Chapter Fifty Five

“I knew they’d be here.” Agent Turner looked over at Rene as she peered out the car window at the sight that had caught his attention. Thomas and Teegan Wentworth were parked nearby, having arrived moments earlier.

Turner’s eyes closed for an instant as a wave of relief washed over him. They hadn’t gone into the shack yet. There was still time to rein Thomas in and salvage the situation. That was one death notification he hoped he never had to handle. He didn’t want to ever have to tell Charles that his son wouldn’t be coming home again. This way, he could orchestrate the sequence of events, get the bad guy, and send everyone home safe and sound.

Turner pulled in behind an outcropping of trees and got out. He approached the other vehicle with Rene following close behind him. “Well, at least you had sense enough to wait for us.”

Thomas cut his eyes impatiently at the agent as he clenched his hands open and shut on the steering wheel. The outward manifestation of stress relief wasn’t having its usual soothing effect. His blood was practically boiling within him from the overwhelming desire to kill. Like an addict craving a drug, Thomas was hungry for it.

Agent Turner was a realist. If he had learned one thing in his years at the FBI, it was to view the world as it truly was, no matter how distasteful the truth was. So he shook his head on a harsh exhale, resigned to the fact that he could do nothing to stop the son of a serial killer from fulfilling his destiny. In the back of his mind, Agent Turner had been holding out hope that Thomas Wentworth might somehow take a different path. But no more. Thomas had a thirst for blood for its own sake, whereas his father Black Rose killed to right the ultimate wrong.

“You know your father doesn’t want you in there, but I can’t stop you. To be honest with you, I need the backup.”

“You’re right, you can’t stop me.”

“Don’t be so hungry for blood or it will be your undoing, son.”

Thomas looked at him with a crooked smile. “You can’t change the nature of the beast.”

“True. But my efforts to cover your ass can only go so far. You waited for me, which tells me you intend to work with me on this. That’s good, Thomas. You need to approach this with the intention of me taking this guy in, not with the intention of killing him.”

Thomas met the FBI agent’s penetrating gaze solemnly. “Look, I might enjoy spilling the blood of those who prey on the weak, but I’m not going to do anything that jeopardizes you or your partner. You’ve had my dad’s back,” he muttered as he turned his gaze to the ramshackle shack and tapped impatiently on the steering wheel. “I respect that. But we both know that a court of law is never a sure thing. You really want to take that risk?”

Agent Turner didn’t acknowledge the question but got right down to business. “According to the tracker, our boy’s car is still here. So whatever’s going down is going to happen right here. Agent Murphy and I will go through the front door. You go through the back. That’s as far as my plan goes. We’ll take it from there when we see what we’re dealing with. Okay? Now, let’s try to get through tonight without anyone getting killed, shall we? That is one conversation with your father that I would like to never have.”

“You got it.”

They cut through the trees, with Turner and his partner heading straight to the front of the wooden shack. Thomas got out of the car and gazed solemnly at Teegan when she joined him.

When they reached the rear of the shack, Thomas pulled Teegan close and kissed her hungrily. He cradled her face in his hands as he pulled away and studied her face. “I know you’re nervous. Everything in me wants to lock you in that car and keep you out of all this, but I’m selfish, Teegan. I need you with me to do this. We’re a team now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her in tight to his chest, his words coming out in a rush. “I love you, girl. I love you with everything that’s in me. I was okay with being alone before you came along. I didn’t know any different. But now? Now I can’t imagine walking through this world without you by my side. You belong beside me in everything I do. I think you understand that or you wouldn’t be out here in the woods with me right now.”

“I’m yours, Thomas. I’m not going anywhere. Whatever you have in mind, I’m up for it. You’re not alone anymore.”

“Fuck, baby,” he groaned as he cradled the back of her head and brought his lips down on hers in a searing kiss. He pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, “So fucking perfect for me. You stay behind me, okay? Behind. Me. Do not underestimate this guy.”

All she could do was nod. She was scared, but the desire to get a killer off the street was stronger than the sound of her heart pounding against her ribs. Their bond went far beyond a marriage certificate that kept them from testifying against each other. Theirs was a connection that needed no words.

