Blake.
Two and Half Months Later
My new job was the best, even better than the one I was let go from months ago. Not only that, but I’d been able to build up a client list with my skills and that was pure gold. The people I worked with didn’t appear to have any issues with me swooping in and helping. On the contrary, they were happy for the help.
Five months ago, I was kidnapped and held as collateral. Three months ago, my niece was born and I’d realized I fell in love with a man who didn’t love me back. Two months ago, I pulled my head out of my ass, got my own place, and built a new life.
I never touched the money that Onyx gave me. It sat in the account all by itself, and I’d never touch it. The more time he left me alone, the stronger my resolve was not to look back. When I moved into my apartment, a man with a box truck showed up delivering everything from my old place. While it hurt to know Onyx was truly done with me, it was nice to have the picture of my mom, sister, and me back. It was the most precious thing I owned.
I was settling into life and feeling damn proud of myself—even if I longed for his touch every single night.
The best part was my niece. She was the light of my life, and I spent every moment I could with her and my sister. Kennedy begged me not to move out, but I needed this. Their home was theirs, and I just didn’t fit in twenty-four hours a day.
Parking my car, I climbed out and entered my sister’s house. “I’m here!” I called out loud, hearing the echo in the room. They didn’t respond. Therefore, I started searching the house, mostly looking for Ellie. Entering the family room, my feet stopped dead.
Garrett, the man who drove Onyx and I away from here, stood beside the fireplace. He was very imposing, but the man next to him, he screamed danger. He was the one to pick me up at Onyx’s and bring me to the delivery of Ellie.
My heart leapt as I quickly searched the room for Onyx. My heart fell to the floor when he was nowhere to be seen.
“Hi.” I waved stupidly as my sister came up to me holding Ellie. “Who’s a beautiful little girl?” Ellie gave me one of those toothless smiles along with a wad of slobber. “Give me.” Kennedy handed the little bundle over to me, and I kissed the top of her head.
“What’s going on?” The question wasn’t for anyone in particular, but I wanted answers. There was no reason for these two men to be in my sister’s house. And if they tried to take my niece, well, I would die first.
“Hello, Torryn,” Garrett greeted. “We’re here to make sure everything is done, and we can close this case.”
My eyes darted to Paxton. “Hi, Torryn.” Even his voice was deep and foreboding. I didn’t remember him speaking much before. Ellen Sue filled that role.
Damn, this entire set up reminded me of Onyx, and it was hard pulling back all of the hurt and pain. I wished my heart would forget him. I wished I could move on without seeing someone that connected my life with his and feeling this way.
Sucking it up, I said, “Great. I’ll just take Ellie and go play.”
“Hold up,” Paxton called out just as I was turning. There was a moment of deja vu. Of being in this spot, when Onyx lifted me up and carried me out the door. I shook it off, he wasn’t Onyx.
“What?” It was curt, but I wanted out of there.
Paxton took a step forward, but I held my ground. “You haven’t touched the money in your account.”
My sister gasped. I hadn’t told her or anyone about the money because I wasn’t going to use it and show up with a new house, new car, new—whatever.
“How do you know about that?”
His smile lit up his face in a way that took away some of the scary. Some. “I know what I need to know at all times. But so you know, Onyx had me put it in there, but you haven’t touched it. Why?”
Great. I could feel my eyes wanting to roll into the back of my head. Garrett was opening a briefcase with documents for my sister. No doubt, they were the finalized, certified copies of Ellie’s birth certificate—the copies we were expecting by mail. I needed to get gone.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not touching it. No way am I touching the kiss off money. Your business is with my sister, not me. I held my end of the deal with Mr. Blake.” On that note, I turned and left the room. I could hear Paxton saying something, but I didn’t listen. Instead, I went into Ellie’s room and sat on the floor with her, my back pressed against the wall.
Ellie cooed and smiled. I held her little fingers as she lay on the floor in front of me. “Ellie, sometimes life sucks, but you’ll always have me to talk to.”
As she babbled, kicking her legs in excitement, my chest constricted. I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t miss him anymore. I couldn’t dream or think about him. I needed to really let him go and damn if that wasn’t the hardest thing to do.
My life would never be the same, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t have a great one.
My eyes were blurring in front of the computer screen, all the lines and colors mixing together. I’d been working on this project for twelve hours straight. It wasn’t due for a couple of weeks, but I liked staying busy. That was why I took the lead on this one and my co-workers were happy for it, considering the workload.
