Art of Survival: Part One (A Stern Family Saga Book 5)

by Monique Orgeron

  With the help of my security I find where Tony Guidry is. Deciding to confront him, I grab my purse and go to his office.

  The night I confronted Tony, my life changed forever. I tried, I really did, but he was vile. Spewing filth about the things he and Michael did to me. Things he wanted to do again.

  “Come on cunt, you missed me? You must. You come here without William. Brave little thing, aren’t you? Don’t worry though, I don’t think William would care if you came back for more.”

  I threw the money at him and begged him to stop and keep quiet about what happened. But all it did was cause him to laugh. He started coming towards me and something in me snapped. There was no way in hell I would ever let him touch me again. I grabbed the gun in my purse and fired. I kept firing until all the bullets were in his body. And you know what? I’d do it again.

  Panic started setting in. I didn’t know what to do with a body or how to cover my tracks. I had witnessed killings before, but never saw what happened after. Shaking and scared, I immediately started looking around the room like it held some kind of secret that would help, but there was nothing. Nothing but me and Tony’s body lying on the floor, bleeding out.

  In a moment of clarity, I thought of Theo. Theo could help me but would he after all this time? Without another thought, almost like my body had a mind of its own, my fingers had dialed his number and the phone was ringing.

  He answers, but I can’t force the words out of my mouth.

  “Hello. Hello, is anyone there?”

  A minute of silence passes. What do I say? How do I ask?

  “Catherine, I know it’s you.”

  “Theo!”

  He hears the panic in my voice. “Catherine what’s wrong?”

  “Theo, I…I”

  I hear him moving around, his voice starts getting louder.

  “You what, Catherine? Talk to me.”

  Again, I find myself not being able to answer. I’m frantically crying, and my throat starts to feel like it’s about to close.

  “Katie, baby tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I killed him, Theo!”

  “William?”

  “No, I…I killed Tony Guidry. I need you Theo, please. I don’t know what to do! God, Theo help me.”

  “Where are you Katie?”

  While I waited for Theo to arrive, I found a bottle of whiskey and poured a glass. As I sat there looking at his dead body, my panic started to subside. A sense of calm started to come over me. This man hurt me, he raped me. I had every right to kill him. He would’ve hurt me again. He wanted to.

  Memories flash back and forth but none bother you more than the first time you kill someone. Taking a life, no matter how evil they are, never feels good. But I reasoned with myself, accepting what I had done. By the time Theo arrived, I was calm. Too calm, eerily so.

  Theo called it shock. I called it peace. It was a stronger feeling than what I felt when William killed my foster parents in front of me, because this time I had pulled the trigger, taking out my own revenge. Theo thought I was sorry for what I did, but I wasn’t. I was calm because I had already come to terms with what I’d done. I might not have gone there to kill him, but the truth was, I wanted and needed him dead. Now he was and there was no going back.

  Theo shook me out of my trance and drilled me for why I killed Tony. I told him what Tony and Michael had done to me, only I left out the part about William’s role in it. I needed to still protect Theo, at all costs. So, I told him that I never told William I had been raped.

  “Catherine, listen to me. This isn’t good, but we have to finish it, you hear me? I’m going to call Michael over here and I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”

  I nod my head and watch as Theo calls Michael over, telling him that Tony needs him. Very shortly I will be face to face with my other rapist. Knowing he has to die too, I pour myself another glass of whiskey as I listen to Theo cursing and screaming his anger out as he paces back and forth. Then suddenly he’s on his knees in front of me.

  “Katie, is this why you stopped seeing me? Is this why you told me to marry Beth? Oh God Katie why, wouldn’t you tell me?”

  Looking at him, I see once again all the love he feels for me. I lay my hands on his face, needing to express why I didn’t tell him, why I told him to marry Beth. I finally tell him for the first time ever,

  “I love you, Theo.”

  “Katie.”

  “I do, I loved you then and I still love you. I couldn’t tell you. I want you to be happy, Theo. How could I tell you?”

