“Yeah…I don’t know about all that, but I can use one this less thing to stress about,” I said with a grin.
I re-entered the bedroom when he walked away and found Aurora no longer in bed. The shower ran in the bathroom, so I crossed the room and entered. She jumped in surprise and wiped water from her face when I opened the shower door.
“What the hell?” she exclaimed. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Change of plans.” My gaze swept along her naked form, pushing back any filthy thoughts that tried to form. “We aren’t going to the event anymore.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Seriously, Bennett? You—”
“We have other business to handle,” I interrupted.
Her earlier annoyed expression quickly morphed into curiosity. “Oh. What’s going on?”
“Something I’ve been waiting to do for a few years now.” A slow grin pulled across my lips. “We have the location of Stephanie’s murderer. And I think it’s time we pay him a visit.”
AURORA
I stood around in the garage with Saint as Bennett took a last-minute phone call. Saint looked at me and grinned.
“You can get in the car if you want,” he said. “You don’t have to stand around.”
“I’m fine. But thanks,” I said.
He nodded as he leaned against the grill of the SUV, folding his arms across his broad chest. “Giselle asks about you,” he said.
I looked at him in surprise. I hadn’t seen her much since Saint brought her out of the bunker for fun day. A small smile touched my lips as I thought of her saying she liked my “new hair” when she saw my new wig. I fought the urge to touch my belly. I still didn't even know how I felt about my own baby. Before today's ultrasound, I didn't have much attachment, only thinking of it as another way to hurt Bennett. But seeing it on the screen for the first time and hearing its little heart beating made me feel something I couldn't explain. I'd looked to Bennett to his eyes fixed on the screen, an emotion I'd never seen on his face. It was like a mixture of awe, hesitation, and excitement that he was unsure of how to process. It was one thing to know you were pregnant, but a completely different thing to actually see and hear it for yourself.
"How is she?" I finally asked.
"Ready to go home," he said and sighed. "I'm ready to get this shit over with. I hate keeping her down there."
"I'm sure," I said, making a mental note to ask Bennett to take me to the children tomorrow. "Where's her mom?"
Saint clenched his jaw as he exhaled. "She died."
"Oh." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah, well, shit happens," he said as he bowed his head.
I looked toward the door for a moment before turning my attention back to him. "She didn't die from—"
"No," he interrupted quickly. "Anaphylactic shock from a bee sting. A fucking bee sting."
"That's terrible. I'm so sorry," I murmured. It seemed like a good bit of these guys had experienced some kind of loss or pain. It made me wonder if that was why he'd joined, to have some kind of outlet for the pain that he walked around with. I couldn't imagine how much it probably hurt to look at his daughter, who probably reminded him of her mother. I discreetly clasped my hands in front of me, my hands resting on my lower belly. "From what I've seen, you're a good dad."
He looked up at me and gave me a small smile. "Thanks." He was quiet for a moment. "I know it's probably hard right now with everything you've been through and our current situation with Wilson, but I think you should be a little patient with Bennett right now. He's struggling with his own shit and—"
"And I'm not?" I asked with a raised brow.
He pursed his lips together, a flare of annoyance flashing in his eyes. "I know you are; I'm not saying you aren't." He looked toward the door leading into the house briefly as if to make sure no one else was around. "When Stephanie told him she was pregnant, it was all he could talk about. Bruce and I rode with him to his father's for the meeting and the whole way there, he couldn't stop gushing about becoming a father."
"I can't imagine a man like Bennett gushing about anything," I said flatly. Saint chuckled.
"He wouldn't shut up about it actually." He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "We were joking around about names and what kind of father we'd think he'd be. I mean he was happy before when it was just him and her, but her being pregnant brought something pure out of him. I don't think I'd ever seen him that happy. He told us that he was thinking about leaving this life because Stephanie always said she didn't want to have a family in this chaos, and I didn't blame him a single bit. There are days when I want to take my daughter and leave this shit too."
"Then why don't you?"
Saint smirked. "I'm sure you know the answer to that."
"Bennett told Wilson he'd wanted to leave," I said.
"Yeah. So, when we got back to the house and found her dead, I wasn't surprised." His gaze was hard on me. "Everything he's doing is to protect you. I know it fucking sucks, but he just doesn't want the same events to happen again."
"But a deal is a deal," I reminded. "I did everything I said I'd do; it's not like I asked to be pregnant." I stood a little taller. "Besides, he and I have come to an agreement for now. We'll see how long it holds ups."
"How long what holds up?" Bennett asked as he appeared in the doorway.
Saint smirked at me and pushed off the front of the SUV and walked over to the driver's side as I shook my head. "Nothing. We were just talking about things."
Bennett cut his eyes to Saint before looking to me, his eyes flashing with appreciation. "You look sexy," he said, taking in my black pantsuit. His finger trailed down the center of my bare chest. "And you're not wearing anything under this jacket."
"I'm not," I confirmed, though anyone with eyes could see that.
"Bold," he said and gave me a wicked smiled. "Especially around me."
