Chapter 11
Isaac
Jules' text letting me know she was leaving came through while I was arriving at the zoo. It took forever to convince her to give me Serena’s phone number. She is incredibly protective, which I admire, but it’s also getting a bit annoying.
I type out my reply and pocket my cell, turning my attention back to the task at hand.
The sound of the tiger’s tongue cleaning her paws fills the cage as Charlie and I clean up the rest of the garbage bags from the corner.
By the time I returned to my basement after dropping Serena off, David’s body had already stiffened from rigor mortis. Purplish spots had formed on his arm, right hip, and upper leg, and trying to remove him from the chair was a chore.
Eventually I gave up and just Dexterfied him. Easier to transport anyway.
While I’m not ashamed to admit I get a thrill from the violence, I fucking hate the clean up afterwards. It is so much easier when I can just take them to Cole and have him deal with it. But this time was personal, and I really didn’t care to explain myself to him right now.
Thankfully, I have a friend who works at the zoo who has no problem letting me come by and feed Calliope.
“Thanks again for helping me out on such short notice Charlie.” I apologize as I hand her an empty bag. Usually, she has at least a head start to get things ready.
“Oh honey, it’s not a problem. After everything you and Cole did for me, I’m happy to do it.” She smiles and shoves the bag into a bin and shuts the lid. Charlie is one of the many who chose to do more with her life after Cole rescued her from the trafficking scene.
She was in it deep too, her mother sold her into the lifestyle when she was only twelve years old, for a fucking ounce of coke. In and out of the trade, used for horrific things. Childhood ripped away from her before she even had a chance.
Charlie was raped repeatedly by the brother of the women who ran the sex club she was forced to stay and work at.
When she was sixteen, she got pregnant and had a baby girl.
Not wanting her to suffer the same fate as she did, Charlie ran away when her daughter was only two months old and gave her up for adoption.
Unfortunately, the fucks found Charlie and dragged her back.
That’s when we found her.
Cole had been scouting out this particular club for a while, and when he got an insider tip about the inner workings, he wasted no time busting it wide open. When we finished the job, she was one of the many women we rescued that night.
She was broken, battered and lost.
Cole took her in like all the others before and offered her a job at the club while she got her GED, and Theo worked on her new identity.
This girl completed her GED in less than a month, and within three months of her turning eighteen, was in school for animal science and eventually got her bachelor’s degree in zoology, animal science and biology.
Next thing we know, she’s the zookeeper at our city’s local zoo. And more than willing to help us with disposal anytime we needed.
To say Cole was proud would be an understatement. When I think back on it, Cole had a particular kinship with Charlie that I never quite understood. An almost brotherly attachment to her.
My muscles ache and a headache creeps up my shoulders. When was the last time I slept? I don’t think I’ve slept at all in over twenty-four hours between dealing with the trash and bringing Serena home safely.
After I’m done here, I’m going to go home and crash so fucking hard. Maybe I’ll make a stop on my way home.
It doesn’t take long before my mind wanders to Serena. Selfishly, I wanted to stay. Especially when she admitted she dreams about me.
Definitely want to unwrap that.
“So, Isaac. Who’s the girl?” Charlie leans against the stone wall and crosses her arms.
“What do you mean?” I feign innocence and pick up the last bag.
“You have been distracted this entire night. It’s like your body is here, but your mind is somewhere else.” She taps her temple. “And I’ve been around the block a time or two. Your scowl either means you’re constipated, or you’re stuck on a girl. And I’m leaning towards the girl.”
“There’s no girl.” Of course there’s a girl, but I’m not ready for anyone to know about her yet.
“Whatever you say, lover boy.” She kisses the air around her.
I’m about to give her shit on the lover boy comment, when my phone rings. Taking it out of my pocket, I can’t help the stupid smile that spreads across my face when I see the name flashing across the screen. I also don’t miss the smirk and I told you so look on Charlie’s face.
“Hey, Serena. I’m glad you called.” I greet, with a little more enthusiasm than I intended.
“Isaac… I need you.” Her small voice trembles from the other end of the line and my heart sinks. Something is wrong. I look at Charlie and she’s already unlocking the door to the employee tunnels that lead out to where we parked.