  He kisses me soft and slow, “God help me Katie, I loved you too.”

  My eyes roam his face, questioning what he just said, loved not love. Before I can question, we hear Michael entering the building. Theo looks at me and I see the shift in his eyes. My Theo, my gentle giant of a man is no longer in front of me. He slowly starts to stand and moves away from me, finding a spot he won’t be seen from.

  Michael walks in the room seeing me then looks around.

  “Where’s Theo and Tony?”

  It’s like my voice won’t work. I jerk my head to Tony’s body showing him where his friend is.

  “You fucking bitch!”

  That’s all he’s able to say before Theo jumps him from behind. Theo starts hitting Michael with everything he has. Michael scrambles and hits back but nothing is affecting Theo. He’s like a wild animal. I stand, moving towards them but stop second guessing myself. I had every intention on killing Michael myself but then as I watch Theo, I know he needs this. He needs this for all the times he wasn’t able to defend me. He needs to let it out now. I’ve held him back long enough. I can’t give him William, but I can at least give him this. I continue to watch as Theo hits him over and over. I hear the cracking of bones and see the blood flying with every punch. It’s vicious and horrible but right now, it’s also what I need. I need to see Michael destroyed and I won’t feel guilty for taking pleasure in watching Michael die. Theo continues to hit Michael even after we both know he’s dead. He doesn’t stop until I yell, “Enough!” He looks at me breathing heavy and hard, covered in Michaels blood but right now, instead of being disgusted, I’m thankful. I walk over to him as he’s still hunched over the body. Michael is hardly recognizable. Taking my hand, I lightly sweep it over Theo’s forehead, brushing his hair back off his face. Bending I kiss him and he kisses me back.

  Reaching down to his hands, I pull him up and silently walk, leading him out of the room. I don’t know what comes over me, but I have to have him. We’ve been apart too long. As soon as we enter another room, my animal instinct kicks in and I drop to my knees, removing his belt. At first, he tries to resist but I push his hands away. Needing him desperately, I fumble through and finally get his pants down and take him into my mouth. I’ve never in my life wanted someone so much. It’s not long before he’s moaning grabbing a handful of my hair, pulling me off him. He kisses me so hard I taste the copper flavor of my own blood. He starts ripping at my clothes in a fury. Suddenly my back hits the wall with a thud and he enters me in one thrust.

  “Theo!”

  He has me building in ecstasy so fast that I’m screaming his name throughout the empty room, as he fucks me harder and faster. Lifting me higher off the floor, I grab at him and hold him tight to my body as he continues to pound into me. With his head buried in my neck, he curses the both of us.

  “I hate you Catherine. I fucking hate you. You did this to us!”

  No not like this, I can’t. Using my hands, I push his head up, holding him, forcing him to see me.

  Crying now, I tell him, “I love you Theo, I love you.”

  Pulling out, he turns me, slamming my chest against the wall, entering me from behind. I know what he’s doing. He doesn’t want to face the truth. Faster and faster he thrusts into me. I feel all his rage for what I’ve done to him, how I broke him. Raising my voice so it can be heard over the slapping of our bodies, I tell him again,

  “I love you Theo!
”

  He slows and starts kissing my neck and back as he continues to fuck me but now he’s calming. I can feel him coming back to me.

  “I love you Theo!”

  “Fuck! I love you, I love you. Oh God, I love you Katie!” He cums, filling me with his warmth. Theo grabs me around my waist lifting me to meet his chest.

  Hearing his heavy breathing in my ear he says, “I can’t Katie. I love you, but I can’t do this. Not again.”

  He slips out me and releases his hold.

  “You gave me to Beth and we have a son now. I can’t do this!”

  I can’t move, as he walks away from me. I lay my hands on the wall for support, feeling like I’m going to fall, crashing from his refusal of our love. Theo leaves the room and I’m still scared to move. Tears start falling again, how can he but then again, I have no right. No right to ask him to come back to me. Not after what I’ve put him through and not after what he did for me. Killing Michael was more than I deserved. He’s right, we can’t do this, not now, not ever.

