Chapter 41
Chapter forty-one
My footsteps echo throughout the concrete tunnel as I make my way to the end, Maverick and Nick walk silently behind me.
As we reach the end, I can hear labored breathing and dark laughter.
Neither of the men were too keen on the idea of me doing this, each of them wanting to do it themselves, but I insisted.
Stepping into the opening at the end, my eyes fall on Preston who is chained to a chair, then slide over to Karson who leans against a metal table. Small specks of blood decorate his face, and he looks over to me with a smile.
Glancing back over to Preston, I see my assumption was right.
Karson has been tormenting him. He’s weak, struggling to breathe and covered head to toe in blood.
Both of his eyes are black and blue, and swollen almost completely shut.
There’s a few cuts that decorate his face and neck.
Trailing my gaze down the rest of his body, I note the large gashes on his arms, and a few missing fingers.
Looking down, I see the appendages discarded haphazardly on the floor.
My eyes slide back to Karson, who looks extremely proud of himself.
“He’s all yours, Babe.” He says and steps around me to stand with Maverick and my uncle.
Stepping over to the table, I run my fingers over the instruments laid out on top.
I lazily run my fingers along each one, and come to a rest on a simple kitchen knife with an eight inch blade.
Picking it up, I test the sharpness by plucking my thumb against the edge.
This will do.
Weak laughter sounds from behind me, and I turn to face the person responsible for robbing me of my life.
“So pathetic, Lizzy. What are you gonna do? Kill me? Because that worked out so well last time. Even if you succeed this time, I will haunt you for the rest of your life.” He wheezes.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I state, stepping closer to him. “I’ll make sure you’re gone this time. I am done carrying you with me.” Placing my left hand on his shoulder, my right hand lunges forward and the knife slides with ease between his rib cage, puncturing his right lung.
“This is for tricking me into some bullshit fantasy.”
I pull the knife back, blood pours from the wound as he gasps for air. Lunging forward with the knife again, I repeat the process on his other side.
“This is for beating me.”
Pulling back rapidly, I begin the process of stabbing him over and over in his chest and stomach.
“For raping me. Keeping me from my family. Locking me in a room for days at a time. For what your father did to my parents.” I list his crimes against me and my family with each stab of the knife.
I pull it back out and step back and stare at his mutilated body, my chest heaving as I try and pull in a breath.
His head hangs down and blood is beginning to pool at his feet.
Slowly, he raises his swollen eyes to meet mine.
“Anything…else?” He asks between breaths, still managing a nasty grin.
The prick.
“Parker.” I hear Maverick say from somewhere behind me in warning, but I step into Preston. Gripping his hair in my left hand, I wrench his head back, forcing him to look at me.
“Look at me you bastard. I will be the last thing you see.” I tell him in a calm tone.
He smirks, and rage slams into me. “See you in hell, bitch.” With one swift motion, I swing the knife across his throat and the blade slices through his skin like butter.
His eyes widen, and blood spurts from his carotid artery onto my face and chest. Stepping back, I watch Preston turn into a sack of nothing as the blood drains from his body.
Dropping the knife, I wipe my face with my hands and release a relieved sigh.
Looking over my shoulder, I see three sets of eyes watching me intently.
“Princess.” My uncle speaks in a soft and apprehensive tone stepping toward me. Panic begins to bloom in my chest. Looking down at my blood soaked hands, they begin to shake when the reality of what I just did crashes into me.
“Get it off.” I whisper and start frantically trying to wipe my hands clean. I feel something drip down my face. My hands raise to where I felt it, smearing more of Preston’s life force onto my skin and I begin clawing at my face.
I’m not a killer, I’m not like him.
“Get it off, get it off!” I shout. “Get him off of me!” I cry out and Maverick rushes to me, and gently pulls my hands from my face.
“Hey.” He whispers and squeezes my hands. “Eyes, Sweetheart, look at me.” I lift my eyes to his, and feel the panic slowly dissolve. “You did so good.” He gives me a reassuring smile and reaches his hand to grip the back of my neck. “It’s over.” He whispers one more time, and I nod.
“Take her to clean up, we’ll take care of this.” Uncle Nick says and comes to stand next to me. My eyes meet his and he smiles. “I’m so proud of you.” Tears well in my eyes and I smile back.
Maverick takes my hand, leading me through the tunnels and back out through the back yard.
We walk in silence as he leads me to my bedroom, and pushes open the bathroom door.
Pulling me to a stop at the bathroom sink, he puts his hands on my shoulder to stop me and leans over into the glass, walk-in shower then turns on the water.
Turning back to me, he bends down and I place my hands on his shoulders for support.
He removes my shoes, then peels off my jeans and underwear.
Raising my arms above my head, he pulls off my shirt, which sticks to my chest as he pulls it away.
Once he’s removed it, he unclasps my blood soaked bra and drops it in the pile of my clothes on the tile floor.
He then removes his clothes, and gently tugs me into the shower with him.
The hot water envelops me and I watch as Preston’s blood swirls down the drain.
