“Shit! Holy fucking shit!” It wasn’t every day that something shook Emmanuel to the point of screaming like that.
“What the fuck!” Cole jumped back and turned quickly while Xavier spewed bile into the corner. Joseph’s head tumbled off his body with a squish and a thud. The air smelled metallic mixed with the thick scent of vomit and feces because evidently when you get decapitated you also shit on yourself. Who knew?
My arms burned and ached but I didn’t give a single shit. It was worth it, and it was all for Alexander. It was the least I could fucking do.
**
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Camilla
"Thanks guys for helping to get this shit under control.” Emmanuel stood in the foyer speaking with Noelle and some other FBI agents along with a few police officers. They’d come in and cleaned up the mess that was Joseph. Noelle wouldn’t stop looking at me. Emmanuel spoke but her eyes were locked on me.
I’d settled into shock quite nicely and was a basket case while Emmanuel had emerged from his basket and was pretty normal for the most part. He looked over his shoulder at me, then at Noelle and asked if she needed to speak to me.
“Um…can I?” She said shyly. He looked at me and I gave a slight nod. I didn’t know how much talking I’d do but she was welcome to talk if she wanted. She sat beside me and my eyes lazily followed her. “Camilla, I’m so sorry for your loss,” she sighed. Tears rolled down my cheeks involuntarily. I was still covered in Alexander’s blood and it made my skin dry and sticky but I didn’t care. I refused to wash his blood off and I stared at the wobbly heart he drew on my wrist incessantly. “Look, I know now probably isn’t the best time but I need to know that you and I are okay.” I lifted my eyes to hers and frowned. I was trying to find words to say but Cole came swooping in with a firm scowl.
“Noelle, what the fuck are you doing? Get away from her!” He boomed. “I know you’re not trying to smooth shit over right now.”
“I just…I needed to talk to her.”
“Fuck that. You don’t need to say shit to her. She’s been through enough.” He stopped and assessed her. “You’re scared of her…aren’t you?”
“I think everyone is.” Emmanuel walked over with agents and cops in tow. The current chief took his hat off and nodded his head at me.
“Mrs. Scott we will do everything in our power to make this entire situation disappear. The man you killed was gruesome and committed many murders so you did the state a favor.” He swallowed and took a step back. I must have looked a fucking sight with my hair and clothes soaked with blood.
“You’re all scared of her. Aint this some shit?” Cole sighed loudly.
“I think we all have a healthy respect for Mrs. Scott.” The police chief said, avoiding my gaze. “You’ll never encounter a problem in this state,” he told me. I already knew that but I appreciated his words. The men and women filtered out of the house with Emmanuel, leaving Noelle, Cole and I sitting there.
“Camilla, I’m sorry if I hurt Cole or if you’re upset with me over it…”
“Could you please stop?” Cole groaned, “She’s not going to kill you.” Emmanuel came back in and sat on the couch. I crawled over to him and settled in his lap. I knew his love had no limits when he kissed my bloody face and held me in his arms like I was squeaky-clean.
“Noelle, she’s been through enough. Don’t push your personal agenda right now.” Emmanuel said in a serious voice. Noelle nodded and stood to her feet.
“Cole…” She turned to him and he grunted, waving her off. She saw herself out and I sat there in Emmanuel’s lap, soaking him in. He was all I wanted right then. I was still reeling from having Alexander ripped away from me after I’d finally forgiven him and moved past everything that happened between us. I was ready to move on as his friend. I was ready to have him in the kids’ lives. Jesus. All he wanted was to see Chloe and Mason one more time before he left. He’d never see them again. They’d never have the privilege of knowing what an amazing person he was and how brilliant his mind was or how deeply he cared about them.
“Camilla…hey, are you okay?” Cole touched my wrist and I jerked it away instinctively. I didn’t want him smudging the heart. He looked so hurt that I started to cry because I couldn’t properly explain why I’d snatched away from my best friend like that. I sobbed into Emmanuel’s chest and he rubbed my back. I heard his deep voice vibrating in his ribs while he spoke to Cole.
