Chapter 20
Holden
“Parker Presley, come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Silence follows. Panic ripples through the stale warehouse air. I know she’s here. I can feel her heartbeat racing. Anxiety rising.
“You can’t hide from me, Parker Presley. I can smell you.”
Every inch of her is now known to me. Each page of the file was carefully read.
Important details logged deep within my brain.
And because of that, I knew she would follow me.
Everything is going according to plan. Also, this little thing reassured it.
Holding the beacon between my fingers, I apply additional pressure and hear the plastic snap further.
Once we arrived at my warehouse, the daylight was still bright.
Sun shined through the narrow windows and attempted to penetrate the ones blacked out.
Mr. Carlisle got comfortable inside while I prepared my workspace.
The tarp to the chair, bucket of water, and ropes.
Scalpels and surgical gloves rest next to the music box.
And instead of a hazmat suit, we opted for a face splash guard.
Mr. Carlisle convinced me that the bulkiness of the suit would only hinder this highly anticipated experience.
Crimson red blood dripping down her snow-white skin has taunted my dreams since she dented the hood of my car.
As the sun faded to black, the most curious thing happened. I couldn’t believe it. Mr. Carlisle had a pulse, a heartbeat, so I thought. A yellow beacon of hope flashed on his neck.
Clapping my hands as I recount this memory, my voice projects, dominating the space. “Was I witnessing a miracle, Parker Presley?” The short answer is no. And I will tell you why.
Bringing a scalpel in hand, my footsteps hurried across the space.
Tilting my head, I lowered my glasses on my nose and delicately cut an incision down his hard, tough skin.
Instead of blood, a dense material that reminds me of stuffed animal stuffing pokes out.
Fingers begin to pull it out, giving some wiggle room to dig.
The more stuffing I remove, the light flashes brighter.
Sticking my fingers in, the tips grip the miracle and I pull it out.
“Sorry, Mr. Carlisle, someone left this inside of you.” I wave it in front of his eyes, and promise, “Don’t worry, I will sew you back up when we get home. ”
Based on her file, I know it’s a tracker.
Fuck, the goodies inside that PDF are gold.
Just like the badge she wears around her dainty neck.
I bet she’s wearing it right now. Perhaps I’ll choke her with it, strangle and hang her high.
Make her scream and cry. She’ll beg me to stop.
But I won’t. I couldn’t. Because every plea for mercy guarantees me more time with her.
The beacon remained living until I decided to kill it.
Giving her ample opportunity to check in and track us.
I knew she would have been itching to find us once she noticed we weren’t at the building anymore.
Her mind is too curious to leave things at bay.
Now, back to the present. As I stand feet away from my table, I turn my face to the side, looking directly at the door, which I left slightly ajar.
“Parker Redacted Presley, your guy has failed you. You are caught red-handed. No more reasons to hide. Come to me, little rabbit, come.”
She’s predictable and took every piece of bait I left trailing behind. Yet she still hides behind the door like a coward.
“COME. TO. ME!” I command, becoming impatient. “The little games are fucking done.”
The sliver of light from the alleyway grows as the gap becomes larger. I’m glad she’s behaving. Her silhouette follows. I can feel her unease and fear, but also her intrigue. And I will play toward that in order to bring her closer to me.
“Close the door shut behind you. No gap, no tricks.”
Parker’s breath hitches crossing the threshold. It’s followed by the echoes of the door slamming ricocheting off the walls.
Tiny footsteps walk toward me. She hides her emotions well, but not well enough. Her voice is confident when the question is asked. “How did you know?”
Looking over my shoulder, the metal chair sits in the middle of the clear tarp. My tone is low, my body turned away from her. “Take a seat.”
“Do you like it when I submit to you?” Before I can respond to her smart mouth, she adds, “Daddy,” causing my nostrils to flare. This is Parker’s attempt to tell me she is in just as much control as I am. But is she? Not a fucking chance.
With footsteps getting closer, my attention returns to my table. The crinkling of the tarp is music to my ears. It stops once I hear the squeaking of the chair as she sits upon it, with attitude. “Mr. Carlisle, long time no see. It appears you’ve turned into a fucking rat.”