She watched as he took a small black case from his pocket and unzipped it. He worked the door lock efficiently and gently turned the handle. It was the moment of truth, but he managed to keep his expression neutral as he opened the door. If it creaked, it would alert any inhabitants to their presence. Normally he would be feeding off the adrenalin coursing through him at the thought of the ultimate thrill kill, but not today. Today he was worried about his wife being in the line of fire, but he knew that the worst thing he could do would be to let that fear distract him.

He placed a finger to his lips in a silent message to be quiet and slowly stepped inside, listening for any telltale sounds that would betray the presence of their target. Thomas reached around for the gun that was pressing against his back where he’d tucked it into his jeans.

They crept along the darkened hallway. Thomas knew that, with the agents entering through the front door, they would likely meet somewhere in the middle. Hopefully, they’d have their target cornered like the pathetic animal he was.

Thomas moved toward the sound of muffled voices, placing his feet carefully in the hopes of avoiding any creaking floorboards that would give away their position.

Brian stood near Queen Bee, his gleaming eyes looking toward the doorway as he stroked the skin of her lower abdomen and whispered in her ear. She was in a bra and panties, suspended by her wrists from a long chain. From the looks of things, she was barely aware of what was happening to her, and Thomas sent up silent thanks for small mercies.

“It appears we have company, love,” Brian declared, then stepped away and shoved her, sending her swinging around from the end of the chain. He stood in the center of the room as she twirled and spun around him. He held what appeared to be an icepick in his hand.

Thomas’ voice was deathly calm. “You don’t want to do this, Brian.”

“That’s Mummy Man to you,” Brian snarled as he looked toward the doorway, jerking his head around sharply at the sight of Thomas’ companion. His gaze settled hungrily on Teegan as she emerged from behind Thomas, much to her husband’s displeasure. “I’m doing this for you, Teegan. All of it. I’ve done everything I can to make you notice me, but you can’t see past him.” He nodded in her husband’s direction.

Teegan took another step forward, glancing over at her husband before she whispered, “Sorry, baby. I don’t understand this myself, but I’ve got to do this. I’ve got to.”

Thomas kept his eyes on Brian, ready to react to even the slightest movement. His response was issued through lips that barely moved, his voice just loud enough for her to hear. “That’s okay. I understand. But you be careful because I need you in one piece when I take this out of your ass later.”

Teegan’s eyes widened and she gulped awkwardly. Brian mistook her reaction as a response to his presence in the room, and his chest puffed out with pride. He spoke his next words to her alone, his voice almost tender. “Come to me, Teegan. I don’t care about this bitch. She’s nothing. You belong to me. I belong to you. I belong inside you. Come with me and I promise you, I’ll erase all traces of your husband.” His voice dripped with sarcasm as he shot a baleful glance at Thomas and added, “From your body and your mind.”

The animalistic growl that rumbled from Thomas’ chest only egged Brian on. “I’ll claim every inch of you, inside and out, until even the memory of him is nothing but dust. I’ll do things to you that he’s never dreamed of, Teegan, things that you’ll grow to love, I promise. I just know it.”

The silence that followed was broken only by Queen Bee’s quiet weeping and incoherent mumbling as she swayed at the end of the chain.

Teegan’s voice was soft and warm as she took a step forward and addressed her tormentor. “But don’t you see? You didn’t have to do any of this for me to notice you, Brian. I noticed you a long, long time ago. You of all people know how deeply I’ve delved into the mind of serial killers. How could I not notice you? You’re the best of the best.”

“Really?” His eyes gleamed with hope.

“Oh, yes. You stand out far above the rest. The way you do what you do. Well, it’s…breathtaking, really. So unique. There’s no one else like you.”

“Teegan, I… I love you. Life wouldn’t be worth living without you by my side,” he said, lowering the icepick and stepping toward her as if he were considering running straight into her arms.

Just over Teegan’s shoulder, her husband’s eyes narrowed and he slowly turned his head, regarding his wife with barely concealed awe. Fucking perfect…

“Yes,” she purred. “That’s what I’m counting on, Brian. You see, you stand head and shoulders above the rest. And do you know why?”

