“I want you, Christine. Only you. From the moment I saw you.” He stared deep into her eyes, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. He was convinced that he wanted her, that much she saw in his amber eyes, and it made her fear him all the more. “I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it a million times over, until you believe me.”“I should have stopped you from getting onto that plane then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You would be here with me in my arms and in my bed. Willingly.” He sounded sure of himself.“But you didn’t, Mason and I fell in love with Chase and I’m having his son.” Christine said.He shook his head, smiling sadly. “You’ll forget all about him. In time. I will never let you go, you get that, don’t you.”Hopeless tears trickled down Christine’s cheeks, tears she couldn’t stop even though she wanted to.“Mason, please…”He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “Shh. Don’t cry. I’ll take good care of you, you’ll see.” He got up from the bed. “I’ll
“Welcome back, Ward.” The w sneered at Chase. “I hoped you enjoyed your little vacation in the looney bin. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from now on. No more stunts like you pulled the last time or you’ll find your ass in solitary until you rot.” Warden Peters opened the cell door and shoved Chase inside. The door clanged shut behind him and Chase put his cuffed hands through the slot for Peters to unlock.Chase said nothing. He was not going to let the warden upset him. Peters’ boots squeaked down the hall and Chase was left to stare at the grey walls of his single cell. Thanks to the doctor, he now had a cell all to his own, he grinned drily.The warden had a lot to say about that as well. “You think you’re some kind of celebrity, don’t you, Ward? Well, let me be clear, you are nothing but a murdering low life scum. You’re in my house now, and your daddy’s not going to save you this time.”Chase wished they would get the trial over with. He hadn’t spoken to his father in over a
Meanwhile Chase had plans of his own. The next morning at breakfast, (if you could call cold oats and rubbery eggs breakfast) he sat down at the table of Marco Carlucci a renowned Mafia mob boss.“I don’t remember inviting you, stronzo.” the older man said as he dabbed the remnants of his breakfast off the side of his mouth.“Don Carlucci, I would like a favor. I have money.” Chase lowered his voice.“Get lost! Didn’t you hear the Boss?” a brawny baldheaded man rolled up his sleeves to reveal heavily tattooed arms, ready to throw Chase down on his ass.Two other men stood up from their chairs. But the guards ordered them to sit the fuck down.“You are the feccia dell'avvocato that murdered that poor girl, no?” the old man rasped and bent forward to fix Chase with his small, dark eyes.“I didn’t kill that woman, Don Carlucci, I swear on my mother.” Chase crossed himself. “I need to get out of here. The mother of my child’s life is in danger. Help me please.”Marco Carlucci smiled indul
Nathan watched as his brother sped away in his BMW.“Okay, the coast is clear.” Nathan called his twin.Ethan took out his cellphone and called the coach. “Mr. Hamachi, it’s Ethan.”“Hey, where are you guys? We’ve been waiting just for you.” Mr. Hamachi’s high-pitched voice sounded in his ear.“Yeah, I’m sorry, we can’t make it (cough, cough), both of us are sick.” Ethan poked his brother who laughed behind his hand.“What a shame. We’re having a party after practice. You know it’s the last one of the year.”Ethan faked cough again. “So sorry, Mr. Hamachi. Merry Christmas to you." he ended the call."Stupid, Mr. Hamachi doesn’t celebrate Christmas.” Nathan slapped his twin at the back of his head.“Whatever, Nathan!” Ethan rubbed his head. “So, now what?”“Now we get a Lyft. I know the address.” Nathan said. He still had some money left over from his allowance.***Mason played the video again, taking pleasure in Christine’s discomfort. She closed her eyes, but still couldn’t escape t
“Mason! You could’ve killed him!” Christine cried in horror as the car sped off out of the underground parking.“Yeah? Pity I didn’t. It would’ve been one less asshole to worry about,” he cackled. But Mason realized this means a shitload of trouble lying ahead for him. He had to think of something plausible to explain the situation away if Alexander cornered him.Christine worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She hoped Raven was alright. Maybe now she could be saved from this monster. She prayed Raven would act swiftly. Watching the road ahead as the Audi travelled onto the interstate west, Christine wondered if they were going to Phoenix. They would have to stop along the way and maybe, just maybe she could get away from him then.“Where are we going, Mason?” Christine tried her best to sound calm.“Home, Darlin’.” Mason smirked at her. “I have a pretty place up in Phoenix. Very isolated.”Isolated. Christine felt her blood run cold. An isolated place with a deranged man. She sw
A man with an eyepatch on his left eye approached Chase where he was busy mopping the corridor floor. He bumped into him and pushed a piece of paper in his hand.“The guard’s name’s Owens. There’s a trolley full of dirty sheets waiting at the end of the hall. Take it down to the loading bay. Give this note to Owens. He will help you.” He shoved Chase on the shoulder and walked away.Chase almost dropped the mop in his hurry to get to the end of the long corridor, but he had to play it cool. He passed a bored guard who yawned long and loud.“Hey, you!” the guard called out to Chase and his heart dropped to his stomach.“Yes, officer?” Chase stopped in his tracks, mop in hand. He dared not look at the guard for fear he would see how nervous he was.“Some lazy fucker left a trolley with dirty sheets there at the end. Hurry up and take it to the loading bay. They’re leaving soon.” He pointed at the abandoned trolley, “Bunch of fucking useless scum,” the guard mumbled.“Right away, officer
Mason carried Christine to the room he booked for the night. Thank goodness it was on ground level. She wasn’t that heavy, but being unconscious meant carrying deadweight, and Mason wasn’t exactly a bodybuilder. He groaned, dropping her on the single bed. He had to make do with what was available. Two single beds. He would prefer sleeping close to her, but he could wait.“Sorry, Darlin’, this isn’t the most comfortable bed, but it’ll have to do.” Mason handcuffed her wrists above her head to the bedpost. He patted her cheek, and she stirred a little. “That ought to hold you a while. I’m getting us some takeouts. Be a good girl.” He tilted his head to think. On second thoughts, he’d better gag her. She might just wake up while he’s gone and scream the roof off.He took off his tie and rummaged in his coat pocket for a handkerchief. He pulled her jaw open and stuffed it into her mouth. To make sure she didn’t push it out with her tongue, he used his tie to secure it at the back of her h
“Where have you been? I’ve been going out of my mind.” Erica grabbed Alexander’s arm, her face pale and tense.“Takeout, Ma.” Raven lifted the brown paper bag for her to see.The twins shouted from the living room where they were playing games. “Yay! We’re starving.”Alexander kissed Erica and whispered in her ear. “We found him. He’s safe.”She clung to her husband, sinking into his arms with relief, making her legs weak. “Oh, thank God.”Raven went about setting the table and getting drinks ready for their dinner while his parents talked. He worried about his brother, alone, in the cold warehouse where the temperature dropped to below freezing at night. He didn’t even have a blanket. As soon as everyone’s asleep, he would go and take some warm clothes and blankets to him. Maybe the two of them could then hit the road to Phoenix. He still had his father’s firearm in the glove compartment.“Ugh! Bro! you know I don’t like chicken.” Nathan turned his nose up at the burger.Alexander f