Turning to face her, my arm extends with a finger pointed. My vision narrows. All I see is her. “You will not speak to him like that. You will not disrespect me in my home!” Parker’s lashes bat with a sarcastic smirk from ear to ear.
“The only rat here is you,” I inform her furiously. “You ratted on yourself. I could see it flashing through his skin, you fucking imbecile.”
Biting her lip with her perfectly straight and white teeth, she whispers, “Oops,” and shrugs her shoulders.
“I have said it once and I will say it again. I will never be your sex hostage, you fucking demon. Your seduction tactics do not work.” My blood is boiling. Everything she does pisses me off. Her breathing the same air as me is turning me more homicidal by the second.
Spinning around, the soft rope hanging off the table calls to me.
How beautiful it would be tied around her wrists.
Walking forward, I snatch it quickly. Long strides bring me to her.
My gaze glances down while she looks up innocently with wrists held up together, waiting.
Taking advantage of her stupidity, I wrap the rope around her, squeezing it tight in hopes it nips her skin.
Lowering my head, I whisper, “Does it hurt?” as I prepare to tie the knot.
Parker moans. “So fucking much, Daddy.”
My cock twitches. This bitch knows how to get under my skin, and I hate it. She is an infection, a goddamn disease that has no cure.
As the wrists are tied off, I kneel down and her legs spread.
“Can you smell me, Daddy? Do you want a taste?” Tying her ankles to the legs of the chair, I make sure it’s tighter than her wrists.
I really need her to hurt. But it doesn’t stop her smart-ass mouth from going off once more.
“You’ve already been my sexual hostage once. And I think you liked it.”
Biting my tongue, I don’t respond to her bullshit.
Both feet are tied off. She isn’t going anywhere.
I rise, only stopping once I am next to her ear.
The single light hanging above us reveals the goosebumps slowly rising along her exposed skin the longer I stand here, breathing on her neck.
My fingers intertwine with her dark, thick hair and Parker shivers.
Harshly, I pull her hair tie out. Brushing her fallen locks aside, I whisper slowly, “And I’ll be needing this.
” Taking her earpiece out, I drop it at my feet and crush it under my shoe.
Shrugging my shoulders as she did earlier, I chuckle sarcastically. “Oops.”
I stand and wait for a comment. And for once, she is speechless. About fucking time. Now, let’s get to work.
“I always paralyze my victims before playtime begins. But I think this time, I want the fight. Because the more you do, the longer we go. I normally have rules for blood, but you are the exception. I cannot wait to make you bleed for me. To carve you like a piece of wood at my fingertips. Scream. Scream so fucking loud that you wake up Jersey. The more I hear your voice, the longer we go.” Parker nods once in response.
I hate how calm she is about this, because my heart is racing with excitement.
Walking back to my table, I stop in my tracks, and let her know, “Oh, and as much as you know about me, I know twice as much about you. How much were you about to make off me?” Parker decides now is the time she’ll stay quiet. Silence is always telling.
Delicately taking the corners of the jewelry box, I lift the lid carefully and music begins to play.
And the process begins. Removing my tie clip and cuff links, I place them down on the stainless steel, ensuring all the H’s perfectly align.
Taking the surgical gloves, I slide them on next, followed by my splash guard mask.
Ms. Presley has already infected me with her voodoo.
I don’t need to collect any other additional diseases from her.
“Clair de Lune” calms me. Closing my eyes, I allow it to seep through every inch of my being. Helping bring my focus back. It’s time for her to die.
I place the full syringe in my back trouser pocket should I change my mind and take a scalpel into my grip.
“Parker, Parker. Ticktock, your time on the clock is almost up.” Turning back around, my head cocks to the side as I state, “Don’t worry.
I already know you don’t have any living family left who will miss you. ”
Her body jolts back. My statement burnt, and I don’t fucking care.
“Now, can you tell me why they redacted your middle name from all the files I could get ahold of?”
Taking large, commanding steps forward until we are face to face once more, I bend at my waist and look directly into her eyes. Parker still has an attitude on her face, because no words leave her pouty pink lips.
“Cat’s got your tongue?”
Gripping her jaw with my hand, I hold her face firmly as I nick her skin just below her eye. Blood beads at the incision opening before slowly trickling down her soft cheek. Our eye contact remains locked in. My words are hushed. “Shh baby, don’t cry.”
