Chapter Three. #2
His fists clenched, and I knew he was upset.
Rightfully so. Drake had made some mistakes concerning Fury.
He should have tracked him years ago when the asshole disappeared.
People claimed that Drake should have put Fury down when he came to Rage’s attention again.
But it was too late. Fury had the numbers and would have annihilated Rage before marching on Rapid City.
Sure, Drake blamed himself; any good person would.
But the only person responsible for Fury’s actions was himself.
The deaths were on that whack job, not my husband.
Drake struggled with seeing Willow. When she came back, she’d openly hated and blamed Drake for not sending Grey away.
The problem was, Grey was a grown man and an ex-fed.
He’d had no intention of leaving the city.
We all knew that. But Willow had been his, and she’d mourned deeply.
Even though she was now with Fanatic, and Danny was our first grandson, Drake could be uncomfortable at times. Willow and Drake had healed the wound between them, but it had happened and couldn’t be erased.
Drake sat up, leaned on his knees, and stared out of the hotel window. “He’s out there, Phoe, waiting to destroy everything I hold precious. What if he attacks the kids?”
“We’d know. We’re their parents. Trust me, if one of them were off, we’d be aware. No, he wants to torture you with your memories, lock you in them until you can’t escape. Then he’ll off you.”
“Off me?” Drake murmured, amused. “That’s a gangster expression!”
“Stick with me, baby, I’m full of useless crap,” I teased again and saw a brief smile cross Drake’s lips.
Please God, just let them capture this threat and stop it dead. Drake had suffered enough.
Judas
What had that been? Out of nowhere, my control over that murdering asshole Drake Michaelson slipped.
It appeared someone had severed the connection.
When I struck back, so did they. Where was the motherfucker?
Had he found help? Well, it wouldn’t work.
I was stronger than anyone out there. Nobody could beat me.
I turned and stared at the room. If the cops saw this, they’d call me a freak, a fanatic, a stalker.
I was none of those. No, I had a purpose.
That was to kill the man who’d caused so much grief.
Everybody believed Michaelson was a great guy.
They were so wrong. I knew the truth, and I’d make sure everybody else did before Michaelson bit the bullet.
I reached out and touched the picture of his four daughters.
They posed happily together. The oldest Jodie smiled brightly, but there was a pain in her eyes.
The next sister in line, Serenity, had a feral gleam.
Serenity and I were too alike. Both hurt and worn down by those greedy, selfish, grabby fuckers around us.
People who drained the energy and life from us—like Michaelson.
I looked at the next—Eddie, a borderline psychopath, by all accounts.
She wore a bright smile, and there was mischief on her face.
Yeah, she was doted on and knew it. I loathed her for that fact alone.
And then there was the baby—Peyton, who was ten and Michaelson’s flesh and blood daughter.
A spoiled brat, no doubt. That kid had never known hardship or suffering. Little bitch.
I looked at the picture next to it. Phoenix Michaelson.
A beautiful woman who was slumming it. Like all bitches, Phoenix was ruled by her hormones, or she’d have walked away from Michaelson years ago.
How could she stand behind him? He was a murderer, and she stuck with him?
Phoenix Michaelson deserved all the misery she was going to get.
My gaze flicked back to the middle daughter.
Serenity. I could relate to her, but I’d heard the tales.
I wanted my cock exactly where it was; after all, her screwed-up sister would need it.
Yeah, I licked my lips as I stared at a large picture of Jodie.
God, she was fuckin’ beautiful, very much like her mother.
Pain shone from her eyes. Twenty-seven, and life had screwed Jodie over.
But not like how Serenity and I had suffered.
Oh no, Jodie was suffering in a different way.
Her scandal would soon erupt, and I’d be there to pick up the pieces for Michaelson’s oldest daughter.
Once Jodie gave me a son, someone to mould, she’d be left as the trash she is.
Perhaps I would break her mind, turn her against those she loved before leaving her. That would be a fine revenge.
Michaelson could watch from hell as I destroy his family, as he’d done mine.
