My eyes expanded significantly, and I could feel a fire burning within me. I'm not sure if I'm terrified of him, wary of him, want him, or despise him. This man basically kidnapped me, blackmailed me, and took me from a secure location, and I don't know how I should feel. He's the first person whose motivations I don't comprehend, and I can't even conceive or foresee what's going to happen next. And to be honest, it turns me on.
Lucian slipped off his gloves, revealing his tattoo-covered hands. His long, slender fingers tenderly touched my cheek, causing me to swallow hard and instinctively pull back. I didn't realize my Boogeyman was already hanging over me, just like I had hung over Gorsky, giving him champagne.
"I thought you couldn't be scared, Errin." Lucian leaned even closer, and I could feel his breath on my cheek and lips. "You're quite the coward, aren't you?"
"You don't know anything about me." I couldn't see his entire face, but the wrinkles around his eyes clearly indicated that my words had delighted him. The strain between my legs increased significantly, and the entire situation scared and excited me at the same time.
"Really?" The bogeyman stepped away from me, got a chair near the bed, turned it so its back was facing me, and sat down. "I know everything. Everything. Where you were born, where your parents are, who they are, how you married Mike Dreese, how you murdered Gorsky, and what your husband's clients did to you in detail. I know the tale behind each scar you have."
"In that case, it's not very polite of you to not let a poor girl like me go, is it?" I pulled the hood of my pajamas up over my head and crossed my arms across my chest. It felt as if I was attempting to seal myself up, hide, and disappear.
«I have my own goals. Eugene informed you, didn't he?»
«How did he kill your father? Oh, and I hope he suffered because he raised a bastard like you.» He rushed up from his chair and stood right next to me, gripping my neck. He wasn't choking me or pressing down on his fingers; he was simply holding me there and forcing me to look him in the eyes.
«Never, ever say that. Even someone like me has limits of patience.» He's weird; I can't figure him out. He's had countless opportunities to hurt me, to kill me, to get his revenge, but he still hasn't touched me.
"Did Eugene tell you that he killed my mother as well as my father?" I was taken aback, not understanding what Boogeyman was talking about. "Or that he was dealing drugs, killing dozens of people?"
"You're lying."
"Oh, really? Didn't he tell you about his time in prison?" Lucian opened the nightstand to his right and took out some newspaper clippings, then handed them to me.
I started looking through what I saw, and there were images of Eugene, photos of corpses, and screaming headlines about a serial killer and drug dealer who had finally been apprehended by Palm Springs police. There were equally loud headlines about how he had been freed on parole a few years before and how terror was spreading throughout the city. What the fuck?
"Did he tell you why he wanted you?" I looked up from the newspaper and focused on my kidnapper. "Didn't he say that he had given Gorsky's people your address a long time ago and came to your house so you couldn't escape?"
"Why would he do that?"
"That's why." This time, Lucian got a laptop from the cupboard, opened it, and began searching for something. When he located the file he was looking for, he turned it toward me, and I remembered seeing it somewhere before.
«The red room..." The man who organized the auction, the same one who tortured that poor girl in Aquamarine, was Eugene.
«Gorsky's men wanted to kidnap you and kill you, but they agreed with Baker that making money off your spectacular death would be better than just letting you die.»
I was completely shocked. But things did not add up. Why would Eugene reveal his real name? Why would he assist me to hide? Why did he get me a gun and teach me how to shoot?
"And you, a gentleman, decided to save me and help me?" I glanced into his emerald eyes with unmistakable derision.
"As I said, I have my reasons."
«Eugene told me the exact same thing. Why should I believe you?"
"He simply offered you words; I showed you proofs. You do not have to trust me, but you have no choice. Right now, you are my prisoner. I'm not saving you; I hope you didn't think so. You're merely a valuable negotiating tool in the conflict between me, Baker, Gorsky, and your husband.»
Lucian rose from his chair, walked up to me, and leaned in again, staring into my eyes.
«But after researching you, I believe you have the potential to become a valuable vassal of Rotten Crown. So it is up to you to demonstrate to me that you are more than simply a bargaining chip, but a partner.» He flicked my chin with his finger before moving toward the door.
«Will you keep me on a leash like a dog?»
«Exactly, fibber.»
The door closed behind him, leaving me alone in this biker prison. What the fuck is that? What's happening? I have no idea whom to trust anymore. My skull was about to explode. Eugene, I suspected, was not as straightforward as he appeared. He was doing something with Aquamarine. But this. I wouldn't have believed it.
In that scenario, he is a monster far worse than Mike. I'm tired of it all. It is time to learn how to defend myself. I picked up the laptop again and began studying the video to ensure that it was indeed Eugene.
"So, which of you would like to order the next act? Come on! The opening bid is $5,000!" I watched as the masked man approached the girl, holding a knife to her throat. Her face had been pummeled, her eyes were empty, and her nude body was covered in hundreds of parallel incisions; she no longer resembled a human. However, she was still alive. "Six thousand! "Great! Does anyone want to raise their bid?""
The masked man pressed down on the knife, severing the captive's throat with one stroke. Blood spurted out, and the screaming subsided. Poor girl. My eyes became watery, and my palm covered my mouth so I couldn't cry outloud.
"I appreciate your attention, gentlemen. See you next time, and be assured... You'll definitely enjoy it!" The live broadcast should have ended, but the camera viewpoint abruptly shifts to a surveillance camera inside the room.
The man closes his laptop, examines the dead body, releases her from the chair, and transports her to the bathroom. The viewpoint switches again, this time to the restroom, and he eventually removes his mask, revealing..... Familiar black hair, well-groomed stubble, ocean-blue eyes. It was Eugene.
I closed the laptop, and sobs overpowered me. I detest them all. And I am going to get my fucking revenge. I climbed onto the bed, tucking my legs beneath me and embracing my knees. My heart was racing, my hands and feet trembling, and my face distorted into a pained grimace. I'm not sure how I'm still alive, but I am, and that means I can exact revenge on each of them.
I jumped out of bed and headed for the door. I started pounding on it with my fists.
"Hey, you there, call your boss; I need to talk to him!"
I hit the door harder and harder until my knuckles started to bleed. Maybe 15 minutes passed, and only when the members of Rotten Crown realized that I wasn't going to stop and they were getting tired of the banging did I hear a shout:
"Lucian, do something with her; she's really giving me a headache! Damn hysterical bitch!"
"Fuck off!" I shouted. Then someone approached the door, and I heard the lock turn. I instinctively stepped back, afraid it was the guy I had sent away, coming back with his fists ready.
"What do you want?" Lucian stood in the doorway.
"Teach me. I want you to teach me how to fight, shoot, and kill." Through the balaclava, I could see his eyes widen in surprise.
"Why would I do that?"
"You said we can be allies. I'm ready. You want me to kill for the Rotten Crown—you'll never get that. But I'm definitely ready to cut off a few men's balls. Teach me.»
He nodded approvingly and tilted his head sharply to one side again. He was studying me. Just as I was studying him.
"All right. But keep your mouth shut from now on. I like that you're sharp, but the other guys aren't used to such a... woman.»
«I'll do my best.»
«Then we'll start tomorrow. Today you rest." Lucian was about to close the door when he suddenly stopped. «I downloaded a couple of your favorite movies onto laptop.»
With that, the door closed. I exhaled, wiped away my tears, and jumped onto the bed. Yes, I'm probably a dead woman, but... Before death takes me, I'm taking a few bastards with me.