  When Theo returns to the room, I’m dressed but my clothes have been ripped by Theo’s need. I can’t face him even when he calls to me,

  “Catherine.”

  “Katie.”

  I turn when I hear him call me by my name. “Please don’t.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, it’s my fault.”

  He looks to the ground and I start to walk past him, but he grabs my arm stopping me.

  “Theo, I understand.”

  Theo’s face rises, and he looks me directly in my eyes. “You gave up on me. On us. What did you expect?”

  I rip my arm from him and yell, “I told you, I understand!”

  He scares me when I hear him screaming out. I turn to see him looking at the ceiling with his hands on his head.

  “We need to fix this!”

  “What?”

  He looks at me and hollers, “This, Catherine! This whole fucking mess! Don’t you understand what we’ve done here?!”

  “I won’t tell anyone you were with me.”

  “You have no idea what to do!”

  “I know they’re dead and I’m not fucking sorry about it! I will suffer the consequences.”

  “No, you won’t!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Shut up and listen to me. You need William.”

  “No!”

  Theo grabs me by my arms again, before I know what’s going on, he jerks me to pay attention.

  “They were bosses. Do you understand that?! Their murders were not sanctioned. William is the only one who can save you now. He can save us both. I’m going to bring you home and tell him I came in to find them trying to rape you. We’re going to tell him that I was fighting them off when you shot Tony. I’m going to tell him I killed Michael. He will have to protect you then. You understand? I’m a boss now and I was protecting his wife from being raped. He will need to save face with everyone. It’s the only way Catherine!”

  When I don’t say anything, he jerks my body again. “Do you fucking hear me? They were trying to rape you!”

  “Yes! I hear you!”

  “Good, come on. I can’t have my cleaning crew come until William sees them.”

  He pulls me the whole way out the building and to his car. The whole drive was a nightmare. He said nothing to me, pretending we didn’t just have sex or that we expressed our love for each other. He was back to not being mine.

  Arriving home, I hold my shirt closed and walk into the house with Theo following behind me. William’s not happy seeing Theo with me especially after seeing my state of dress.

  Theo immediately starts explaining the situation just like he planned it. William stares at Theo. I can feel him questioning every word. Then he walks up to me and wraps his arms around me whispering in my ear.

  “Is he telling me the truth Catherine? Did my men try to touch you again without my permission?” My eyes shoot up, staring straight ahead of me. His concern like Theo said it would be, is about saving face. He’s asking me for the truth, but he doesn’t deserve the fucking truth. He deserves more than what happened to those men tonight and one day I’m determined to give it to him.

  “Yes William, Theo saved me.” I know telling him that another man saved me when he was the one who allowed them to touch me would hit a nerve and it did. He releases his tight embrace and stares at me directly in my eyes, looking very callous. Without removing his eyes from me, he tells Theo,

  “Thank you, Theo. I am indebted to you for saving my wife.”

  Before he turns, I see it in his eyes. He knows I’m lying. He knows this was my doing but he has no proof. If he doesn’t stand up for me with the rest of the underbosses, he will look like shit in front of his men.

  He turns telling Theo, “Take me to them.”

  Theo is the last to walk out the door but not before he glances one more time in my direction.

  That night my husband stuck by me and protected me from any backlash. I knew though, payment was coming for his protection. I just wasn’t sure what to expect.

  At that moment, the memories brought to the surface by the photo are broken when Murphy abruptly enters the room.

  “Catherine, I wasn’t expecting you. The family wondered where you were at for breakfast.”

  Turning on my heels, I leave those horrible memories and answer Murphy, “I was here. Nothing like getting an early start.”

  She’s behind her desk now, eyeing me suspiciously. I walk over to one of her chairs and take a seat as she ponders my appearance.

  “Okay I’ll bite. Early start on what?”

  She sits and starts arranging her desk nervously.