Bruce and Nyxin came down the stairs into the garage. "Shot gun," Nyxin said as he moved toward the SUV.
"Everyone ready to go?" Bruce asked.
"Did you put the stuff in the truck already?" Bennett asked, which Bruce nodded in response.
"Where's the nerd?" Saint asked.
"Fuck you, Saint," KC said with a scowl as he entered the garage. Saint only chuckled and got into the SUV along with the others. Bennett looked at me.
"You ready?" he asked. I nodded, getting into the car when he opened the car door for me. I could feel the anxious energy rolling off of Bennett in waves, unable to be still as we made our way down the road. His leg bounced next to me and I couldn't help but feel a little bad for him. The man we were going to see was essentially the person who'd physically destroyed his life by killing Stephanie. I couldn't begin to imagine the many times he probably thought about this night since her death, imagining all the ways he'd avenge her if he'd gotten the chance.
I put a hand on his knee and squeeze, which stopped him from bouncing his leg but he didn't look at me. "Are you going to be okay?" I asked, my voice low.
He glanced at me. "I'm fine," he stated, his tone flat.
"Your body language doesn't say you're fine."
"I said I'm fine, Aurora," he responded tightly, removing my hand from his knee. I sighed inwardly and folded my arms across my chest, turning my attention to the window instead.
"You'd think he'd be more excited considering he's about to kill the man responsible for Stephanie's death," my alter said with a tsk. "Instead, he's been a bit of an asshole."
I think he's just a little anxious. I wouldn't doubt there's a bunch of emotions he's feeling right now, I mused. When given the chance, I was sure I'd probably feel the same way when it came time to kill Wilson.
My alter scoffed. "Aww, look at you protecting your hubby and baby daddy. How precious. Are you gonna fall in love with him, too? Fucking weak idiot."
It's not being weak. There's no reason to be a bitch about it. People still have feelings.
>
"Where were his feelings when he hurt you? Where were his feelings when you were in hell and reached out for me? Where was all these feelings that you mention when you needed them?"
I think you should be quiet now, I thought as I ground my teeth, but it only laughed.
"Make me."
And I knew the perfect way to do it.
I slid closer to Bennett and placed a soft kiss on his cheek and putting my hand on his. He glanced over and me and frowned. "What is it?" he asked.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you is all," I murmured. He made me nervous with the way he looked at me, the irritation and malice in his eyes. It reminded me of the man I knew him to be, the one I knew was still lurking around inside of him that was just waiting for the perfect time to strike.
"I keep telling you I'm fine," he said and shrugged me off.
I sighed and slid back away from him, my alter cackling in the back of my mind. "So, how'd that work for you, princess?" it said and cackled some more.
The rest of the ride was filled with an awkward, deafening silence. Bennett spent his time occupied with tapping away on his phone, no doubt probably communicating with the guys in the truck.
"How much longer until we're there?" I finally asked but he didn't respond. "Bennett, can you say something?"
"I would think my lack of words would hint that I'm not in the mood to talk," he mumbled, still typing away on his phone. I narrowed my eyes at him and frowned.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You were fine before we left and now you're being an asshole for no reason."
"There's nothing wrong with me. I just have too much on my mind right now to talk," he said. "We'll be there soon. Just sit there and be quiet. You should be glad you're here in the first place."
I scoffed. This man just wasn't capable of turning over any kind of new leaf; all of his leaves were dead. He'd be "nice" for a little while and then some switch flipped inside of him, revealing what I already knew he was. He could pretend to be good all he wanted but we both knew the truth. After Stephanie died, he wasn't capable of being that guy anymore.
"At the end of the day, that won't matter," my alter said. "We'll be gone soon anyway."
I highly doubt he's really going to let me go.
"If you play your cards right, maybe he will."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm pregnant. I'll be lucky if he lets me leave the property by myself, let alone leaving completely."
"Bigger miracles have happened. Just get through this little hiccup and we'll cross that bridge after Wilson is killed. Once the main threat is eliminated, maybe the jackass will relax a bit," it said.
I sank down a little more in my seat, praying that it was right. Bennett switched so much between his moods so often that it was hard to even gauge how to interact with him at times.
"Are you anxious?" I finally asked him. He continued typing on his phone before he looked at me, his brow furrowed.
"Anxious about what?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess about tonight. I'm sure you thought about this for a long time."
"Yeah, I have."
" I mean something like that would have to make you anxious. At least anxious to get to him," I said.
"There's nothing to be anxious about. We know where he is and by the time I return home, he'll be dead. Why would I be anxious about that?" he asked sarcastically.
I scowled at him. "You're fucking impossible. And to think that I'm fucking stuck with you because of this fucking baby," I mumbled.
"Whether you had a baby or not, you're stuck with me." He narrowed his eyes at me. "I don't know what you're planning or plotting but know that you aren't leaving here." The malice that shined in his eyes took me back to the dark times where his presence alone would make me shut down. It was the same malice that was in his eyes when I first met him, when I looked up at him after he beat and raped me, and every day I saw him when I was in hell.
"I'm not planning anything," I whispered, my trembling voice causing my alter to scoff in disgust.
