Page 42 of Stranger Gifts

“The women are hungry and scared, Harry,” said Frances.

“Stop calling me that!”

“B-but that’s your name,” she said in a shaky voice. “I won’t call you Killer. That’s not who you are.”

He laughed so hard she thought perhaps he’d lost his sanity. When he stopped laughing, he gripped her face, turning her toward him.

“That is exactly who I am. I am a killer.” He turned her face left and right, staring at her. He needed a woman but there was nothing that appealed to him about this woman.

Opening the door, he left the cab of the truck and she heard him opening the door to the back. He was yelling at one of the girls and then she heard him close the door again. Almost afraid to get out, she walked around to the back and saw what he was doing.

The young woman’s nightdress was torn from her body and he had her lying in the dirt, punching her face as he unzipped his jeans.

“Wh-what are you doing? No! No, you can’t do that to her!” she yelled trying to pull him off of her. He shoved her down, kicking her.

“You don’t fucking tell me what I can and can’t do! Do you hear me? I am in charge here. Not you.”

“But I thought you and I would be together. Finally.”

“Oh, we will. But you will do what I tell you when I tell you. I will fuck as many women as I want and you will watch me.”

“No,” she said shaking her head. “No. We’re to be married. We’re to start a family.”

“Are you fucking daft? Did you fall on your head? We’re not doing any of that.”

Frances grabbed the arm of the young woman pulling her from beneath him. Just as he was about to reach for her and punch her again, the headlights of a limousine pulled into the vacant lot.

“You’re fucking lucky they just pulled up. Don’t move. So help me if you say one damn thing I will kill you.”

Frances didn’t understand what was happening. She tried to comfort the young girl but she was sobbing hysterically, holding tightly to the older woman.

He’d said that he loved her, that they’d start a family together. Why would he lie to her? She was helping him.

“Ferdinand, nice to see you,” he said zipping his jeans.

“Did you touch my merchandise?” asked Ferdinand looking around his shoulder.

“Just a little. Didn’t get to break her in yet.”

Ferdinand walked toward the young woman seeing her naked, bloodied body. He removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders. Killer stared at him wondering what the hell he was doing.

“Are you alright, child?” She shook her head and Frances stared at the man. “Did he harm you?”

The two women were so shocked by the conversation they couldn’t speak.

“I will not harm you,” he said. “Where did he find you?”

“We are Sisters, novices from the convent,” said the young girl.

Ferdinand nodded, then ordered his men to open the truck. The other young women squealed in fear, backing up in the truck. The men just raised their hands, shaking their heads.

“We won’t harm you,” said one of the men. “Come down from there and we’ll take you home.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” smirked Killer. “They’ll take you home to your daddy.”

Ferdinand turned to stare at him then took one step forward and backhanded him, sending him reeling to the ground. He jumped up, his fists balled ready to fight.

“You hit me again, I’ll kill you.” He wiped the blood from his lip, glaring at the man in front of him. For a moment, he doubted himself since he had no backup but at this point, he really didn’t care.

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