1. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elise

One Week Later

I am finally up and moving around outside. Today is the first time I’ve left the bedroom since I got home. I made Lucian leave the house to get time away from me because I know he needed space. He wouldn’t admit it, but he spent eight days waiting on me hand and foot. The last few days I have felt so much better.

Tonight, Jake dies. We have everything we need, and they’re still held up on their compound. Jake’s face is being blasted on the news. He’s wanted now in connection to over a hundred different rapes, kidnappings, and murders. Daniel has been named for at least triple. Crimson Covenant is a smaller branch of a massive group of people that believe that women are property and nothing more. Clark and Sheriff Donaldson have everything worked out so that it will look like a mass suicide. We are hoping they haven’t killed any of the women or children, but we will see.

“Hey,” Bradley says, standing beside me.

“Hey,” I say, glancing at him.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Murder. Why do you keep asking me that?” I ask.

“Because I don’t think asking you if you’re okay is appropriate. Nothing about this is okay.”

“It’s getting better,” I say. “I detach from trauma easily, so it’s getting better.”

“Physically?” he asks.

“A lot better,” I say. “A lot of information you might not want.”

“Well, now I’m curious,” he laughs.

“Well… I ended up getting chlamydia from the rapes,” I say.

“Oh shit,” he says.

“Mhmm. Well, this morning I tested negative. It doesn’t hurt to pee anymore and it no longer feels like I’ve been gorilla-punched in the pussy,” I say.

“I’m glad,” he says, smiling.

“Yeah. I’m just glad I only caught something curable,” I say. “I read that it’s common for survivors to catch an STI.”

“Weird. I thought they’d care about safety,” he says with a smile nudging me. I can’t help but laugh and shake my head at him. “Oh. I missed your smile.”

“Trying to steal my wife, Bradley?” Lucian asks, kissing me.

“Nah. I’ll just wait for Halloween and have my way with your wife again,” Bradley laughs.

“I’m looking forward to Halloween,” I say.

“Why? So Bradley can fuck you?” Lucian asks, chuckling.

“No,” I laugh. “Just want to replace last Halloween. Jake, he… I just need memories without him.”

“We will make lots of new memories,” Lucian says. “But first… we will start with killing Jake and everyone else who hurt you.”

“We ready to go?” I ask.

“We are,” he smiles. “Are you?”

“More than ready,” I say. “What’s the plan?”

“We go in like we did before. Work from the outside in and gather everyone into the main building where you were held,” he says. “You are to stay with me at all times. Okay?”

“Yes sir,” I say.

“I won’t lie. I’ve missed hearing that,” he says, hugging me again.

“I’m sorry I haven’t. I just… I needed to remember that I’m in control.”

“I know,” he says. “You have and always will lead everything.”

“Let’s go,” I say, going to my tiptoes to kiss him.

We all load up and start driving. I sit in the back with Lucian and Bradley. I move to straddle him and loop my arms around his neck. He gently rubs my back and I press my hips into him. He grunts and kisses my forehead. When I feel him get hard, I do it again. I didn’t realize until now just how much I’ve missed how easily aroused by me he is.

“Elise,” he groans. I ignore him and rock my hips against him, grinding on his cock. “Woman. You’ll be the death of me.”

“Why?” I ask.

“You’re teasing me, and I’ll be stuck murdering someone hard,” he laughs.

“Let me help,” I say timidly.

“Elise, I don’t know if…”

“You don’t get to tell me how to heal, remember?” I ask.

“Right now?” he asks, and I nod happily.

“We’ve got time,” Derrick says from the front.

“Okay,” Lucian says. “Don’t force yourself into anything, okay?”

“I won’t,” I say with a sweet smile before I move out of his lap and go to my knees on the floorboard. I immediately pull him out and lightly drag my tongue from the base to the head of his cock.

“Fuuuck,” Lucian sighs. His pleasure encourages me to take him down my throat and suck. Emotions well up, but I channel all of that into what I’m doing. I use my hand to help stroke him and I bob up and down on his cock. I hollow my cheeks and suck harder, making him moan. He touches my head, but immediately pulls back. I sit up and narrow my eyes at him. I’m realizing the only way he will resume being dominant with me is if I am blunt with him.

