by Liz K. Lorde
There were promises that I wanted to make. To tell her that everything would be okay, that I would get her out of this horrible place. From that sick and twisted creature.
But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t give her false hope like that.
Sometime later, when Indra was brought to a calm, I’d put my clothes back on – and not the skimpy boy-dream outfit that Killaine had picked. Returning to Indra, I grabbed the clothes she was supposed to make me wear from the queen sized bed, and I ripped them up right in front of her. It was hugely satisfying, and the sound of it tearing was sweeter than any music to my ears. “Don’t worry,” I told her, destroying the hideously green panties next, smiling when they ripped, “I won’t let him hurt you anymore.”
“How?” She asked like it was the most impossible thing in the world.
“I know the way he looks at me,” I explained, making one last rip before letting the torn fabric drift to the floor. “If it takes a day, if it takes a year, I’ll burn the heart out of him,” I grabbed Indra’s hands and helped her to her feet.
If Killaine hurt Leo or Fee… there will be a reckoning. Emphasizing with my head, I told her, “I need you on my side. Can you do that? Can you help me?”
She nodded yes.
“Pretend that you hate me when he’s around, and we’ll watch each other’s backs.” This would have to be a start to my escape, and having Indra was better than having no one at all.
After a long period of waiting and getting to know Indra’s long and storied life of being a slave raised in Amsterdam, a man knocked on the door and signaled for me to come. I hugged Indra and told her not to fret about her duties, hoping that I truly could play the man to the favor of us all. Heading out the door, the man from before was waiting expectantly for me in the dark hallway.
Don’t be afraid, I told myself. You can do this.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE SUN MACHINE IS COMING DOWN… AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY
LEONARDO
Shouldn’t have let myself drive, everything was too sluggish from the painkillers. Normally you wouldn’t want to attract attention to yourself or your companions when you’ve got uncontrolled substance both in your car and in your system; but if this parked in the middle of the fucking road asshole didn’t get out of my way now, I was going to shoot someone. I honked my horn and shouted at the guy, and immediately after, all of what was left of my crew told me to stop.
Look thinking wasn’t always my strongest suit.
Thinking about my crew put a punch right to my gut, and I had to bite down on my tongue just to stay sane. Earlier after that bloodbath had concluded, right before the cops surely hit the scene, I’d managed to wire a car. With that I got Con and me to Doctor Rivers.
He wasn’t a real doctor of course, but a shady veterinarian. Fiona, unfortunately, needed real medical care – and getting Connifer into the ride was hard enough… I hoped that the paramedics got to her. I didn’t want to have her blood on my hands, and I didn’t want to see such a crazy woman go out like that.
Still, if Tabitha’s any indication, the grandma must be one tough bitch.
Con, naturally, had wanted to come along quite badly, but I’d insisted that he stay put and rest up.
I knew that Killaine’s men would be spread thin because of the calls I made last night; thankfully a few men were willing to stick with me, and believe my story over his. This needed to work though, it had to. There wasn’t a plan B.
Rolling up to Dad’s old compound, I parked the car and looked to the back seat where my men were at the ready. Dallas, Tony and resident hothead Lena looked to me with solemn faces and burning eyes, this was their moment just as much as it was mine. Tonight was the night that things got settled. That the score was evened.
“Ready?” I asked.
The three of them gave a tight nod in agreement, and we stepped out of Tony’s janky vehicle.
I brought two fingers up to my ear and listened for Myra, my red haired sniper, to tell me when she was in position.
After hearing her give me the go signal, the four of us made our way down the damp, narrow and dark alley. The buildings surrounding Pop’s place were long since abandoned, and then bought up by him through a patsy back in the seventies. Suffice to say, owning all of the residence around you, it gave you a pretty particular peace – even for a monstrous, nonstop city like this.
I stepped over a pile of trash and a couple of rats skittered away, hiding inside the cracks in the base of the neighboring buildings.
