Chapter 46: Codename: Blackheart Chapter Forty-Six
“Maybe next time you should do a much better job at covering your tracks. And hiring a hitman? That was just insulting,” I scoff. "Though I have been dying to know, just how did you get dear old Dad to help you out with all this? You let him do backdoor stuff didn't you?"
Hadleigh’s 5’5” frame begins to shake with rage, her hands balled up at her sides while Elijah takes a nervous step away from her just in time for Hadleigh to begin screaming and ripping out her hair. She flies into a rage, flipping a nearby table and I hear the clatter of instruments hitting the ground. Probably items they planned to torture me with. I just watch, looking bored, even though it’s a struggle to keep my eyes open and every inch of me is screaming in pain. Elijah wasn’t lying when he said he has a crazy sister who makes my family look like sane, moral people.
“This is all your fault! I told Dad we shouldn’t have involved you, you ruined everything!” Hadleigh screams, running at Elijah and shoving him.
“I never wanted anything to do with this! You forced me into this! Then you went and fucking shot me!” he screams back at her.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I didn’t hire anyone to shoot you, you dumb fuck!” Hadleigh shouts and I snort with laughter. “What the fuck is so funny?” she spits at me.
“Nothing, just for once your psycho sister is telling the truth. She didn’t send anyone to shoot you,” I say as I look straight into Elijah’s ocean-blue eyes, “I did.”
Elijah’s eyes blow wide, and I watch as his face crumbles in hurt and betrayal. Oh, cry me a river.
~FLASHBACK THREE WEEKS AGO~
“Thanks again for not killing me,” Elijah says with a half-smile.
I chuckle. “Let’s not meet again,” I tell him as I open the door for him. “Good luck, Alec,” I say gently as he suppresses a flinch. I do find it amusing how he reacts every time I address him by his fake name.
“Goodbye, Heart,” he says. I can see the trepidation in his eyes.
With that, he leaves, and I close and lock the door behind him. I lean against the door and check the time. 11:05 am. Time to enact the next part of my plan. I casually walk to my bedroom, pull the large case from under my bed and open it to reveal the pristine M24 sniper rifle nestled in its case. “We’re going to have some fun,” I say happily as I tap the weapon. Sorry, Crimson, no slit throats today.
***
As soon as the clock strikes 10 pm, I tie my hair up, grab my gun case and exit my apartment making my way down to the parking garage. I place the case in the backseat, get in and drive to Elijah’s apartment. As I get out, I grab my gun case, and make my way to the building across the street. I strap the case to my back and move down the alley until I find the fire escape and pull down the ladder. I use the fire escape to climb the roof, ignoring the twinge of pain coming from my arm. Once I make it to the top, I walk over to the edge that faces Elijah’s building, kneel down, open the case, and proceed to pull out my rifle. I attach the silencer to the muzzle then lay flat on the dirty rooftop, line up my shot and load a single bullet. I’ll only be needing one. Through the scope, I scan the building until I find Elijah’s window. I can see him inside the apartment, pacing back and forth very anxiously. I just need him to stop moving for thirty seconds.
Finally, Elijah comes to a stop with his back facing the window. I carefully aim my weapon at his right arm, take a breath, and as I exhale, I pull the trigger. The bullet cuts through the air, piercing the window, and I watch in satisfaction as he clutches his arm, dropping to the ground.
“Now we’re even,” I say as I load the rifle back into the case. I strap it to my back and make my way back down the fire escape, to my car, and head back to my apartment. As I walk up to my apartment, I see John exiting his.
“Rachel!” he greets cheerfully, “How’d everything go with that boyfriend? Feeling a bit worse for wear I imagine,” he teases.
I chuckle, “Yeah, he described it as feeling like he got shot,” I roll my eyes, “So dramatic.”
“That’s these young guys for you,” he says, shaking his head in amusement.
“Tell me about it. Too bad they can’t be more like you,” I praise and watch as John’s cheeks heat up.
“Stop that, you’re going to make an old man blush,” he says bashfully.
“You’re far from old. But I better be heading in, I’m expecting Alec back any time now.”
“I won’t keep you then, but should I be wearing earplugs?” he asks. I stare at him in confusion, and he points to the case on my back.
“Oh! Yeah, I’ve taken up the bassoon, but don’t worry, I won’t be playing it in the apartment,” I promise him.
“That’s exciting,! Well, good luck with your lessons. I’ll speak to you soon,” he says warmly as he walks off and I enter my apartment.
I take a relaxing breath and quickly go store the case back under my bed. I take my hair down, grab my suitcase, pull out a comfortable set of clothes, getting dressed in my sweatpants and tank top. I’m packing my other clothes into my suitcase when I hear knocking at the door. I glance at the clock and see it’s 10:45 pm. Sounds like Elijah found his way back with perfect timing. Let the double-crossing begin.
~END OF FLASHBACK~
Elijah stares at me like I’ve just destroyed his entire world, and I don’t feel a single ounce of remorse. Hello, I’m tied to a fucking chair after being poisoned and kidnapped, not to mention the severe injuries I’ve sustained from The Tournament, and I’m supposed to feel guilty? Though I have to admit, I’m happy to be out of that place. I have to hand it to Hadleigh, I don’t know how she got past all their security measures, or who she had to blow, but even I’m impressed. Too bad the rest of her plan sucks.
Hadleigh is breathing heavily with rage, but she calmly walks over and picks up a scalpel off the floor. She rotates the blade in her hand and then focuses her attention on me. She takes slow, calculating steps towards me as a malevolent smile creeps up her face, which paired with her deformity makes her look even more disturbing.
“You played a good game, but in the end, I win. You’re all alone. No one knows where you are, and no one is coming to save you. I still get to be the one to kill you, but first, let’s see what I can do to that pretty face of yours,” she grins sadistically as I watch the scalpel move closer to my face.