Celeste Chapter 18
It was incredibly hard to remain at the house while Hulk went to see who the intruder was.
When he returned and informed me it was the guy we’d been searching for, the relief was tremendous.
Finally, the son of a bitch would no longer be a threat to Capri or anyone else, and he’d meet his deserved end.
The next emotion to hit me was the thirst to see him and see him suffer.
I wanted to know why he did it. Was it merely because he was sick?
How had he chosen Capri? Right after Hulk returned, Capri woke up.
She noticed our bedroom light was on, so she knocked.
Asking her inside to talk was the next move. She sat on the end of the bed.
“Is everything alright? You guys don’t usually sit up awake this early in the morning.”
“We don’t. Why are you awake?” I asked.
She hesitated before answering. “I had a bad dream. It woke me up. I needed a distraction. I was going to get a drink from the kitchen.”
I exchanged a look with Hulk. He nodded.
“Capri, honey, we have something to tell you. It’s why we’re awake so early,” I started.
“What?” That was all she replied.
“Wire called and told Hulk that they caught someone attempting to climb the fence into the compound. He went to see who it was. There’s no easy way to say this. It was the guy, the one who hurt you. They captured him, and he’s being held for sentencing.”
Her gasp mingled with the tensing of her body and the color leaking from her face. Her eyes widened.
“Y-you caught him? For real?” she whispered.
“Yeah, for real. We have him, and I can promise you he’ll pay for what he did to you.
We’ll go to see him in a few hours. I’ve got to know why he did it.
While I’m gone, a few of the guys are staying here.
You’ll be safe, and if you need anything, they’ll get it for you.
It’ll be Pope, Mace, Twisted, and Knight.
We need the prospects. Otherwise, it would be them.
By the end of today, Capri, you will be safe and can live your life without wondering if this sicko will pop up,” Hulk vowed to her.
“And I can’t thank you enough for what you and the club have done and will do. But Hulk, I need to see him. What’s his name?”
Instantly, I wanted to tell her no, but Hulk’s hand on my arm stopped me.
“His name is Nathaniel Erickson. He seems a few years older than you. Do you recognize that name?” he asked her.
“No, I don’t recognize that name. If I see him, maybe it’ll jog my memory. There are lots of people at school I know by sight but not name.”
“Capri, Hulk can get a picture, and you can see if you recognize him that way. There’s no need to be in his presence. And why he did it, they’ll find out,” I told her.
“Celeste, tell me that you’re staying here and not planning to go see him or be part of what they do to him,” my niece fired off.
When I didn’t confirm it, she nodded. “I thought not. I have the same need to face him. If I don’t, I’m not sure I can fully get past this. He’s been a faceless monster I’ve had no way of fighting. Now, I do. Please, don’t deny me this,” she pleaded.
“She’s right, Troublemaker. If you’re going, she has as much right to face him. Am I crazy about that idea? Fuck no, but I get it. You’ll be safe. And if it becomes too much, just say so, and you’ll be brought back here.”
We debated briefly until I gave in. None of us was sleepy, so we made coffee and sat there, asking Hulk where the guy was being held and how this would work. There were some things he refused to reveal, but he did tell us what he could. The time crept by slowly. I was wishing the minutes away.
???
The trip to the cabin the rapist had been taken to had been a relatively short ride for those going.
Since not everyone could fit in one car, we parked two behind the cabin.
Leading us inside, I checked out the exterior, then the interior.
It was an authentic log cabin. It was older but well-maintained.
Inside, the place was laid out nicely and comfy.
I wouldn’t mind staying in a place like this for some relaxation.
The trapdoor was cleverly disguised in the floor.
I was astonished when it was opened—steep stairs led below.
I saw a light shining down there. Hulk went first, then Capri, and I came down while he stood there, ready to catch us if we fell.
He was so protective, but I loved it most of the time.
It was larger in the hidden basement than the cabin above.
There were cells in one section and a metal table, cabinets, a round table, and chairs scattered around the open space.
They must’ve known we were coming, because the prospects had the guy seated in a chair in the center of the room.
Looking at him made me sick. I checked to see how Capri was handling it.
She was pale, but her eyes were glued to the man. We walked closer, and the men who went down before us moved to make room for us. When they did, Nathaniel Erickson spotted us. His greedy gaze zeroed in on Capri and stayed there. He had duct tape over his mouth. He was trying to talk around it.
“Capri, you’re totally safe. He’s restrained and gagged,” Agony assured her.
“Thank you, but I’m fine. When are you ungagging him? Who gets to ask him questions?” she asked.
“Anyone can ask. As for ungagging him, we’ll do it in a minute.
First, I want you to be prepared. He’ll probably say a lot of sick things to you.
If it’s too much, tell us, and we’ll stop so you can leave.
You can sit upstairs or be taken back home.
As part of the questioning process, he’ll be incentivized to talk and tell us everything.
Those incentives will be brutal, painful, and bloody for him.
Again, the same rules for both of you. Speak up, and we’ll adjust. Any questions? ” Agony asked.
“Got it,” she said. I nodded.
“Alright, Hulk, let’s get this started,” Agony directed.
Hulk had talked to us before we came here about what we’d see him and his brothers doing. We were as prepared as we could be. Hulk ripped the duct tape off the guy’s mouth. He winced, but that was it. Dots of blood immediately began welling up on his lips where the skin had been removed.
“Capri, my beautiful one. You came. I knew they couldn’t keep us apart.
Tell them to let me go, and we can leave.
There’s no reason you have to remain here.
I don’t like you being imprisoned by these men.
It’s not decent. They could harm you. Let me take you to where it’s safe.
” It was the first thing out of his mouth. His saying her name infuriated me more.
“None of the Pagans would hurt me. They’re my protectors, my new family. My aunt and I live with them freely. No one is a prisoner. I’m not your anything. I don’t even know you. Why did you hurt me?” she asked him.
He appeared shocked. “Hurt you? I never hurt you,” he exclaimed.
“You call drugging me and then raping me as not hurting?” she snapped.
“The drug was merely to help you relax. I knew that you’d be anxious. A woman like you wouldn’t have been with someone before. You’re the kind who only sleeps with the man she plans to marry. I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible.” He replied coaxingly.
“And you thought taking me to a pool house at a party was the right place to do that? And I want you to know, drugs of any kind aren’t acceptable.
If you wanted me to remember it fondly, I don’t.
I can’t recall it other than as vague, blurry snapshots.
But what I do remember makes me sick!” she shouted.
Erickson frowned. “That’s not possible. You responded so beautifully to me. We made love, Capri,” he protested.
“There was no goddamn lovemaking to it, you sick fuck! It was rape. Listen to me. You. Raped. Me. I hated it, and I hate you,” Capri snarled.
As Erickson sat there stunned, Hulk eased Capri back to stand by me. She’d drifted forward as she talked to him. I put my arms around her. I had so much I wanted to say and ask of him, but my niece was beating me to it. However, if it made her feel better, I had no objections.
“Tell us why in the world Vanessa Latham would help you to do it? What is your connection to her? Are you friends? Where is she hiding?” Dare asked their captive.
Erickson’s face crinkled up in distaste, I think.
“Vanessa Latham is a whore and a liar. She was never Capri’s friend.
And I proved it. It was so easy to get her to slip the drug into the water.
I gave her everything and told her how to inject it into the plastic bottle, then seal the hole with a layer of hot glue so it wouldn’t leak, and the seal wouldn’t be broken. ”
“How did you get her to do it?” Hulk repeated for Dare.
Erickson stared at Hulk, as if my old man was stupid for asking or not knowing. I wanted to scream and punch the bastard.