* * *
I stand in the corner of his room, hidden well within the shadows. The bastard was cocky enough to leave his balcony door wide open. I guess to let in a breeze? He lives alone, there's no wife and thankfully no children I have to worry about. At least if he's ever had women in his life, they've known better than to get married to him.
The man had three whiskey-filled glasses and some kind of sleep aid before he passed out, he's done a majority of my job for me. I don't have to worry about him being a light sleeper when he's already tranquilized himself. I am going to add a bit more on top of what he's had. I don't want him waking up before we get to our destination.
He lies on his back, spread-eagle across his bed, his beer gut juts out. Pulling the syringe out of my vest, I quietly step toward him. Leaning over, I stab it into his neck. His eyes open for a split second and land on me before they close again.
With that in his system, he'll be out for another ten hours at least. It gives me time to move him and set him up at one of our torture houses. Normally, a job like this would be a two-person one. It would make it easier to move his body around. However, Beckett and Silas are still in China. Ros is on assignment, and Cason would never be up for me going rogue like this. The man's name hasn't been drawn for a hit, so there's no way he would be willing to go with the list Gwen gave me.
And my dad? He wouldn't appreciate me going rogue either. He might be sympathetic, he might even go along with helping fake her death so she can start over, but he wouldn't be willing to go after such big names when they aren't being paid for. I don't care about the money. People like these men need to be stopped before they can hurt more children.
I may be going rogue, but it's for a good reason. I know what I'm doing is the right thing to do. In the end, I might be the only one that knows about it, but at least I'll know I've done something good for the world.
I haul him up and throw him over my shoulders, he's not a light man, but I know that he has a van I can put him in and hot wire. I was smart enough to come here on foot, so if anyone sees his van leave, they'll just think it's him going somewhere in the night.
I'm not easy on him as I toss him the back of his van, and now that I can get a better look at it, it's clear he wasn't using this for any kind of work. He liked to have a disguise career as a mural painter. I'm sure that's what he told all his neighbors he did, even though he made his money through cheating the gambling system.
Securing his wrists and ankles I shove tape over his mouth and eyes. If there's an off chance this elephant of a man wasn't knocked out cold for twelve hours from what he took and what I gave him, then I want him to have no chance of knowing where he is or what's happening to him. The more disoriented he is, the more he'll talk, and I can at least get proof of his crimes in case they're ever needed for anything before I kill him.
The drive to the New Jersey torture basement isn't a long one, but it does give me enough time to think about the coming days after this and clean up. I would normally have the annual Mother’s Day luncheon this weekend, but I already told Dad and Mom that I can't make it. I'll be trackingDarcyand she keeps disappearing. And considering that the other hitmen haven't reported her as killed adds to my lie. Eventually, I'll tell him what I did. But only after I know Gwen is safe and that no one can hurt her.
Since I won't be home for the luncheon, I thought I might spend it with her. Except for a few days, she spent almost two full weeks alone in that hole and I feel bad for her. She might not realize it but I remember her saying her birthday was coming up last week. I want to get her some cupcakes from Jo’s bakery and bring more movies for us to watch, along with some girly things like nail polish or something for her to do during the week. Try to make it special for her. I get the feeling that it has been a long time since she had a nice birthday or got to spend it with someone.
Getting out of his van in the middle of the Jersey woods, I look at the small shack of a place, but it has a basement where I can do whatever I want to this man and no one will be around to report anything. I'm going to make sure he feels all the pain he ever caused Gwen or anyone else.
Chapter Eleven
Porter
I parkmy Ford Mustang in front of the hatch, it's clear no one else has been out here since I was here. There was a late spring snow this week and all the snow up to the hatch looks untouched, there's none on top due to the heat rising to the surface from the bunker. It's too warm to allow the snow to build on it. I guess it's good that I don't have to dig her out. Those sounds might be scary since she's not expecting me, but I'm going to announce my arrival so that she doesn't try to hide or kill me.
Picking the bags up off the seat next to me, I get out. I hope she likes what I got her. I got a few more 80s rom coms, a couple with Molly Ringwald; along with every cherry thing I could find from candy to desserts and drinks. She really liked the cherry juice I brought last time. I just want to see her eyes light up again like they did that one time.
Seeing Gwen happy sends a thrill through me. I push away the thoughts of Joe. He's no more, but I made sure before he went that he knew who Gwen was, and I got a full confession from him for all the horrible things he had done over the years. Enough to send several high-profile people to prison if the media happened to get their hands on the confession. Even with pockets as deep as the ones on Gwen's list they won't be able to make these problems go away.
Opening the hatch, music blares out of the opening. I'm not sure she'll be able to hear me over it. I put the bags of all the stuff I've bought on my shoulders and make my way down the ladder. "Gwen, it's me!" I shout while still in the small hallway, if she's walking around nude or something, I want to give her time to cover up.
After waiting a moment, I step closer to the living space. She hasn't appeared yet. My 10cc album plays in the middle ofI'm Not in Lovefills the place with sound. Glancing around the corner I don't find her on the bed or in the kitchen. I frown. Where is she? The record is playing, so I know she's here somewhere and put it on recently.
I glance toward the bathroom as I walk by, the door is cracked. I place the things on the counter and go to close it so she'll feel like she has privacy. I can also announce I'm here since I don't think she heard me over the music and the water.
My curiosity gets the best of me and I chance a glance up as I put my hand on the knob. My breath hitches as her long, slender form leans on the bathroom wall, her eyes are closed, as she bites her lip and the spray from the showerhead is aimed right at her clit.
Instantly all my blood rushes to my cock. I need to take my gaze off her, I'm encroaching on a personal moment for her, but I can't look away. My erection strains against my pants. Her fingers travel down her body to join the spray as her eyes flutter.
It takes all the willpower in my body to shut the door quietly and then go back to the small hallway. I try to make as much noise as possible. Making sure there's no way for her not to be able to hear me. The water rushing from the hot water tank turns off as I move to turn down the music and act like I just came in. "Gwen, are you here?" I think of the time I got nailed in the balls with a football, and my erection dies enough, that by the time she pulls open the bathroom door, I have it under control.
I just have to keep reminding myself she's too young for me and that she deserves someone her age. I don't need to be lusting after her. Even if watching her pleasure herself was one of the hottest things I've seen in a while. I look up as she comes out of the bathroom in one of her oversized sweaters and sweatpants. She looks comfortable, but I can't fully tell if she's gained weight or not.
She frowns at me and signs. "You're here, but you told me you wouldn’t be here until next weekend?"
I smile. "I know but I got out of my previous engagement and came here early.” I don't want to bring up Mother’s Day and make her feel guilty for not contacting her parents. “You didn’t realize it at the time, but you let it slip that your birthday was this weekend. I've brought a whole bunch of movies, a few new records, and some food for a birthday feast, and cupcakes from Jo’s bakery. Do you remember her? She is my brother’s pregnant wife. And I got some other things for you that I hope you will like."
Gwen frowns as she pushes a strand of wet red hair behind her ear. "You brought me things for my birthday? I forgot about it. I haven't celebrated my birthday in so long."
All I can think about is how that hand had been on her clit only moments before. I didn't get laid this week because I'd been focused on taking out the garbage that was Joe. Man, I'm tightly wound, but the last thing I want to do is make Gwen feel like she owes me sex for what I'm doing for her.
My cock would love nothing more than to claim her, make her mine, and feel her quivering around me as she comes over and over. However, she's a year younger than Ros, how can I do that? Going after a younger woman would make me so much like Cason and he's the last person on this planet that I want to be compared to.