“But, Daddy, I want to play with you too.” I knew that smart fucking mouth couldn’t hold it in forever. She is trying to deflect.
Shaking my head, blood pools at my thumb. Moving it, I smudge it around in circles at her jaw. “Nah, baby. You can only play with me in your dreams and the afterlife.”
Parker pouts her lip, but that shit doesn’t work on me.
My chest heaves with desire to continue, and I add, “This is going to be so much fun.”
I’ve never been drawn to the crimson. Hers, though, it calls to me. It’s taunted me for days. It’s all I have fucking craved, needed. The little spot I made bleed spoke to my soul. Rocked my core, and I need more. So much fucking more.
Heavy breathing causes the splash guard to fog.
Pulling it off my head, I decide I don’t need it.
The barrier needs to be removed. I toss it to the ground behind me.
The plastic hitting the cement echoes as it cracks like a bone breaking.
Now nothing stands between us. Taking a deep breath, I note her scent is unique, and it has only gotten stronger with the fear coursing through her veins.
A thin chain around her neck catches my attention as I examine her, at my mercy.
I know she’s a bounty hunter. She’s registered in the state of New York.
No employer was listed in the file. I assume Parker is a freelancer and somehow the law caught onto me.
Or she got a tip they were getting close, and she wanted to get me first. That part is still a black hole to me.
As I lift the chain, her badge slowly rises from beneath her white shirt and full breasts. Once the gold star is on full display, I lean in and read what’s engraved. B.S Agency. Bounty Hunter.
How curious, indeed.
Allowing it to fall back down, it pools at her neckline.
My eyes remain on her skin just above. Removing my grip from her face, I slap her cheek once.
Her skin cracks and I captivatingly watch the snow-white skin burn red.
As blood rises to the surface, I nick Parker once more.
This time, the blood trickles down more quickly, and I love it.
“Don’t worry, that bucket of water beside us will help clean you up later.
” Little does she know it’s actually where I will drown her, only to bring her back to life.
Holding my arms wide, I rise, spinning on my heel.
The clear tarp joins me. “Darkness will come for your light, and I will allow it to take you, but only once I am done with it.”
Parker laughs at my statement. “No, you won’t.
I’m in your head. I’m all you can think about.
Your skin itches because I make it itch.
You fight the feelings. They are all new to you and you are scared.
It’s okay, Holden. Be scared, cut me, punish me, do your fucking best, Daddy.
Because your cock is telling me right now that I make you hard.
I feed your soul something it’s never had before, and you are addicted. ”
My vision blurs, anger rises. How dare she speak to me like that? Turning back around to face her, my free hand grips her hair and I yank her head back, pulling as hard as I can. A yelp leaves her throat, yet her face remains defiant. “You don’t know shit,” I spit back at her.
And her response is one word and packs a punch. “Liar.”
She’s trying to get to me. Confuse me. Laughing, I shake my head, then swipe the sharp scalpel down her chest. Blood seeps out quickly, going through her white tee and staining it immediately.
I bend down, with her hair still firmly gripped in my hand, and from the bottom of the cut to the top, I lick her slowly.
The crimson tastes metallic on my tongue.
With a slight sweetness slipping in after the initial burst on my taste buds.
Slowly, her chest rises. Parker doesn’t appear scared.
Or she has been trained to hide it. But I know one thing: she’s the one confused now.
Because I know exactly what I want and what I am doing.
“Does Daddy like?”
I humor her. “Daddy wants you to shut the fuck up, so he can finish collecting his points you owe him.”
“That’s no way to speak to a lady,” another female voice shouts.
Confused, I release Parker and search for the source of the voice. My eyes scan the space. No shadows bounce off the walls, and Mr. Carlisle is still in his spot.
Where is she? Come on, show me your face.
“You were so distracted by her you didn’t even notice me coming in.” Moving to my left, I stare at the dark corner, the source of the voice, and wait. “It’s okay. She is just as distracted by you.” When the mystery voice says she, it’s spoken with anger and venom. What is going on?
“Ophelia?” Parker whispers in disbelief. But nothing in here stays hushed.
The mystery voice steps out of hiding. Wearing all black with a smile on her face and long blonde hair cascading over both shoulders, she waves with her fingers dancing. “Hi, bestie.”