The Ring

Beast

I stare down at my sleeping son. His face is pressed into my side, one arm thrown over my chest. Tonight, he wanted me to read him a story before bed and not Summer.

When Summer first made the requirements that I had to spend time with her and Gabe while I was here, I was terrified. I envisioned all the ways I would mess it up. Mother told me that I would hurt them. However, after weeks of being with them, it's become a little easier.

I still have my fears, but each day I allow myself to stay in the moments with them. When I disappear, I will take these memories with me.

Slowly, I lift Gabe's arm up and slide from under it. He rolls over on his stomach. I pause in my movement hoping he doesn't wake up. He quickly settles and falls back to sleep. I stare at his face for a few moments.

"You sure did make one cute ass kid,"Priest hums in my head.

"On this I can agree. But even Lucifer was attractive,"Mother warns.

I ignore her. My son is perfect.

Finally, I leave Gabe's room, closing the door behind me. I stop by the bedroom I'm sharing with Summer.

There has been no repeat of that morning two and half weeks ago, but every night, I sleep in her bed. She hasn't mentioned that morning again and there has been no sign of her wanting to repeat it. As much as she thought she was ready for that next step, I knew she wasn't. I meant what I said, I was going to make her crave me.

I quickly grab my black duffle out of the closet. Taking it to the bed, I place it down before sitting on the bench seat at the foot of the bed. Grabbing my boots, I start to put them on. The sound of Summer's soft footfalls alert me to her approach. My heart stutters in my chest at the anticipation of seeing her.

I look up at the door as soon as she walks in. She's wearing a long dress with thin shoulder straps. Her braids are hanging down her back. She folds her hands over her chest and glares at me.

"Just because he wanted you to read to him tonight doesn't mean you're the favorite. He asked me to cut the crust off his bread today, so." She sticks out her tongue.

A smile creeps on my face. "We both know you are the leading lady in Gabe's life. I'm just a supporting role."

"Yeah, well you better know it." She laughs, before walking further into the room. "Where to tonight?"

She takes a seat beside me on the bench as I finish putting my boots on.

"Checking out a new source. I may be home late. Don't wait up."

When I look over to her, she has a huge grin on her face. It's out of place in the moment and I have no idea why she's so happy.

"What?" I ask.

She bumps my arm with her shoulder. "You called it home."

I didn't realize I'd made the slip up. I also don't have the heart to tell her that even though this feels more like home to me than any place I've ever stayed, it won't change the outcome. Instead of saying this, I pinch her chin between my pointer and thumb and drop a quick kiss on her lips.

"Don't wait up." I force myself to stand and walk away from her.

That kiss alone has me wanting to sit back down, pull her into my lap as I lift her dress, and push my dick into her.

Grabbing my duffle off the ground, I head for the door.

"Gabriel."

I stop when she calls my name. However, I don't turn to look at her. My restraint won't last but for so long.

"Be safe," she finally says.

My fist unclenches at my side. I hadn't even realized it was clenched.

"Goodnight, Summer," I walk out of the room after that.

I needed to put distance between me and her before I miss my opportunity and decide to spend the rest of my night in her bed.

**

I've spent the last two weeks going over everything in Timothy Smith's laptop. Other than infidelity, money laundering, paying off politicians and cops to get away with everything from murder, theft, and domestic abuse, there isn't anything that links him to the Church.

I figured in order to get down to the bottom of it, I need to talk to the man himself. Which is why I'm at his office for his late-night meeting.

I got here just as the place was closing down. The meeting tonight is held after hours. I had about three hours to get my stuff in order. I'd already studied the blueprint of the building, making note of all entrances and exits. I had time to scope out all the cameras. This building has over 200 cameras. They were all on different networks, it wasn't as easy to cut all the cameras at once like I'm used to. In the end, I only cut the ones I'd needed. Security also does a sweep of the building every half hour. I had to make sure I timed everything to avoid bumping into them.

I placed a camera and recording device in Smith's office facing the door right over his desk. I don the janitor's uniform I'd pre-ordered and take out the mop bucket.

