Chapter 37 Kip
KIP
I’d had a lot of sex in my life, but nothing like that ever.
I pulled out of Holland, then climbed off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
Once I located a washcloth in the cabinet under the sink, I turned on the hot water.
Once it was the perfect temperature, I saturated the cloth and returned to her.
Gently, I cleaned her off as I kissed the inside of her thigh.
Her eyes glistened as she watched. “I’ve never had anyone do that before.” Her voice was soft as if she was trying not to fall apart.
I returned to the bathroom and placed the cloth in the sink.
“I plan on you having a lot of firsts.” I climbed in next to her and kissed her mouth, savoring the taste of her pussy on her tongue.
She placed her hand on my cheek, a blur of emotions flashing in her expression.
I pressed my forehead against hers and whispered, “I love you, little ghost.” I looked away, unwilling to see her reaction as my throat constricted. I hadn’t ever said those words to a woman before. I hadn’t ever loved anyone like I did Holland—an all-consuming obsession and devotion.
“Look at me.” Her words were gentle yet commanding, and I did as she asked, my heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and fear, bracing for the impact of her next words.
“I love you too, Kip.” Her confession was a beacon, piercing through the murky shadows of doubt and despair that had clouded my mind, illuminating everything with a single, brilliant light.
A silly, broad smile slipped into place as I was unable to contain the joy her words brought. “Yeah?”
“Definitely.” Her laughter filled the room like a warm, comforting embrace, wrapping around us and lifting the atmosphere. “In fact, I’d like to show you just how much.”
Her next words were like a tidal wave, sweeping over me and leaving me reeling with disbelief and wonder. Never in a million years had I imagined Holland would do something so unexpected.
The sun was already high in the bright blue sky by the time we reached the driveway. I hadn’t slept much, but I didn’t need rest. I needed closure. I parked in front of the house and then turned off the engine. Holland shifted in her seat and turned to me.
“Are you sure?” She reached for my hand, and I gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Are you?” I pinned her with a stare and searched her for any uncertainty, but I didn’t even see her flinch when she told me her plan.
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
I leaned over the console and kissed her. “Let’s go. The sooner this is over, the better, and we can hopefully move on.”
“You have help. You’re not alone in this anymore, babe.” She pressed her soft lips to my knuckles.
We climbed out of the car, and I took her hand in mine as we walked up the sidewalk and to the house. I reached for the handle and turned it, then opened the door for Holland.
Dog barked as we entered Mother’s place. “It’s just us,” I said, petting him as he licked my arm. “Did Cynthia feed you before she left?” His tail wagged as he sniffed at Holland, and then he trotted off to the kitchen where his food bowl and water were.
“He’s smart.” Holland’s smile widened as she watched him. “What will happen to him when your mother is gone?”
“I’ll see if Cynthia wants him, but if I recall, she’s a cat person.”
“Will he go to a shelter?” Her eyes pleaded with me. “Kip, you can’t do that to him.”
“I couldn’t do that. Dog has some good years left. If she doesn’t want him, I’ll take him. Hopefully, my girlfriend will help when I have to go out of town.” I winked at her.
“Then don’t. Don’t ask Cynthia; let’s take him. I can even take him to my office for patients that need a pet during the session.” Her face lit up with her idea. “Dog?”
Surprisingly, he came to her when she called. Holland knelt and rubbed behind his ears. “Do you want to live with Kip and me? Would you be happy, buddy?”
Dog barked once, then licked her chin. Holland’s laughter filled the room, and I wondered how she could feel so happy at the moment, but Dog had that effect on people.
She stood. “It’s settled, then.”
“Good. I was having a tough time with the idea of not seeing him anymore.” I gave her a crooked smile. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She turned on her heel and headed toward Mother’s room.
The door was nearly closed, and I knocked before I pushed it open. “Mother,” I said, my voice sharp.
She jerked awake at the sound of me entering the room. The oxygen machine whirred in the background as Holland and I walked into her room.
A sharp laugh slipped through her thin lips. “If it isn’t the devil and his bride.”
“I’ll cut to the chase. I know you need your rest,” I said, walking to the edge of the bed. Holland walked around to the other side and sat down.
“You’re not looking too well.” Holland took Mother’s hand in hers and patted it as if she loved my mother with undying devotion.
