Chapter Twenty-Nine – Laina
Tessa quickly proved she couldn’t take it. A month went by, and she proved to everyone she didn’t have what it took to live in a tiny basement room while chained to a bed. One morning, when I woke up and checked the camera, I was greeted by the sight of her having decided to check out.
She killed herself. Took the sheets on the bed and made a little noose, tied them around the metal frame of the bed and her neck, and pulled and pulled until no more air could get inside her lungs.
One month. The woman barely lasted one month.
To be honest, I didn’t expect her to take that way out.
She was someone who could dish it out, but she couldn’t handle having anything given right back to her.
What a hypocrite. Still, a certain type of satisfaction did fill me when I saw her on the camera that morning—a satisfaction I couldn’t say that I would’ve had if I would’ve ended her life with my claws.
There was something so deliciously dark about the fact that she had decided she was so hopeless she’d take her own life.
I met with Lola later that morning, and we discussed what to do with her body.
The mafia had its typical disposal methods, the main one being tying weights around her body and dumping her in the river, where the fish had become so bloodthirsty they left nothing but bones soon enough.
Another was an industrial furnace that burned so hot even the bones melted.
Nothing would be left of her other than ash.
At this point in my life, I didn’t care.
What we did with Tessa didn’t matter. She was gone, and she’d never hurt anyone I cared about ever again, so I told Lola to dispose of her corpse however she wanted.
Whatever was the fastest, cheapest, least time-intensive way.
After that decision, that woman and her crimes would never occupy a single thought in my brain.
That was the same day I told Lola my plans. Me and my guys had kept it under wraps, mostly to give Jason a head-start in Montana. He’d left last week after ending the lease on his rental, and he was now safely back in Montana, getting everything ready.
We were in the kitchen of the house, with Tessa’s body right downstairs, when I told her. At first, I didn’t think she understood me, like I’d just spoken it in another language, but as we stared at each other, it finally dawned on her.
“You’re not coming back,” she whispered, a note of sadness in her normally confident, giddy voice.
“Maybe I will,” I said, but even as I said it, I didn’t believe it. “No, I don’t think so. I need…” I shook my head. “I need to get out of this city for a while. This city has too many bad memories now.”
Lola wasn’t born here. She didn’t owe the city anything, not really, but with who she was dating, I knew she felt differently.
She was, after all, the Bloody Queen and the Night Slayer, a woman who took it upon herself to watch out for the women and girls of this city.
She’d never leave it because there would always be someone ready to take advantage of the female population here.
She heaved a sigh. “I get it. I don’t blame you for wanting somewhere new. Where will you go?”
“Montana, first. See where Jason lives, stay with him for a while. After that—I don’t know. There’s a lot I’d like to see, a lot I’d like to do. Once the house and everything in it is auctioned off, I should have enough money for a while.”
“Don’t worry about that. Sylvester’s lawyers will handle it and make sure you get top dollar for everything.”
“I’d really like if Mike could go with us. I know the Lucianos have depended on him for—”
Lola cut in, “Don’t you worry about that, either, hot stuff. I’ll handle Sylvester if he throws a fit. Trust me, by now, I know exactly how to calm that one down.” She winked at me, but after that wink, the smile on her face softened, and she looked so sad all of a sudden.
I opened my mouth to say something else, but she reached for me, pulling me toward her and giving me a hug, something I didn’t think either of us were used to. A display of affection for normal people, sure, but neither Lola nor I were what I’d consider normal.
“I’m gonna miss you,” she whispered. “I’m gonna miss our outings, hanging out, scheming to take down bitches, all that fun stuff.” Her arms squeezed me good. The woman was stronger than she looked, that was for sure.
It took me a moment, mostly because the hug surprised me, but I hugged her back.
“I’m going to miss you, too.” And I would.
Lola had become not only a girl crush, but also a friend.
A really good friend. She helped me realize it wasn’t a bad thing to have a bit of darkness in you, that it wasn’t something to hide or run from.
She pulled away from me, her blue eyes full of warmth. “Maybe we can visit you guys someday. Have a little vacation.”
“Me and my guys have talked about renting a beach house somewhere next summer,” I offered.