Yes. That was a solid plan, or maybe I shouldn’t kill him, but trap him in his mind.
Make him suffer as his family imploded. Starting with his precious Phoenix.
I bet she’d break easily; I could turn her into the whore of Rapid City. That would be funny.
I ran a hand down Jodie’s cheek and licked it.
It was paper for now. Soon I’d have that soft flesh under my hand, and Jodie would worship me.
If I told her to drop in a busy park and blow me, she would.
And while I fucked her, I’d make Michaelson understand she hated it, that she didn’t want me but couldn’t override my control.
A grin crossed my lips as I grew hard. That would hurt him worse than killing him.
I had a new plan.
Happily, I reached out and frowned when I didn’t connect immediately. I wanted to torture Michaelson with thoughts of Jodie and me. Why couldn’t I reach him?
“Because I’m here, you sick bastard.” The voice drifted into my mind, and I retreated, slamming shields into place.
Who was that? Why were they interfering?
Michaelson had gone for help after all. Did they think they were stronger than me?
Ha, they were fucking wrong. If they wanted to play with the big boys, then they’d better get ready because I’ll fuck them up.
I’d been unable to tell if they were male or female.
Well, they had to be a man. Women were too damn weak for shit like this.
Bring it on. I’ll destroy you and then proceed with Michaelson. Nobody was going to mess with my plans.
Belladonna
“Definitely male, and Judas went straight after Drake. I blocked Judas for now, but he’s aware I exist,” I yawned, raising a hand to cover my mouth. I was propped up in bed with Sapphire, Stitch, and Storm watching me. Judas had done exactly what I guessed, and I’d prevented access immediately.
“Well, that’s not a surprise,” Sapphire muttered.
“No. But I got the sense he’s young. There’s a lot of anger and hate, and Judas is just beginning. There was a glimpse of other targets. Does anyone have pictures of Drake’s family? He had images of women in his head, and one was Phoenix.”
“Here.” Nun pulled them up on her phone.
I nodded. “That’s them. He’s interested in that one.” I pointed to the blonde.
“Jodie Michaelson, a famous actress. She’s married to that actor who was in Road Fury.”
“Judas was really into her. I got a sense of sleaze from him and hot lust where Jodie is concerned. And Judas empathises with, but loathes, that one,” I said, pointing to the second oldest daughter and the youngest.
“That’s Serenity Michaelson, a bona fide whacko. She cut a guy’s dick off and shoved it down his throat, leaving his ball sacks to hang down his jaw,” Sapphire stated, and my eyes widened.
“Holy crap, where do we sign that bitch up?” I demanded. Sapphire laughed softly.
“Not the first time Serenity’s rumoured to have done it either.
There’re a lot of rumours about her. She’s a fuckin’ famous model, but she apparently has a split personality she’ll drift into if threatened.
Lowdown is, Serenity has ended several lives, and Rage has cleared up her messes,” Sparrow said.
“Veep,” I acknowledged as she sat down on my bed. Sparrow held out a cup of hot chocolate, and I sniffed. “Oh, nice.”
“Did you learn anything else?” Stitch asked.
“He lost someone in the war, and he’s targeting that at Drake.
Rather than deal with the grief and mourning, he’s channelling it into hate.
That’s fuelling him. If he loses that foundation, he’ll implode and take everyone out that he can.
His type of power will reach out and destroy whoever’s close.
It won’t matter to Judas if they’re linked or not; he’ll take everybody with him. ”
“Great. Sounds a real peach,” Stitch drawled.
“Yeah. But now Judas has me to focus on, and although he pulled back in a blink, he’s curious.”
Sapphire shot me a worried look. “You need to be careful.”
“He’s no worse than anyone we’ve faced before. Just further along. It’s a good job Phoenix reached out when she did, because if she hadn’t, he’d have killed hundreds before coming to my attention,” I said.
“Well, you stick with Stitch. If he attacks without warning, at least she’s there to heal any damage,” Sapphire ordered.
“Okay,” I agreed, acknowledging the order. Nobody disobeyed her. Not even me, who’d been with her since we were children.