  “There are some things we still need to go over. Things I haven’t taught you yet.”

  “Excuse me? I think I’m doing just fine running my casino.”

  Here we go. Murphy is a hard ass. We’ve made amends, but she still bucks every now and then. But, I owe her. She’s given me two grandchildren and she’s pregnant again. I have a feeling Zander plans on keeping her that way. If I can just finish teaching her and reign in that damn temper of hers, she would make a fine advisory.

  “Murphy, there’s so much I have left to teach you. Not only about the casino but our business. I need you to learn it all as quick as you can.”

  “Quick huh? Because you won’t be here for long, right?”

  I wiggle a bit in my chair, feeling uneased. “Really? This is how we’re going to play this Murphy?”

  “No! Not at all. We’re not going to play. I want you to leave Catherine.”

  “Excuse me?!”

  “You heard me!” Murphy looks me dead in the eyes and says, “You want all of us to get our heads out of our asses. Well mine’s out and I am not playing your games anymore. You want us all to act like we know what to do so when you lay down to die, we can carry on? Well I’m doing that. I don’t need you to teach me another fucking thing. I’m tired of your bullshit Catherine. You want to die. You don’t want to fight? Then go die! I’m done!”

  She stands, leaning over her desk stressing her point. “You promised me you would be here to help me. You promised me you would be here for my girls. You fucking lied! You know, even with all our shit, I respected you. I thought, here is a woman that could show my girls how to be strong, how to be a fighter. But you’re just going to roll the dice because you don’t think your boys are ready. You insulted my husband, you’re hurting him. I want you out!”

  “You can’t kick me out!”

  “The hell I can’t! Remember, I own majority shares. Here, I’m the boss. I’m the one in control and I want you to leave. There’s not another thing I want or need to learn from you. I will learn the rest all on my own!”

  Making sure I know she means business, she walks over to the door, and opens it. I’ll let her win this one. I‘m too shocked and actually proud of her for standing up to me. Slowly standing, I grab my purse and pass by the wall of photos. Lo
oking at my past, one more time. Looking at the moment I took a stand, sort of like Murphy is doing now. Murphy’s still standing at the door, waiting for me to walk out but I’m still looking at the picture on the wall. Hating its very existence.

  “What is with you and that damn picture? Every time you come by, I see you staring at it. Like it has some kind of power over you.”

  Releasing a breath, I run my finger over the glass encasing the photo. “If I asked you to, would you take this picture down and burn it? For me?”

  “Would you tell me why?”

  I remove my fingers from the photo and smile turning towards her. “Because I am a fighter. You see these two men?” I point showing her Tony and Michael. “They hurt me, and I killed them for it. My first kill and I would do it again.”

  Leaving her obviously stunned, I walk out the door with my head held high. She’s already pulled the trigger once. I hope she won’t have to do it again, but this is the life we chose.

  21

  Catherine

  Leaving one casino I decide to go to the other. My casino, the place I made a palace. The minute I walk through the doors, I immediately feel all eyes on me. I’ve earned their reactions. The men scared or feeling emasculated by my presence and the women who envy me; wishing they had my balls. I have their respect, not only their fear. Over the years, I’ve made a name for myself in Louisiana. Most people don’t know the truth about me, the fact I am the one who runs everything that happens in this state. Ha, the governor has nothing on me, but he’s in my pocket, and so was his predecessors. Most people see me as the owner of the finest casino in the state. The one that heads up hundreds of charities. I’ve been known as a philanthropist since day one.

  William never saw the importance of the rise of our family and business in the community. He was so wrong though. I knew the we needed them the minute I took over. I watched and saw what people took notice of. Which families were important and how we could benefit from them. I started fundraisers and opened charities. Met all the right people, which all lead to doing interviews for the papers and news channels. I started having balls and events, promoting our casino. Which in return promote us as one of the most important families in Louisiana. Today, there is not anyone who hasn’t heard about the Sterns. They’ve either heard about all the good we do, or they’re on the other end and are witnesses to our wrath.