“Thanks.” Johnny says, so matter of fact.
Before either one of them has time to ask any questions, we all make our way down the death trap stairs.
How any of us don’t break our necks is beyond me, it’s pitch black down here.
“Don’t come any further, or I will plow this knife straight through her chest.” I hear Jodie screech. Well that confirms Jodie is also involved in this.
I make my way further into the room what look’s like a basement, I pass Johnny who sees what I’m about to do. And I can tell by the look on his face he doesn’t agree to it, but doesn’t stop me either. He stays with me every step I take and I know that he’s got my back. I can’t see a fucking thing.
I take a couple more steps when all of a sudden a light turns on in the corner of the room. What I see will scar me for life. Karina is Strapped to a chair on my far right, her head is down. I don’t even know if she’s alive.
“Johnny….” I draw out, not knowing how he’s going to react when he sees her. I hear him move behind me so he must have made his way over to her.
“I see her… She’s got a pulse but it’s weak. She’s floating in and out of consciousness. Shit.” I can tell he’s torn as what to do. He want’s to make sure she’s ok but knows she’s not the one Jodie really wants to hurt.
Allie is.
And that’s when I see her. She’s lying on some filthy mattress in the opposite corner, her mouth is gagged, with both her hands and feet tied together and with a knife sticking out of her leg.
The same leg she’s worked so hard to rehabilitate.
Jodie goes over to her and my stomach drops. This is it, this is where the one thing I never thought I wanted, but couldn’t love more is finally going to be taken away from me… permanently. But she surprises me when she unties Allies legs, dragging her up onto her feet. My angel screams a muffled scream in protest from behind the piece of material that’s rammed into her mouth. Being made to stand when you have a twelve inch blade sticking out of your leg has got to be horrendous. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain she must be in.
Jodie pulls her towards the front of her body so she’s standing in front of her, using her like a shield but I know different. This is her way of telling me that she’s willing hurt her again, no matter what, even if I don’t give her what she wants.
Yet I still have no idea what she wants, she’s still not told me. So how could I possible give it to her?
The demented nutjob wraps both arms around Allies shoulders, aiming the knife she’s holding in her hand straight at her chest. Above her heart. If her heart stops beating I know mine will too.
I start to visibly shake, if Jodie was a man and didn’t have that knife sitting across Allie’s chest I would have charged at her by now and knocked the bitch out.
“Con, don’t do anything stupid… for the love of God… just think before you act.” Liam is trying to make me see sense, and I know he’s right. I need to pacify her right now, tell her what she wants to hear.
Moving forward with my hands raised, showing her I mean no harm, I calmly ask her.
“Jode… what’s this all about? Why are you doing this? I don’t understand. We’ve been friends a very long time, hell you more like my sister.”
She takes a step back taking Allie with her, and straight away I can tell I’ve said the wrong thing, something she very obviously didn’t want to hear. I can tell this by how her grip on to Allie even harder. She holds the knife tighter across her chest. Jodie’s face is going purple, like she’s getting ready to blow. And I have a funny feeling I’m about to find out why.
“Friends…. Family…. More like your sister! Are you fucking kidding me Connor? I love you…. I’ve loved you from the minute I met you, I’ve watched and waited whilst you’ve kept your bed warm with endless women. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked of me and more. It’s my turn now. We belong together. We’d be really happy together, you just need to give us a chance.”
What the fuck….
She loves me?
This is crazy. She is crazy.
I’ve never once seen her as anything but a friend, someone who works for me. What has given her the impression I would want more with her?
“Jodie… I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’ve never given you the impression that I feel anything more for you.” I’m totally baffled as to how she’s come to this conclusion.
“I know you feel the same as me, you just need to open up your heart and get rid of this one here.” She says, motioning with her head towards Allie. “And you know what, I’m even willing to do that for you, as you can tell I’m not scared of getting my hands dirty. If the bitch had just died the first time then we would be together already. I’m willing to do all of this for you Connor. To show you how much I love you.”
“I don’t want you to do all of this Jode, she’s my life… if you kill her then you might aswell kill me too, because my life’s worth nothing without her in it. So either way you’ll lose me.”
Out of nowhere, Allie makes a very dangerous move. My heart’s in my mouth. What is she doing?
She rams her elbow back in Jodie’s stomach making her drop the knife, and whilst she’s doubled over from the pain Allie makes a run for it towards me. As best as she can anyway, with her leg being in the state that it’s in. But before she makes it anywhere near me Jodie tries to make a move on her throwing the knife out in front towards Allie.
