Chapter Seven
Scarlett twisted amongst the sheets, her body pleasantly sore. She remembered last night and couldn’t help but smile. Never in her life had she experienced such equal measures of passion and pleasure. Bain had satisfied her in ways she never knew possible.
By the time she peeked open her eyes, she realized Bain was gone. A moment of panic settled in her gut. She rushed into a sitting position so fast, a wave of dizziness caught her off guard. “Bain!”
His large frame filled the doorway of the bathroom, a white towel around his waist and toothbrush in his mouth. “Yeah, babe?”
Her nerves eased the instant she saw him. The more she fell for Bain, the more she worried he’d be killed because of his line of work. She couldn’t lose him.
“Nothing.” She tugged the sheets up over her breasts. “Why are you up so early?”
“I have another job. It came in early, and I only have two days to prepare.” He disappeared back into the bathroom. She could hear the water flowing into the sink and then the clink of a razor against porcelain.
He was so casual about murder, but she knew he was a killer and still wanted him, so she couldn’t really complain. It just felt wrong. Scarlett wondered who the unlucky victim would be this time, and if he deserved what was coming to him or not.
Bain strode into the room, his rock-hard body not easy to ignore. She watched every muscle move and shift as he tugged on a pair of black jeans. He buttoned up and then sat on the edge of the bed with a fresh t-shirt in hand.
“There’s something we have to get done today,” he said. “This friend of yours, the one who knows you went to Semenov’s, I need her address.”
“What? No!”
He squeezed her thigh. “I didn’t say I was going to kill her. But she needs to be dealt with.”
“What does that mean, Bain? I told you I’d rather take her place if someone has to pay for something. She doesn’t deserve for anything bad to happen to her.”
“Look, my boss won’t stop until I clean shit up. I still don’t know what I’ll do about you, but I know for damn sure I can’t have that girl running her mouth,” he said. Bain slipped the t-shirt over his head, the cotton clinging to his muscles. “We need to find her so you can tell her you’re alive and well. Her life’s in your hands, so make sure you give her a convincing story. I need her to recant her police report.”
“I don’t need to give her a story. I want to be here. With you.” She touched his neck, tracing her finger along the intricate patterns. “If Lisa believes me, will everything be okay?”
“One thing at a time, sweetheart. You have fifteen minutes. I’ll be getting things ready downstairs.” He seemed all business again, the previous night’s vulnerabilities long forgotten. She didn’t want to lose that gentle side of him she was falling in love with.
When he stood, he held the side of her face and kissed her forehead. The single act erased all her misgivings. She exhaled as he left the room.
Scarlett washed up and dressed in the outfit Bain had bought for her last night. She didn’t have much else to wear. She wondered if she’d ever be able to go back home to her apartment to get her belongings. Then again, what did the future even hold for her? Did Bain expect her to move in with him? Was she supposed to go back to her old life at some point? She didn’t want to pretend none of this happened, to forget Bain and all the drama. He’d come into her life for a reason. She had to believe that.
By the time she went downstairs, he was filling a large black duffel bag with guns of all shapes and sizes. She froze, the reality of her situation hitting her hard.
“Why do we need those just to see Lisa? You said you wouldn’t hurt her.”
“I’m always prepared. We have a lot of stops to make, and you never know who you’ll run into.” Bain zipped up the bag and slung it over his shoulder.
She followed him out of the house. “What stops?” she asked.
“First things first. This Lisa chick needs to keep her mouth shut.” He dropped the bag into the trunk of his car. “I have some prep to do for my next assignment, and we need to pay your ex a visit.”
He moved fast, getting into the driver’s seat of the BMW while she stood speechless at the rear of the car. There was no way she wanted to set her eyes on Michael today or ever. But that didn’t mean she wanted him dead either, even if he did deserve it.
Scarlett slipped into the passenger seat, the early morning sun reflecting off the face of Bain’s watch. It was a high-end Rolex, and it made her think about why he was still living this dangerous lifestyle when he’d already made a fortune. “I don’t want to see my ex. Let’s just forget about that chapter of my life. It’s over.”
“It’s not over. Not if he’s still looking for you.”
“The thing with his brother was a fluke. He doesn’t know where I am. Hell, I don’t even know where I am.”
He shifted in his seat, looking directly at her. “You’re scared,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “Never let your fear do the talking. You have me now.”
