She’s still asleep. Her bare chest rises and falls in a peaceful rhythm. The blanket has shifted throughout the night and she looks glorious while naked on my floor. She groans and I don’t want her to wake up; I don’t want to see the accusation in her eyes. My cock grows hard watching her. She groans again and I get up and leave sleeping beauty on my bedroom floor.
My fingers work quickly, pulling off the bandage on the side of my head as I walk to the kitchen. It comes away with some of my hair stuck to it. Rolling up the bandage I throw it into the trash and pause at the drawer that holds her necklace. It’s her property, the only piece she came with. Taking the chain out, I hold the jagged heart in my hand. The hearts surface reflects the light and I can’t see any scratches or marks, she really took care of it. My finger rubs the back and I can feel the inscription. It’s her name no doubt, or a message from whomever gave the chain to her. It could be a lover. My finger continues to stroke the back of the heart as I remember her being upset. She wanted it back. I let the necklace slide from my hand and place it back in the drawer.
I check on Kate again as I pass the bedroom. She’s still asleep, the blankets have sunk down to her waist. Maybe they will be lower when I return. I shift my hard cock as I enter the gun room.
The click of the safe is loud in the empty room. Taking out the phone, I stand and switch it on. I’m surprised to see a missed call from Gage. He doesn’t call much; we aren’t exactly close. We share the same DNA, but that is pretty much it. Gage is two years older, but it always feels like we are generations apart.
“You rang? Does that mean our parents are dead?” I close the safe door.
“Our parents are fine. I know they would love to hear from you.” His deep voice has me wanting this conversation over. I can hear the judgment at my career choice.
“You know I can’t be seen walking around.”
“A phone call would mean the world to them.” Traffic beeps in the background.
“On your way to rob a bank?” I question, as I try to veer the conversation away from my lack of sonly behavior. I will never be the son they want. I have good parents, they just never understand me.
Gage dismisses my question. “I got a photo yesterday. I’m sending it through to you now.” The phone shuffles and my phone bleeps. “Did you get it?”
I hold the phone away from my face and look at the image that’s loading slowly. Being underground makes the signal slow. The image finally loads and I curse.
“Where did you get this?”
“It was sent to me. I can’t trace the number but they want fifty G’s or they are going to the cops.”
I hold the phone away from my face again and glare at the image of me stuffing Kate into the back of my vehicle.
“Where are you now?” I ask.
“I’m where this photo was taken. I’m trying to see the vantage point it was taken from. There’s an abandoned building across the road. I think whoever it was, was on the second floor.”
I hear more traffic move past him. “I’ll be with you shortly,” I say.
“Okay.” Gage hangs up and a sickening feeling wraps itself around me. Someone had been watching me. Or had someone been watching Kate? I don’t like the question that it raises. Who is Kate? I’m not ready to answer that.
I leave the gunroom and pause at the doorway for the bedroom. She’s sitting up, clutching the blanket to her chest. Her eyes are focused on the bed. Her neck rises like she’s trying to get a better look. Maybe she is trying to see if I am still in it.
“Good morning.”
She jerks at my voice and her gaze zones in on me. “I have to go out for a while.” I speak as I step into the room.
Her knuckles are white from the grip she has on the blanket. My approach causes her to stiffen further. Lowering myself to my knees, I watch the pulse flicker in her neck. I want to touch it—such a powerful emotion.
“I have to go out for a while,” I repeat, as I look at her. Hope. That’s what I see shine in her eyes and I smile. My smile is slow and deliberate and I watch in glee as that hope shrivels up and dies in her stunning ocean eyes. “I think you know that the guns have no ammunition in them. The knives have been removed and if you try anything else while I’m gone, Kate, I will punish you.” I let my gaze roam across her chest that’s covered with the blanket. “A serious punishment.” I reinforce as I rise to my feet.
I don’t want to leave her alone. I don’t want to return to the outside world, I don’t want a reminder that the world still moves around us.
I’m staring at her as she draws her knees to her chest. I want to take her with me, but that wouldn’t be smart.
“I’ll be gone a few hours. You have permission to make yourself some food and I wouldn’t say no to you making me food.” I smile at the thought of coming back to a nice meal. “It would make me very happy, Kate.”