She’s going to stab her in the back. Literally.
I can’t let that happen.
My feet start to move on their own accord before my brain has the time to process what’s happening. I know it’s not the best move to take, but I take it anyway.
“Connooorrrrr……” I hear Johnny roar, he must see something I don’t and out the corner of my eye I see he’s almost level at my side.
I know what I need to do.
“Johnny. Allie.” That’s all I say and hope he gets what I’m about to do next.
I reach Allie just in time before she hits the floor I grab her up my body and near enough throw her in Johnny’s direction hoping that he catches her without causing to much pain to her leg.
I carry on running my body hitting Jodie’s with so much force it knocks us both to the ground.
“Connor… No.” Allie… it’s so good to hear her voice, Johnny caught her thank god.
She’s safe that’s all that matters. Now I know Johnny’s got her I know she’ll be ok. We just need to get her and Karina to a hospital.
I roll off Jodie and notice she has blood on her shirt, she looks down to my t-shirt which makes me look to. I have her blood on me too. Only she goes to stand having no problems whatsoever.
“Noooooooooo.” I can hear Allie going ballistic.
That’s when I see it… the knife that was going to stab Allie in the back. Is now in me. Straight through the middle of my chest.
Now I can feel the pain. I know the darkness is going to claim me any minute now, so I turn to Allie and tell her my goodbye….
“I love you my Angel.”
The couples that are
Meant to be
Are the ones who go through
Everything that’s designed
To tear them apart and
Come out even Stronger.
Allie
Two years later
I’m standing in front his gravestone, the one place I don’t want to be, nor do I want to have to bring Syren too. I wipe away the tears that are falling freely down my cheeks. He’s only eighteen months old, a graveyard is no place for a child. But it’s got to be done, I’ve never brought him here before and I feel he needs to say goodbye as he didn’t get the chance to before.
“Syren Blackwood get your butt back here right now.” I shout for what feels like the tenth time.
Chasing after him doesn’t work either, he just runs quicker.
“Nope.” I hear him giggle back. The little fucking shit. He’s just
like his dad in so many ways, it’s scary. Defiant little monkey.
Being here breaks my heart, all the time we could’ve have as a family was snatched away from us way too soon. Even though at times we would fall out I loved him nevertheless.
He was taking away from us way too soon, now he’ll never see Syren grow up.
Kneeling down on the cold wet ground, I place the the flowers I brought with me down against the headstone.
The last two years have all but nearly killed me, when we all finally got out of Jodie’s clutches I was taken to hospital. I find out that everyone made it out of there alive. Jodie was now in a psychiatric hospital, no one went down for Charlie’s death. And don’t get me started on Connor. What happened to him will haunt me forever. That’s something I’ll never forget. I can’t remember much after that only the part where I was told I was nearly three months pregnant. With Connor’s baby. To say I was shocked was an understatement, but it was also a blessing. It meant that I would always have a piece of Connor with me, that his legacy would always live on no matter what.
Now I’ve just inherited a lot of money, money I didn’t want, but he left it all to me anyway. So far I’ve made sure that myself and Syren have a home to call ours, the rest is just sitting in the bank till I figure out what to do with it.
“Syren, come say goodbye and then we can go little man.” I say to him.
Grabbing my little monster under the arms, I pick him up and swing him up on my hip.
“Bye-Bye Pap’s.” He babbles.
Breaking my heart further with the thought that he’ll never get to meet him.
At least after all the hell we went through, I know one thing… he’s now in heaven with the angels.
Connor
Watching from afar, I see Allie wiping away her tears before falling to her knees and placing flowers down by the gravestone.
I can’t imagine the pain she’s feeling right now, and there’s not much I can do about it.
My little mini boy is my carbon copy, there’s no mistaking that he’s my little dude. Even at eighteen months old, he’s one of the coolest kids I’ve ever known. He even gives his mum hell… but gets away with it when he looks at her with his deep brown eyes... just like mine.
I don’t like seeing her in a place like this, never mind the little man. But I know she wanted this, wanted to get it out the way once and for all. She’s been reluctant to bring him here to say goodbye, but it’s something she needed to do.