“What’s wrong?” I grab my helmet from the chair in the corner and half walk half jog to the exit. I give Charlie a silent thank you nod when I pass, and she mouths welcome in response.
“There’s so much blood.” She whispers.
Blood? My pulse races and my heart pounds as adrenaline fills my veins. Fuck walking. I’m full-on sprinting toward my bike, my helmet on and buckled before I reach the exit. “What do you mean Mi Vida?”
Still waiting for her to respond, I reach my bike and put my key into the ignition.
Her breathing is the only thing I can hear through the speaker in my helmet. “I’m on my way but I need you to talk to me. I need to make sure you’re okay.”
After a beat of silence, I hear her shaky voice. “I… I’m okay... I think.”
I swing my right leg over the seat of the bike and use the other to kick behind me and raise the kickstand. With both feet on the ground, I pull in the clutch and turn it on, the sound of the motor rumbling throughout the parking lot.
I rev the engine and my tires squeal as I take off down the street, weaving in and out of traffic.
“Are you hurt?” I plead.
“Kind of. Maybe... I think so?”
What the fuck does she mean? Kind of? Why can’t she just give me a straight answer? I can hear the pain in her voice, so I know she has to be hurt in some way, I just don’t know the extent or severity.
“I’m scared Isaac. I thin… illed him… Tyl…” There’s static and then the line goes dead.
“FUCK.”
The instant I merge onto I-5, I lean forward and pick up speed. The speedometer easily reaching 120 miles per hour, turning cars into nothing but blurs beside me.
My mind races trying to make sense of what she was saying. I don’t have much to go off. All I know, is my girl is scared, injured and whoever did this to her is fucking dead when I get my hands on them. If they aren’t already.
I tap the side of my helmet where my Bluetooth device is mounted. “Call Serena.”
Straight to voicemail. Goddamit!
Thirty minutes later I pull up to her house. Parking my bike in her driveway, I run to the front door and see that it’s wide open. My heart pounds against my chest and I grab my Sig P365 from the holster on my hip. Cautiously, I enter. Aiming the pistol in front of me, ready for whatever awaits.
I don’t like what I see.
What the fuck happened in here? Food is scattered across the kitchen and walls. And in the middle lies a frying pan near a pool of blood.
Who’s blood is that? My body goes still. Fear surges through me when the image of Serena’s dead body lying on the floor flashes before my eyes.
Bloody shoe prints lead from the puddle to the front door, so whoever it was, they’re gone. I just spoke to her, but that would still be plenty of time to kill her and remove the body. My pulse quickens. I don’t know for sure if she’s dead yet, and I need to focus.
I’ve never been scared of anything in my life, but the thought of losing my Little Firecracker terrifies the shit out of me.
I clear the kitchen and move to the living room. Serena’s dog lies in front of the entertainment center surrounded by blood and glass. Turning to the right, I sweep the gun and head down the hall to her bedroom.
I jiggle the handle and a small glimmer of hope fills me. It’s locked.
Knocking, I call out to Serena, hoping she’s locked herself inside. “Serena, it’s Isaac. Are you in there?”
No response.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. She could have locked herself in, but from the little I got from her earlier, it sounded like she was injured somehow. What if she’s just on the other side of the door bleeding out and I do nothing?
I would never fucking forgive myself if I let her die.
On the other hand, if she did walk in on her own, and was fatally injured, there would be a trail of blood leading into the room.
“Serena, if you’re in there, I need you jug to let me in. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Still nothing.
Fuck this.
I grab the handle, lean back and ram my shoulder into the door. I repeat this three times until finally the door jam splinters and the door swings open. When I look inside, my shoulders drop and I let out a sigh of relief. Serena is just sitting at the edge of her bed looking out the window.
Gun in hand, I clear the corner on the right and then the left. The bathroom is next, and once I’m done, I go to Serena.
I set my gun down on the ground and kneel in front of her so I can get a good look at the damage.
She has bruises on her neck and small red burns on her left shoulder and face.
Her tight wrist is swollen and bruised. She flinches when I brush my fingers across her cheek to move her tangled hair from her face.
Her soft blue eyes are blank and lifeless. My poor girl is in shock.
