31. Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter thirty-one
Jackson
Pointing the gun toward the jeep, I can feel my self-control already slipping. The look on Madelyn’s face is enough for me to snatch that motherfucker out of the vehicle and cut his throat then and there.
But that would be hasty and not without consequences. I don’t know if he’s alone or if he has his own weapon. The best thing to do is keep my weapon locked on him until he’s out of the vehicle.
“Stop the car and get out with your hands up!” I yell, keeping the gun on the driver’s side window.
The jeep keeps moving up the driveway. As any sensible man would do, I pop a shot at the windshield. The glass cracks but doesn’t break. “Another inch and it will be your fucking head!”
The driver slams on the brakes and puts the vehicle in park. That got his attention.
As soon as the door opens, I’m on him. With the gun pointed at his chest, I snatch his right arm, dragging him away from the vehicle. “Careful, that’s leather,” the man says, choosing to care more about his jacket than the gun that can put a hole in him.
“I’ve got more important things to worry about than your clothes,” I hiss.
With one hand holding the gun, the other searches every pocket and place this guy can hide a weapon.
Sadly, the only thing I find is his wallet.
Opening it, I can confirm this is Oliver.
The cheeky bastard’s driver's license photo smiles at me.
Balding. Potbellied-and short as fuck. This guy resembles a fat rat more than a human.
Next, I scope out the Jeep only to find it empty of any people. The only thing in there is a steel case, which I take the liberty of grabbing.
“I did everything as asked. Where is Madelyn? Where’s my good girl?”
My nostrils flare at that last statement. His good girl? Over my fucking dead corpse. I place the barrel of the gun between his shoulder blades. “She hates being called that, fucker.”
Oliver looks over his shoulder and smiles at me, the lines of his mouth going to his cheeks.
“It doesn’t matter what she likes, does it?
It’s not like you took that into consideration when you ruined her chest with that knife.
” He tsks. “All you care about is the money. While I will have to see her skin get treated for the imperfection that you caused.”
I would take ahold of his hair and rip it from his scalp if he had any. “Nothing about her is imperfect.” I shove him forward before I completely lose myself. Madelyn wants her chance at him. She can’t have that if I kill him out here.
Oliver moves with me. “Now, that’s where you are wrong. I raised the girl. There’s plenty of room for improvement and fixes. I figure sending her away to a clinic for about six months will rid her of you. They can fix her body and mend her up just like the first time I got her.”
Light flashes behind my eyes and I swear to fuck my finger almost pulled the trigger. “Sick bastard,” I murmur. Don’t kill him yet. Don’t.
“So? Some would say the same about you, I’m guessing?”
Probably. But I can’t say I have desires to fuck a child I raised. “You are very talkative for someone who has a gun on his back.” His confidence is high for someone in his position, which makes me think he’s still hiding something.
We stop in front of the cabin door. “Just making conversation. Besides, you can’t open that case without me, and I have to be alive to do it. So, killing me isn’t really an option right now, is it?”
Mystery solved. What he doesn’t know is that I can have that bag opened with or without his help.
Nevertheless, I play along. “As you said... I am just here for the money. I wasn’t planning on killing anyone.
I didn’t even wear my mask this time because I trust you will take Madelyn and not discuss what happened here.
” Lies. The truth is that the mask would impede the violence I plan to inflict.
And who cares if he’s seen my face. I want it to be the last thing his eyes look at when life leaves them.
Oliver places his hand on the knob. “That’s good to hear.” He stares at me. “Time to go in.”
He opens the door, and I shove him through, removing any possibility of alternative moves. Using the pin, the lock clicks into place, and I zone in on Madelyn.
She's backed against the wall, seated with knees to her chest. Her eyes barely show over her knees, but I don't need to see all of them to know what she's feeling. Both panic and anger mix in her gaze, a look she's given me herself when we first met.
I'd do anything to take that back.
Oliver moves forward. “My good girl. Does it hurt?” He takes a knee, stretching his head toward her collarbone. The stitches peek over the top of her shirt, allowing Oliver to see the wound I gave her.
Madelyn jerks away and slaps his cheek in the process. Don't call me that, Oliver. I smile with pride at that, even though neither can really see me.
Oliver rubs his now inflamed cheek. “That's been your little nickname since you were three years old. It shall remain your name until I die.”