Killaine better not have touched her, I swear to god. The very thought of it burned me up inside, to think about him and all the things he could be doing to Tabby.
The four of us silently turned and went down another alley, before turning once more and getting a full view of Dad’s compound.
Two men at the gate, just like reported. Armed, but nowhere near dangerous as a man pushed to the edge.
I made slow and steady strides towards the front gate and lowered my 1927 Thompson in my hand.
The guards, Brandon and James, immediately noticed me and brought up their weapons in response. I wasn’t afraid of these guys.
I put up my one free hand to imply that they don’t turn me to swiss cheese, “Been a hell of a day boys,” I told them, as the squad behind me remained at the mouth of the entrance. I only wanted them here to give myself the appearance of an army.
But in actuality, all I needed was my gun – and I was as good as gold: “Mind doing me a favor and growing a spine?” I asked.
Brandon shook his head, “You need to leave…”
“Do I?” I turned and looked all around to mock them. I then brought my gaze back to Brandon, and dropped my voice to a sotto, “I didn’t realize you were the boss.”
“Your brother—“
“Is gutter trash,” I said with more venom than I’d intended, not wanting to get them too riled up. “You weren’t there that night, what’d he tell you? Hm? What do you think happened… to the king of kings.”
Brandon said nothing, so I answered for him: “I can already tell what lies my brother spun. He’s easy to read once you know what he’s up to, really. That’s why this is going to be such a relaxing, murderous night for me,” I thought that I was smiling, but it was probably closer to a full on grin. My voice became thick with impatience and anger, “he told you that I killed Pops. That right?” I asked, stepping forward and jutting out my chin at them, “hm?”
James was next to speak, “We’ve heard the rumors. And we’re not interested.”
I stood there for a moment and considered how long I’d known them, how well I knew them. “Oh you should be,” I started, waving my tommy gun around, which in turn caused them to re-aim my way, “you should hang on to every last word,” I shook my head and my eyes widened, “that I have to say.” I pointed with my gun to the front door of the compound, and my heart tapped against my chest. “You can die as misguided soldiers,” I explained, “though even that’s probably giving you too much credit. Or,” I paused for dramatic effect, “you can live. As men. It’s your choice,” I snickered to myself, waving the gun around in my one hand.
Brandon steadied his aim, and James looked between me and his soon-to-be partner in death. Sadly, in my heart, I knew that they weren’t going to listen to reason. In a world of dishonor, once you were made – either real or not – you were made. There wasn’t any going back, they and anyone else that had bought Laine’s words, would think me my father’s killer.
“Either way… I’ve got a princess to save, and a bone to pick,” I lowered my gun and flashed a smile at them, smacking my lips, “I’ll give you five seconds.” Stepping forward, I started to make my way to the front gate by going between the two men, of which I was only five to ten feet away from them.
“Leo…” James said in a warning tone.
“We can’t let you in,” Brandon added, their guns trailing me as I moved between them nonchalantly. “Stop!”
Sorry, boys. I gave you a chance. I put up my free hand without looking back at them, and waved both a goodbye to them, and did it as a signal to Myra.
Two shots came out from one of her sniping points, and I heard the men fall behind me one after the other.
Not one hair on her head had best be hurt.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LOVE, LOYALTY AND FEAR
TABITHA
The gangster that had led me to the room closed the door for me, and a sea of darkness, save for the candlelit table and moonlit balcony, was what awaited me. There, in the black, still dressed in his same suit of black and gray, sat Killaine. His sky blue eyes were dead set on me, and I could sense the palpable disdain that he had for me, not wearing the outfit he had picked.
He lifted up a hand, inviting me to join him: “Please,” he said, “take a seat.” Those cold blue eyes held no true affection, and I knew beyond doubt that his manners were nothing more than veiled threat. “Did Indra not give you my gift?”
“I was never one for eating at the table,” I told him, not moving from my point by the door. “And your gift lacked class.”