But as my head began to pound, I decided it was time to leave the office. The migraine was coming, I could feel it. My work was downtown about twenty-three miles from my new apartment. The only reason I was that far out was because it was the closest thing I could find near my sister and Ellie. I was so bonded with her, I would rather drive to work every day than spend more time on the road getting to her.
I didn’t mind the commute. Lots of times I would put on a book and listen to it read. Or I’d play music and bob my head all the way home. Tonight though, I just wanted peace and quiet.
Climbi
ng into my car, which luckily my sister kept for me, I started her up and headed home. Tiredness set in, and I opened the window for fresh air to stay awake. The car in front me started to break and I followed suit, but when I pushed the pedal down, nothing happened. I pushed harder and then harder and nothing. I tried to veer out of the way, but it was too late.
At fifty miles and hour, my car creamed into the one ahead. Fear penetrated me as my body flung of its own accord. My head slammed into the steering wheel and everything went black.
Something cold touched my cheek. I tried to open my eyes, but my head was throbbing so bad, I couldn’t.
“Wakey, wakey you little slut.”
27
Onyx
“I sure do miss Torryn,” Ellen Sue said with her back to me, doing something at the kitchen counter. It wasn’t the first time she’d said those words, and it wouldn’t be the last. Every day since Torryn left she had repeated herself. I ignored her knowing more was coming, because it always did when it came to Torryn.
“She was sure a light in this house. Have you talked to her?” Ellen Sue sighed, and I felt the urge to hit something.
Three months and no, I hadn’t talked to her. I gave her a fucking opening, telling her to call me to get her clothes, but she didn’t take it. What should I have expected though? I barged into her life, literally stealing her away. She could never be with a man like me, but hell I missed her.
The bed was so damn cold without her and nothing would warm it up. Her clothes were still in their drawers just waiting for her to come back, except she wouldn’t.
I wanted her to come to me so I knew it wasn’t because of me making her come here originally. I wanted her to make that damn call that never came. She’d given up or hadn’t felt what I did sitting on the couch that last day, with her in my arms.
It’s a shitty pill to swallow, but I did, every damn day.
Ellen Sue turned her head over her shoulder to glare at me like only she could do. “Fine, how about this, then—thank you for painting the kitchen. I love it.”
With one nod, I took in the space. Ellen Sue knew me better than anyone. She was Amos Beiler’s neighbor. When we were kids, she would call us over to sneak us baked goods, water, and as teens, she slipped us money, shoes, or anything else she could. In the darkest days on the farm, she was a light for all of us, but especially me. She was family if I had to give someone a label.
With Torryn gone, everything in this house was stale and two weeks ago, I couldn’t take it anymore and had a painter come in. He did the kitchen and living room. It was a step that needed to be taken. Even with the pale yellow in the kitchen and gray-blue in the living room, the house still felt cold.
I’d come to realize that no matter what color I put on the walls, none of it would be Torryn. Fuck.
I hated this shit. This was why I stayed away from women in the first place, especially her. My actions hurt her, and I think that was my biggest regret. Regret wasn’t something I was familiar with anymore. So choking down that pill was an experience I still hadn’t come to terms with.
“Do you mind if I hang a few things on the walls?” She peeked over her shoulder and chuckled. “Little at a time, Onyx. That’s all we can do.”
Nodding, I finished off my food and headed upstairs to get dressed. I had a meeting with the guys in town to go over things with the babies. Honestly, I didn’t give a fuck what Ellen Sue did in the house. I was considering putting it on the market anyway.
Except every time I picked up the phone to call my realtor, I would think of her time here and stop.
In business I was ruthless. My upbringing made me cold and void like my house. In a matter of a few weeks, Torryn McAllister came into my life and turned me inside out. Instead of me fucking with her head, she completely fucked with mine.
My phone rang just after I started the water for my shower. The caller ID had my stomach twisting, and I didn’t know why.
“What the fuck could you want now?” I asked instead of hello.
“Where’d you take her?” Malcom screamed into the phone at me. “What’d you do with Torryn this time?”
Panic filled me. “What the fuck? I don’t have her. I haven’t done a damn thing, you motherfucker.”
“The police called, her car was in an accident. It’s clear she was injured, but witnesses say she was taken by a man in a suit!” Malcom yelled into the phone, panicked, no doubt getting shit from his woman.
My own fears were building, and I wasn’t a man who ever felt fear. “It wasn’t me.” I gave him three words before hanging up and dialing Case.
“Bossman,” he answered.
“I need a trace on Torryn McAllister’s phone. I want a video of who took her out of her car, and I want it all yesterday.”
Within five minutes, my phone pinged with what I expected—Torryn’s phone was off and the last known location was her accident. The video, that was another story.
