Chapter 21
-:- VICTORIA -:-
Winter is in the lead. I’m quietly following her, and Jack is behind me. We have sneaked into the mansion of Senator Sterndale. Wow, it is an enormous place. There are guards dotted around the estate, but it seems none are inside the mansion itself. It is quiet, too quiet when you want to sneak around. The slightest noise would echo and give away our position.
"I'm sure he's already in bed," Winter confided in a whisper to both Jack and me. Without a word, we simply nodded, choosing silence over a reply.
Sneaking up the stairs, we quietly open one door after another, looking for Sterndale’s bedroom. When we hear scuffling, we rush forward to the end of the long hallway. Winter opens the door, and we three stop dead in our tracks. “How the heck did you get here before us?” I mumble, more to myself than to them. By them I mean Meat and Star, who are both dressed like ninjas and even have Katanas on their backs.
I side-eye Winter who is now looking pissed as all hell. She has her arms folded over her chest and is glaring at Star and Meat. Sterndale is tied in bed with a gag in his mouth, and I mean a ball gag. Oh, dear God, I really didn’t want to see this.
Jack chuckles while doing his best to cover it with his hand over his mouth. I give him a deep frown and he shrugs, but it is easy to see he is enjoying the sight in front of us.
“Okay, we’ll leave this asshole to you,” Winter snipes before turning and walking out of the bedroom. I shrug at Star and follow Winter, along with Jack, who is still chuckling under his breath.
The next hour is fairly chaotic as we bump into Chaos and Dice as we leave the property. It’s a bit of a whirlwind I find myself in as I’m quickly placed in the truck Chaos is using. Dice is now with Winter and Jack. I look at Chaos who is driving and taking us back home to the apartment.
“What do you think you were doing?” Chaos asks, and I can sense he’s holding back the best he can, but he is furious.
Looking out of the side window of the truck, I quietly reply, “I was doing what I felt I had to do. I was getting revenge for Bethy, and I got it. I don’t feel bad about it at all, so don’t even try to make me feel guilty about what happened. Joe Tizwald and his disgusting friends needed to be removed from the planet.”
Chaos snorts. “Removed from the planet? That’s dramatic isn’t it?”
“Yes, the planet. I don’t think they should be breathing after murdering Bethy. I’m glad he’s dead, and I’m going after Art next.”
“He’s dead already. I hope he has to answer for all his sins,” Chaos states, and I can see he is as disgusted with Art as I am. I have no sadness for the man Art became, but feel some for theyoung Art that both Bethy and I loved as the brother he was at that time.
“That’s it then…I can arrange Bethy’s funeral. I know she made a will as we both did them at the same time.” I rub my hands down my face.
****
Walking into the apartment, the first thing that hits is the fact that it is so quiet. I look at Chaos who is behind me and ask where Corey is.
“He’s with Mia and the other women at the clubhouse. He’s safe and we’ll go get him later. First, let’s get your punishment over.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Punishment! Nobody is punishing me for anything. I’m my own woman and I’ll answer to no one except myself.”
“You are my woman and I’ll be the one keeping you safe…”
Now, that is not how things are going to work for me. I turn to give him a mouthful of sass when he takes my shoulders in his hands. Oh, no…I let him get close enough and I knee him in his crown jewels as hard as I can and he drops like a brick. Leaning down I snap, “I said no punishment. Never tell me that shit again. When your balls have dropped back into their position, let me know and we’ll have a proper discussion.”
What I didn’t expect was Chaos to recover as quickly as he did, and when he roars as he surges to his feet I bolt for the bathroom knowing it’s one of only two rooms in the apartment with a lock on. Slamming the door, I lock it and lean my back against it. Myheart is beating so hard it’s a wonder it doesn’t punch a hole in my chest.
The threats Chaos is sending from the other side of the door for some reason have me giggling. I’m not sure if it’s hysteria or amusement, but it’s not helping the situation one bit.
“When you come out, I’ll be waiting!” Chaos eventually says, and I slide down to rest for a while. It’s been a difficult time, and all the running around has left me drained.
Bethy would find this highly amusing, and I imagine her giving me ludicrous advice on how to get out of the mess I’m in. More than likely her advice would land me in more hot water. I’m going to miss her so damn much. She didn’t deserve to die. All for a debt Art had, and for being my friend. She’d done nothing wrong to anyone.
Feeling movement, I open my eyes a crack and realize I’m being carried. “Go back to sleep.” I snuggle closer to Chaos and drift back into slumber. The dream of Bethy and me swimming when we were younger plays in my mind. When Bethy speaks to me it feels like it’s happening now, and not in the past.
Live well, sister of my heart. Don’t be too sad. Live for us both, live well, have children, and one day I’ll see you again.
The dream drifts and I reach for Bethy as she is melting away in front of me. I can’t grab hold of her, and I wake with a gasp and a tear trickling down my cheek.
Sitting up, I realize I’m in bed, in my apartment bedroom. How did I get here? How did Chaos get into the bathroom?
The door opens and the man himself walks in carrying a tray with a plate of pancakes, bacon and sausage. He’s even brought me a glass of warm milk.