“Unless you want me to edge you, I suggest you find a way to stop being submissive and make me take you,” I say, making everyone else laugh. When I resume what I’m doing, he holds my head between his hands and forces me down on him. He takes complete control and lifts his hips to fuck my throat hard and fast. He keeps a tight grip on me and a feeling I never thought would return rears up. I am so turned on and my pussy is aching to be filled by him. When his moans turn to growls as he fucks my mouth, he starts to come. I swallow every drop before pulling back.

“Come here,” Lucian says as he fixes his pants and motions for me to sit with him. When I do, he wipes the tears from my cheeks and hugs me tightly.

“Thank you,” I say. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want me after…”

“I should punish you for that,” he says with a frown.

“You can punish me when you fuck me tonight,” I say bluntly and a smile creeps onto his face.

“We are here,” Derrick says, shifting the SUV into park.

“Let’s do this,” Lucian says, planting a possessive kiss on my lips. We all get out and get into position. Lucian hands me a pistol, just in case, and I have no problem using it. It’s cold out, so I am bundled up as we quietly walk through the woods. I keep myself focused on the task at hand instead of the memories. Hearing their laughter as they searched the woods for me… how confident they were that Jake would find and keep me. I am afraid to know what he would have done if he did.

As we get to the wood line, the buildings come into view. I smile up at Lucian, and he leans down to kiss me. “Let’s do this,” he whispers. Lucian speaks quietly into his earpiece to alert the others that it’s time to move. “Slow and steady. Don’t shoot unless you must,” he says. Everyone confirms, and we move.

As we get to the first building, we hear doors being kicked open, one by one. Lucian kicks the door, and it slams against the wall behind it. He and Bradley step in with weapons drawn. There are three men lounging, watching television. They jump up and act as if they are going to grab something.

“Don’t fucking move,” Lucian shouts. “Everyone. On your knees. Now.”

They all comply when they have a gun in their faces. I immediately go to the back rooms and find three women. They are completely nude and chained to the floor. When they see me, they look almost relieved. “Let me find a key,” I tell them before turning and going into the living area to talk to Lucian. “There are three women in chains. I need a key.”

Lucian looks at the men and then looks at the one in the middle. “Key. Now,” he says.

“Fuck you,” he spits.

“Search him,” Lucian says to me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. “He won’t touch you. If he does, he dies.”

“Fair enough,” I shrug. I walk closer, keeping my head held high.

“Jake is going to love to see your fine little ass back,” the man snickers.

“You were the one with the tiny dick who came in under a minute, huh?” I ask. He raises his hand to slap me, but a shot rings out. He hits the ground and laughter slips out of me. I reach into his pockets and find a key, so I grab it and go back to the women.

“W-Who are you?” a woman asks.

“Elise,” I say. “Come on. You’re safe.”

“Are… Are you sure?” Another woman asks.

“Very,” I smile. I find random blankets and hand them to the woman so they can cover up before we walk out to the others.

“Ladies,” Lucian says. “Take the dirt road to the end and you’ll find a detective down there. His name is Clark.”

“Yes sir,” a woman says.

“You do not have to address me as sir,” he says. “My name is Lucian.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

Lucian and Bradley lead the other two men out and toward the center building. Others are also being led there. I see Jake being led by Derrick, and I stop and back up. Bradley catches me as soon as I turn to run. I don’t know why that was my first reaction, but he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me up so that I am between him and Lucian. They both have their hand on my back, and I feel safe. Being close to Lucian brings me so much comfort.

We walk toward the building and everyone files in. Our people line everyone up and put them on their knees, but Jake is left standing to face all of them. “Anything you want to say to your people?” Lucian asks Jake.

“Nope,” Jake says simply.

“Elise, it’s up to you. Does he die before or after his people?” Lucian asks me.

“What I have planned, he watches them die, and then he dies,” I say.

“Okay,” he says. “Strip and restrain everyone.”

Everyone is restrained so that their arms are behind their backs and they’re naked. Jake is also stripped before being restrained to a chair. I set up what I plan to brand Jake with. He is staring at me but not speaking. Lucian notices this and walks over to me. He kisses me hard, and I smile up at him.