“She’s not mad at you,” he explained. He held my wrist up and then continued to talk. “Alex…ander…he drew that on her wrist before he uh…” He could barely get the words out so he sucked in a breath and let Cole figure it out. I heard the groan of understanding from Cole. His heavy hand patted my shoulder and I peeked out at him from swollen eyes.
“Everything is going to be okay, Camilla. Take all the time you need but just know we’re all here for you whenever you need us. Whenever you need me, just call.” He looked at Emmanuel and they slapped hands. “Manny, I’ll be in touch later. Let me know if I can do anything.”
“Will do Cole, thank you.” When the door closed Emmanuel hugged me tight and then carried me upstairs. “Cami, I’m going to get in the shower. You wanna join me?” I shook my head vehemently and shadowed my fingertips over the heart on my wrist. Emmanuel’s shoulders slumped and he walked over to me, still covered in blood as well. “Okay. Come on, let’s go.” He took my hand and dragged me outside and into the car. I was too shaken to ask what the hell was going on.
He drove for a while before we ended up parked in front of a tattoo shop. He told me to sit still while he ran inside. I saw people scattering out of the shop in a matter of seconds, then I saw my husband emerge. His t-shirt had deep blood spots on it and his pants were covered as well. He didn’t care. He pulled open my door and carried me inside in his strong arms. The tattoo artists all looked bewildered at the sight of us. The governor and first lady covered in blood from head to toe.
“She needs this heart tattooed on her immediately.”
“Um…Governor Scott, is that blood?” The timid artist asked with wide green eyes.
“Yes.”
“I can’t tattoo over blood, I’d have to wipe it away. We can take a picture of it, wipe her wrist clean and then…”
“You will tattoo the heart in red ink, exactly how it is on her wrist right now.”
“Well, infection is a strong possibility if blood mixes…”
“I don’t want to hear about infection. I want to hear your gun going. This is the blood of one of her best friends. If it mixes with hers then it means she’ll have a part of him with her forever. Now tattoo her.” He slammed his fist down on the counter making the tattoo artist jump.
“Yes sir,” he stammered and started mixing ink. I held my arm out and watched as my blood mixed with Alexander’s. I watched as red ink swirled with red blood forming a permanent tattooed heart on my wrist. My skin burned but I didn’t flinch not once. Alexander was becoming a part of me forever and I was honored. Once the work was done, I admired it proudly and tears pooled in my eyes, streaking down my cheeks. I had his heart with me. I’d had his heart while he was alive and now I’d keep it for an eternity.
Back at home, Emmanuel finally showered and I still sat on the bed sticky with crimson staring at my new tattoo. “Cami, take a shower. It’ll make you feel better.” Emmanuel stood in the doorway of the bathroom with a white towel slung low on his hips. I was in such a damn daze. I had no idea where Xavier went, I didn’t know if the kids were okay I was just floating along in total shock. How could Alexander be dead? I shook my head slowly at the wrongness of it all.
Emmanuel tugged me off the bed and peeled my shirt off, then pulled my jeans down. My legs were stained scarlet from the blood. Tenderly, he covered my new piece of body art and led me to the shower. I stepped in and so did he, even though he’d showered already. He washed me gingerly and I watched as cerise streaks flowed down the drain. A sob escaped me and I crumpled to
the floor of the shower. He was really gone.
“It’s okay. Let it out,” Emmanuel shushed me and sat down on the floor beside me as water crashed down around us.
“I loved him,” I finally spoke.
“I know. He loved you too.” I let my husband wash me until there were no more remnants of blood on my skin or hair. He even pulled my damp coif back into a ponytail and got me dressed in one of his shirts and a pair of leggings because he knew how much I needed him right then.
“The kids are fine. They’re over Trevor and Laurel’s and they’ll keep them for as long as we need them to. I’m off work for the next two weeks, and I’ll do whatever you need me to do, okay?” Hearing his words made me climb on top of him and kiss him repeatedly. He was amazing. He was my everything. His strong hands held on to me as our kiss turned from wild and urgent to slow and controlled until a fire smoldered in my belly. I needed Emmanuel so badly. I needed him to make love to me and heal me enough so that I could function.
