Page 33 of Chains
The front door of the clubhouse opened with a soft click.I turned to see two men enter, both in tailored suits that did nothing to hide their bulky muscles and deadly intent.Neither man gave anything away in their expressions.One carried a small black case, the other a canvas bag.Neither spoke as they crossed the room to stand before Knuckles.
“Gentlemen,” Knuckles greeted them with a nod.“Your package is ready for delivery.”
The taller of the two men nodded back, then turned his cold gaze on Blackheart.“Dr.Tate Blackheart,” he said, his voice as devoid of emotion as his face.“Mr.Miles wants an audience with you.”
Blackheart tried to bolt, but Tiny and Griffin were on him in an instant, pinning him against the wall with brutal efficiency.The man with the black case set it down and removed a set of zip ties, which he used to bind Blackheart’s wrists behind his back despite his struggles.
“Please don’t fight,” the man said, his tone almost bored.“It only delays the inevitable and you won’t win.”
“You can’t do this,” Blackheart gasped, his eyes wild with panic.“I have rights.I’m a free man.”
The second man laughed, the sound chilling in its emptiness.“A free man?No, Doctor.You’re inventory.”
I watched with savage satisfaction as first confusion then understanding decorated Blackheart’s face.The fear in his eyes was raw now, undisguised as he shook his head in silent protest.
“Don’t worry,” the first man continued, checking that the zip ties were secure.“Your organs will be put to good use after you’re dead.Or before.Mr.Miles hasn’t decided yet.”
The second man stepped closer, his voice dropping to a confidential murmur.“Personally, I hope it’s before.We’ll save any short-term vital organs for last, of course.Your heart would be the main one.Everything else, you can live without for a few hours at least.So you can stay awake while we harvest them one at a fucking time.”He smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes.“Poetic justice, wouldn’t you say?”
Blackheart began to struggle in earnest then, thrashing against his restraints and the hands holding him.“No!You can’t!Elvira!My daughter will look for me!”
The mention of Ellie’s name sent a fresh surge of rage through me.“Your daughter wants nothing to do with you,” I spat.“Trying to frame her for your theft is nothing more than the final nail in your coffin.She’d already buried you.This time, you’ll stay buried.”
“Please,” Blackheart begged, his eyes darting frantically around the room.“I can pay.Whatever Miles wants, I can get it.I have money.Offshore accounts.”
The first man produced a plastic bag from his pocket.“Mr.Miles doesn’t need or want your money,” he said simply, before forcing the bag over Blackheart’s head and securing it around his neck with duct tape while he thrashed and made muffled sounds of panic.The bag sucked in and out with his breaths.I knew the bag and zip ties were for effect.Miles had likely instructed his men to traumatize Blackheart as much as possible without actually killing him.
Together, they lifted Blackheart between them, his feet barely touching the ground as they dragged him toward the door.His muffled cries grew more frantic, but the plastic remained unbroken, clouding slightly with his panicked breaths.
I watched in grim silence as they loaded him into a waiting black SUV outside.My breathing had steadied, the murderous rage replaced by cold satisfaction.This man, who had caused Ellie so much pain, who had tried to use her even now, was facing justice at last.Not the clean justice of courts and prisons, but the brutal justice of men who understood the value of retribution.
“What should I tell Ellie?”I asked as the SUV drove away, taking Blackheart to whatever fate Miles had planned for him.“She needs to know, but I don’t have the heart.At least, not yet.”
Knuckles considered for a moment.“Give her some time.He’s gone.You can tell her the whole thing in a few days.Let her enjoy her Halloween.”He shook his head.“She doesn’t need to know the details.”
I nodded, more relieved than I wanted to admit I didn’t have to tell her that her father had tried to betray her one final time.He’d already taken so much from Ellie.Her family.Her safe space.Not only that, but he’d altered the course of her life.She fought back from the first betrayal.To know that he’d tried to take everything from her a second time might break her spirit.No.Knuckles was right.She needed this holiday and there was no way in fucking hell I was gonna let Tate Blackheart take anything else away from her.
“Go to her,” Knuckles said, clapping me on the shoulder.“She’ll need you when she wakes up.”
As I turned to head back to Ellie’s apartment, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.Tate Blackheart was gone, his shadow no longer darkening her life.Whatever happened to him now was out of our hands, and I found I didn’t much care what fate the Miles family had in store for him.All that mattered was Ellie and helping her heal from the wounds her father had inflicted.
The three black cats were waiting outside her door when I returned, their yellow and green eyes gleaming in the dim hallway light.For once, even Lucifer didn’t hiss as I approached.Instead, all three moved aside, as if granting me passage.I swear the little fuckers knew something had changed, that a threat had been removed and Ellie was now completely safe.
“He’s gone,” I told them softly.“And he’s never coming back.”
Binx meowed softly in what I chose to interpret as approval before following me into the apartment, the others close behind.As I slipped back into bed beside Ellie’s sleeping form, I pulled her gently against me, breathing in the scent of her hair.She murmured something unintelligible and nestled closer, unaware of what had transpired while she slept.
I would tell her everything after Halloween.Well, almost everything.But for now, I would let her sleep, safe and protected, while I stood guard against the darkness.
Chapter Ten
Ellie
I stood in the center of the park, clipboard in hand, directing the placement of the last giant foam spider with more enthusiasm than strictly necessary.Halloween had always been my salvation, and today, with orange and black streamers fluttering from every tree branch and hand-carved pumpkins lining the winding pathways, I felt more like myself than I had in a very long time.The toy drive banner stretched across the park entrance, announcing our charity event in bold orange letters against black fabric, exactly as I’d designed it.
“A little higher on the left side,” I called to Griffin and Riot, who were balanced precariously on ladders, securing the massive arachnid to an oak tree.Riot moved his side like I directed, but Caleb came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder.I looked up at him, and he winked at me.
“I don’t know, Ellie.Still looks lopsided to me.”Caleb tilted his head and squinted, like he was really studying the banner hard.“Move it a little higher, Riot.”Riot looked back at us before nodding once, then doing what Caleb said.“Now it’s a little too high.”Caleb stepped closer and held his hands up with his thumbs touching at the tips and his hands up on each side, like he was framing the thing up or something.“Yeah, go slightly lower and to the right.”