“I love you,” I say sweetly.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” he says.

“How do you like seeing my brand every time you bend her over?” Jake casually asks Lucian, taunting him.

“Oh, I love it,” Lucian says walking closer. “It’s a pleasant reminder of how strong my wife is. To know that she will only ever submit to me is incredible. You see, Jake. I don’t have to force her to her knees for me. I don’t have to force her to submit. If I told her to go to her knees right now… you want to know what she’d do?”

“Exactly what a whore is meant to do, I’m sure,” Jake smirks.

“Exactly,” Lucian says with a sadistic smile. “Because she is my whore. She is whatever the fuck I want her to be, because that is what she wants. How does it feel that the only pussy you can get is the kind that you have to force? Do you know what it’s like for a woman to be fucking dripping for you ? Of course not, because you have to force it. You have to take what isn’t yours.”

“And everyone here took her, too. Over and over and over,” Jake says coolly. “Who gives a fuck if she wants it? I wanted it, so I took it. I made her body do exactly what I wanted it to do. She doesn’t matter. Women do not matter. They are here to serve men, and fuck, did she serve me well.”

“Elise,” Lucian says to me.

“Yes sir?” I ask.

“What do you think about this?” he asks me.

“That you are about to have a lot of fun killing him and I’m going to have a lot of fun bending over for you later,” I say, walking up to check the brand. It is glowing red, and I smile up at Lucian, letting him know that I’m ready.

“Jake, man… That’s cool but… Things are about to get really hot for you,” Lucian says. Josh and Sebastian bring a chair over and force Jake to sit so they can restrain him. When Lucian nods to me, I step just a few inches away from him.

I stare down at my attacker and he doesn’t look so intimidating like this. He is a weak man who chose to do heinous things. He is a demon, but I am no longer possessed by him. I am no longer plagued by his evil. This is what freedom looks like. It looks like choosing to move forward, only I am choosing to move forward with him dead.

“I trusted you,” I say. “You were my friend, and I trusted you. Despite the red flags. Despite what anyone said, I thought you were a good man. You helped me and cared for me when someone tried to hurt me. You supported me when I couldn’t stand the thoughts in my head, but I was wrong… You are my brother. You are my rapist. You are my manipulator, but you are not my future. You are nothing but a bad dream, and Lucian is incredible at getting rid of my nightmares. After today, no one will care about you. No one will miss you. You will forever be known as the man who lost. Lost me. Lost his people. Lost his life. You will be forgotten, Jake. I will heal… and you will die. That is our destiny.”

I pick up the brand and before he can speak, I press it to the center of his chest. He screams in pain, and I hold it in place while he thrashes. His voice breaks and tears are tracking down his face. Eventually, he is reduced to nothing but quiet sobs. I peel the brand off his body with a satisfied smile. I toss the brand to the ground and walk around behind him to pull his head back.

“Anything you want to tell your people?” Lucian asks Jake. Jake looks around at all of the men on their knees. No one is speaking, but they all know their fate. They understand this is the end.

“No,” Jake chokes out.

The others fire off rounds. One by one, Jake watches as his people crumple to the ground. Lines of blood trail across the floor, all meeting the drain at Jake’s feet. Tears are steadily rolling down his cheeks, and I couldn’t be happier. His pain brings me solace. When the last body hits the floor, Lucian turns to Jake. I move to stand by my husband’s side, and he turns us to face one another.

“You will never know the pain he inflicted on you again, my love,” Lucian promises. “Let’s finish this so we can go home, hmm?”

“Finish it,” I say. I go up on my tiptoes and he grabs the back of my neck to pull me close. When he kisses me, I hardly notice him raise the gun. When the shot echoes through the room and I hear Jake letting out a gurgling sound, I pull away and look at him. He is fading away, so I walk close to lean down and whisper in his ear.

“I win,” I whisper. I pull back slightly to keep my eyes on his as the light slowly dims in his soul. He opens his mouth to speak, but he’s too weak to talk. I don’t move until he releases his last breath. Tears slowly trail down my face, but I’m not sad. I’m not angry. I’m free.