Chapter 13 Killer Christmas Lights #2
War’s grip tightened, his thumb brushing against my wrist, sending a jolt through me.
His eyes, usually cold and calculating, held a strange mix of excitement and…
something else. Possessiveness? Fear? I couldn’t decipher it.
But a chill ran down my spine as I looked deeper into his eyes, noticing a look of familiarity.
Hitch leaned against the porch, his arms crossed, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
It didn't reach his eyes. His gaze flickered between me and War, a silent battle playing out in the space between us. I couldn’t read him either.
He was like a closed book, but I had learned to ignore every page in the book.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” War said, his voice smooth, laced with a predatory undertone. He began to pull me towards the car, a sleek, black muscle car, which I had never seen before.
“Woah there, partner,” Hitch drawled, pushing himself off the porch. “Don’t forget the kid.”
War glanced back, his expression momentarily darkening. “Right. Julian.” He looked at me again, his eyes lingering on my face. “We wouldn’t want to leave him out of the fun.”
I swallowed the smoke from my cigarette catching in my throat.
Fun. The word felt like a cruel joke. Fun hadn't been a part of my life for a very long time.
I knew what War wanted. I knew what he was capable of.
The thought of Julian being exposed to it…
My heart squeezed, and I knew I had to make sure he was safe, even if I wasn't.
“I… I’ll go get him,” I stammered, twisting free of War’s grasp.
My feet felt heavy as I turned and headed back inside, the image of their faces burnt into my mind. I had to come up with a plan. Something. Anything. I found Brady in the kitchen, already bundled up in his own coat and preparing a sippy cup for Julian.
He looked up, his expression softening when he saw me. "Everything alright, Fall?"
“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just… making sure Julian is ready.”
"He's all set," Brady replied. "He's so excited about Santa."
I smiled, grabbing Julian's backpack off the island, but it didn't go anywhere near reaching my eyes.
Brady's brow furrowed. "What's going on, Fallon? You're acting… strange.”
"It's nothing, really," I said, trying to sound casual, though my pulse was hammering. "Just… a feeling."
He studied my face, his gaze searching. He knew me too well. "Fallon, tell me what's going on."
I opened my mouth to explain, to tell him everything, to beg him to take Julian and keep him safe, but the words wouldn't come.
I looked into his eyes and knew he wouldn't understand.
I had kept the truth from him for so long, and I didn't have the time to explain it.
I couldn't risk everything. I took a deep breath, and I forced myself to smile.
"Nothing, Brady. Really. I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed. Having a night to myself with War and Hitch sounds like a lot of fun, but are you sure it's the best idea? I mean War works for Foley, and so does Hitch."
"Get close to him, Fallon," Brady confidently whispered, his bright eyes turning dark with deceit. "Use him to get to what we want—to who we want."
I wanted to kill Foley for everything he had done, but would I be able to pull the trigger if it came down to it? It worried me a lot, but I tried to have faith in myself. Brady had faith in me to fix this mess but I was having trouble finding the faith within myself. My gut twisted.
"But what if he hurts me again?" The question tasted like ash on my tongue. "What if he… takes Julian?"
The thought of the sweet boy in Evander's clutches ignited a fire in my chest, a burning rage I hadn't felt in years. Brady's expression hardened, his jaw clenching. He reached out, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly.
"He won't touch Julian, Fallon. Not while I'm fucking breathing. And you," he added, his voice low and dangerous, "You are stronger than you think. You’ve survived worse. You'll use him, just like you used Foley to get me out. You can do this. I know you can.”
His words, meant to reassure, felt more like a death sentence. A forced march back into the darkness. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but I knew I couldn't. I had to protect Julian. I had to play the part, even if it meant sacrificing myself all over again.
“Okay,” I managed, my voice a mere whisper. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
A flicker of relief, pride, maybe even a hint of guilt—crossed Brady's face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
He nodded, then turned back to the bottle, busying himself with it as though the matter was settled.
I turned away, the backpack heavy in my hand.
Julian was waiting, his innocent face illuminated by the warm glow of the kitchen.
I couldn't tell him the truth. I couldn't burden him with the knowledge of the danger that awaited us.
"Let's go, kiddo," I said, forcing a smile that felt like a mask.
I took a deep breath. I walked back into the living room, my legs feeling like lead. War and Hitch were still by the car waiting. I forced my lips into a smile.
"Let's go," I repeated, feeling like I was walking into the lion’s den.
As Brady, Julian, and I walked out of the house, I realized the cold had begun to seep into my bones, a chill that had nothing to do with the winter air.
War’s gaze never left me, and I felt the weight of his attention like a physical burden.
Hitch, as usual, gave nothing away, but I knew him, understood him.
"So, what's first?" War asked, his voice smooth and laced with a predatory edge. "Christmas lights? Or something a little more… exciting?"
I forced a laugh, feeling the knot of anxiety in my stomach tighten. "Lights are fine. Julian's really looking forward to Santa."
The words felt hollow, a desperate attempt to cling to some semblance of normalcy. War’s smile widened, but the excitement in his eyes didn’t seem genuine.
“Whatever you want, darling,” he replied, and I flinched, the word dripping with a sarcasm that was not only directed at me but also towards everyone else surrounding me.
As we walked towards the car, the silence between us was punctuated by the crunch of snow beneath our feet.
I glanced at Hitch, searching for any hint of what he was thinking, but his face was an unreadable mask.
Was he with War? Was he playing a game too?
I was sick of it, and for the life of me, couldn’t see the end of it.
Julian, oblivious to the undercurrents of danger, chattered excitedly about Santa and presents.
My heart ached at his innocence, the pure joy in his eyes.
He deserved better than this. He deserved a life free of secrets and fear.
But I’d made my bed, and now I had to lie in it. Or, in this case, drive to it.
The black car, which looked like it belonged to a movie star, pulled up in front of us, and I was forced to smile and try to play my part.
It felt as if everyone surrounding me was aware, and knew something I didn’t.
Hitch opened the back door, and I buckled Julian in, trying to block out the darkness that surrounded me. .