I pressed play and felt my heart drop as I watched her slam into the back of an SUV in her tiny ass car that I knew was a death trap from the day she rushed into her sister’s house during our meeting. The car was totaled. The man, who walked to the car on a mission, wore a navy blue designer suit, aviators, and an undeniable smirk of pride, that I’d seen hundreds of times.
A fury like I had never felt before hit me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes as I yanked clothes on and took off out of my house. Where would he take her? It wouldn’t be his house because that would be a stupid move and he’d know it would be the first place anyone looked. His job had tight security and no way he’d take her there to risk losing what little he had. He didn’t have much more because I made sure of that.
Depending on what he had planned, he’d need a quiet place, where her screaming or pleading with him wouldn’t be heard. Fuck, the thought of that twisted my burning gut, but he was a sick fuck and anything was possible. It had to be a place off the beaten path, but one he knew intimately. One he grew up in and one that sealed my fate.
The barn.
Bile rose up my throat. The barn was secluded, because no one lived in the house. There wouldn’t be anyone to hear or see them for miles and he knew all of this. I’d always said I’d let the damn thing rot and fall to the ground, now I wished I would have torn the motherfucker down. Even owning it, I didn’t go there, but James would know the place inside and out.
Some people see their birth as a celebration. Mine was hidden in the barn away from prying eyes. Fuck, I hated that place and it was exactly why James would take Torryn there. Back to where it started to show her he was the better man.
Ignorant fuck.
Hopping in my Chevy Tahoe, I raced to the place I expected to find her.
My mind kept going to dark places about her injuries from the accident and what that prick might be doing to her. Pulling up to the house, I didn’t stop in front of it. Instead, I drove past it and went directly to the barn.
The red paint had worn down to a bleak brown, tattered from the elements, but still standing. It was the place where my life took a drastic turn, and I hated it with every fiber of my being.
I pulled out my Glock nine mm from the console along with my SIG Sauer Pro handgun from my back. There wasn’t a time I didn’t have my SIG on me except when I was inside The Manor where it wouldn’t be needed. I also kept a Glock in every vehicle I owned. While I preferred to deliver punishments and exit packages with my bare hands, the man I would be seeing today may need a quick bullet to the head. He was unpredictable, unreadable—a man with nothing to lose.
Controlled rage flowed through me. Torryn was my first priority. No matter what, she came out of this alive. Glancing though the small sliver of an opening at the door, my stomach roiled and coiled like a viper ready to strike.
I didn’t want to be right, but I was. He had her. He would die for this.
Torryn had thick course rope tied around her wrists and hung about a foot off the ground in the air. Her ankles
were tied together as well, limiting her movement to only bending. It didn’t go unnoticed that I had her tied to my bed, but I never intended on hurting her—ever. Yet, I still did.
She had duct tape over her mouth and tears down her cheeks. Her face was swollen, and dried blood trailed from her nose—no doubt injuries from the air bags deploying in her accident. I could see the traces of her seatbelt where her blood vessels under the skin burst on impact. The belt did its job as did the air bags in saving her life. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about the level of pain she must have been in. But there was resilience in her eyes. It was the fight that turned me on to no end. It was there—bold and bright.
She hung in only her bra and underwear, he’d pay for that as well. I could hear her whimpers every time he pushed her, making her wrists take on more weight from swaying. This was the only entrance, that I knew well. Every detail of this barn, I knew well. There was no way to surprise him, and I couldn’t go in guns blazing and risk Torryn getting shot in the crossfire.
Opening the door, James ran behind Torryn, like the coward he was, using her as a shield. My girl’s eyes grew large as she started fighting with the ropes. I shook my head twice, and she calmed down. One thing I didn’t need was for her to move so much she got hurt more since I wasn’t sure of her injuries in the accident.
“Well, hell. You just came and ruined my fun. I was going to do this big dramatic call you on the phone and hurt your girl here thing, but guess that’s out of the question now.” His tone was laced in menace and filled with hate.
Gun raised and aimed, I said, “You’re dead. You will not walk out of here alive.”
“You think I give a fuck? I’ve known it for years, but I get to take your little slut here with me. She always was a good place to stick my dick.” He trailed his hands up her legs, to her torso, and between her breasts. Pissed wasn’t even a word at the moment. I was far beyond that.
Torryn started moving again trying to pull her body away from James’s touch. She moved just enough to get a shot in, but swayed back too quickly. Slowly, I started moving toward them, and James got jittery.
PowerHouse_Anti-Hero Game_Power Chain Book One Page 17