Chapter 12

Twelve

XAVIER

No one can make me as angry as this woman can. She still doesn’t get that she’s mine. To own. To control. I hold the very information that will ruin her, shattering her heart to pieces, yet she acts as if she has a choice to be apart from me.

She doesn’t.

Despite filling her beautiful cunt tonight, I’m left feeling empty. This is what I wanted, right? Wasn’t the plan to degrade her and force her to be used? To manipulate her into liking it?

Her little cheeks flushing red as she knelt before me tonight didn’t make me feel satisfied. Shockingly, I want more. No, not more.

I want everything.

Marissa consumes my mind as I motor to the address Charley texted me. When I started this venture two years ago, I thought I would claim all my heart desired by getting her beneath me, hurting her, using her. Humiliating her. She may think I’m controlling, but I’m only trying to keep her from invading every piece of me.

After the fierce look on her face tonight, I know…

I need her to raid my soul. I think she may be the only one to save me.

Turning off the headlights, I park down the block and reach into the console for a pair of leather gloves. I pull them on and ease out of my car, when a massive guy steps out from the shadows. Facing me, he waits for me to speak as some type of awkward silence passes between us.

“You him?” I ask.

He’s wearing a filled belt holster and I hope a silencer somewhere, too. “Yeah. I’m Million. Tony sent me. You asked for help, right? No cleanup?”

“That’s right. No cleanup needed.” Turning toward the house, he stops me.

“And no extra stuff, either? Just muscle backup, right?”

What kind of hit man is worried about extra stuff? “Well, I would love to remove some appendages, but this needs to be an accident.”

“Perfect.” His voice comes out like a growl, a bear neck tattoo twitching as he speaks.

Finding our way into the backyard, I slide my pick set out of my pocket and jiggle the lock open. Devon Hall is right where he normally is in the evenings, sitting with his bourbon, reading in his leather chair. Probably feeling pretty proud of himself for making bail and thinks he’s going to get out of punishment. At least, I hope the lawyers puffed him up just so I can take him down.

Sauntering in like the house is now mine—may as well be—I waltz up to him and stand at his crossed feet. With his face buried in a biography, he hasn’t even noticed us. Well, me. The big bear guy stays in the hall, lingering near a dark shadow.

I clear my throat and almost laugh at the reaction. Jumping out of his seat, his glasses fall from his face as he drops his book and pushes back in the leather chair. “Wha-what? Who are you?”

“I am death and your salvation.” Leaning forward, I place my gloved hands on either side of the chair arms and peer into his face. “And, because I’m such a benevolent god, I’ll give you a choice.”

“What? Aren’t you that kid from yesterday? Marissa’s friend?”

I let my lips part broadly into a smile. “Marissa’s not my friend. She belongs to me. She’s my everything. And you touched what’s mine. So, as I said. I’ll give you a choice.”

Pushing against my chest, he tries to stand, but I grasp his neck and shove him to a seated position. Million makes a move to slide behind him and forces his shoulders back. Hall’s eyes widen, and he acquiesces at the sight of the big guy.

“As I said. You get a choice. Something the women you raped didn’t. Why am I being so pleasant about this instead of removing your penis? Because you’re going to do it for me.”

“No! No, I’m not. You’re crazy.” His eyes dart erratically between my friend and me. Even the bear’s dark brown eyes hold a question, one eyebrow cocked with a slight tilt to his head.

“So, you’re going to write your goodbye and apology letter, then cut off your dick. Put it on the floor and take a picture of it. Like the great artist you are. Then—” I can’t stop the laughter from bubbling through my chest. Sniffling, I get hold of myself. “Then, you get a choice. You can either shoot yourself or take pills. Which will it be, Devon?”

“None, just fucking kill me and be done with it.” Crossing his arms, he acts as if he’s won. Standing, I nod my head at my friend, who grabs him by the neck and yanks him from the chair. Devon tries to fight him off, but it’s ridiculous. The hired man easily overpowers the professor. Million holds Devon’s twerp arms behind his back and keeps his legs wide apart so they are unable to kick. I take that opportunity to undo his belt and tug his pants down. Pulling out my switchblade, I flick it open and shove it in his hand.

“I can’t! I can’t. I won’t,” Devon sobs.