Scarlett couldn’t speak. He was right of course. Deep down, she was still terrified of her ex and the horrible memories she tried to supress. Memories even Bain didn’t know about.
“You don’t know the half of it. I don’t want to see Michael. I can’t even stand the sound of his name.”
“You and me both.” Bain pulled off his property with a spray of gravel and hit the road. The early morning light allowed her to see the gorgeous landscape around Bain’s home. Green fields and forests in the distance, not another house in sight. She could never afford to live in the country. Even her basement apartment in the city stretched her budget.
Her thoughts wandered. Scarlett didn’t like the idea of Lisa getting involved in this mess. When Bain asked for the address she knew he was testing her loyalty because he was already on his way to Lisa’s place. Scarlett hoped she could be convincing enough. How did she expect one of her close friends to believe she’d just decided to quit her job and run off with a stranger with no hint beforehand? Combined with the mass murder scene at Semenov’s, it all sounded way too far-fetched.
“This is it,” said Bain, after parallel parking like a pro outside Lisa’s building.
“You can wait here,” said Scarlett. “I’ll talk with her and be back soon.”
Bain didn’t even bother answering her, getting out of the car and waiting for her on the sidewalk with his arms crossed in front of him. She sighed. There was no way he’d let her out of his sight. She was still technically his prisoner until he decided otherwise.
They walked to the front entrance, and she pressed Lisa’s buzzer. When she heard her friend’s voice, a strange sensation came over her. She’d pushed aside thoughts of her old life, including Lisa, since that night. Although she hated her job, the constant struggling, and the memories of her horrific love life, Lisa had always been a good friend.
The elevator was broken so they took the stairs up to the third floor. Bain stayed several feet behind her as they walked up the hallway. She knocked on the door, but it opened so fast, her hand was still mid-air.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe it’s you,” Lisa said. “I was going to call the cops today. I thought you were dead.” She grabbed Scarlett’s arm and pulled her into the apartment. Bain followed, closing the door behind him.
Lisa stared at Bain, a look of apprehension on her face.
“I have to talk to you,” Scarlett said. “There’s been a huge misunderstanding.”
They moved to the far end of the room by the window, but Lisa kept turning her head to glance back at Bain. Once they were out of earshot, Lisa whispered. “Who the hell is that? Is he one of Semenov’s men? Are you in trouble?”
“Stop,” Scarlett said. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Who is he then? Should I call the police?”
“Lisa, relax. He’s my … boyfriend. After that scare I got at Semenov’s I decided to put everything behind me, to start fresh. You know my career was going nowhere fast at the office.”
“Wait, you’re starting over. With him?”
“Yes, with him,” Scarlett said.
“Look at all those tattoos. He looks like a scary biker. Since when is ‘scary biker dude’ your type?”
Scarlet was getting worried. If she didn’t convince Lisa, she was sure Bain would put a bullet in her head. She gave Lisa a little shake to get her undivided attention. “Lisa, trust me, he’s my type. He’s literally a sex machine. I’m happy, living my dream, I just wanted to get you up to speed because I know how you worry.”
“A sex machine?”
She wasn’t joking when she said Bain was a sex machine—he literally was. The man was trained to pleasure women, and she could vouch for his skills after being on the receiving end last night. Just thinking about him made her feel hot and bothered.
“He’s good to me, Lisa.”
Her friend must have seen it in her eyes, the truth, the love she had for Bain, because Lisa hugged her, pulling her close. “I was so worried. At first when I saw the news, I thought you were dead. Then when no one said anything, I thought you were digging into more research, and then I got scared, and thought something bad had happened. I’m just glad you’re okay and that you came to tell me. I was literally about to call the cops.”
“Could you do me a favor?” Scarlett asked. “Tell Carter I won’t be coming back. I can’t face him. It’ll be one less researcher he has to let go.”
“Sure…”
“Did you tell the police anything?”
“I was going to today. I hadn’t heard from you, but you weren’t listed as one of the dead. Did you see the carnage on the news? There were almost a dozen bodies.”
“I was lucky to have missed it.” Scarlett heard Bain clear his throat and knew her time was running out.
Luckily, Lisa seemed too happy that she wasn’t six feet under to push her for more information. She hoped it was convincing enough to satisfy Bain.
Once they were back in the car, she sagged against her seat. It was stressful telling her friend half-truths and worrying she wouldn’t believe her.
“Was that good enough for you?” she asked.
“We’ll see.”
