19. Hargrave
Ichewed on the tip of the cigarette, right before I lit it. Inhaling, I looked through the window of the old roadhouse bar. A few feet in front of me, secluded in a back table, with his back to me, sat Lee Berwick and his Whisper.
She was a pretty one, this new girl. Long dark raven locks that curled, just on the ends of the tendrils. Her light green eyes stared up at him as if he was the only soul in that whole place. Sweet and caring eyes that spoke of love.
I smiled, picturing how she’d scream as I carved her eyes out, placing them in a subtle black box to ship out to the bastard in front of her. I imagined the shocked look on his face when he opened the box, and those bright green eyes, now full of life, would look up at him with a soulless stare. That would stay with a man. Trust me. I should know.
She laughed, and I could almost hear the sweet sound over the sounds of the traffic that came from the highway behind me. He’d brought her into downtown New Orleans to a place on Howard Ave near the Expressway. A dive bar in the middle of a near empty street owned by the Royal Bastards MC. The red neon sign read, Last Call, and the place was filled with the likes of those dirty bikers. All of them associated with the enemy.
My enemy.
My eyes drifted to my reflection in the window. I hateful grimace lined my mouth as I stared at the happy couple who were completely oblivious to the knowledge that a killer was on their trail. Hunting was starting to become my new favorite thing to do.
The neon lights of the bar flickered against the night as I watched Whisper with Lee.
I waited until Lee got up and was out of sight, and then I pulled out my phone, dialing her number.
It rang twice before she answered, her voice cautious. “Hello?”
“Hello, Whisper,” I greeted her, my voice low and calculated, holding just enough menace to keep her on edge.
There’s a pause on the other end, then a shaky breath. “Who is this?”
“You don’t need to know my name. But I know yours. I know everything about you.”
A hint of panic creeps into her voice and I can see it in her eyes as they dart around the room. Her breath catches in her throat, and I can practically feel her pulse quicken through the phone. Good. Fear is a powerful motivator, and right now, she’s ripe for the picking.
“What do you want?” she manages to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I paid a visit to your dear mother today,” I say casually, relishing the way her breath catches in her throat.
“What?” Her voice trembles. “Why would you?—”
“Your mother is a very beautiful woman. It’s sad to see how she’s not quite there in the eyes. She was very eager to tell me her secrets. It seems she thinks of herself as a raven. And here I thought I was the crazy one.”
“How dare you?” I could make out Whisper’s anger, but I quieted her down instantly.
“Shh,” I interrupt, my tone ice cold.
“Listen carefully, Whisper. If you want your precious mother to stay safe, you’ll do exactly as I say.”
The silence hung heavy between us, thick with fear. I could almost taste her terror through the phone. It was intoxicating.
“Do you understand?” I press, my voice a mere whisper now, a deadly promise lingering in the air.
“Yes,” she whispers back, her voice barely audible.
“Good,” I say, a cruel smile curling my lips. “Because if you so much as breathe a word of our little conversation to anyone, I’ll make sure your mother suffers. Do we have an understanding?”
She hesitates, then nods, forgetting momentarily that I supposedly can’t see her. “Yes,” she finally says, her voice small and defeated.
“Excellent,” I purr, reveling in her fear. “Now, let’s talk about what comes next.”
“I’m an old friend of Lee’s,” I tell her, letting the words hang in the air. “And it seems he owes me something. Something he hasn’t been able to repay.”
There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her mind. I watched through the glass as she glanced over to Lee who was now standing at the bar ordering their drinks.
“What does that have to do with me?” she asked, her voice uncertain but defensive.
I let out a low chuckle, relishing the fear that dances in her eyes. “Everything, Princess. You see, Lee’s debt has come due, and you’re the lucky one who’s going to settle it.”
There’s a flicker of realization in her gaze, as she comes to an understanding of the dire situation she’s found herself in. She’s just a pawn in this twisted game of mine, a sacrificial lamb offered up to settle an old score.
“Lee… he’ll never let you get away with this,” she manages to choke out, her voice laced with defiance.
I smiled, touching the glass as I outlined her face. Amusement filled my tone. “Oh, my dear Whisper, you truly have no idea, do you? Lee will be nothing but a distant memory soon enough. And you, Princess, you’ll be the one to bring about his demise.”
“Stop calling me that,” she says through gritted teeth and I find her so very interesting in that moment.
“But isn’t that what he calls you? Your lover?”
“Fuck you.”
I chuckle again. “The princess spits out venom. I’m sure it tastes just as sweet as it sounds.”
“You have no idea who you are dealing with,” she threatens, and I smile.
“Oh, but I do. Yet, I don’t seem to care. Only one thing matters to me. You see,” I continue, my voice dripping with malice, “Lee’s fate was sealed the moment he crossed me. And now, you’re going to be the instrument of his destruction.”
I watch as her facade crumbles, her fear vibrates around her as she squirms in her seat.
“But… why?” she whispers, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
“Because, Princess, in this world, there are no second chances. And when you owe someone a debt, you’d better be prepared to pay up. One way or another.”
Silence encompasses the line and I watch as Lee waves at her from his perch at the bar. She waves back, halfheartedly.
“Good girl. Make sure he believes everything is perfect between you.”
She glances around the room frantically. “You can see me?”
“Shhh, don’t even try to find me. You never will. Just behave, Whisper,” I continue, my voice dripping with malice, “and nothing will happen to you or your dear mother. But if you step out of line, well… let’s just say the consequences won’t be pleasant.”
I can hear her swallow hard, the sound amplified in the silence that stretches between us.
“Do we have an understanding?” I press, my tone firm and unyielding.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.
“Good,” I say, my lips curling into a sinister smile. “Because trust me, Whisper, you don’t want to find out what happens when you cross me.”
With every word I utter, I can feel the grip of fear tightening around her like a vice. Whisper”s discomfort is palpable even through the phone line, and I relish every moment of it. It’s exhilarating, this power I hold over her, this ability to instill fear with just a few carefully chosen words.
“I want you to meet me,” I continue, my voice soft but commanding. “Alone. Tomorrow night.”
There’s a moment of hesitation on her end. “Remember Whisper, your mother’s life is on the line here. I suppose you could blame your lover; this is all his fault.”
I sensed her resignation, but she knew she had no choice but to obey if she wanted to protect her mother, if she wanted to keep Lee alive. Although that was futile, since the whole point of this exercise was to see him suffer then die.
“Fine,” she murmured, defeated.
“Good girl,” I say, my voice dripping with condescension. “And Whisper? Dare to try anything foolish and you’ll regret it. Don’t forget who holds all the cards here. We are playing a dangerous game, and I will win.”
“I promise you that you will not get away with this.”
“Oh, I hope not. I am looking forward to coming face to face with your lover again, only this time it will be on my terms.”
I could practically hear the shiver that ran down her spine, the tremor of fear that coursed through her like a live wire.
“I’m always watching. Now go smile and play your princess role for him. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I watched her clench her fists on the table, and it excited me to know she was up for a fight.
“Excellent,” I say, a cruel smile playing at the corners of my lips. “I’ll be in touch, Princess.”
With that, I ended the call, savoring the fear that lingered in the air like a bitter taste. I could tell that Whisper was a clever girl, but she was no match for me. I couldn’t wait to meet her.