“Why, Teegan? Tell me.” He took another step toward her and looked at her expectantly, his cheeks flushed like a child yearning to be told how special and precious he was.

Teegan’s expression shifted in that instant, from that of an understanding admirer to one of revulsion. “You stand out far above the rest…because… You. Disgust. Me. You aren’t even worthy to be called a serial killer. Hell, I’m a novice and I caught you. You’re nothing more than a wannabe, a copycat. You’re pathetic.” She jerked her head in Thomas’ direction. “He’s the real deal. Unlike you, he’s got a fucking pedigree. In his family, they kill with purpose.”

Brian’s bottom lip wobbled as he took in her scathing words, but she was relentless in destroying him, piece by piece. She slowly shook her head, her words dripping with disdain. “That’s right, Mummy Man. I could never love a freak like you!”

She stepped toward her husband and curled in tight against his side, laying her head on his shoulder for emphasis and rubbing her hand over his chest. “I’ve already got the real thing, and he truly owns me. How was it that you put it? Inside…and out.”

Brian’s face flushed beet red then went ashen until he was pale like a long-dead corpse. He shook his head, bewildered by this turn of events. It was the one thing he hadn’t prepared for. It hadn’t occurred to him that she would really refuse him.

“B-but…Teegan, please.” His face crumpled with emotion, then he closed his eyes and stomped his foot. He turned and looked at Queen Bee as she swayed slowly back and forth from the chain, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cried out softly for Terry.

Huffing petulantly, Brian turned back to face Teegan, his chest heaving with emotion. His voice shifted subtly until it took on the high-pitched, frantic whine of a small child being denied dessert. “I’ll be good. I promise. I’ll be so good.”

Thomas looked from his wife to Brian and back again, fascinated by what was happening. But Teegan said nothing. Her face took on a stern, forbidding hardness as she glared at Brian and slowly shook her head. She didn’t even flinch when he stifled a sob and raised the icepick high in the air. He brought it down, stabbing it into his own neck until only the wooden handle was visible.

He tried to take a breath but only managed a gurgling coughing fit as he wobbled on unsteady legs. Teegan straightened and walked toward him, ignoring her husband’s frustrated curse, her expression aloof and indifferent as she whispered close to Brian’s ear, “Is that all you’ve got? Be a real man, Mummy Man. Pull it out. Die for me, you sick fuck.”

No one had noticed the two FBI agents entering the room. The seasoned crime investigators had never witnessed anything like the grisly scene that was playing out before their eyes. They knew better than to interfere in a sequence of events that was almost poetic in its inevitability.

All eyes were on Brian as he clenched his trembling hand around the icepick and jerked it free, releasing a geyser of blood so forceful that it sprayed the wall. As he dropped to his knees, the rhythmic, scarlet spurts grew weaker with each dying beat of his heart.

His eyes were locked on Teegan as he teetered there before collapsing onto his back. The final surge of blood trickled weakly down his neck into a growing puddle on the floor as his eyes glazed over. Mummy Man was no more.

“Let the bastard die,” Teegan said in a cold voice that sent a shiver down Thomas’ spine. “Save the title of serial killer for the ones who are worthy of it: the vigilantes who right the wrongs on these fucked up city streets.”

When she turned to face Thomas, he closed his eyes briefly when he saw the streaks of blood on her cheek and neck. Fuck. She hadn’t even flinched.

Teegan crossed the room and leaned against the wall near the door. She slowly slid down until she landed with a soft thud on the dusty wooden floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and watched as the agents worked efficiently to free Queen Bee.

Turner released her wrist restraints and caught her limp body in his arms when she fell. Rene took off her jacket and wrapped it around her, then got to work checking her vital signs. “She’s groggy, which is probably for the best. Fewer memories to keep her up at night.” Rene nodded softly. “But she’s going to be okay.”

Thomas was cautious in his approach, kneeling next to Teegan but saying nothing as he wiped her face with the handkerchief Turner had handed to him on his way over to her. His wife would need time to come to terms with what had just happened, and he would be there when she was ready to talk. He would always be there.