Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
EVELYN
Kade’s cell phone began to ring just as Ricci walked toward Aaron’s unconscious body. Without glancing my way, Kade told Ricci he needed to take the call. Ricci responded with a simple wave of his hand.
“What do you want to know?” I cried as Ricci took out his knife, twirling it in his fingers.
“Who are you working for?”
My pause only enticed Ricci more and before I could respond, he began to cut off one of Aaron’s fingers.
The piercing scream that left Aaron’s lips made bile come up my throat. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to get out of my restraints. “Stop! Please stop! I’ll tell you!” I screamed as Ricci moved to another finger.
Ricci raised an eyebrow, his expression expectant as he hovered over the finger.
“I work for a special operations unit through the government. But you already know this. You mentioned it already.” My head sagged, making my chin hit my chest.
“And why would there be a special operations team for dear ol’ me?”
Anger coursed through my entire body. “Maybe they realize what a scumbag you are. Best part is they came to me!”
Ricci scowled at my statement. “Impossible.”
“It’s…true…” Aaron panted out. “You weren’t as sneaky… as… you thought.” Aaron’s complexion paled. I needed to get him out of here and to a hospital asap.
Ricci growled in frustration before stabbing the center of Aaron’s palm. Aaron’s neck muscles strained as he tried to fight the blinding pain. “I don’t need your commentary, boy!”
Sobs racked my body.
“You’re right, Phantom. I do know who you are. But it gives me a reason to slice and dice as I please.” Ricci twirled the blade in his hand. “Now tell me, how long have you been working for the government?”
“Since I was eighteen.”
“Is lover boy over here on the team as well?”
I gulped and met Aaron’s eyes. Blood, snot, and tears streaked down his handsome face. “Ye–yes.”
“What did you do to our team?” I asked with as much fierceness as I could muster.
“Oh well, I was informed that Dominos was your headquarters and couldn’t leave anything to chance. Blowing up a building isn’t typically my style, but I needed to work quickly. Just like I did with your mother.”
No, no, no, this couldn’t be happening. “How did you convince the facility it was an accident?”
“It’s amazing what can happen when a person falls down cement stairs and breaks their neck.”
“You are a poor excuse for a man. Having others do your dirty work? Pathetic.” I should have kept my mouth shut.
“Let me show you what happens when you fuck with the Butcher, shall I, Evelyn?”
Before I could respond, Ricci stabbed Aaron in the stomach. I screamed in terror. “NO! Aaron!”
With a sadistic smile, Ricci removed the knife. “I’ll give you two a chance to say goodbye. I need to get Kade back in here.”
“Ev-evie–” Aaron tried to say before coughing.
“Aaron, please stay with me. It’s going to be okay… I am so, so sorry!” I sobbed as I fought my restraints.
“Stop… apologizing,” he croaked out between coughs as more blood pooled on the cement floor. “Evie… it’s going to be… okay. Know I will always love…” He began to choke on his own blood. “you...” Aaron got the last word out before his body went completely slack, and I knew he was gone.
I screamed in agony. “Aaron! No! God! Please, no!” Unable to stomach the gruesome sight in front of me, I threw up, emptying my stomach onto the floor, the contents resting beside what would later become a bloodstain.
I wasn't sure how long Ricci made me wait for his return. I tried my damndest not to glance over at Aaron’s body. If I did, I knew I would relive the horror over and over again.
“Well, Evelyn dearest, did I miss the big finale?” Ricci clapped his hands and gave me a cruel smile when he finally entered.
Kade followed in tow with an emotionless expression.
“If you’re going to kill me, just fucking kill me now!”
“Oh, that would be too easy, Evelyn. I have big plans for you. Since I know your team is to blame for some of my shipments being derailed, I think it's only fitting you get me the money I am owed.”
“Wh-what do you mean?” My bottom lip began to quiver.
“We are going to auction you off, of course. A fine young ass like yourself...” He sucked in his lips between his teeth. “Will get Daddy lots of money.”
“You’re not my father!”
“So you’ve mentioned...” Ricci muttered.
Kade remained silent. I looked at him with pleading eyes. “Kade… Please…”
Kade responded with a disgusted expression. “Don’t, Evelyn. You’ve made your bed, now you will lie in it.”
Ricci walked over to me and pinched my chin between two of his meaty fingers. “Kade, get her fixed up. We need her presentable for the auction.” He glanced over his shoulder and tilted his head toward Aaron’s body. “And dispose of that trash.”
Ricci began to unhook me from the fence. A grunt escaped me as I fell into Ricci’s chest, having no ability to hold myself up. The spicy scent of his cologne overstimulated my senses.
“Was everything all set at the gym?” Ricci asked Kade.
“Yeah, crazy what a leaking gas pipe can do,” Kade responded sarcastically.
“Ha! That a boy! Grab Loverboy, I have this one.”
The next thing I knew I was shoved into the back of a blacked-out van with my wrists and ankles bound, and Aaron’s lifeless body beside me. They’d tossed him into the van with as much carelessness as throwing trash on the beach.
I closed my eyes and tried to calm my racing heart. But before I could open them, I felt the familiar pinch in my neck, sending me back into darkness.