Chapter 42 Holland
HOLLAND
“What are your intentions with Kip?” Ella asked without even a smile.
My forehead creased. “You don’t waste any time, do you?” I settled into the chair opposite the couch, sinking into the soft leather.
Ella gave me a pointed look. “He’s family. Even though you met Death and me when we dropped by unexpectedly on you and Kip, it doesn’t mean we’re friends.”
“That’s fair. It was a very compromising situation, for sure.”
Ella arched a brow at me. “Is that a threat?”
I held up my hand to stop her. “Not at all. We exchanged information. You know I’ve killed someone as well.
I shared that in order to try to connect with you, and for you to trust me.
If I went to the cops, you could turn on me, too.
I have no intention of doing that. Kip trusts me, but I know it will take time for you and Death to trust me as well.
I understand how all of this works.” I rubbed my sweaty palm on my jeans, hoping this conversation would take a turn for the better.
“I’m very protective of my family. Kip, Dope, Death …
we live a life that no one would ever want.
When we found out about you, well, it was a bit of a surprise.
” Ella shifted in her chair, her green eyes pinning me with an intense stare.
I knew she wasn’t someone to fuck with, but I also knew if we could become friends, I would have a friend for life.
“When you guys showed up that night, we were just starting to figure things out. We met when we were kids and reconnected recently.”
“How?”
I bit the inside of my cheek and wondered how much, if anything, Kip had shared with his friends. I didn’t want to overstep, but I had a feeling this was my one chance with Ella, and I couldn’t fuck it up.
“His mother.”
Ella scrunched up her nose as if the word alone had a horrible smell. She was right.
“That woman is a monster.”
“I would agree with that. She and another man sold me and my sister. We lived in captivity for months. I was able to escape, but Ally never saw the outside world again. They overdosed her.”
Ella’s expression hardened, compassion edged with fury. “They should’ve burned for what they did,” she said, voice low. “I’m sorry, Holland.”
“When one of the men I escaped from came after me recently, Kip was there to help me out of a bad situation. That’s how we reconnected. Hell, I had no idea who he was. I saw his face for only a minute before I was taken, and everything was a blur.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you and your sister. I can’t imagine how horrible that was.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear, memories playing on repeat.
“I’m not sure how I’m sitting in front of you, actually. But I am.”
“What’s the name of the man who came after you?”
“Draco. But he’s gone now. He won’t be bothering me ever again.” I stared at her, hoping she would understand what I meant without me having to come right out and say it.
Images of Draco with snakes in his stomach flashed through my mind, and I closed my eyes briefly. It wasn’t the dead body that grossed me out, it was the movement and being able to see things slither beneath his skin.
“Good. I assume Kip helped with that?”
“Kind of. More the cleanup.” I didn’t volunteer anything else, and to my surprise she didn’t ask more. I’m sure she would talk to Kip later.
“What else should I know about you?” Ella asked. The corner of her mouth twitched, and I suspected she might know more about me than I did her.
“Well, I’m a psychiatrist now. I’ve rebuilt my life, and I’m in love with Kip.” If I still have a job since Kip called in without notice to the office and hospital. Maybe that would help her understand that I wasn’t going anywhere.
“I know. I saw how the two of you looked at each other before he left. Plus, Kip has never been with just one woman. His work is demanding, so he kept it to a no-strings-attached policy. Clearly that’s changed.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “What about you?” I wasn’t sure she would open up to me much, but I wanted to try.
“I used to work for an attorney before I met Death, Kip, and Dope. I mentioned that when we met. Have you heard about the Horizon Society?” She stretched her arm over the back of the couch.
“Kip has told me about it. I think it’s amazing work. Maybe someday I can help.”
“It definitely serves multiple purposes. Has he told you the another purpose?”
“I’m not sure.”
Ella grew silent as if she were debating whether to tell me or not. “The men we help families escape from are dangerous and evil. When families are chosen, the men are turned over to Death who then has someone to … eliminate.”
Holy shit. I couldn’t believe she trusted me with that. We were gaining ground.
“Oh, Kip said he gave a serial killer some men to kill, but he didn’t mention it was from the society or who killed them.
” I should have been at least a little bit surprised, but it all made sense.
Not much seemed to rattle me anymore, either.
Not after what I’d lived through years ago and recently.
Maybe the fact that I was a serial killer’s daughter had something to do with it.
A lack of emotions, but not about everything, only the monsters.
“It’s actually brilliant if you ask me. At least they can’t come back after the women and kids to hurt them again. ”
“You seem pretty calm about it.”
I laughed. “Ella, if you knew who my father was, it might make more sense. It seems I’m comfortable killing someone when I need to. What Kip does hasn’t ever bothered me. I love and respect him for having the guts to take care of the families and children.”
Ella tilted her head, her dark hair flowing over her shoulder. “Who’s your father?”
Suddenly uncomfortable, I squirmed in my seat like a little kid.
“I don’t remember him, but Lily, Kip’s mother, told me who he was.”
Ella grinned. “And you believe her? She’s known for taking a strand of truth and weaving a new story around it to manipulate people.”
“I haven’t had time to verify it yet, but something in my gut tells me she wasn’t lying to me.” It would be nice to have verification, though.
Ella reached for her back pocket and produced her phone. “I can have Dope look into it for you. What exactly did Lily tell you?”
I watched Ella’s expression for any changes as I spoke. “Apparently he’s a notorious serial killer.”
Ella didn’t even blink as she waited for me to continue. When I didn’t, she said, “There are a lot of killers out there. What’s his name?”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry and tight. “No one else knows except Kip, and we’ve been dealing with his mother and not had time to verify all the details yet.”
Ella motioned for me to continue.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I reached for it on the coffee table, thumbed the screen, and read Kip’s message.
She’s dead.
Two words. That was it. No name. No need.
But I knew exactly who he meant.
A slow smile curved my lips. I looked up at Ella, met her stare, and whispered like it was a prayer laced in gasoline.
“Lily’s dead.”
Let the bitch rot in hell.