Nearly twenty minutes before the scheduled meeting the elevator dings. Tim Smith rushes out and hurries past me into his office closing the door. Not once did he look up at me. If he had, he would've noticed that I look nothing like the usual older black man that cleans his office.

Ten minutes later, the elevator dings again. Two people step off. One is a woman wearing a gray pants suit and blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. She's tall. With those high heels on, she's about two inches shorter than me. I don't miss the obvious gun she has concealed at her back. She walks with her head high, her eyes straight ahead and her shoulders back. She doesn't glance in my direction as she walks by me. Which tells me she's wealthy, but also deadly.

The male with her is shorter than me, maybe six one. He has a caramel complexion close to my son's color. Not as yellow toned as Summer's light skin. I'm assuming he's biracial. His curly hair is in a similar afro style as Gabe's but with darker browns.

His walk is a little more casual than the female's but no less arrogant. He shows his arrogance by the smirk he shoots in my direction before turning away. He"s also wearing a gun underneath his suit coat and a knife at his leg. The leg holster is bulky, but I think he wants people to notice it.

Both the woman and man slip into the office without knocking before closing the door behind them.

I quickly pull up the video on my phone. The over the ear headphones on my head feeds the sound into my ears.

"Victoria?" Tim seems hesitant to see the female. He immediately stood to his feet when she entered.

The guy with her walks around the room as if he's looking it over. His gaze glances at my camera but I'm not worried about him seeing it. Just as I suspect he quickly looks away.

"I thought I would be meeting Maksim."

"That is actually why I am here. Maksim has gone rogue."

Tim gasps and drops back down into his seat. It sems this news about Maksim was unexpected and affects him greatly.

"Corbyn wants all his associates to know that the ties with Sim have been severed. If anyone is seen communicating or doing any business with him, then you are no longer an ally of Corbyn."

Tim shoots to his feet once again. "I assure Mr. Corbyn that I have not seen or heard from Sim."

The mixed guy stops his causal perusing around the room. He turns back to Tim and slowly walks over to his desk.

"What did you call my brother?"

Tim lifts a shaking hand and runs it over his hair.

"Uhh…"

"You called him Sim. Don't ever let me hear you speak my brother's name casually. He may no longer be a part of our team, but you don't get to disrespect the name Corbyn gave him."

Victoria holds up a hand when the mixed guy takes a step toward Tim.

"Easy, Yohan. You have to remember; Timmy is new to this. His bloodline isn't as pure as ours."

"I'm sorry," Tim quickly apologizes.

Victoria smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Since business with Sim is no longer an option. I will be taking over all his deals."

Tim nods. "Okay. Do you need anything from me?"

"No, not at the moment. I've been looking over your payments with Sim and everything seems good. But I don't have to remind you, I am not my brother."

"I understand. I appreciate all you and Mr. Corbyn have done."

Victoria nods. She turns to walk away but stops and turns back. "I hope that you know that discretion about our brother is of the upmost importance. Corbyn is only telling people that Sim had business dealings with. If the matter was to get out by any chance, well, it would be easier for me to eliminate all that knew than to figure out who told. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"Good. Until next month, Timmy." She turns and walks toward the door.

"Smith," Yohan calls out. "What about your janitor? Can he be trusted?"

"Lawrence?" Tim sounds confused. "He's never bothered anyone. He's been with the company for a while. He's half deaf and a bit touched in the head." I'm pretty sure Tim is describing the older black guy that usually works this floor.

Yohan smirks but doesn't say anything before turning and heading to the door. I quickly stuff my phone away and go back to mopping. I don't turn to look at them when they walk out the office.

"Hey," Yohan calls out to me. However, I pretend to not hear him with my headphones on.

He shouts for me once again. I continue to ignore him.

"Yohan, leave him alone. We don't have time," Victoria calls out to him in a bored tone.

Their footsteps echo off the tile floors until they stop short. I'm assuming in front of the elevator. My suspicions are correct when seconds later, the elevator dings and the swish of the doors opening are heard. I give them time to get on the elevator and to hear the swish once again, before turning back around.