I search the rest of her body and inspect her for any more injuries. Other than the ones on her neck, face, shoulder and wrist, she seems to be fine. Physically.
Mentally is a whole other story.
Holstering my gun, I stand up to retrieve a washcloth from the bathroom to clean her off. Her hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me mid step. And when I look down and her eyes meet mine, a piece of me breaks. Tears well in her eyes, and I can see how hard she is trying to hold them back.
To be strong, for me.
She doesn’t have to. Serena needs to know that she can be as vulnerable and broken in front of me as she needs to be. She can fall apart into a million pieces, and I will spend the rest of my life putting them back together.
“Please don’t go.” She whispers.
“I’m not leaving Mi Vida. I’m just getting a washcloth so I can clean you up.” I place my hand on hers and step again towards the bathroom.
“NO! NO! Please, Isaac, please don’t go. Don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone.” Panic and fear lace her voice as she frantically grabs at my arm. My arm braces the back of her legs, pulling her up and onto my lap as I take my place on the bed.
She wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face into my chest. Her tears staining my shirt. My heart fucking breaks seeing her like this.
“Shhhh. Shhh. It’s okay baby girl. You’re safe now.” I kiss the top of her head and lean back so I can see her face. She sniffs and all of my anger and fear from before disappears when I look into her eyes.
“I was so scared. I didn’t know who to call.” She wipes tears from her cheek. “I couldn’t call Tyler, because he’s the one who did this.”
My body stiffens when she mentions her boyfriend.
Serena straightens and braces herself with her hands on my chest. “Oh my God. Tyler. I hit him and he just…fell. And the blood…there was so much blood. I-I think he stopped breathing but I’m not sure.
” She continues without so much of a breath.
“Did I kill him? Oh my God. I killed him. I’m a murderer.
I can’t believe I killed someone. He’s dead. He-.“
I put a finger to her lips, cutting her off. “You didn’t kill him, Serena.”
“I didn’t?” Her sapphire eyes search mine for a hint of a lie.
“No preciosa. There was nobody out there when I arrived and there were footprints leading out of the kitchen towards the front door. He probably regained consciousness when you were in here and walked out.” My hand caresses her cheek.
“You most likely didn’t realize it happened because your body was in shock.
” She takes a breath before relaxing and laying her head back on my chest.
I wrap my arm around her and hold her head to my chest, soaking up every minute of our breaths becoming one. For a moment, everything else fades and it’s just her. And I never want to let her go. But unfortunately, we can’t stay here.
Reluctantly, I shift her off of my lap and set her back down.
“You’re coming home with me. Pack a bag.
Grab whatever you need.” She nods and I watch from the doorway as she slowly fills her duffle bag with clothes and items from her bathroom.
Once finished, she drags the bag behind her and stands in front of me.
I take the bag from her, swinging it over my shoulder and leave the bedroom first, with Serena following closely behind. Her arms wrap around mine and tighten with every step, holding me so I don’t go far. My chest swells.
I know it’s probably not appropriate to feel so happy in this moment, but I am. Knowing she feels safe with me, trusts me. And right now, she is mine to protect.
Nothing beats that.
We get to the end of the hallway and her footsteps falter. I look down and follow her gaze, landing on Belle’s body on the living room floor.
Fresh tears fall silently down her face. “We can’t leave her here.” Her voice breaks.
I grab her chin and turn her head away, forcing her to look at me. “Grab your keys and wait for me in your car. I rode my bike here, and we won’t be able to take her on it.”
Serena hesitates and then finally releases of my arm, grabs her keys from the island counter and leaves the house with one last look at the kitchen behind her.
My boots crunch on the glass while I look for something I can wrap her in. A throw blanket hangs from the side of the couch. Perfect. Taking the blanket, I wrap it around the body, careful to cover her face.
With a light grunt, I lift her body, cradling her carefully as I adjust the bag on my shoulder.
I will take Serena to the house and then take Belle to Charlie. She can cremate her and save the ashes. I shift her weight and balance her in one arm while I lock the front door.
She’s heavier than I thought she would be and hangs from my arms as I walk down the driveway. Serena looks at me from the car, and when she sees Belle, she quickly turns away.
It is time to take my Little Firecracker home.