Not long now, motherfucker, I think. Not long until your head gets bashed in.
Revenge burns through my veins, causing my muscles to tense.
Not only because he has ruined a perfectly good nickname by using it since Madelyn was a mere toddler, but also because I know when he fucked her, he taunted her with it.
Now I can't use it without it ending in disaster.
Madelyn is a good girl when she takes my cock, and even when she isn't. But most importantly, she’s MY good girl.
I intend on making her see it. Or I would if my destiny wasn't in the way.
Madelyn turns her attention to me, as if questioning just when his death will be.
“You are getting ahead of yourself. Oliver. There's still this business of ransom money. Without it, you won't get the girl.”
He stands up then, with one last look at her body before turning away from Madelyn.
“Get on with it, then. It has taken me more time to track her down than I would like to admit, but having a few cops in my back pocket helped the process” His hands smooth down a few wrinkles on his shirt.
“That time away has just made me more eager to reconnect.” Oliver clears his throat all the while hands travel farther down to his groin.
“I swear to fuck if you do anything with your dick, I'll choke you with it,” I say.
My eyes advert from him to Madelyn. Her face looks glazed over, the same expression as when I called her a good girl those nights ago.
I swear it seems like it happened months ago.
Years even, but I know it's only been a couple of days.
Still, Madelyn's impact on me has been nothing short of extreme.
Extreme desire. Extreme possession. Earth-shattering fucking insanity. Maybe even some happiness, too.
Oliver raises his hands as if surrendering. “You’re right. I’ll save it for when things are more private.”
I snatch his arm and throw his case into it. For shits and giggles, I'll see if he will willingly open the bag. If he does, it will just save me the headache of doing it later. “Money. Now.” I order while placing the gun back on him.
Sweat appears on his brow. For the first time, he actually appears nervous. “You don't believe it's just money in here?” Oliver asks with uncertainty.
I don't. In fact, I'd be a dumb motherfucker if I trusted him even if he's telling the truth. "Should I believe something else?”
He shakes his head, hands working the lock. “I'm a man of my word. The money is here.” The lock seems to be embedded with some type of code. “Aside from fucking your stepdaughter, are you any other type of family man, Oliver?”
"Jackson," Madelyn whispers. Her voice is so quiet that I can barely hear it. Even so, I keep going.
“Have kids? Parents? Other relatives?”
His face turns red. “None of your business.”
I smile. “No matter, I already know.” Gateley’s computer system spat out all sorts of information. Aside from a couple of long-distance cousins, Oliver has no one who would report him missing within the next twenty-four hours. And even those that would seem not to give a shit about him.
The lock clicks. Oliver moves to unzip the case. “Just dump it all on the floor.” I say. If he is hiding something, I'm about to find out.
To my surprise, he listens and out comes wads of cash- all one hundred-dollar bills. The money flutters to the floor like butterfly wings, and all I see is the possibility of freedom.
Oliver makes a motion with his hands, “Go on, count it.”
I bend down to examine the bills closest to me. I know a counterfeit when I see one, and these are not it. The old bastard kept his word. Too bad I'm not keeping mine. “No need,” I answer.
“It's settled then.” Oliver tosses the case on the floor. He turns to Madelyn. “Come. Time to go home.”
Madelyn shakes her head. “I'm not going.”
Oliver moves closer, removing all space between them. Air rushes out of my lungs as I force myself to wait. She said she wanted to talk, and I'm trying to give her that. But sooner than later, the impulsive, possessive part of my brain is going to take over.
“You will go, girl. You've been bought and paid for.” He goes to snatch her arm, but she pulls away. “Never. You took everything from me.”
“Nonsense. You wanted my cock, good girl.” He creeps closer until he's got her cornered. His fingers wrap around her wrist as he forces her hand over his now erect cock. “You wanted me, and you shall have only me for the rest of your life. Just like I will have your tight cunt repeatedly.”
Her lips tremble at the same time her eyes glaze over. Small pleas are the only things coming out of her mouth. It was this and the fact of his forced touch that sent me over the goddamn edge. She can't talk to him and get any type of closure. Not like this.
Heat and a dark hunger flow through my veins and muscles, hitting every single nerve along the way, until that drive hits my brain. No man will ever touch her again. No man will ever fucking hurt her either. Not even me. She's goddamn mine. For now and until all eternity.