Those terrible eyes blinked, and he lowered his hand. “You are quite the uncooperative bitch.”
The hairs on my body bristled at hearing him say that, and ribbons of heat brushed against my chest. “Why are you like this?” I asked. “So hateful and careless.”
“Not careless,” he replied, “careful. That’s why I had brother mine go and steal you away for me. Killing wasn’t my first option, you know. Cagliostro was my way into Daddy’s ear, but, well, he was a stubborn old fool.” Killaine picked up his glass of wine and sipped from it as the flames of the candle whipped from left to right, to steady all over again. “I could have done the work in fetching you, yes, but you see, I never like to get my hands… dirty. I’m just the organizer. A leave rustles there, a web moves in the darkest corner – any blood that spills in this city? It’s by my design.”
The urge to smack him was strong in me, and because of this, because of that smug little look on his stupid face, I walked towards him. “You’ll never be forgiven, or respected for that matter.” He thinks that he’s so smart.
Killaine sat his wine down and started in on what looked to be a pristinely charred new-york strip. He hummed deep from his chest, “I don’t do it for that. I do it because this is what I was promised. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? Having an empire stolen from beneath you. You know… you’ve been nothing but a troublesome whore the entire time I’ve known you.”
“You don’t know me.”
“No,” he said, “you’re right. I don’t – but I will. And…” the pitch of his voice rose, “if I get bored of you,” it returned to normal, “I’ll find another.” He put a morsel of meat into his mouth and chewed briefly before swallowing. “Take my advice: Try to keep me interested in you, darling.”
“No,” I told him coldly, “call me that again and I’ll say not another word. You didn’t have to hurt Leo like you did, didn’t have to kill your own father.” Waves of disgust crashed against me, Dad was taken from me – and this scum-sucking scoundrel had the gall to put a bullet in his.
“Regrettable,” Killaine said, as if he were talking about some past fiscal loss in a business venture. His knife clinked against the plate, “I did what I had to do, to secure my place. Does a Prince let someone else take the crown?” His words became more pointed, and his dark brows sank.
You’re no prince, you’re a demon. “I worked harder than anyone should have to most of my life,” I told him, purposefully neglecting to mention taking care of Mom. “What’s the point?” I asked him, a rock beginning to form in my throat – the urge to move closer to him still creeping. “What’s the point if there’s nothing to come home to.”
He laughed, “When did you grow a spine?” It burned me inside to hear him ask that, and the way he did it too – he sounded so surprised. “I do it because it’s mine,” he said, “because when your brother, or your sister step in the way, you have to let them know that you were first.” The mood on his face darkened, “tell me how it’s fair, go on. Tell me how it’s fair for someone to come and take from you like that… I was watching you for months. The only reason you even had a detour in that… pathetic thing you call a ‘life’ was because I relayed your location and status to Connifer.” He dabbed his mouth with a napkin, putting it down on the table afterwards. “Thank me, darling. Thank me and sit, because without me, you’d have kept on being nothing,” he raised his hand once again, urging me to take a seat. “I will not tell you again.”
Stalking over to his opposite end of the table, I looked over my options, and then grabbed the half full glass of red wine. I picked it up delicately enough, slow enough, and because of this the man smiled; when he did, I smiled sarcastically before tossing the wine directly at his face. Red flew through the air and splashed against his face, which was in a joyous mix of shock and terrible rage.
“Fucking bitch,” he screamed and shot out of his chair, so quick that it toppled over onto its side. I watched frozen as his chest expanded. Before I knew it, he was moving on me.
Fast.
Horrific warmth ensnared me, and I found myself unable to move.
He closed the distance between us and grabbed my wrist hard. “This suit costs more than your whole life,” he snarled, yanking me towards him and wrapping an arm around me, forcing my person against his own.
“Get off of me!” I tried to pull myself away from Killaine, but it was like fighting living quicksand, every time that I strived to put distance between us, he would just cling to me harder.
