Page 40 of Painfully Merry

I make quick work across the room and slam my fist into his stomach. “Don’t fuckin’ call him a dog, you prick. You’re lucky to be breathing still. This is the calmest I’ve seen him, so count your blessings. Either talk now, or I’ll let Chaos have his fun, and he likes to work long and slow.”

Chaos hums. “I love when they're still breathing when I cut open their chest and watch blood gush to the floor like a waterfall. Wanna see?” Histeria rolled through him when Kevin paled.

“You fucking psycho.”

Chaos swung close to his face. “You have no idea,” he said, licking the side of Kevin’s face. Before I knew what had happened, Kevin was yelling, and Chaos’ face was covered in blood.

“How’s that for a psycho?” He spits a bloody ear on the floor, looks at me and smiles. His teeth are shiny with blood, and my stomach rolls. “He’s yours, Parky baby.”

He’s lucky the knife didn’t sink into his body. I watch as his body trembles. But I want answers, and I have no remorse anymore.

“Start talking, or he cuts next.”

“Fine,” he pants. “Sabrina’s uncle is my father.”

My body went rigid from hearing his words. Is he kidding me? She knew this entire time that her cousin was working for her. Is this the identical cousin that threatened her as a kid? I forced down a sick feeling. I don’t even want to look at this pig.

“You sick fuckin’ asshole!” Chaos slams his knife into Kevin’s stomach.

“Chaos, no.” I jerk him away. “We still needed him alive.”

“Fuck that, he’s a sister fucker. He deserves to die. He can’t breathe any longer. I can’t believe Sabby had to look at this pig every day at work, knowing what he did. You asshole.”

Kevin laughs, spitting up blood. “If Brina were older, I would’ve gotten to her too.”

I pull the knife out before ramming it back in. “You piece of shit. You can burn in hell.”

“I’ll finish him off if you want to go check on Sugarplum.”

I step outside instead of looking for Sabrina. My mind is in a dark place, and I can’t subject her to that. For all the hell that she’s gone through, she never once gave up, and I acted like a grown-ass baby about getting fired. She had to work with her family, who had been trying to ruin her since she was a kid—her own cousin, of all people working next to her for years.

I breathe in the cool winter air, nightfall slowly approaching. What kind of Christmas is this? It wasn’t the one I pictured, that’s for sure. I step back inside, heading for the living room. The tree lights the room, and the gifts I bought sit untouched.

What a day. I need a distraction.

Taking the stairs two at a time. The scent of lavender hits my nose as I reach the top of the stairs. I’m glad she took me seriously about taking a bath. After what went down, she deserves more than a fucking bath.

Walking into the bathroom, I take in the sight. Bubbles surrounded every inch of her body, and her head tilted back, a waterfall of curly auburn hair swept to the side, showing off her slender shoulder.

“Stop staring and join me already.”

“Couldn’t help it, the view is to die for, baby.”

I pull my shirt off and slip off my jeans. Sabrina moves forward, and I sink in the water behind her. The warmth of the water seeps deep into my muscles.

“God, what did you add to this water? It feels amazing.” I pull her to my chest, wrapping my arms around her stomach.

“It’s only lavender bubble bath.” She laughingly murmured.

I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of her body next to mine, forever grateful that she never kicked me to the curb after breaking into her house. If I was her, that’s what I would’ve done. But she never did, not even Chaos.

“Sabrina?”

“Yeah, Parker?”

“Will you forgive me?”

She tilts her head, looking up at me. “Parker, I’m not a hateful person that holds grudges. Yes, you broke into my house and tied me up in the basement. But I’ve known you for a year, and I know the type of person you are, and the person that you’ve been for the last couple of days isn’t that man.”

---