Chapter Twenty Two

Beckett

 

Today I played the part of Beckett Carter, powerful businessman. I went to the office and settled in behind my desk, going through the motions. The entire time I had one thing in the back of my mind, the plan I had put together after hours of focus on Sunday. This was my chance to catch Marco Venetti off guard, my chance to finally close this painful chapter in my life and lay the ghosts of my past to rest. Meeting after meeting, document after document I signed, I could feel the clock ticking down to the time I would finally act.

When I left the office I went straight home. After a shower I went to my closet and dressed in my freshly pressed tuxedo, fastening platinum cufflinks and sliding into my shoes. I checked my reflection in the full length mirror, I was ready. What wasn’t outwardly apparent was that in the sole of my shoe was a lock picking set, that my bowtie pulled apart to a thin wire that would be perfect for ending the life of Marco Venetti and I had two of my Phantom masks hidden in the lining of my jacket. One for me, and one for the distraction I had planned.

I would have to go in with no guns this time, no outwardly visible weapons. I would never get past security and arouse suspicion. I was going to need to rely on my body as the ultimate weapon, and anything around me I could find inside. I was going to need to be fast and ruthless. If I hesitated, if I made one wrong move, it would be over. For the Phantom and for Beckett Carter.

I headed to the elevator, down to the garage where I got behind the wheel of my red Aston Martin. With a roar, I smoothly navigated out onto the streets where the sun had set, the neon lights shining bright in a city where it was never dark. Past crowds and casinos, attractions and businesses, I drove down the streets out of the inner city limits to the Venetti mansion where the event was being held. As I drove up through the iron gates there was a valet waiting. I stepped out and handed him my keys, he nodded at me and handed over a ticket then got into my car and drove away to park it along with the others.

I walked towards the massive double doors, looking over the sprawling mansion and all the property it took up. There were tall windows on every floor, side doors, multiple entrances. It was a fortress, there was no denying it, but I could make use of the many ways in and out if I needed to. That’s what I preferred about my penthouse. There was one way in, one way out. I had my space but also my privacy. This was over the top extravagant, and I knew exactly the kinds of activities Marco Venetti was involved in to pay for it.

Inside the doors were two security guards. They held up a hand for me to stop, then patted me down.

“Your name?” a man with a clipboard asked.

“Beckett Carter,” I answered smoothly.

He nodded. “Mister Carter, welcome. Apologies for the inconvenience, we need to take precautions. I’m sure you understand.”

“I do,” I told him, smoothing my suit.

“Enjoy your evening Mr. Carter.”

I walked past, a woman in a black dress was circulating with a tray of champagne. There was a large stairway leading up to the next floor, security stood there guarding the way up. It seems the main floor had been reserved for the gala, upstairs was off limits for the guests. Which meant that was where I wanted to get Marco alone and away from prying eyes. Picking up a champagne flute I headed inside the main ballroom, stopping once in a while to shake someone’s hand who recognized me.

While I seemed to be mingling in the room, engaging in small chat while the four piece band played on a stage in the corner, I was really buying time. Soon I would need to put my plan into action, I just needed to wait for my moment.

“Beckett Carter, I’m glad you accepted my invitation!” A heavy hand fell on my shoulder. When I turned, it took all the strength inside me to keep calm.

“Marco Venetti, I was more than happy to attend.”

“Anything for our boys in blue, right? I was very impressed when I read about your recent donation. I didn’t know you had an interest in our justice system.”

My hand twitched at my side. I wanted to reach out, squeeze my fingers around his fat throat here and now. I wanted to end his life and be done with it. But there were so many people around, so much security. It was not the time.

“I do,” I assured him. “Without law it would just be chaos. Every action needs to have repercussions.”

He nodded, watching me closely. “I read in the Review-Journal that you made the donation to honor the anniversary of your parents death.”

“Their murder,” I corrected him. “Yes, I thought it was appropriate.”

“Such a sad event,” he shook his head. “They would be proud of you I’m sure.”

“Thank you.”