They were back on the road again, and she really just wanted to go home. Where was home? Her apartment was a shitty little prison where she spent her long, lonely nights stressing over every detail of her equally shitty life. Home was wherever Bain was. He made her feel beautiful, special, and safe. Alive rather than existing. What more could she ask for?
“Can we stop at my place to get some clothes?” she asked.
“No way. Your apartment is definitely under surveillance.”
She didn’t recognize this area of the city, but she was glad they weren’t heading to Michael’s house. The house they used to share together was the epicenter for her worst nightmares. Bain turned down a side street, then another, before parking the car.
“The suburbs? What now?” she asked, already feeling emotionally exhausted.
“Come on,” he said. Bain walked around to the trunk, popped it open, and unzipped that black duffel bag. He tugged on a jacket over his t-shirt, and then concealed a gun in the back of his pants. Every move he made was fast and precise, like he’d done this dance a thousand times.
He shut the trunk and took her hand. The simple act of handholding calmed her nerves and made her connection to Bain grow stronger. She looked at all the different houses, row by row—mowed lawns, flower beds, garden gnomes. Little did the homeowners know a killer was in their midst.
“Where’re we going?” she asked.
He stopped and stared at a house across the street. “Time to pay Michael a visit.”
****
Bain had to hold back the beast. All he could think about was breaking that prick’s neck. Apparently, Michael had fucked with Scarlett’s head, taught her fear and insecurity, making Bain’s job at winning her over harder. It wasn’t going to be easy for him to convince Scarlett of her worth, but he’d spend the rest of his life doing it.
That wasn’t the only reason he hated the bastard. Michael had bedded Bain’s woman and still believed he had a chance with her. Bain needed to stake his claim and set the record straight.
He had a firm grip on Scarlett’s hand as they crossed the street. She didn’t need to be here for this, but she did need closure, so he’d give it to her.
“Bain, no, I can’t…”
“You never have to be scared, baby girl. Not for a fucking second.”
“You don’t understand.” Tears filled her eyes. She clung to him, and his protective instincts fired up inside him. For the first time in his life, he had something of value, something precious. “He didn’t just hurt me. There’s more.”
“What is it?”
“He took something from me—” She couldn’t speak any more. Scarlett shook her head, too emotional to continue. Michael really had put her through hell and back.
The wraparound porch was painted white, a wooden rocking chair beside the door. Picture perfect came to mind. Out of all the men he’d killed over the years, the worst of them put up the biggest fronts. They lived in the nicest neighborhoods, had the right friends, and joined the public community events. It was all a façade for the evil lurking beneath. He suspected it was no different with Michael, living in the suburbs, playing house.
“Knock on the door. When he answers, tell him to you want him to stop looking for you. I’ll be close, so don’t worry. Can you do that for me?”
She swallowed hard, but nodded. Bain couldn’t wait to get this shit over with, because he hated seeing Scarlett so nervous. He had to prove to her that he was capable of handling himself.
He stood farther down the porch while she did as he asked. The door opened, and there was silence. She froze up, staring straight ahead and not able to speak. Bain was about to intervene when Michael spoke.
“I heard you’d moved on, and now … you’re here.”
“You can’t keep looking for me, Michael. Stop trying to get back into my life because it’s never going to happen. You know what you did, and it’s unforgiveable,” Scarlett said.
“You came all the way here to say that? That’s doubtful. How’d you find my new address anyway?”
“I have nothing else to say to you. You have no idea how much pain you’ve caused me. Just keep your distance because I have a court-ordered restraining order.”
“You think those mean anything? There not worth the paper they’re printed on,” he said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Use your imagination, doll.” Michael said. “Do you already forget what happens when you piss me off? You think I’m scared of the cops?”
Scarlett started to back away, but the asshole grabbed her arm and forced her into the house. Bain was in the doorway within seconds, kicking the door shut behind him.
“Who the hell is that? Is he the guy you were with?” Michael asked.
“Shut up!” Bain shoved him in the chest, sending him scrambling backward.
Scarlett grabbed his coat to hold him back. “Bain, no!”
He turned and glared at her. Why was she trying to protect that piece of shit? Did she still love him? Did she have no fucking self-worth?
Bain returned his attention to Michael. He was pathetic, not even worth a bullet. “You like to hurt women?”
“You have no right to be here. This is private property.”
He chuckled without humor. “Do you think I’m afraid of the cops?”