Pushing the mop and broom back into the janitor's closet, I wipe everything down before grabbing the duffle I stashed there. I head down to the empty parking deck making sure to stay clear of the cameras I didn't cut off.

The black Bently Continental is the only car parked on the top floor of the garage. I kneel on the side, away from the door and wait. Fifteen minutes later, Tim's voice appears out of the blue.

"I'll be there in a few. Wait up for me," he says while on the phone. The locks on the car disengage. He pulls the door open and climbs in. I quickly slip in the passenger seat beside him. He turns to look at me confused.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Instead of answering his question, I punch him in the face. His head cracks against the window. He's knocked out.

I slip back out of the car and go around to the driver's side. After opening the door, I pop the trunk and quickly take him out the car. I stuff him in the trunk before getting behind the wheel. I pull out of the building, making sure to check my surroundings just in case I'm being followed.

The trip to my apartment building is quick. I unload Timothy from the trunk of the car, carrying him over my shoulder into my kill room. Once inside, I dump him into the chair. He still hasn't woken up.

I strap his legs down first and then move to his arms. As I'm placing the cuffs on his left hand, I spot a large gold ring. The ring reminds me of those old school class rings. Instead of a school mascot in the center of the red stone, there's a capital R with a thorny crown. The same emblem embossed in the invitation he kept.

I slide the ring off his finger bringing it closer to inspect. Other than the emblem and a few diamonds, nothing else stands out on the outside of the ring. Turning it over there is something scrolled on the band.

I have to squint to make out the writing. ‘Smith 1 of 10' the inscription reads. I place the ring down on the table and finish securing Tim. I grab a few tools out of my cabinet and place them on the cart beside my victim. Just as I'm finishing up, Tim slowly wakes up.

His head rolls around on his shoulders as he moans. He'll have a throbbing headache, but he won't have to worry about it long. Finally, he opens his eyes. He looks confused, until he starts to look around the room. I can tell the moment the memory of what happened tonight dawns on him. He starts to tug at the cuffs. His eyes widen as he takes in the scene.

"What the fuck is going on? Who are you?" He asks as his attention lands on me.

I ignore his questions the same as I did in the car. "Eight years ago, a man named Dennis Chambers was killed."

Tim's eyes narrow as he looks me over and then a slow smile spreads over his face. He sinks back in his chair as if he's on a leisurely visit.

"Let me guess, you're an ex-cop or something?" He laughs. "Do you know how much trouble you're going to be in?" He laughs again and shakes his head. "I hate to break it to you, but I didn't kill your cop friend."

I watch him for a moment, studying his posture. Even in this situation he believes his power and privilege still reign. His disposition is completely opposite of what it was back in his office with Victoria and Yohan.

"No," I say. "You hired the Church to do it."

The smile immediately wipes off his face. His brow bunches as he stares back at me. There is no smirk or smug smile this time.

"You're part of the Church?" He asks.

I don't answer.

"Look, I paid for that service. It's a done deal. If you have a problem with it, you can take it up with your Pope." His tone is more serious, like he's handling a business deal. Not so much smugness in it as before. He respects the Church more than he does the police force.

"The Church does not do hire for kill." I knew this to be a lie, but I was baiting him.

This time Tim laughs, albeit not as boisterous as the first time.

"Are you kidding me? That organization has been doing our dirty work for years. My grandfather used them, and his father used them before him. They are always willing to work for the right families." His smirk grows wider.

"How does your family have the Church in their pockets?" I didn't miss out on his use of the word families. But I'll store that information for later.

He gives me another one of those smirks. "Wouldn't you like to know." He leans his head back in the chair. "I'll admit, you got some big balls, kid. Taking me like this takes courage. But when your superior finds out what you did, you won't last a day. Best to let me go. I'll keep your secret." He winks at me.

The smugness is back. He knows the Church, and he knows what we are capable of, but he still feels as if he has more power than they do. Interesting.