I kept my hands firmly at my side, trying to keep my breathing even. Hearing the man responsible for their deaths make small talk about it with me was almost too much to bear. But I needed to remind myself over and over again that his time would come, and soon.

“Well enjoy the party my boy,” his hand landed on my arm again. “I see someone I need to say a quick word to. Excuse me.”

I stepped aside and Marco wandered off, followed by one of his guards. He walked to the woman I recognized as his wife, his fourth actually, who was in conversation with a couple. He joined her and said something that caused the group to erupt into laughter.

I snatched another flute of champagne off a passing tray and raised it to my lips, then froze. I looked through the crowd, not sure if I was dreaming. I made my way past people, getting closer, until there was no mistaking it.

“Ella? What are you doing here?”

She looked breathtaking. She was wearing a long gold gown that skimmed her body, her hair swept up exposing her neck and a pair of chandelier earrings. I let my eyes travel over the length of her, then back up to her face. She looked just as surprised to see me.

“Beckett? I’m here for the paper. What are you doing here? Wait…” she glanced past my shoulder to Marco and her eyes widened. “No. Beckett, no. You can’t,” she dropped her voice and grabbed onto my arm.

“You need to leave,” I told her as I wrapped my arm around her waist and headed for the doors. She twisted out of my grip.

“I’m not leaving, I have a job to do.”

I stood in front of her, my eyes drilling into hers.

“So do I.”

Her eyes glistened, both of us standing firm as people moved around us. A rock in the centre of a flowing stream. She sighed, her small shoulders dropping.

“There’s nothing I’m going to be able to say to change your mind, is there Beckett?”

I shook my head slowly. I would give Ella anything, anything she asked. But I could not give her this. It was too important to me. There was no way I would be able to back down when I have come so far.

“So what do we do now?” she asked, her voice sounding so small. I pulled her against me, my arm around her waist and my other hand catching her hand in mind.

“I guess for now, we dance,” I mumbled into her ear.

She rested her body against mine and we moved in time to the music. It felt so good to hold her, it felt so right. In that moment I wished I could just be Beckett Carter. That I could be the man she deserved, that I could give her a normal relationship and treat her like the goddess she was. But that wasn’t possible, not until I knew that Marco Venetti had paid for what he had done. Maybe then, I would be able to let go of the past and Ella could be my future.

We moved together in slow circles, our bodies familiar with one another. I reveled in the softness of her skin, in the scent of her perfume and the soft wisps of her hair. In the distance, by the staircase, something caught my eye. The guard who was standing there was relieved by another, he walked around the side and started to move away. I followed him with my eyes then looked down to Ella.

“Excuse me,” I told her as I stepped back. “I need to do something.”

Fear flashed in her eyes and she gripped my arm tighter.

“Please don’t,” she pleaded. I leaned forward and put my lips beside her ear keeping my voice low.

“I’ll be okay Ella, and if something happens I need to say something to you. I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” I pressed a quick kiss against her neck then walked away, leaving her standing in the ballroom as other couples danced and mingled in the room. Tonight would either be my doom or salvation, and if my life ended trying to do what was right, Ella deserved to know. She had come into my life like a brilliant shooting star, setting the sky on fire. She accepted me for who I am, something I never thought was possible. She embraced my darker urges and submitted to me, finding her own pleasure in surrender. If I died tonight, I would die knowing that I had finally found something worth living for other than revenge.

I walked steadily around the corner to the bathrooms where the guard had gone. This was all part of my plan, and it had to happen now. Inside the bathroom I strolled past the urinals. We were alone in the room, it was perfect. I walked forward and stumbled, bumping against his back while he stood to piss.

“Hey buddy, watch it!” he whipped his head around and glared at me. I lifted my hands.

“Sorry, my mistake. A bit too much champagne,” I grinned.

He stared at me, then finished his business and pulled up his fly. He skipped the sink, not even bothering to wash his hands. I watched after him as he walked away, out the door. There was a corner of something dark poking out his back pocket clearly visible. A mask, the same mask as the Phantom. The mask that I had just planted on him, that the other guards were sure to notice. It was just a matter of time.