I had to give it to Holland; she had fucking balls walking in here and confronting the woman who’d sold her and Ally. Not to mention visiting her a second time.
“I’m dying, you little brat. What do you both want?”
“Information.” I sank onto the mattress and pinned Mother with a glare. “Before I meet the Pied Piper, I want to know what I’m walking into. Why does he want to meet with me?”
Mother wheezed, “He doesn’t tell me his plans, Kip. Just get in touch with him. It will be worth your time.”
My brow arched, and I wondered what in the hell could possibly be worth my time with the Pied Piper.
“How so?”
“The information you’re looking for. I was sworn to silence. I saw what the Pied Piper did if you crossed him.” Her attention cut to Holland. “Don’t cross him, Kip. You need to meet with him and see what he has to say.”
“Let me see if I understand correctly. You can’t tell us anything about the Pied Piper, the pastor, and why …” I choked back my words. I couldn’t trust her with what I’d done.
“I’ve told Holland too much already, but I’m dying, so it wasn’t enough information for the Pied Piper to come after me.”
“Hmm,” Holland said. “I’m guessing anything else you might share would be a death sentence?”
“If I’m dying, it’s going to be on my goddamn terms, and I’ll take my secrets with me.” She swallowed and then broke into a coughing fit.
“I just wanted to make sure we understood that you’re not going to answer any questions we have.” I reached out and smoothed a strand of her thin hair from her forehead. “I sent Cynthia home, by the way. I gave her the week off.”
Mother glared at me. “You can’t do that. I can’t take care of myself. I’ll starve to death.”
“No, you’ll probably die of dehydration before you starve to death.” Holland’s tone was gentle as if she were talking to a small child.
“Nobody asked you, Samantha.” Spittle flew from Mother’s mouth as I watched the fear twist her expression.
“Instead of being a bitch, maybe you should beg for forgiveness. I mean, you’re in a really bad place to be so rude.” Holland tilted her head as she pinned Mother with a deadly stare.
I held back my chuckle as Holland played mind games with Mother. It served her right. It was too bad the moment couldn’t last longer, though.
“Get her out of my house, Kip. Right now. Don’t you dare let her come back.”
Holland stood. “It’s okay, you don’t need to kick me out. I’m almost done here.” With powerful strides, she walked to my side of the bed and flipped a few switches on Mother’s oxygen machine.
I removed the oxygen mask from Mother’s face as tears welled in her eyes.
“I thought about killing you and ending your misery. Ending mine and Holland’s, but then Holland had this brilliant idea.
It would allow you to sit with everything you’ve done in your lifetime as you struggle to breathe on your own.
No water. No food. Completely and utterly alone. ”
I paused, allowing what I’d said to sink in before I continued.
“A lot like what you did to me and Holland. It was dark and lonely, Mother, but it shaped us into who we are. And crazy enough, fate threw us a plot twist and we’re together.
Funny, isn’t it? The girl you told me I’d killed and tortured me over?
Carved up my skin while you cast demons out of me.
For what? A sin I never committed.” I took her hand in mine.
“At least not that sin. I’ve committed a lot of others, including murder. Just not any women.”
I leaned down close to her ear. “You’ll be my first.”
Her body trembled and her fingers wrapped around my wrist, but her hold was weak. “See you in hell, Mother.”
Holland rolled the machines and other medical devices out of the room.
Mother was smart even now, and I didn’t trust her to not figure out how to get out of the bed and crawl to her oxygen machine.
Before we left, we removed any help from her.
No phone, no food, and I would turn off the water from outside.
Plus, we would install cameras so we could enjoy watching her die, struggling to breathe and calling for help.
The same as Holland and I had done for too long.
I stood and flashed Mother an unapologetic smile. “We’re taking Dog, too. He’ll be happy with us.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks while she reached for me, but I moved out of the way.
“Don’t do this. You don’t want to do this,” she pleaded.
“Or what? You’re going to miraculously get out of this bed and carve me up some more? Goodbye, Mother.” The sound of the door closing behind me echoed with a finality that cut straight through me.
It was almost over.
But monsters don’t die quietly. They beg. They claw. And they curse you with their final words.
And just like she always had, she sucker-punched me one last time.