He needed me too, because his lips were on my neck and his dick was growing beneath me. “If you’re not ready…it’s fine.”
“I just need you,” I sniffled. He nodded and that was all he needed to hear. He laid me on my back softly and in a matter of minutes his hardness was pushing into me and it felt so good. It jolted me back to life. I shut my eyes as he rocked in and out of me slow and passionately. Tears wouldn’t stop rolling and it was for so many reasons. I held on to Emmanuel and kissed him while we pulled energy from each other. Energy that we both needed. I’d never felt so connected to anyone in my life. I didn’t think our love could deepen anymore but it was happening in that moment. We climaxed in unison and it shook us both physically and emotionally.
He held me close and kissed my forehead. “We’re gonna be okay, Camilla.”
“Yeah…I think I finally believe that now,” I sighed. I ran my fingers up and down his abs, so grateful that he was by my side.
“I promise everything will be uneventful and boring from here on out,” he told me. He looked down at my tattoo which was perfect and an exact match for the heart Alexander scrawled on me. “I’m glad you were the last face he saw. I think you gave him peace.”
“He gave me peace too,” I let a lone tear streak my cheek thinking about how he helped set me free.
“I know he did. He’s gonna forever be with you now. I don’t think he would have wanted it any other way.”
He was right too. We both laid there in silence until our eyes wouldn’t let us stay awake anymore. I was too exhausted to even dream. I knew the nightmares would come eventually but I was grateful for the reprieve.
Nothing would be the same after Alexander died and I knew it, but I would continue to heal in spite of it. That was always what he preached anyway. Move on in spite of your circumstances and I would do just that. I had no choice.
I had kids to raise, a husband to grow old with and a host of twisted individuals that I called family to enjoy life with. I’d come so far from the little girl I used to be. I’d grown into someone who was fierce and at this point would not hesitate to chop a motherfucker’s head off if they hurt my family. I was settling into who I wanted to be and it felt good. It felt damn good.
And that’s in spite of all the pain and suffering. I wouldn’t have it any other way. My life would never be straight and narrow. It would always be twisted and I’d come to like it just the way it was.
Epilogue
Camilla
One year later…
“I’m gonna go up to Ocean Grove.” Emmanuel kissed me before standing and walking toward the foyer.
“Jesus. You’re such a good dad,” I laughed. He went to see Christina twice a month without fail. She refused to talk to him, she would only draw him pictures. She still loathed me with everything she had in her and I didn’t care. I told Emmanuel that if she ever set foot outside of the institute that I would end her life. He knew I meant every word.
“What other choice do I have? She’s still my daughter,” he sighed.
“I know. Just promise me you won’t fly off the handle if I have to kill her.” Chloe climbed in my lap and laid her head on my shoulder.
“Kill who, mommy?” She asked curiously. I no longer hid my dark twisted parts from the kids. If they were old enough to ask, they were old enough to know. It’s not like it would be a secret.
“Your aunt Christina,” I grumbled.
“She’s somewhere safe,” Emmanuel told Chloe before kissing her forehead. “I’m going to see her now.”
“Will she ever get out?” Chloe asked.
“Eventually,” Emmanuel answered with a sigh.
“Then you’ll kill her?” She looked up at me with green eyes and instead of fear or apprehension I saw excitement and thirst.
“I will,” I scrunched my nose up and kissed her face.
“Me too,” she giggled.
“Jesus Christ, what am I going to do with you two?” Emmanuel frowned. “Look, I’ll be back okay?” He hugged and kissed us both once more before leaving. When I heard the doorbell, I thought he’d forgotten something. I hopped up with my mini me in tow and opened the door ready to fuss at my husband for being so absent minded.
“Cole!” Chloe hopped into his arms. “Hi!”
“Hey, baby girl. Damn you got tall.” He frowned as he set her down. “How long has it been since I’ve seen you?”
