Chapter 16
When the last customer left for the day and Erik and Marlene had gone home, I rushed to the back room and changed into an aqua top and black activewear shorts. Kain was going to show me his abdominal machines and some self-defense moves today. Like the rest of the town, I was on the edge after the murder. Everyone who came into the store talked about the Bleeding Heart Killer.
I hated him for giving a pretty flower a bad image. I prayed the officials would catch him soon.
Trying to stay positive, I snapped a picture of me waving to Kain and sent it to his phone. I had called an Uber to pick me up because Kain had a meeting. I wanted to walk to the Etched Building, but he refused. It was only a few blocks and would’ve warmed me up for the workout, but safety first.
Eva: Be there soon.
Kain: Can’t wait to see you. Can’t wait to touch you.
Eva: We’re training my abs, nothing more.
Kain: I have creative ways of tightening your abs. Excited to start ‘core’ training. Gotta deal with a renovation issue now. Chat soon. Miss you. ??
I locked up and waited for the Uber. My mind wandered to how my life had changed since meeting Kain. I was happier and more hopeful. Grandpa had a huge hand in bringing us together.
“Come with me.” Something jabbed me in my ribs. “You shout and I’ll shoot you.”
I recognized my ex-boyfriend’s voice, and the stench of alcohol made my stomach churn. Fear gripped me as I scanned the sidewalk. No one was around. I wanted to scream, but stopped when I remembered his threat.
Dennis yanked my arm, dragging me to the alley around the corner. Trash bags piled against the brick building. Reeking of alcohol, he pushed me against the wall. He pressed his body to mine. The look in his eyes reminded me of why I had ended things with him.
Terror bubbled in my stomach.
“What do you want, Dennis?” I tried to wriggle free. We struggled for a moment.
Then he slapped me. The force sent me to the ground. Shards of glass cut into my palms. He gripped my shirt, pulling me back to standing. “Behave, and I won’t hurt you.” He wagged the gun in front of my face. “Unless you want a bullet in your head, darling.”
Adrenaline and fear warred inside me. My mind raced for a way out.
“Who was that guy you were with?” he asked.
Dennis’s threat echoed in my head, but I had a feeling I wasn’t getting out of here alive today if I didn’t do something.
“Help!” I shouted, but he clamped a hand over my mouth.
“If you scream again, I will shoot.” He pressed the gun to my face. “I don’t want to hurt you, Eva. I still love you.”
Panic rose in me, but I pushed it down so I could think.
“You done yet? She’s my next victim. I have the perfect display for her.” A man’s voice drew me to the end of the alley.
Bleeding Heart.
He was the man on the train with that woman. Kain mentioned that the woman had been kidnapped. She had a new baby when he’d kidnapped her. Bleeding Heart probably threatened to kill her baby if she didn’t comply with his demands. That explained why she kept looking at the crying baby.
“Not yet. I need to remind her who she belongs to.” Dennis pressed his lips to mine, and I wanted to gag. Then his hand squeezed my breast so hard it hurt. “You’re mine, do you understand? I’m going to fuck you right now.”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
My body jerked from the sound. Dennis’s body sagged against mine and dropped to the ground. I trembled as blood smeared on my shirt and pants.
“I hate people who don’t follow the rules.” Bleeding Heart walked over to me.
Be brave. Look at his face. Study the details.
The reminder was all thanks to the crime shows I’d watched.
Short brown hair. Brown eyes. A slim face with dark eyes. A scar on the right side of his chin. About six-feet tall with a lanky build.
I gathered every ounce of courage to remain calm. I stared at his gun. It had a silencer or something because it didn’t make a loud sound when he shot Dennis.
“What do you want?”
“To use you as a display.” He smirked.
“Why are you killing women?” I asked.
“Women are all useless, just like my mother.” He looked at me and saw the question in my eyes. “Yes, I killed her too. She was a slut, and she didn’t deserve to live. The things that woman did to her own son were despicable.”
A clump of fear lodged in my throat. “And murdering other women makes you feel better?”
I didn’t know why I kept talking to him.
“Murder is an art form, don’t you agree? It depicts the artist’s intention. Tell me something.” He stood close to me. “Do you like the bleeding heart more than the black rose?”
He was referring to Hawthorne’s rose signature. What should I say? If I told him the wrong answer, he’d kill me right now. I had to buy time and prayed someone heard the gunfire and would look out from the building and see me. Maybe Kain would come looking for me because I was late for our date.
I had a loving family and a magnificent man who loved me. So much was at stake. I had to survive.
“They’re both unique in their own way. I have no preference.”
“You know about Hawthorne.” Something flickered in his eyes. “Isn’t he a genius? But I think my style is better.” He ran a hand over my cheek. “A heart tattoo would look lovely on this cheek.” He stepped back and considered me. “You’d be a good fuck before I have to kill you.” He grabbed my arm, dragging me with him.
Pop! Pop!
Bleeding Heart glanced down at his leg as blood poured out of the wounds.
“Eva! Come to me!” Kain’s voice snapped me back to the moment.
I rushed over to him and he wrapped one arm around me, while aiming the gun at Bleeding Heart. The serial killer turned and lifted his gun to shoot at us, but Kain shot at his hand. His gun thudded to the ground.
“Fuck!” Bleeding Heart wailed and charged at us.
Kain pushed me behind him and deflected a fist from Bleeding Heart. Terror escalated as I watched Kain pummel him. Sirens sounded in the distance, and I silently thanked the heavens.
“If you want a bleeding heart, I’ll give you one, fucker!” Kain punched the criminal in the face several times.