Page 59 of Encircled in Darkness
He helped me climb down from the truck, the soreness from the accident making in difficult to move. I didn’t realize how badly I hurt until I woke up from my nap. Waking up and discovering James had been watching me, recording my most private moments, should have freaked me out and made me run away. Instead, I fell to my knees and worshipped him, showing my love and devotion.
Entering the building, I followed him to the second floor, and into the clearing behind the large crates. Greg was naked on a wooden table, his arms and legs strapped down and a ball gag in his mouth. Devlin was staring down at him and Greg was trembling under his intense gaze.
The sound of James and I entering the space had Greg turning his head toward us, his beady eyes filled with fear. He mumbled under the gag, his eyes locked on me as I linked my hand with James. He squeezed and nodded to Devlin, who removed the gag. Greg coughed and flexed his jaw.
“Amaya. Thank god you’re here. Can you tell them this has been a tremendous mistake? I don’t know who they’re looking for, but there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Laughing, I walked to him and James leaned against the nearest wall as I approached a confused Greg. “What kind of mistake could they have made? Aren’t you the one who orchestrated my sisters’ rape and murder? Or was that all Victor’s idea?”
His eyes grew wide and I could see him calculating his response. Nodding, he tried to reason. “Victor set it all up. I didn’t want any part of it. I swear.”
“LIAR!” I screamed in his face and slapped him as hard as I could.
My wrist hurt and my palm was burning as James moved behind me and placed a sturdy hand on my lower back. My breathing was growing short and my vision hazy as Greg shook his head. “I tried to stop him from doing that to her but he’s crazy. You need to find him.”
Glancing over my shoulder, Devlin extended his arm to me, offering the newspaper. I held it over Greg’s face and tears sprang to his eyes. He looked from me to James and pissed himself at the realization he was going to die like his four friends.
“I know you were the one who sweet-talked Natalia. You’re the one who got her to agree to meet with Victor.” I leaned in and whispered. “You were the one who set us up. Victor was too stupid to think of all this. It was you and now it’s time to pay.”
He looked past me to Devlin and Skid, pleading with them. “Guys, please. I can give you money. Just let me go and I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“Do you think your money has any value to us? What kind of people do you think we are? Accepting money from a dead man is bad business.” Devlin chuckled and walked up to me, offering me a gun.
Shaking my head, I looked at Greg as he struggled against his binds. “While Victor was focused on his ability to control, Greg had always been about public perception. He cleans up after their messes and takes something for himself in the process.”
Turning to James, my eyes cut to his brothers before I cleared my throat and spoke. “There was a stipulation in the contract, at Greg’s instruction. If I uttered my safe word, they cut me off. I heard my sister saying it over and over and no one stopped. Can you make him beg before you kill him? I want that word to be the last one he speaks.”
James stroked my cheek and Greg sobbed on the table behind us. “What was the safe word?” he whispered.
Bringing my lips to his ear, I whispered the word Greg and Victor had taunted me with. The word that would have ensured my downfall. The word I never spoke until that moment. “Mercy.”
“I won’t show him any.” I gripped the back of his neck and pulled him to me, kissing him with passion.
Devlin walked up to me and offered me his elbow as James stroked my cheek with a feral smile. I was escorted to the first floor and outside the warehouse as the sound of Greg’s screams echoed into the empty parking lot. I could hear James bellow over the screams, and I turned to his best friend, his brother, and saw curiosity staring back at me.
“You know everything about me, so say what’s on your mind.” I remarked and opened the tailgate of the truck.
Devlin helped me climb up onto the tailgate, my feet kicking below me as a blood-curdling screech sounded from the warehouse. I looked at him and his eyes grew wide before he smiled at me, tilting his head to watch my reaction. I shrugged before looking up at the sky and watching the fluffy clouds slowly shift in the bright blue sky.
Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!
A smile pushed on my face at the sounds of Greg suffering. Karma was a real bitch, but I would let the horrible things he orchestrated and the depraved things he benefitted from die with him. I sealed the wounds that had been bleeding from my heart with James’s fulfilled promise to destroy them all.
“Don’t break my brothers’ heart.” Devlin’s deadly tone sounded into the vacant lot as the screams stopped.
“I’d rather die than hurt him.” I glanced at him before turning my gaze to the door, waiting for James to return.
He walked out, his arms and hands covered in blood as he stalked to me. Gripping me by the shoulders, his sticky fingers dug into my skin as he slammed his mouth to mine and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Just alike.” Devlin chuckled and walked over to Skid.
He stroked a bloody finger against my cheek, and I saw his monster looking for praise. The darkness was still deep inside but gone was the shame and painful memories. The only part that was left was what his monster beckoned, and that was enough. I kissed him on the lips then we left the warehouse and all the painful memories behind as we made our way home.