“This is between me and her,” said Michael.
“There is no you and her. Scarlett’s mine now. Only mine.”
Michael looked toward Scarlett. “Did you actually sleep with this guy?” His face grew redder, his brow lowered. “I knew you were a slut, and this only proves it.”
Bain had had enough. He wrapped his hand around the front of his collar and slammed him up against the wall. “Apologize to her,” he warned.
It took all his resolve not to empty his clip into this asshole. He’d been raised fighting; it’s what he knew and what he loved. Living in regular society had always been a challenge when he was used to acting on impulse, no regard for laws or ethics.
“Get out of my house,” Michael said, his voice hoarse with his air supply being limited. When Michael pulled a pocketknife out from his pants, Scarlett screamed.
Bain twisted his arm around his back in one swift move, the knife clanging to the tiled floor. “Fucking apologize, you piece of shit.”
“You’ll both pay for this,” cried Michael.
He leaned down and whispered in the guy’s ear. “I fucked that sweet little pussy all night long, tough guy. And I will again tonight. The only cock she’ll ever know now is mine. You need to remember that.”
Bain stepped back, rolling out his shoulders.
Michael stood up, attempting to straighten his polo shirt. “Keep her. She’s damaged goods now. I don’t know what I was thinking hooking up with that. I have standards.”
Bain groaned, his temper flaring. No one insulted Scarlett. This was supposed to be enlightening for her, not make her feel like trash. When he heard her sobbing, he lost it, punching her ex in the mouth.
“You wish you had a woman like her.” Another punch to ensure he kept his fat mouth shut. “But you fucked up, and now she’s mine.”
When he heard several car doors slam shut, he peered out the window.
Fuck me!
Boss and three of his men were coming up the walkway. Bain had to protect Scarlett. If he had to he’d end the four of them, but it would guarantee a life of running, constantly looking over his shoulder.
Killian shoved open the door. The Irish prick was one of Boss’s newest acquisitions. He was cutthroat and heartless, not the type of man Bain wanted coming after Scarlett. His sadistic smile faded when he saw Scarlett standing against the wall in the foyer. It was rumored Killian never accepted contracts on women.
“Well, well, well. Look at this,” said Boss as he strolled in with two other hitmen. “I warned you to clean up your shit, Bain. Did I not warn you?”
“I have everything under control.” Now that the Lisa knew Scarlett was alive and well, there weren’t any loose ends. The original witness wasn’t a problem because she belonged to Bain now.
“Obviously not if I’ve wasted my morning doing clean up when I had plans to hit the gym. That doesn’t put me in a good mood,” said Boss.
One of the hitmen took a step toward Scarlett, and Bain instinctively drew the gun from his back, aiming it at the man’s face. “Don’t even fucking breathe on her,” he warned.
“Interesting,” said Boss. “I remember Viper telling me they’d fucked you up beyond the point of no return when you were a kid. Now, look at this. Ready to kill poor Carlos for a piece of pussy.” He shrugged and strolled around the room, a gun swinging in his hand.
“What’s going on?” asked Michael.
All attention diverted to him after he spoke. “And who the hell is this little fuck? I don’t have any guy on my loose-end list, just the two women. Well, one woman,” said Boss, scratching his forehead with the muzzle of his gun. “Are you trying to make this more difficult for me on purpose, Bain?”
“Leave Lisa alone!” Scarlett said. She was terrified, but brave when it came to helping others. He liked that about her.
“Was that her name? I’d forgotten already,” said Boss. “Well, I’ve cleaned up that epic disaster since you couldn’t, and now we’re here.”
“You killed her?” Scarlett asked. She started crying uncontrollably, but Bain couldn’t take his eyes off Boss or his men just yet. Dogs barked in the distance, the hum of a lawnmower drowning out Scarlet’s sobs. It was a regular morning for the neighborhood.
Boss ignored her. “Care to finish this up, Bain? Despite your unrefined methods, I can still see your value. I won’t be cutting you loose just yet.”
Bain moved his outstretched arm, shifting to point the handgun at Michael. It wasn’t a hard decision considering he’d wanted that fucker dead the moment Bain knew of his existence. As long as he was alive, that deep-seated fear would live on in Scarlett. Those memories and secrets needed to be terminated permanently. When he’d escaped his captors as a teen, murdering them all didn’t erase the nightmares, but it helped.
Bain pulled the trigger.