Sliding out my phone, my stomach knots as I pull off a glove and flip to my photos. I really don’t want to do this. It’s not in my nature, but I have to scare him. I hold the screen up for him and showcase his motivation. “This your daughter?” His thrashes are silenced by the bear’s arms. The muscles in his neck contract as he swallows. I scroll to the next shot. “And this is where she and her mother live? Chloe and Amanda from Riverton, right? She’s fifteen. It would be such a fucking shame for her to get maimed, or killed, if you don’t do what you’re told.”

The grip on the knife in his hand tightens as the blade stands more erect. His penis is anything but. “Please don’t hurt her. Please.”

There’s no way I would hurt a kid, but he doesn’t need to know that. “Then make your choice.”

Tears spring from his eyes, snot running down his face as he wails and glances at his limp dick. Shaking his head slightly, he changes it to a nod and weeps. “O-okay. Okay… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay?”

“Great! That’s a start. Now…let’s get that cock hard so you can take it off.” Waltzing toward him, I put my glove back on and grip him tightly, then stroke.

“I said, I’m sorry! I’ll do anything! What do you want? Money? I have money!”

Vigorously tugging on him, his hips buck a few times. As he gets slightly aroused, I smile. “Yeah. I already have all the money.”

“No-no. Please, stop.” But he’s breathless, legs twitching as I rub him. Gripping his hand that holds the knife, I help him place the blade against the base of his cock. The tendons beneath his fingers twitch with resistance, but he can’t fight me. Not with Million holding him.

Meeting his tear-filled eyes, I give him a grin. “Shh. You just gotta work hard. You want this, don’t you? Teasing me for a fucking year… You’ll take off this dick and thank me later.” Mocking the words he spoke to Marissa that day, the ones I later watched on the hidden camera I had in his office, I feel satisfied getting to use them at this moment. With a final push down, we cut through the muscles and arteries, severing his cock until it flops on the floor. The scream that wrenches from his chest is unearthly.

And God, do I love it.

Majestic is how I’d describe it. Letting go of his hand, the knife drops next to the bloodied appendage, and I snatch his nearest camera. The bear lets Devon’s arms go, and the professor falls to the ground on all fours, crying inconsolably. “Now, for the picture. Then the note. It doesn’t have to be fancy.”

Lifting his pathetic head, he begs me, “Please. Just kill me.”

Squatting, I tilt his bearded chin up to look at my face. “Do you want Amanda to get it tonight? Because all I have to do is make one call. Just one. Or you can proceed and save her.”

Wiping his nose with the back of his hand, he takes the camera and snaps a photo, then drops the expensive equipment onto the Persian rug next to the knife. With no more fight left in him, he scribbles out some words on a pad of paper I find in a kitchen drawer.

I’m sorry. I did it. I hurt those girls. I deserve worse than death. I love you, Amanda.

Devon

“Perfect,” I say, scanning it over his shoulder. Wet drops from his face stain the pages, adding to the absolute macabre touch it needed.

Snatching Devon’s face, I grip his cheeks until his mouth opens, then dump a baggie of pills down his gullet. The guy behind us assists by gripping his neck into a hold, forcing Devon’s mouth closed.

“Now, swallow like a good bitch.” As he does, his eyes grow glassy and dazed. His legs weaken, but the big bear holds him up and helps him shuffle back into his chair. I place his glass back in his hand. “Drink.”

Sluggishly, he lifts his arm and slides the liquid over his lips. The hired muscle and I stand back, allowing him to fall asleep. We wait while I search the area, making sure nothing could give away our presence. It only takes about ten minutes before there’s no more chest rise.

“I didn’t know you were, uh, gonna do that.” The bear nods toward the severed cock.

Shrugging, I give the place one last look over for any evidence. Not that it really matters. Big G’s father is the chief of police and easily swayed to look the other way. Which is why I didn’t want to involve G in this at all tonight. No one can know. Not even Marissa.

And some part of my heart seizes at not being able to tell her everything…and that I want to.

Hopefully, the news will keep this story from blowing up. Or at least the sordid details. I’ll have to call them tomorrow to make sure it’s kept quiet. Died at home in his sleep. An “accident.”

Outside, before he returns to his shadow, I tell Million, “Thanks for the help. Money’s wired at midnight. Tell Tony I appreciate him lending you.”

“Sure, thing.” He waits for me to get back in my car before he leaves. Smart guy. Hope I never see him again.

Now, it’s time to formally introduce myself to my new family.