Page 105 of Mayhem

Searing pain fills my cheek as I taste blood pool in my mouth. I swing wildly back and forth on the hook as he steps back.

“There. That should show him I mean business. Tell me, girl. Do you think he will save you? I’m not asking for much. Only his entire empire.”

He must see the confusion in my eyes. “You still haven’t figured it out? You stupid girl. Rocky isn’t your run-of-the-mill criminal. He’s a crime lord. I know, surprising considering his age, but he ruthlessly weeded out his competition. See, that’s what got you into this. He crossed my boss, pushing us out. This wasn’t his town, it’s ours. We’re here to take back what is rightfully ours.”

I spit out the blood in my mouth before talking. “Why tell me all of this?”

He laughs. “Because even if he saves you, you won’t be safe. The butcher doesn’t give up once he sets his sights on something. That’s why he works for us. He’s like a dog with a bone. Once he gets a taste, he won’t stop until he has it. You’re the bone, my dear.”

“What if you’re wrong? What if he doesn’t save me?”

He laughs. “We have been watching Rocky for months. The night you stepped in was a planned attack. The butcher wasn’t there to kill them. He was there to draw them out and distract them so we could plant our own surveillance. You being there only helped. They were so worried about you, they didn’t even stop to consider why he was there. They never even looked for cameras. We saw everything. You’re quite the wildcat in the sack, huh?”

Bile threatens to rise again as I think about this man watching my intimate moments with Chase.

“You’re wrong. He won’t choose me over his business. Over his family.”

“We shall see.” His phone rings. “Oh look. Your boyfriend’s here.”

Several minutes pass before the door opens.

Chase steps through the door looking deadly. Even if you didn’t know who he was, you would give him a wide berth. His mere presence holds an air of danger.

“Finally. Rocky makes his appearance. We’ve been having fun here waiting for you, haven’t we, darling?” The man claps with a crazed smile on his face.

I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth again. “It’s been a blast,” I deadpan.

I stare at Chase, but nothing about him shows that the sight of me strung up and bruised affects him. He doesn’t even glance my way.

“Got yourself a new toy, huh? Guess you’re into sloppy seconds, Bruce,” Chase says in a bored tone.

“My toy? Not likely. She’s not really my type. I don’t like when they bite. You seem to like it, though. What do you think of my gift?” He holds his hands out like he is presenting me.

“This is what you asked me here for?” Chase sounds offended. “You’re wasting my time.”

He turns, making his way back toward the door.

My chest sinks. Even though I warned the man, Bruce, of this outcome, some small part wanted to believe he would choose me.

“Wait,” the man calls out. “If you walk out that door, I’ll kill her.”

Chase glances back over his shoulder. He glances at me, a small infliction of something flashing before he turns, meeting the man’s eyes. “Call me when you decide that you’re done with all the games and parlor tricks. This is the last time I’ll tell you. Return the product then disappear or else you won’t like the consequences.”

I watch as Chase walks out of the room without another word or a glance in my direction.

My heart constricts as I squeeze my eyes shut.

Chase might have felt indebted to me for a while, but when faced with a choice, he chooses himself always.

I can’t even blame him. I should have done the same thing from the beginning.

You know, in movies they show one pivotal moment that changes the character’s life. One decision they made that irrevocably alters their path in life.

It always seems so minor at the time, but turns out to be the catalyst for some monumental event that transforms their perception of the world.

I never believed in these moments. They were always cinematic views on what the world should be like.

I never believed it.

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