He placed a heavy hunting knife in hand standing too close for comfort, his large naked body pressed against my back. Using his larger body, he pushed me toward Missy’s lethargic form on the bed. Her head bobbed to the side, her eyes widening as she stared in horror.
“Do you remember what I told you would happen if you didn’t leave me alone, Missy?”
“Please,” she rasped.
“I’m sorry but not even your tired head will save you from me. Do you know what my favorite song is?” I asked her, gripping her leg tightly, stopping her from crawling away.
I could feel the heat of Taye’s hot breath at the back of my neck as he hoovered, enjoying the show.
“No, please don’t.”
“It’s a beautiful song, listen.” I grinned at her.
My voice resonated throughout the room, full, smooth and rich, the lyrics hinting to a different meaning than what was meant. The words dripped from my lips as I inched closer to my prey until I was right on top of her. I reached down, running the back of the blade across Missy’s damp cheek basking in the fear I elicited from her.
“He let me help you.” Taye said, gripping her hair and wrenching her head back at an odd angle.
“Thank you, daddy.” I said leaning down to whisper in her ear so only she could hear. “This is what happens to people that tempt the monster.” I hissed, as I turned and plunged the blade into Taye’s abdomen and sliced until I reached his groin. I stepped back, giving him a clear view of the smile on my face as he screamed and clutched the spot where the blade protruded from his body.
His eyes displayed the shock and surprise at my actions. How could he not have expected me to turn the knife on him. The man who had taken five years of my life and would have takenmore if we were weak. He really had no one to plan that his underestimation of us would lead him to the same path as our last encounter. But this time he won’t survive. Now, for our other problem.
“If you ask me, I’m ready. I’m ready. If you ask me I’m ready…”
“That felt so good. Do you feel it, Pepper? The raw power coursing through us. More.”
“All you had to do was love me." He coughed, blood dripping from his lips as his voice cracked.
“Shhh, don’t worry Taye. I’ll be right with you.” I said tapping him on the head as he writhed on the floor. “Oh, and I wouldn’t pull that out if I were you. Wouldn’t want you to bleed out before the fun begins.”
Missy was still huddled on the bed too high to be concerned about what I had done to her accomplice. Safely for her that would make this a whole lot easier. She wasn’t worthy of me drawing this out. So, without further ado I picked up the pillow that sat next to her and went to cover her face but stopped when she looked up at me confused.
“What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything.” She said begging for her pathetic life.
I tilted my head as I took in the sight of her vulnerable and scared out of her mind, straightening, I gave her a devilish smile and said, “The only thing I want you to do is die.” Placing the pillow over her face and holding it down until she finally stopped struggling. Once her body went limp, I held the pillow for another few minutes. You know. To be sure. Couldn’t have any other victims returning from the dead like this bastard.
“Are you ready Taye?” I asked. While he panted, sweat rolling off him in rivulets, his eyes fluttering from the blood loss.
The humming in my head was at an all-time high as Nyx vibed to the melody she often used to steady our focus.
I kneeled in front of him, he was so weak and frail, naked and afraid the way I had been so many times at his hands. So alone during the time Nyx refused to be a part of my suffering.
“I was always with you. I may not have spoken but I was there. And I always will be. Even when you can’t hear me. I will always be a part of you. No medication or therapy will ever change that. I’m you and you are me. Finish what he started Pepper. End it.”
I took the handle of the knife and yanked it from Taye’s body eliciting a blood curdling scream from his lips. I watched his blood pour from the gaping wound, almost getting caught up in the sight of the sticky red fluid. Taye was so close to death he could only lay there and moan. I wanted to make him suffer to stretch it out, wringing every ounce of pain from him. But the need to get back home to Gunner overroad our need for revenge so instead of playing with our food. I held Taye’s head back and ran the sharp end of the blade across his neck effectively ending his reign of terror over me.
I don’t know how long I sat on the floor next to Taye’s dead body before a loud sound broke the peace and quiet I had been enjoying. He was so tired I didn’t even move to find out who was in here. The fear of getting caught with two dead bodies hadn’t even registered when I heard heavy steps coming toward the room. I turned my head to the door at the same time as an armed Gunner barreled inside followed by Tyron, Aren and Alestar. They came for me even when I refused to ask for their help. Before I knew what was happening, he was on me, lifting me and covering me from view of the others.
“Lil baby, you good?” He asked firing off questions, checking my body for wounds.
“No. It’s not my blood Gunner. I’m fine, but I wasn't sure if he was listening to me. He held me tight to his body, peppering my face with kisses and apologizing over and over like he haddone something wrong. I was the one that left without an explanation. I leaned my head onto his chest and inhaled his familiar scent of cocoa butter, vanilla and cedar, taking him all in as we stood tangled together. I was so wrapped up in his presence I hadn’t even noticed Alestar and Aren standing in the kitchen with him. I held him tight for fear that he was just a dream, and I would wake up back in Taye’s bed.
“Don’t do that shit again. We are a team. If you have a problem, so do I.” He growled, ripping a sheet from the bed and covering me with it.
The sight of Missy’s dead body clearly not bothering him.
“Man, sis you had us worried girl, Aren said. “But from the looks of the place you had this shit handled. Told you serial killer vibes.” He said looking at Gunner and Alestar.
“Thank you for coming for me." I told all of them.
