CHAPTER TWELVE
ERIC
The rage in me was like a violent wave, it was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. And lying beneath it, was fear. True, unequivocal fear. The fear of being torn apart from the one you love.
Love. Such a fickle word. But yes, love. I loved her. I knew it as I stood there while this monster touched what was mine. Anger flooded my senses and hands itched to kill. Murder. Destroy him.
“Do. Not. Move,” I gritted out as I raised the silencer, the red beam focused on his temple.
He turned, and I got a full view of her. My heart dropped when I saw the barrel of his gun pressed against her temple. My eyes darted from him to the precious limp form of my lover behind him.
“Uh-uh-uh, careful now, hero.” He pressed the gun to her temple, tipping her head to the side. “Wouldn’t want to accidentally blow her brains out.”
“What the fuck did you do to her?”
Blood covered her face, crimson droplets leaked from her breasts and down her thighs. Red was the only color I saw. Clutching the gun, I prepared to kill the son of a bitch. One shot, and it would be over, but that would be too easy. The motherfucker needed to suffer. He had to suffer.
“What did you think, hero, that I wouldn’t come after you? That I was stupid enough to not notice what you were doing?” He smirked sarcastically and my finger trembled on the trigger.
It would be so easy.
Just pull it.
“After that last conversation we had, I knew something was up. Red warned me to be careful with you. You like doing shit your way, and only your way. Shit like that don’t work with me. See, because shit goes my way, or you die.
“Well shit ain’t goin your way no more, hero. You can’t be taking shit that ain’t yours. Ain’t it funny how things end?”
I kept quiet, slowly making my way towards the opposite wall, keeping my distance as the gun’s red light told me one move, and he’d die instantly.
“Eh, eh, eh, where you goin’ there? Stay still killer. Wouldn’t want to turn my gun on you when it’s on this pretty little thing. She’s a good piece of ass, ain’t she? I bet you had a good time with her.”
He looked at me and sneered. “I’m gonna have to kill her. Can’t be fucking somethin’ used.”
“Son of a bitch!” I yelled out as his hand squeezed her breast and a whimper fell from her lips. The pain transpiring into her unconscious state. “Don’t. Touch. Her,” I gritted.
His cynical laughter grated on my nerves. If he would just point the gun at me, that’s all I needed. That one window.
“She’s mine. I can do whatever the fuck I want with her. Or what? You gonna stop me, hero.”
“I’m gonna fucking tear your heart out!”
“I’d like to see you try,” he smiled and that’s when he moved.
His gun swung towards me and I fired two shots. One at his hand, which sent the gun off and flung it back. The second was to his right knee, which brought him down quick. I tucked the gun behind my back and lifted his screaming ass into the metal chair. Taking the rope that was lying on the floor I secured his hands behind him, binding each ankle to a chair leg. He screamed in agony as I moved his leg, it was drenched in blood and he smelled of piss. Motherfucker had pissed himself.
I looked down at him in disdain and grabbing his hair, I tugged his head back. “I’m not gonna be the one to kill you. No. That, I’ll leave up to her.”
I looked back at my Aracely, bound and mangled, dangling behind us. He was a sadist, a sick fuck who got his kicks off from torturing women. My glare focused back on him and he shook, because he knew that if she said no, I was still going to rip his fucking soul out.
Gently, I undid the chains that bound Aracely’s wrists, she groaned, and I cooed at her that everything was going to be okay, that I was here. Her eyes fluttered open as I was finally able to get her down. Taking my jacket off, I wrapped it around her cold body. She whimpered as I placed it around her delicate shoulders. She was going to bruise, and God knows if she had any broken limbs.
“Eric,” she whispered, pain in her eyes.
“It’s okay, beautiful. I’m right here.”
Her eyes flooded with tears and she wrapped herself around me. Her sobs echoed in the abandoned space, the sun had set, and in the darkness all you heard was the sound of a broken woman crying. I lifted her and looked back at the fucker who had gotten her here.
“Don’t think I won’t be back for you.”
I swept her up and into my truck, turning on the heat and grabbing a blanket I had in the back seat. I made sure she was warm and secure. Starting up the truck, I quickly drove us to the nearest hospital. She moaned beside me, but it comforted me because pain meant she was alive. Squealing into the driveway and startling a paramedic crew that was bringing in an injured person, I ran past them with Aracely in my arms.
Coming up to the desk, I must have looked crazy because Security surrounded me. Looking at the nurse, I pleaded. “Please, she’s been hurt and abused. Please,” I croaked out. My heart in my throat as I kept looking at the beautiful woman in my arms. I didn’t think I would get to her in time, and now, holding her, I knew I’d never let her go.
“Please,” I begged, and the nurse quickly shooed away the officers. She called for a doctor and they had her in a gurney within seconds, dragging her God knows where. As I followed close behind, I heard the Doctor state there was internal bleeding.
They went through a door and the nurse stopped me. “Where are they taking her?”
“The surgery ward.”
“Why?”
“She’s got internal bleeding, and broken ribs. She’s dehydrated and needs to be cared for immediately. Mr….”
“Halthorn.”
“Mr. Halthorn, I’ll need you to take a seat in the waiting room. You realize the police may have some questions for you.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay, just take a seat. I’ll try to keep you updated.”
I paced for what seemed like hours. Back and forth, debating on whether or not to give Shane up. The police didn’t arrive until hours later. Just as they approached me, the doctor came out.
“Mr. Halthorn?”
“Yes!” I got up instantly, ignoring the officers who were watching me. I was used to it, I wasn’t a clean-cut man. I was big guy, my facial hair gave me a rough appearance, and my eyes were always wary, never friendly. I knew this and I didn’t give a fuck.
“Are you the patient’s family?”
I hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. “I’m the only family she’s got.”
The doctor nodded. “She’s okay. She has two broken ribs and a fractured wrist. She was battered and her torso has… bite marks. Injuries that will heal and we’ll do our best for her not to have any scarring. She was banged up pretty badly, and she has bruises on her head and neck. We’ll have to wait until she wakes to see in what mental state she’ll be in. There may be an incident of memory loss, but it should be temporary.”
“But she’s okay?”
“Yes. She will be fine, you can go in and see her if you’d like.”
I nodded, but as I went to follow her, the officers stopped me. “We have some questions for you first, Mr. Halthorn.”
I narrowed my eyes on them and made a quick decision. One that would save us both.
“He’s on Bowers street, the abandoned building on the corner. He’s bound and probably bleeding out, and yes, I shot him. I have a concealed weapons license and he was causing harm to another, so I found myself in the position to use it. Any other questions?”
I stood eyeing them both and they just stared down at me. “We’ll be back later to get the lady’s statement.”
“You do that,” I shoved passed them and rushed down the hallway.
Stopping at her door, I took a deep breath. I was going to need all my strength for what was to come.