These past two years haven’t been easy. She had to yet again have surgery on her leg, then go through intense physiotherapy. Once again we used Lexi who built her up last time. Unfortunately Allie will always suffer with a slight limp due to the extensive damage done to the muscle tissue, but at least she’s alive that’s the main thing. I watch her pick Syren up and place him on her hip, they both start heading towards where I’ve parked the car and my heart warms. To think I was nearly taken away from them by some psychotic bitch, it really boils my piss and doesn’t bare thinking about. I’m very lucky to even be here. When Jodie drove that knife into my chest I thought that was it. When I said goodbye to Allie, I didn’t think I would ever see her again. Now everyday I wake up I live life to the full, and treat Allie like the angel she is and always will do. Nothing and no one will ever be able to break the bond we have. And now with Syren in our life it’s only made that bond stronger. I’ll protect them with everything I am, they are both my world and more.
That’s why she’s wearing my ring on her finger, and I have an official piece of paper that say’s she’s mine.
And that’s exactly what she’ll always be, as long as my heart is beating.
We got through the hell, we’re now living our own little piece of heaven.
The end
The Verve - The Drugs Don’t Work
Paloma Faith - Only Love Can Hurt Like This
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
Alicia Keys - If I Ain’t Got You
Nelly ft Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
Black Box - Ride On Time
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
Oasis - Whatever
Niall Horan - Slow Hands
Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
Minnie Riperton - Lovin’ You
Rihanna & Mikky Ekko - Stay
Rocky Balboa - Theme Song
Massive Attack - Angel
Syren’s Plaything (Syren’s series book 3)
Other books by this author
Syren’s Angel (Syren’s series book 1)
Wow!!! Where do I start with all the people that have made it possible for me to do this?
The most important people will always be my family. Nathan, Mollie, Noah and Tracy my mum, you are my rocks and my biggest supporters. None of this would even be possible without your love and encouragement. I will never be able to thank you all enough for putting up with me whilst I’ve had my head stuck in my laptop. I love you all so much.
Karina aka my mofo/editor- You are worth your weight in bloody gold girl. Not only have you gone back to work after having a baby, you’ve put up with me and my neurotic ways and demands. You have the patience of a saint and I couldn’t imagine doing this without you by my side, so please don’t quit on me? I need you… there I admitted it after all these years.
I luv ya bye…
Chloe Walsh- Girl… You are one amazing inspiration let me tell you. I’m so glad I get to call you my friend, I don’t know what I would do without you giving me a kick up the arse when I need it. I mean it when I say, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Rachel Beioley my adopted sidekick/PA- You keep me from going totally insane beaut, from day one you’ve been in my corner and still continue to do so. You keep me organised and on track and do all the random things I ask you to do. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it and looking forward to future adventures together. Thank you so much you mean the world to me.
All the ladies in my facebook group Jen’s Lovelies- You crazy bunch rock, you make me laugh, smile and generally happy every day. Without you all I actually think I would’ve given up, but you all had my back and kept me from pressing the delete button more than once. A simple thank you wouldn’t be enough for how much I appreciate you all being there for me, but I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got and I hope I haven’t disappointed you with this book. I love you all.
Last but by no means least, the amazing C.A.Bell over at Envy Design. You girl are fantastic at what you do with your graphics. You brought my thoughts to life with the book cover and I couldn’t love it anymore than I already do. Thank you so much, you’ve become a fantastic friend.
Jennah Thornhill is a thirty year old wife and mother, who lives in Staffordshire in a town called Stoke-On-Trent with her husband Nathan and two kids Mollie Moo-Moo who’s ten and her little ginger critter Noah who’s four.
She’s had a lot of up’s and down’s in the past three years, going from a full time mother and hard worker to just fainting at work one day and ending up in hospital. Later finding out she needed to have a lot of tests done.
Turns out she needed a lumbar puncture in her back in which they drain the fluid from your brain.
When she had the results back she wasn’t happy to say the least.
When they did it the first time she got really ill from it. She soon found out why when a doctor told her they think they took too much fluid.
After having a further sixteen lumbar punctures for the same thing.
Not being able to go back to work because of this she now manages her illness between being a mother, wife and writer.
The only blessing to come out of all that is it pushed her to start writing her own books. After reading quite a few books before this, and when we say a few we mean a couple hundred.
When she’s not writing, being a mum or laid up in a hospital bed, she spends her time reading or sleeping.
She does enjoy spending time with
her friends as she doesn’t get to see them very often. Specially her best friend Karina who she’s known for the better part of eight years.
She knows life is too short so she tries to live everyday is if it were her last.
Syren's Heaven & Hell (The Syren Series Book 2) Page 21