Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Rock
“Did you seriously just punch me?” I roared at the drunk asshole who was trying to feel up Patience.
We have strict rules here and they know that Pay is strictly vanilla.
“What ya gonna do about it, you security jerk? Do you know who I am? I could bankrupt this little whore house with one phone call,” he slurs, and I huff.
Grabbing him by the back of his neck, I nod at Simon, then lead him to the back ally and to the curb.
“Don't come back.”
“Yeah, yeah, asshole,” he mutters, waving his hand.
I leave him to find his own way home, then go back inside to check on Patience. She's got a mug of hot tea in her hands, and June is soothing her.
She looks really shaken up.
“Let me grab Shina. Sit tight,” I say, then go looking for her.
After checking her office for the second time, I tracked down Rosie.
“Black room, babe,” she calls over her shoulder after cracking a man with a whip once more.
I leave them and stroll down the hall to the room only the depraved clients visit. As I knock and wait, I check my messages.
My mom has been bugging me about Christmas, and I don't know what to tell her yet.
I really want Shina and the kids to come with me, but is it too soon? I mean this week things have changed drastically between us, but I still don't know where we stand.
I knock again and put my phone away. “Baby girl? We have an issue,” I call through the wood.
I wait another minute before trying the knob, finding it unlocked. I peek my head in and then shove the door open.
“Shina, baby, are you okay?” I shout as I reach her. She's lying on the floor, face down, unconscious.
I check her neck and pulse. It's steady. Thank God. But what the fuck happened here? I look around, but we seem to be all alone.
Or so I thought.
I shake her gently and dig in my pocket for my phone again.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” a man's voice says, as I feel the sharp tip of something dig into my spine.
I pause and slowly turn my head.
I don't recognize him, but I can instantly tell this man is unhinged and on something.
His pupils are blown and he keeps licking his lips.
“Stand, slowly,” he orders.
“What do you want with her?” I grunt, wincing, as he slams the butt of his blade into the back of my skull.
“Did I say you could talk?” he shouts, then starts to laugh.
It's deep and menacing.
I have met my share of psychopaths before, but he seems different.
I stand and rub the back of my head. My fingertips become wet, and I know I have a nasty gash.
“So this is what you traded me in for, huh, slut?” he growls, then kicks Shina in the side.
She whimpers, and I see red.
Taking him by surprise, I clock him right in the temple with a right hook.
He stumbles, dropping his weapon beside Shina as he tries to regain his footing.
I don't hesitate, ignoring the dizziness and pain in my head, I rush him, hitting his middle section with my shoulder and flipping him over me.
“Fuck,” he grunts as he hits the floor hard.
I grab some rope off the wall, land beside him, and restrain his wrists. Then I move back to Shina, checking her over.
“Baby girl, hey, wake up.”
She mumbles something, and her eyes flutter open. She winces and closes them again.
“No, keep your eyes on me, baby.”
The man laughs. “Baby? Wow you're an idiot. She's the devil and needs to be handled before her demons escape,” he mutters, and I look over at him.
His reddish hair is sweaty and tussled. His green eyes are hazy, and he has a crazy expression on his face.
He starts to cackle, and Shina groans. She tries to sit up, and I help her.
“Slowly. It's okay. I've got you,” I reassure her, and she looks around.
“Patrick,” she gasps when her eyes land on the man a few feet from her.
He smirks and licks his lips. “Bout time your whore ass woke up.”
“Wait, this is your ex?” I ask, then grunt. My head throbs, and I'm seeing double.
I should go get help, but now that I know who this asshole is I don't want police involved. It's time he hit on someone his own size.
“Oh, you done fucked up,” I mutter, helping Shina to her feet and walking her over to a chair.
I look at my options and laugh. The fucking black room. This is where shit goes down. The darkest fantasies happen here.
There is even a drain in the middle of the concrete floor, to wash fluids away, or in this case blood.
It's a serial killer's playroom. Full of whips and chains and pointy tools.
It's for people who crave pain with pleasure. And it's going to be the last place Patrick sees before I kill him.
Shina
Rock grabs some restraints off the wall and chains Patrick to the hooks on the ceiling.
“What are you doing?” I breathe, fighting through my internal panic and the weakness of my body.
I still don't really know what happened. I entered the room, and the lights were off. They should be automatic, so I remember closing the door and moving toward the center of the room.
After that everything is a complete blank. I touch my temple and wince. Shit, that hurts. My eyes sting and water from the pain.
“It's okay, baby girl. I'm just taking out the trash. After tonight he will never bother you again.”
Patrick looks my way and I can see his mask as he tries to fake a smile. “Sweetheart, you're not going to let him hurt me, right?”
It reminds me of the sweet boy I thought I knew many years ago. But it's all a trick. A lie.
“Why are you here, Patrick? Why did you hit me?”
“You know I never want to hurt you, sweetheart. I just have to punish you. You know that right? I would never hurt anyone.”
I roll my eyes and wince as I become nauseous from the dizziness.
“That may have worked before. But I've learned better, Patrick,” I mumble and look at Rock.
He's waiting for me to agree, but before I can tell him not to do it, his life isn't worth a future in jail, Patrick opens his mouth.
“Stupid fucking bitch. I should have killed you and not that twit sister of yours. Fucking whore. It's her fault she was outside your place. I thought it was you!” he roars, his green eyes wild and crazy.
I gasp then cover my mouth with my shaky hand.
Rock steps closer and punches him in the ribs so hard, I can hear them crack. Patrick yelps, then whimpers.
“What do you mean you killed Lexi?” I stutter, and he cackles between wheezing breaths.
“I've been watching you. Playing house with your sister's kids, and this asshole here. I wasn't the only one spying on you it seems.”
“Why?” I stand up and stumble over to Rock. He holds me as I confront the man who owns my nightmares.
“Because you are mine!” he growls.
I lift my hand and slap him hard across the face. “I am not yours. And I never will be again. You're a fucking monster. You tortured me for years.”
He laughs, licking his bottom lip where I split it. “I didn't torture you. I saved you. You're evil, Shina. A demon who escaped from Hell. I was just trying to tame you. Save your soul.”
He's fucking insane. “I had loved you since I was fifteen! I did everything you asked of me, and all I got in return was abuse and isolation.”
Rock walks away and returns with the blade Patrick planned to use on me.
“You were going to kill me?” I ask, but really I'm just thinking out loud. I shouldn’t be surprised he’s escalated to this. The last time I saw him was after waking up from a coma.
He grits his bloody teeth and smiles. “If I can't have you, then no one can. Don't worry, baby, I'll make it fast and then you can join Lexi in Hell. But don't worry, those kids won't be orphans. They will join you soon.”
I don't know what happened next. I think I went into a blind rage. But when I come to Patrick's chest is covered in stab wounds, and his unseen eyes are gazing at me. His mouth is frozen in a soundless scream.
“Shina, hey, hey, it's okay, baby girl. Hand me the blade.”
I look down at my shaking hand, clutching the weapon.
“Oh my God. I killed him. Fuck! Rock, what am I gonna do? I can't go to jail… The kids. Leena needs me the most and the twins and… and Alec.”
I'm starting to spiral. “I think I may pass out. Catch me.”
Rock steps forward not caring about the blood coating me. Patrick's blood. He wraps his arms around me and holds me as my world spins.
“It's okay. Everything will be okay. I will take care of it. I just need to call my brother.”