"Good," he said, his voice flat. "You may be my wife and you may be pregnant, but I have no problem reminding you of the man you already think I am. Watch yourself and your mouth." His warning didn't go unnoticed. I only nodded, unable to speak as the words stuck to my throat in growing fear. He stared at me for a long moment, his gaze hard before he finally turned his attention back to his phone for the rest of the ride.
We finally arrived down the street of a house in the country, all the lights off. "Stay here," he said and got out of the car. I looked out the back window to see the guys getting out of the truck, all of them huddling in front of it and talking. I couldn't hear anything they were saying, and my curiosity was getting the best of me.
I moved to touch the door handle, but my alter stopped me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," it tsked. "For someone to be so scared of this man, you sure like to do shit to piss him off."
I blew out a breath and folded my arms across my chest. "Just be patient and wait," I said out loud. "He'll come get me when they're ready."
But instead, all the men went toward the house without another glance at the car. I waited, glancing at the driver in the rearview mirror, but he didn't say anything to me either. A light finally came on in the front of the house, shadows moving around in front of the window.
"Fuck this," I mumbled after a while, opening the car door and stepping out into the warm night air. My heels clicked along the asphalt of the street as I walked down the road toward the house, a million of emotions running through me. I knew Bennett would be upset, but I had just as much of a right as he did to be present to witness it. Even if I couldn't have a hand in it, I should be able to see the death of the man who killed my sister. If he was only going to make me stay in the car the entire time, what was the point of bringing me in the first place?
My heart pounded in my chest as I walked up the paved driveway, already hearing the shouting on the inside of the house. I turned the knob of the front door and stepped inside, the sounds of punches and shouting coming from my left. I turned to see Bruce, Saint, and Nyxin pummeling the guy as they fought to put him in the chair. I stood frozen to my spot when I locked eyes with Bennett. Dangerous anger burned in his gaze as he stared at me and he crossed the room in an instance. I gasped when he grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the front door.
"Didn't I fucking tell you to stay in the car?" he growled, spittle flying from his mouth.
Help me, I called out to my alter.
"You're on your own girl. I told you not to get out, but you didn't want to listen. You're gonna have to deal with that consequence. I'm busy," it said and went quiet.
"I-I-I just wanted to—"
My words were stopped when he slapped me hard, sending me to the floor. I looked up at him in shock, crawling away from him as he stalked toward me.
"I've tried to be patient with you and you just keep testing me," he said.
"You said you couldn't hurt me anymore," I whispered, the stinging finally settling in.
"And you believed me? You’re the one who said you were pregnant, not handicapped, right?" He chuckled. "I guess that means my chance is blown, huh? So much for being the good guy."
Bruce walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "We're here for him, not her, Bennett. Let's get this done," he said.
Bennett continued staring at me before nodding toward the door. "Go back to the fucking car and if you get out of it again, we're going to have a bigger problem when we get back home."
I slowly stood to my feet, holding back tears as I walked past him and out the door without another word. As soon as I stepped off the porch, hot tears ran down my cheeks as I walked down the road and back into the car.
"You can't let your guard down with someone like him," my alter finally said. "He isn't someone who can be saved. All he'll do is destroy you in the process, which is why he needs to be destroyed."
But he said he was going to cha
nge. He said he'd wanted to make this work—
"You were the one crazy enough to believe him. The devil lies all the time. Just be glad he slapped you. It could've been so much worse."
I wiped my eyes and settled into the seat. He was still the monster. He was still the devil. And I'd been so stupid to think he'd ever be anything other than that.
After what felt like eternity, the men exited the house. Bennett got into the car without a word to me, only speaking for Joseph to take us home. He didn't apologize for what happened in the house, he didn't tell me anything that'd happened. A part of me wanted to ask, but I could still feel the anger he emitted in his presence alone, so I didn't want to press my luck. Halfway through the ride, he grabbed my hand but still didn't say anything. I looked at him, his eyes still fixed out the window in deep thought. I didn't dare pull away from him, but I couldn't stop myself from shaking under his touch. He glanced at me and frowned, looking down at our hands and then pulling his away.
"You're already starting to bruise," he simply said. "Get an ice pack as soon as we get home."
I fought the urge to scoff. Get an ice pack as soon as we get home. After what happened tonight, that was the only thing he could think to say to me. I wrapped my arms around myself, squeezing myself a little harder to where I hoped my baby could feel it. I didn't have much left. Bennett and his father took that all from me. The only thing I had was myself and a baby that I wasn't even sure that I really wanted. Even if I got out of here, how would I be able to love a child that would look like their father? How could I look at my baby and not think of all the horrors I'd experienced at their father's hand? The pain? The abuse? And as I looked over at him, blood staining his suit and some of his skin, how could I trust that he wouldn't hurt them too? He'd said he wouldn't hurt me now that we were married, and he couldn't even keep his word about that.
"You're awfully quiet now," he finally said, breaking the intense silence around us. "On the way here, you had everything in the world to talk about."
You Will Obey (Rules of Bennett Book 4) Page 14