“A beach house? That sounds like so much fun. I’ve never been to the beach, and I don’t think any of my guys have, either.” She twirled some of my hair around her finger. “Maybe we can have a party. I’ve wanted one forever, but my guys never let me. With you, maybe they’ll change their minds.”
I laughed softly. “I’m sure you can throw a party.”
Her voice quieted, “That’s not the kind of party I mean. The party I’m talking about would be a little more… adult-orientated.” And then she winked again, and I wasn’t sure if that wink was meant for me or for something else.
An adult-orientated party? What…
Oh.
Oh.
It must have been written on my face, because she grinned at me and said, “There it is. You know exactly the kind of party I’m talking about.
One where clothes are optional and there are no boundaries.
I tend to be a jealous bitch, but you and me are besties.
What are besties for if you can’t have an orgy or two every now and then? ”
An orgy? Only one thought crossed my mind right then: an orgy with her and her guys and me and mine would be…
fucking hot. The thought of her with Mike had already crossed my mind in the past. I didn’t think Kieran would go for something like that, especially if Jason was involved, but Fang would probably be down.
The possibilities had never seemed sexier.
Lola sighed again. “Seriously, girl, I’m gonna miss you so much. This city won’t be the same without you.”
“I don’t know about that. I think you’ll make sure it stays the same.”
A chuckle left her chest. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
My thoughts, as we left the house, were still on that adult-orientated party she suggested, but beyond that, I knew this city would be in good hands. Lola would make sure about that.
Things happened fast after that. I had no hand in what happened to Tessa’s body, and Kieran was simply smug to know she was gone. Jason had already washed his hands of it before he left, so I didn’t tell him. I figured I wouldn’t, unless he ever outright asked me.
Fang had to bequeath his metal shop to his brother, while Mike moved most of his stuff to Lola’s house, so his brother could look after it.
The Luciano lawyers were on top of the house and the stuff inside it; I’d taken everything of mine I wanted already.
Namely, my clothes, my extra contacts, my hair dye, and my claws.
I didn’t know that I’d ever need them, but like hell would I leave them. They were a part of me, and I would never shy away from that part of me ever again.
The guys would each drive their own cars.
We’d head to Montana in a caravan of sorts, and every rest stop I’d switch cars.
It would be a road trip of epic proportions—Montana was a damn long drive from where we were, close to the east coast. It’d take us days to get there, and that was if the weather was good.
When the day came to leave, we stopped by Lola’s house first, to say our goodbyes.
Kieran and Fang hung back while Mike and I said goodbye to everyone near the stone steps of the house.
Mike hugged his brother, while he only gave a head nod to Maddox and Sylvester.
Lola, on the other hand, engulfed me in a huge hug that, if she would’ve squeezed any harder, threatened to crack a rib or two.
“Good luck out there,” she whispered. “I hear this country’s a big one.
” She pulled away from me and grinned at me, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.
“I really am gonna miss you, girl. When you’re out there, deciding on what to do, just ask yourself this one thing: W.W.L.D. : what would Lola do?”
Mike audibly harrumphed at that, giving me a look that said exactly what he thought of that suggestion.
“And start thinking of where you want to have this beach getaway,” she advised, and then she placed her lips on my cheek, giving me a gentle peck. “Just imagine how crazy we could drive our guys.”
My cheeks burned at that, and when she pulled away, I saw every pair of eyes on us. Yeah, Lola probably wasn’t wrong there.
She sauntered over to her men and stood between them, looking smug and totally unbothered by the curious, semi-concerned looks they were giving her. Mike, on the other hand, had simply risen a single eyebrow at me.
I shrugged and wore my best I’m-innocent face.
We waved our goodbyes one last time, and then returned to the cars, where Fang and Kieran were waiting. “Ready?” Kieran spoke.
“Yes, but there is one more stop to make on the way out,” I said. I reached into the hoodie I wore and pulled out an envelope that was marked with a single name: Kelly. None of the guys argued with me. Why would they?
I hadn’t seen or spoken to Kelly since she told me she couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to be in danger. I hadn’t tried reaching out, either, wanting to respect her privacy. Kelly was a part of my old life, and up until that moment, I’d tried my best to keep her with me, keep that fragment alive.