Chapter 17 Chapter 17
“Zaiel stop” i managed to say. He stopped and put me to stand in front of him. “Sorry, i got carried away” he said his voice now husky. I pulled the wig off and just stared at him.
“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have done that". When the doors opened, the three men were standing there, avoiding eye contact. I went and changed and went back to the apartment without a word. I checked on Christine, and she was still asleep. I sat on the balcony berating myself. Why the fuck did I do that? Why did I kiss him? Shit. I heard the knock on the door; I went over and opened it. He was standing there.
“What?”
He handed the bag to me. “What is that?” I asked, confused. n“One million,” he said without missing a beat. “I don’t want it,” I said before closing the door in his face.
When I left the next morning, I used the other elevator. I didn't want to see him or be in a confined space with him. The minute I got home. I dropped onto the bed. I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing; it was Anthony. I answered.
“Hey Tessa.”
“Hey, is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yes everything is fine. I wanted to pay you for this month. My sister is getting married; my mother and I are headed to Italy, and we won’t return until next month,” he said.
“Oh, okay. That’s good,” I said.
“Yes, can you swing by now and pick it up.” He asked.
“Yes, I can.”
“Okay see you soon.” he said before ending the call. I sat up groggily. I checked; it was three in the afternoon. The whole transaction took five minutes. On the way back I felt eyes on me. I stopped by one of the stores and just looked around. I didn't see anything or anyone suspicious. I made it home safely.
I tired going back to sleep but couldnt . after a shower and something ligh tot eat, I laid on the couch watching Tv. I guess I fell asleep because when I woke up it was dark out; the light from the TV was illuminating the living room.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. It was quiet. Too quiet. The neighbourhood was usually peaceful, but tonight something felt different. I was just reaching for the remote when my phone started to buzz on the coffee table.
I leaned over and grabbed it. It was a private number, and I knew who it was, the crazy asshole. I hesitated on answering, i wondered for two seconds what would happen if i ignored it and didnt like the outcome the worse things than hearing his voice was ignoring him.
I hit the green button. “What?” I asked
His voice was deep and slow. “Don’t talk. Listen.” I froze, squeezing my eyes shut. I could feel his presence, somehow, even though he was nowhere near.
“I know where you are. Get the keys. You won't stop for a coat or anything. Leave the house and get in the car right now. You have thirty-five minutes.”
My stomach dropped. “What ? Where am I going?” I asked.
His voice didn't change, but the threat intensified, cutting right through me.
“Darling, this isn't a request; it's a command. You’re coming alone. If you pause, if you look back, you will be punished now. Go.” He said, I heard the pause.
“Brooklyn Navy Yard, Pier 70. The massive warehouse. The door is cracked open. Get there.”
The line went dead, and I was left staring at the phone. Why was he even calling me, or what was waiting? If he wanted, he could have come here and grabbed me, but he didn't. I stood up and walked to the door and snatched the keys to the car he basically left in my driveway and walked out the door, i didnt even bother to lock the door.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was exactly the kind of place where you’d get snatched and buried, It was a wasteland of rust, shadow, and biting, freezing wind. The entire space felt dead and abandoned. I found Pier 70. The warehouse door was a massive, corroded thing, cracked open just enough for me to slip through. I left the engine running and slid inside. The space was massive My sneakers squeaked on the concrete, and the sound echoed. The air smelled like old oil and cold iron.
My eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom, and then I saw them.
In the middle of the warehouse, tied securely to a huge, rusty support column, was a man. He was bloody, beaten, and slumped against the metal. His head was bowed, but I knew that build. I knew that hair. I was certain. Alex. A monstrous, sickening wave of relief and terror hit me all at once. It was the most horrific thing I had ever seen, yet a single, vile word formed in my mind: Safe. I was trapped, staring at the monster who had terrorized me, now completely helpless.
Then, I saw the other figure.
He was standing maybe twenty feet away, completely hidden in the shadows, my tormentor. Jesus, he was tall; well, everyone was tall compared to my five feet. He was wearing a hoodie and it was pulled low over his face, obscuring every feature. He was just a massive shape, radiating an immense, cold dark purpose.
He didn't move towards alex. He walked straight toward me, his boots echoing with authority. He stopped maybe three feet away. his presence was overwhelming, i tried to see who it was but couldnt, even his eyes were hidden.
“I told you I take care of what is mine, darling.” He still didn't look at Alex; he was looking at me.
“The problem has been sloved You’ll want to watch this. This is the price they’ll have to pay for touching what is mine. When I said you were mine, I fucking meant it.”
My legs turned to jelly. I couldn't move. I could only stare at the figure on the column. This was wrong, fucking messed up, but I knew he was doing this for me. It was the ultimate, sickest form of protection.
Then he moved, and the world around me dissolved into horror. He moved with terrifying efficiency. One minute, he was standing here in front of me; the next, he was standing over Alex, his hand moving with brutal, efficient force. He turned to look at me, Teh glint fro teh knife caught the light and my heart sped up.
He brought the knife down to Alex’s neck. And slowly moved his hand, a faint gurgling sound could be heard, the black liquid began flowing across the knife and Alex’s neck And then, silence. Finality. Alex’s body slumped completely, his body still. He was dead. The threat was gone.
I didn't scream. I couldn't. My lungs completely seized up. I fell hard onto the concrete, staring at the motionless figure on the pole. He was a thousand times worse than Alex had ever been. He wasn't just obsessed; he was a murderer.