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“Son of a fucking bitch. Either he has giant rats, or …” I pushed the hanging clothes to the side and used my flashlight to search the wall.
I clenched the light between my teeth and pulled my knife out of the sheath attached to my calf. My gaze narrowed on the thin crack in the white plaster, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. It was still wide enough to fit my blade, and I pried the makeshift door open with a creak. That son of a bitch had gone to great lengths to keep it hidden.
Slowly, I moved the section of the wall and shined my light through the darkness, my knife ready to slice and dice anything that might jump out. My teeth gritted as I focused on the nightmare before me.
“Don’t hurt us.” A dirty, skinny young girl crawled in front of another one, shielding her.
A seething anger boiled up within me, threatening to consume my entire body. My fists clenched as I thought of that despicable man enslaving girls in his home. I would take pleasure in tearing him apart piece by piece.
I removed the flashlight from my mouth so I could speak. “I won’t hurt you. Come out.” My voice startled them, but they would be okay. I stepped to the side while they obeyed and crawled out of the hole and into the closet.
“How did you get here?” I asked.
They hurried to their feet, and the older one grabbed the younger one’s hand. “I don’t know. One minute, I was hanging out at a park with my friends. I went to the bathroom and don’t remember anything after that.”
The youngest nodded, her stringy hair falling into her face. “I was walking home from school when a car pulled up and took me.”
I didn’t have to ask if he’d hurt them. They were too skinny, dirty, and terrified for me to assume differently.
“Get on the bed.”
Tears flowed down the older one’s cheeks. “Please, don’t hurt us.”
“I won’t. I don’t like young girls.” But I did love torturing sick motherfuckers, and this one was going to pay not only for what he’d done to these girls but …
They moved on wobbly legs, their dresses barely long enough to cover their butts.
“Get under the covers and warm up.” I opened John’s nightstand and found the television remote control. Turning it on, I located a kid’s movie on some channel. It had just started, which would buy me an hour and a half.
“When this show is over, use that phone and call 9-1-1. Understand? Not before. Do not leave this room until the police arrive.”
The younger girl snuggled up to her friend. “You’re letting us go?”
“Yeah, but you must follow the rules to stay safe.” And me too. If they reached out for help too soon, I would be fucked.
“We will. And mister?”
“What?”
“Thank you.”
I grunted at them before I hurried out of the room. My time frame had just been cut in half, and I still had to move the bastard to my car parked up the road. At least the piece of shit wasn’t a fat fuck, and I could throw him over my shoulder and carry him for a while.
After I ensured that I hadn’t left any traces in the house, I stood near John and took a deep breath, allowing the darkness inside to completely consume every part of my twisted being.
Chapter 26
Ella
Realizing I hadn’t checked the mail in several days, I grabbed the stack from the box and tossed them on the hallway table. The logo for the medical company peeked out from the rest, and I groaned. I didn’t want to deal with bills today. It wasn’t due for a few more weeks anyway, it could wait. I was too exhausted after mulling over a difficult case at work and spending the evening with my parents. I had promised to help Mom prepare to leave for California.
Plus, a part of me was on edge, anticipating Death’s arrival at my house at any moment. Eight nights had passed since he’d last appeared, and though I wanted to believe that maybe he had lost interest in me, deep down, I knew better. He would be back soon enough.
“My Strange Addiction” by RAYNE played while I drove to the club to meet my best friend. I started laughing at the irony that my strange addiction was twisted and warped. I supposed I should be grateful I hadn’t totally fallen off the edge of sanity and had some normal feelings toward a great guy and not just a serial killer.
Minutes later, I parked behind the Velvet Vortex and messaged Cami that I would meet her inside and grab a table. Climbing out, I closed the door and locked it. As I hurried toward the entrance, the soles of my black ankle boots scraped across the asphalt.
My heart sank as I realized that Sebastian wouldn’t be there, but a part of me hoped he would show up and surprise me. It was funny how much I’d changed since my date with Sebastian. I wasn’t the same shy, awkward woman unsure of how to flirt and constantly second guessing myself. I wasn’t sure when the shift had occurred, but I was stronger, more resilient, and self-assured.