She’s looking at me like I’m mad. I think we all are in a way. It just depends on how you view it.
I leave Kate to her thoughts and get what I need.
I glance over my shoulder before I punch in the code. The heavy metal door opens with a suction sound. I pull it with both hands behind me and once I hear the click, I know there is no way out. It gives me some comfort as I climb the steps and enter the living space of the house that keeps my existence hidden.
I sip a coffee as I stand outside the shop that sits across the road from the building that I took the shot from. I turn when I spot Gage to my left. I walk slowly into the nearby park. It doesn’t take long for him to catch up with me. I glance at him. We look alike, only Gage doesn’t have a beard, his face appears clean shaven. He pulls the collar of his gray jacket up around his neck. His dark eyes are heavy with an accusation.
“Say what you want to say,” I speak before drinking more coffee that really tastes like piss. I know better than to buy coffee from a machine.
“You really kidnapped someone?”
Yeah, I don’t blame him; this is a first for me. “She saw me shoot a guy.”
Gage stops walking, causing me to stop. His black hair has grown out slightly and the length is showcased as he runs his hands through it. “You should have killed her then.”
I nod and look away from him. “Yeah, I should have, but I didn’t.” I look back at him.
His brows are drawn together with the question I’m not fit to answer. “What are you keeping her for?”
I start to walk. “Did you get any leads?” I ask, instead of answering his question.
“Nothing. I can’t trace the number it came from, but you will have to reach into your purse and pay. I don’t want mam or dad getting wind of this. It would kill them.”
“If they knew you robbed banks for a living, that would kill them too.” I’m not listening to his judgmental bullshit.
“Yes, just like if they found out you’re a sniper.” His hand grips my shoulder and I stop walking again. “Pay the money and then get rid of her.”
I nod. I would have to get rid of her eventually, but that doesn’t solve this problem.
“You know if I pay, it won’t stop; they will want more.”
He nods in agreement. “I’ll be there when we make the transaction.”
“Where do we make it?” I ask.
“I’m sure I won’t have to wait long for a text, but in the meantime you need to find out everything about this girl.”
Dread pools in my stomach and I walk over to a bin and throw in the paper cup. We don’t speak as two joggers move past us. The two women smile at us and giggle once they pass.
“She has no one,” I say, turning back to Gage.
“Obviously she does.” I hate the prick for being right. Some fucker was watching us. I don’t think it was a fluke. They must know her. Maybe she has people who care about her.
I nod again as a man walks past us with a large black dog.
“Will you come home for Christmas?”
I haven’t been home in three years. The more I’m away from people, the more I want to stay away. “I’ll see.” I give Gage the same answer I always do. “Will you?”
He looks surprised at my question. I suppose I never ask. “Yeah, I always do, Dean.”
“Oh, fuck off using my name.” I look away from him. He’s pulling that big brother crap with the tone in his voice. I don’t have to answer to anyone, especially not him.
“When I hear from our mystery blackmailer, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, try to figure out as much about the girl as you can.”
“There was nothing in the building?” I ask, feeling frustration claw at me. I run my hand along my beard.
“The butt of a fag.”
“Can you get someone to analyze it?” I ask.
Gage stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets. “I don’t have those kinds of contacts.”
“Yet, you know a guy who burnt off your fingerprints.”
Gage grins at me. “It was a surgeon and I got skin graft done.”
I shrug. “You still know dodgy as fuck people.”
“I’ll ask around.” Gage finally answers. We’ve walked the full circle around the park. I’m ready to get back to Kate. I’m picturing her making me food. Waiting for me to return.
“What are you smiling for?” Gage asks.
I didn’t realize I was. “Nothing. Let me know if you hear anything.” I finish off as we reach the mouth of the park. I don’t say goodbye as I walk back to my car.
I hate the thought of having to question her. Her name is Kate, I remind myself as I climb into the car and slam the door behind me. I turn on the engine as the first sign of rain mists across the windshield.
I need to kill her. Keeping her isn’t an option. The engine kicks to life and I pull away from the sidewalk and make my way back home, knowing I’m not going to kill her—I’m not fit to. If I was, I would have pulled the trigger up on that roof and disposed of her. Killing her was never an option. She isn’t a contract or a means to an end. No one paid me to take her out. Where that leaves me, I’m not exactly sure.