Page 52 of Carnival
“Because unlike the people I worked for, Hudson has allies, too, not just enemies. He sees you as his own, and he’ll ensure your safety. I don’t doubt he’ll call in favors just to track it down and pay a hefty sum to buy it off whoever has it.’’
I pause. “Wait… worked for? As in, past tense?”
“Do you really think I’d work for people that want you dead?”
“Didn’t we agree already that this line of work isn’t something you can just quit?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Yes, but I think they got the message when I threw away my work phone and stopped taking their calls.’’
His hands come to rest on my hips, holding me tightly as he stares down at me. For the first time, I can see a hint of vulnerability flashing in his eyes, and it doesn’t immediately disappear. It’s there, and he’s allowing me to see it.
“You’re the most important person in my life, Rose. You’re all I have. And I’ll be damned if anyone takes you away from me.’’
???
A small frown tugs on my lips when the doorbell rings. James just went to take a shower, and since I’m being watched by Hudson’s men, I’m not worried about my safety, but I am confused as to why they’d go against Hudson’s wishes and make contact.
My feet drag me to the door, then I peek through the peephole, and sure enough, it is one of his men that I’d seen around previously, whether it was last night or a while ago at their base.
“Yes?” I ask once the door is open.
The man stands tall in front of me, holding a box. My eyes flick between him and the box, and it doesn’t seem to be a heavy one.
“You have a package,’’ he explains, handing me the box. “We’ve checked it; it’s safe.’’
I didn’t order anything, nor am I expecting a package of any sort — not that I have anyone to send me anything. I thank the man, then close the door and go to the living room. I sit on the couch and open the box, only to be greeted with an iPad.
My frown deepens as I unlock it. It’s rather empty, and the account is made for a fake name, given that it’s John Smith. There isn’t a single contact inside, nor is it connected to another device.
Then, I open the camera roll, and my heart sinks to my feet.
It’s filled with videos, and I click on the first one.
The scene… is gory.
It’s a security footage video, and it’s not in the highest quality, but it’s good enough that I can figure out what’s happening. There’s no date, so I can’t tell when it was recorded, but I immediately recognize James.
It has a sound, and when I bring it up, I instantly get hit by a wave of nausea, the dots connecting in my mind and the last puzzle being put in its place.
The songs playing in the background are from the carnival, but I can’t tell which year they’re from. On the screen is James, with his signature clown mask, a white shirt that’s stained in blood, and a big butcher knife in his hand.
He moves toward a man that I recognize as one of his victims, and the poor man doesn’t stand a chance. He’s backed into a corner, begging and pleading for his life. He’s trembling, shaking, before he slumps to his knees.
All I can focus on is the laughter that fills my ears.
James laughs, and it’s disturbing. It’s dark, devious, and inhumane, like a character from a horror movie. He doesn’t hesitate, not even for a moment, as he swings the butcher knife, slicing through the flesh of the man, right across his chest.
The man screams in agony, my body chilling. It’s one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen, but I cannot look away. All I can see of James’ face are his eyes, and they’re filled with a craze so intense that it causes my stomach to churn.
A wave of nausea builds inside me, and I’m close to throwing up. The man’s pleas don’t reach James’ ears, and he continues tomutilate him, the butcher knife now entirely covered in crimson, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much blood in my entire life.
My hands are shaking, vision filled with tears.
I knew this.
I knew James killed this man, as well as many other people, but I never thought I’d get to see it firsthand. The more I swipe through the gallery, the more I’m met with videos more disturbing than the previous, yet not as much as the next one.
James Maddox is a monster. He’s killed people in cold blood, a narcissistic psychopath with no regard for human life. Yet, he vowed to protect me. How could I ever trust to be safe in this man’s arms? How could I ever allow him to see the vulnerability and the insecurity I’ve been hiding for years?