Tipping my head back into the stream, I close my eyes as I feel everything I’ve held onto for the last two years wash away.
All the pain, all the loss and heartache. It’s finally gone.
Lowering my head, my eyes open to see Maverick watching me with a look of adoration. A blush creeps into my cheeks, but I maintain his gaze. He steps into me and places his hands on my hips.
“I love you, Parker. And I am so proud of you.” He whispers and lowers his lips to mine.
Raising on tiptoes, I wrap my arms around his neck as my lips part, inviting him in.
Our tongues collide and the gentle, passionate kiss quickly turns into one that conveys an intense and desperate need for one another.
His hands grip my thighs, and he lifts my feet off of the floor.
My legs wrap around his waist as he backs me into the shower wall.
He breaks our kiss and our labored breathing echoes in the bathroom.
“I thought I lost you.” He whispers, and I feel his cock align with my entrance. “Don’t ever leave me again.” His voice is laced with pain, and he pushes himself inside of me.
“Never.” I say breathlessly, grinding my hips against him, needing him as deep inside of me as possible. He thrusts into me, and begins to fuck me against the shower wall. It’s not slow or gentle. He fucks me without abandon, showing me just how much he needs me.
“Ah! Maverick.” I moan as an earth shattering orgasm rips through me almost immediately.
His hips still and his cock pulses inside of me, filling me with his come and my pussy tightens around him.
We remain that way for a while, my fingers running through his dark hair as he peppers kisses along my collarbone and neck.
“I love you.” I whisper, and feel the tension leave Maverick’s shoulders.
“Fuck, I’ll never get tired of hearing that.
” He growls against my skin, then pulls back to look me in the eyes.
“I love you, too.” His lips crash into mine once more, and I feel his dick harden inside of me again.
We spend the next hour wrapped up in eachother.
He fucks me over and over against the wall, and when I’m spent, he lowers me to the floor and washes me.
Stepping out of the shower, he wraps me in a towel then leads me into my room, and helps me sit on the edge of the bed.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks, and I nod. We get dressed, and leave for the airport.
I stare out of the back seat window of the SUV as it pulls up to a stop on the tarmac. Lights from the runway illuminate the night sky, giving me a clear view of the sight in front of me. My uncle's jet looms over us, and people scurry in and out of it, preparing for take off.
“Wait right here, I’ll make sure everything’s ready.
” Maverick tells me and I give him a nod.
Him, Karson, Nick and George all exit the vehicle, walking together toward the plane.
Awaken by Breaking Benjamin softly plays over the speakers, and I close my eyes as I let the lyrics wash over me.
Today marks the beginning of a truly new life.
A life without fear, or shrouded in darkness.
Maverick leaves the group and walks back over to the SUV. He opens my door and I step out onto the tarmac. His fingers lace through mine, and he looks down at me.
“All set. Are you sure you’re ready? We can stay a couple more days if you want some more time with your uncle.” He tells me and his thoughtfulness pulls at my heartstrings.
“I’m sure.” I give him a nod, and we walk over to where the rest of the men gather. Karson turns to face us, giving me a smile. Uncle Nick pockets his phone, then does the same.
“Let’s get going, Babe. My phone will not shut up, someone's really worried about you.” He gives me a wink then turns to shake my uncle's hand. They say their goodbyes, and Karson disappears onto the plane.
“I just got off of the phone with one of my men. They found where Preston had been staying and tore the place apart. What they found-” He trails off then lets out an exasperated breath, “Preston wasn’t going to give up until he had you, that much was clear.
And his plans for you, I don’t even want to think about.
Thankfully, it’s over now, Princess.” Tears gather in my eyes and I nod.
“Nick, thank you for everything. Please, come see us any time.” Maverick says, and reaches out to shake my uncle’s hand.
“I’ve already been in contact with movers.
Marie, George and a few of the men who I decide to keep after I tie up some loose ends, will be out in Oregon within a month to stay.
Permanently. I’m not letting you get away from me again.
Plus, it’ll be nice to get reacquainted with some old friends.
” He tells me with a wink. Releasing Maverick’s hand, I jump into Nick’s arms and cry into his chest. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes tightly.
“Take care of her.” I hear him say to Maverick.
“You have my word.” Maverick replies.
I release Nick, and we exchange our goodbyes.
Wrapping his arm around my waist, Maverick leads me to the plane.
We ascend the stairs, and find our seats in the cabin.
Karson lays out across two rows of seats behind us, already snoring.
Taking the window seat, I look out across the tarmac to where my uncle stands, watching as the plane prepares for take off.
The scene is all too familiar but this time, instead of sadness, I feel hope for the future.
“Let’s go home.” Maverick whispers in my ear and I turn to plant a kiss on his lips. He pulls me into his side, and I watch the ground disappear beneath us as we leave Rhode Island. Leaving this time feels lighter. I have my family back, and the freedom to start a whole new life.
I look up at Maverick and my heart swells. If it wasn’t for him, and his persistence to tear into my walls, I don’t think that ever would have happened. I’d continue muddling through the days, forever tormented by my past.