“Forever,” she frowned. Her little jewel-toned eyes looked him up and down and she smiled softly. “You look so handsome,” she told him before running off.
“Um…thanks Chlo,” he chuckled as he walked in. We embraced in a hug and he stood back to look at me. “What, you’re not pregnant again?”
“No Cole, shut up,” I laughed. “Birth control works wonders.”
“So no more from the Scott clan?” He poked my stomach before sitting down.
“No more from the Scott clan…for now,” I smiled. Cole had settled into his position as the chief of police perfectly. It meant he was always working and we barely got to see him but whenever he did drop by it was an event. Now was no different.
“I saw Manny leaving, he said he’d be back later.”
“Yeah, he’s going to see his crazy child.”
“Who? Chloe is right here,” we both laughed. That girl was definitely going to be ruthless. When Mason started school and a little girl pushed him down on the playground, I had to come remove my daughter from the principal’s office because she’d pinned the little girl to the wall by her throat and was only pried off of her by two fully grown teachers. Needless to say, my hands were full.
“You know who,” I sighed. “Crazy bitch…”
“You’re still hell bent on killing her aren’t you?” He asked with a raised brow.
“Absolutely. I can’t fucking wait.” I smiled and clasped my hands together in my lap. I ran my index finger over my heart tattoo and saw Alexander’s face flash in my mind. A pang of sadness rippled through me.
“I still think about him too,” Cole said quietly. “He didn’t deserve that shit from his own father.”
“I know,” I sighed.
“Look, I can’t stay for long but I did want to invite yall personally to the policeman’s ball. It’s sold out but I got tickets for everyone.”
“Aww, Cole thanks,” I grinned as I plucked the tickets from his hand.
“No problem.”
“Will Noelle be there?” I asked curiously. He sighed and rubbed his hands over his handsome face.
“I don’t fucking know. I don’t care either. She stays out of my way and I stay out of hers. Plus, I don’t think she wants any problems with you,” he laughed.
“As long as she doesn’t hurt you, she won’t have any problems from me.”
“Nah, she’s cool as long as she stays on her side of the world in FBI land.” Cole and Noelle tried to make it work again but it crumbled because Cole just couldn’t forgive her. They’d been apart for nearly a year and he seemed to be fi
ne living the single life.
“How’s Xavier? I saw his commercial for the third New Grace in Orlando.”
“Yeah, he’s doing big things as usual, grandstanding ass,” I scoffed.
“He still chasing after you?”
“No,” I laughed. “Well, he still flirts but that’s about it.”
“Bernice must have him locked down,” Cole laughed and it lit up his entire face.
“Actually no. He’s still Xavier and always will be.” Xavier told me he’d never get married if he couldn’t marry me. He was dead ass serious too. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why Bernice stayed with him but…more power to her crazy ass.
“Yeah, I guess a pretty boy can’t change its stripes huh?” He joked, making me laugh loudly. “Where are the rest of the monsters? Damn, they didn’t even come say hi. Normally they won’t stop bombarding me.”
“The twins are with Claire, and Mason is nose deep in his tablet so…” I shrugged and chuckled a bit.
“Got it. Fuck Uncle Cole, huh?” He paused and looked over at me. “You notice Chloe didn’t call me Uncle today?”
“Yeah, I did notice that. She’s growing up,” I told him with a shrug.
“I don’t know if I like that,” he frowned.
“That’s what kids do Cole, they grow up.”
“I guess. I have to get used to her not being little tiny Chlo anymore. She’s getting so fucking big. I’m gonna have to shoot motherfuckers over her. I see it now.”
“Yes, you are. No questions about it.” I laughed. He stood up and walked over to the door. “So…I guess we’ll see you at the ball then?” I offered him a soft smile. I felt like a kid every time he left because I wanted to cry.
“Yeah, definitely,” he hugged me tight. When he stepped outside he held out his two fingers and I just smiled at him through sad eyes. I walked over and kissed his cheek then shook my head and his face fell instantly. “No more huh?” He swallowed.
Twisted Justice Page 24