"Who is Corbyn?"

All the smugness drains from his face turning it pale. His head lifts and his eyes widen.

"What do you know about that name? Get me out of here." He fights against his restraints.

Funny, he wasn't nearly as terrified of the Church as he was of this Corbyn guy. Yet, he knows the Church's capabilities. This is the first time I've seen true fear in his eyes.

"Tell me about Corbyn," I repeat.

Tim glares at me. "You don't know what you're dealing with. I'm not saying anything."

I believed him. He was too scared of whoever this Corbyn guy was. True fear, the one that has this man nearly wetting his pants at just a name, will make you lock up like a vault. He's willing to die before he betrays this Corbyn person.

I had one more question. I pick up the ring off the table. The moment he sees what I'm holding he panics.

"Give that back," he shouts.

"What's this symbol?" I turn the ring so that the emblem is facing him.

He turns his head refusing to look at the ring. I wait for his answer, but he doesn't speak.

Letting out a deep breath, I drop the ring back on the table with a loud clank and then climb to my feet. I don't believe he will say anything else, but when I'm done he will wish he had.

"Make him bleed,"Mother says in my head.

"As you wish, Mother." I reply as I allow her to slip over me and fill my head.

I rip open the front of his shirt, causing buttons to fly everywhere. Grabbing the straight draw knife off the table, I place it at the top of his chest, with light pressure I drag the blade down. His screams rip through the room making my ears ring. I toss the large chunk of skin onto the floor and move on to the next.

By the time I placed Timothy Smith's body into the incinerator, the only skin he had on his body was on his eye lids.

After cleaning the kill room and showering, I drop the car at the chop shop before heading home.

I used the word again. Home. Never in my life did I think that I would feel like any place was my home. Even when I stayed with Priest and my brothers, I never thought of the place as home. However, I'm finding that any place where Summer and Gabe are, is home.

I walk into the house at nearly five am. Summer is fast asleep on the couch. Her tea mug is on the coffee table and a bowl of popcorn is beside it. She tried to wait up for me.

After checking in on Gabe, I head back into the living room. Kicking off my boots, I climb on the couch behind Summer, then lift her up and place her on top of me.

"Gabriel?" she moans my name with her eyes closed.

"It's me. Go back to sleep."

"Okay. Love you," she hums before burying her face in my neck. She quickly falls back to sleep oblivious to the words she's just spoken.

I hold her body close to my chest. If I had it my way, I'd never let Summer go. However, a memory of my childhood pops in my head.

I was five years old. I'd been locked in my crate down in the basement for a month. Those were the worst punishments. When I was locked up upstairs, I could at least talk to Mother and listen to her daily scriptures.

Yet, when I was in the basement, I had no one. Mother only put me in the basement when I'd really done wrong. This time, I smiled at the image of a lady on TV. Mother said I was sinning for lusting after the woman.

I'd been in that crate so long my legs had gone numb. I'd learned early to not complain or cry about my punishments. One night, I heard clawing outside of my cage. Turns out a small mouse had found its way into the house. I named him George after the Curious George cartoon I used to watch.

I remember sharing my food with George and talking to him for hours. I was so desperate for the company. For five days, George was my best friend. He would come out of his hole to greet me. Any time mother would come downstairs I would send George back into hiding.

However, on that fifth day, I did not hear mother open the basement door. I didn't have enough time to send George back to his den, so I grabbed him in my hands to protect him. Mother hated rodents. If she found him, she would've killed him without second thought.

When she pulled me out of the crate for my daily beatings, I clutched George to my chest doing everything I could to keep him safe. However, even at five I was bigger and stronger than most kids. When mother tossed me back in that cage and I opened my hand, I had crushed my friend to death.

Mother found me crying with George's body still in my hands. She reminded me that I am darkness, the son of the devil. She told me that I will always taint and kill the things around me because I was never meant to have love.

As much as I want to keep Summer and Gabe, I know just like George, I will one day hurt them. Even if I'd rather die than cause them any pain. I am evil, and evil does not get the benefits of being loved.