Page 58 of Back In the Shadows

“Are you willing to die for your boss?” I snarled, my fingers tightening around the handle of the knife.

“If I tell you, I’m a dead man anyway,” John choked out.

I laughed darkly, the sound echoing off the cold walls of the basement. “Who said you were going to die, motherfucker?”

With a steady hand and precise cuts, I sliced his right eyeball out of its socket, relishing in his agonized screaming that filled the room. The warm blood sprayed across my face, and I smiled, feeling a rush of exhilaration at the sight of it.

His eyeball fell to the floor, staring up at me.

“You’ll never look at my Ella again,” I said as I carved the left one out.

He went limp as I finished. I had wondered how long it would take him to pass out from the pain. I released him, and he dropped to the ground like a ton of bricks.

I strolled to the kitchen and located a Tupperware bowl with a lid. Then rummaged through the drawers until I found a soup spoon. Returning to John, I used the spoon and bowl to collect his eyeballs, then sealed them.

I grabbed the back of his shirt and proceeded to drag him as I left the basement and walked up the stairs, his body thumping along behind me. Once I was outside, I dropped him on the ground and signaled to Dope. He hurried over to me, and I handed him John’s eyes.

“A gift for Ella.”

Dope frowned, lifted the lid, and peered in. His face immediately turned grey as he resealed the container.

“That’s the man that dared lay eyes on my little lamb and helped them take her from me.” I pointed at the heap of the pathetic human. “Let’s take him along with Xavier. One of them will give me the answers I want.”

“Where do we need to take them?” Dope asked.

“California for now. While you and Kip handle their travel arrangements, I’m going to spend time with Ella and my kids. Then, I’ll be back for them.”

This was just the beginning of what I had planned for Xavier and anyone who dared cross me or harm the ones I loved.

28

SEBASTIAN

After three agonizing days, Ella was finally released from the hospital, and Ryan brought her to me at the rundown motel. As soon as I laid eyes on her frail figure, we crashed into each other’s arms, tears streaming down our cheeks in a torrent of emotions. Ella’s touch was a lifeline, grounding me in reality after the nightmare we had endured. All the terror and uncertainty of never being able to hold one another again melted away as our lips met in a desperate kiss, grasping onto each other as if our survival depended on it. It did.

I whispered against her mouth, “I thought I had lost you forever.”

Her eyes shimmered with tears as she cupped my face in her hands, her voice barely above a whisper, “You’ll never lose me. I promise.”

As we held each other close, the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of us holding onto each other.

Ryan, Ella, and I headed to the airport. Dope and Kip said they would catch up with us at my penthouse in Portland, Oregon, once they finished some things. Cami and the kids werealready waiting for us there. I didn’t bother asking for details since Death and I were connecting occasionally.

Nearingthe entryway to the penthouse, I slowed and turned to my wife. “It was hard to find the right time, but you’re going to find out.”

Ella took a step back, fear flickering through her gaze.

I reached up and placed my hands on her shoulders. “No. No. It’s okay. It’s not bad like that.”

“What is it?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“Baby, Cami knows about … him.”

She frowned at me and then said, “I’m confused. What are you talking about? Ryan?”

Before I could respond about Death, the front door opened, and Cami stared us.

“Hi,” she said, her voice cracking and her chin trembling. Big tears flowed down her face as she pulled Ella inside and flung her arms around her best friend. Ella’s body visibly tensed and trembled slightly with Cami’s sudden hug. I was about to step in and ask that Cami give her some room when my wife finally spoke.

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