“I don’t think so,” he whispered in my ear, reaching into the pocket of his wine-stained suit. He produced a lighter, flicked its cap open and ran his thumb across the wheel. Sparks shot out, and then a finger of fire danced from the lighter. “I think that’s your problem,” he forced me to stay where I was, “you were never taught any manners.”
The fire was so close to my chin that I could already feel it starting to burn. “Stop!” I begged, my voice high and water starting to form in my eyes. He was seriously going to hurt me. I thrashed against Killaine’s touch, threw my head back and tried to push him off of me – but nothing would work.
A series of loud bangs off in the distance filled the room.
Killaine pulled the lighter away from my face, but kept me helplessly pinned against him.
Relief bloomed through me first, then recognition at what that sound must have meant. It had to have been Leonardo, had to have been gunfire.
Killaine cursed beneath his breath and craned his head to look over his shoulder.
Then came a set of panic driven pounds on the door, and came through an incensed man in patchy dark green clothes. “Boss,” he stammered, the sound of more gunfire booming through the lair. “It’s your brother.” When he said that my heart came back to me, and I tried once again to break from Killaine’s grasp.
“Shit,” Killaine said in a nervous whisper, “what?” He asked the man. “What are you waiting for! You can’t put him down? Get him to stop fighting you idiot, you outnumber him!” Gunfire echoed, closer still.
“Sir…” the man started, “this would be a lot easier, if you just let us—“
“I don’t want it done easy,” Killaine insisted, “I want it done right.” Still holding on to me, he shooed the man away and then tossed his lighter onto the dining table.
“It’s over,” I told him. “Just make things easier on yourself,” I urged, if he was lucky, Leo might give him a clean death.
“Not yet it’s not,” Killaine insisted, dragging me further from the door and closer towards the balcony. He pulled out a pistol from somewhere on his person and I heard it click to life.
Bang!
This time the shot was so loud it made me shudder.
Another two shots, just as loud. Once more, a double-tapping of bullets unseen, but hideously clos
e.
From out of the darkness, I saw Leonardo steadily approaching – and my heart soared. I called out his name, and he visibly picked up his pace, entering the room. He was wearing a striking white suit and there were red cuts on his face, splotches of crimson along his shoulder and an openly bleeding wound on his leg. He looked ragged, but determined.
He had a Thompson machine gun in his hand, but it wasn’t aimed at his brother. “You let her go,” Leonardo growled, “now. It’s already over.”
Killaine brought the gun to my head and pressed it against my temple. He hummed something low from his chest and stepped back a bit, shaking his head, “I don’t think so.”
Leo carefully stalked forward, like a predator sifting through the nightly reeds. “I won’t hesitate to kill you,” he brought up the gun with both hands, and continued to close in on us. “Don’t worry, Tabby,” he added with deadly calm.
“Then do it!” Killaine’s voice rose in pitch. “Shoot me,” he urged, “go ahead little brother. What’s the matter, don’t have the stomach for it? Oh I won’t hesitate to kill you, I won’t hesitate!” The gun dug harder against my skull, and I let out a whine. Jolts of primal fear moved through me, and I felt like even moving just an inch would be enough to get me killed. Still, Killaine moved myself and him backwards. “Are you high right now?” He called out to Leo.
“Can’t move without eating painkillers,” Leonardo grit his teeth and stumbled forward a foot, but kept his gun fairly steady. Leo continued to press forward cautiously, saying nothing more.
“How’d you get here, huh? You’re no slouch,” Killaine tugged at me, “but you can’t take out that many guys. How’d you do it? Huh? Tell me.”
“That’s the difference between you and me, Laine,” shots from outside of the room rang out still, “you make payrolls, I make friends. You told me once how surprised I’d be, how people would shift loyalties for pennies on the dollar… Trust that what I paid? For you to be given the boot? It was fractions.”