My Monster

by Ellie Jean

  Banging the locker open, I pull out a set of clothes that I keep here in case of impromptu fights, like tonight.

  Stretching and warming up, Slate’s words bounce through my head. My arms fire out, hitting the bag ferociously. Blood trickles down my knuckles, but the pain doesn’t register on my hands, my thoughts clouding my brain function.

  I take what I want when I want. Crystal will be no different. Her flawless skin, her succulent tits and rosy nipples that perfectly pebble under my touch. The sweet smell of her arousal that fills the air when I assault her flawlessly waxed pussy are all mine as is her smart mouth and her couture covered ass.

  “Five minutes.”

  Max’s voice brings me back to the present. Pulling the dark hood over my head, I walk down to the cage, the screams and people don’t register with me. Of course they will be yelling out ‘Typhon Tanner’ but tonight I don’t care.

  The torrents of emotions hurtling around my body is keeping me on edge. I have no time to let anything else filter inside these walls. My eyes will look dead and vacant. My face will be stoic and sharp. My arms will gleam with the sweat clinging to them after my warm-up and my feet will move as though I am bounding over hot coals but none of this matters.

  I am only here to clear my fucking head.

  Climbing into the cage, the opponent is big, but nothing I cannot handle. We are about the same height, but his muscles are ridiculously pronounced. Steroid user, no doubt. A gym junkie, not a street fighter. My face remains neutral, but the feel of the blood starting to ooze down my fingers again keeps the heat burning within. The girl with boobs busting out of her skintight white dress holds up the card for round one and Max is in the middle talking to us. Still. I hear nothing. Crystal would make that dress look fucking fantastic, but I’m sure she wouldn’t be caught dead in it. It’s not up to her fashionista standards.

  Whack…

  My head snaps to the side.

  Noise invades my ears.

  Then my Tiger’s voice, “Go back to your Playboy house, Tanner. I’m sure one of your many bunnies can take my place.”

  My midriff takes a hit. My legs stumble back.

  Darkness surrounds me until I see Kyle holding Crystal’s hand, leading her away from me.

  A guttural roar brings me back. My throat is raw, my heart is pounding against my chest while the guy thuds his fists into me.

  Thump…

  My clenched fist connects with flesh, snapping this guy’s head backward with one blow. His body follows hitting the floor of the cage. A boom of noise yelling out my name connects with my ears. Launching myself at the body, I knee his stomach when I land on him, continuing my crushing blows onto his skin.

  Groans expel with each punch from his damaged body. Standing back, I look at my handy work. He’s disoriented. Turning back from him, I walk and catch the sight of muscle man staggering up toward me. He swings and lands a weak blow in my stomach. Jerking my head forward, smashing it into his face. Liquid flies out, coating me in a red wetness. My legs strike out, kicking him with no mercy. One after another, I pummel with precision. Not even a twitch is evident from the guy underneath me. I don’t fucking stop.

  Slam.

  Another blow to his face.

  Slam.

  Crack. His chest breaks.

  “Tanner.”

  Slam.

  “Tanner.”

  He never stood a chance. Muscles mean nothing when you’re against a trained and skilled killer.

  There is silence everywhere.

  Lifting my head, Max pulls me off the bloodied pulp.

  The last time I killed someone in the cage was when Dad told me he planned to move in with the mistress. The one the same age as me.

  My head is now clear.

  The mess on the floor stays there. A cheer erupts from the gathered crowd, but there’s a wariness to it. I stride from the cage without a care as to whether he is dead or alive.

  I have more important things to take up my thoughts.

  Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a firecracker of a body and mouth that fuck with my head.

  I don’t like it.

  I control everything around me, except for her.

  Who the motherfucker am I trying to kid?

  I’m Tanner Grayson.

  I will control her.

  She won’t deny me.

  “Kyle, it’s showtime.” Lightly pushing on his shoulders to wake him up, I repeat my statement.

  “What?” Rubbing his bruised eyes, his body moves slower than it did hours before, but he manages to sit upright.

  “I heard footsteps. In high heels, if I’m not mistaken.” I generally am never wrong when it comes to fashion.

  The door opens slowly, creaking like we are in some deranged psychotic thriller movie. My pulse throbs in my head still and I move my body closer to the wall. I can do this. My body may be weakened because I haven’t taken my tablets today for my health condition. But my mind is sharp, and we can get through this.

  A bright, cheery yellow heeled foot enters our captive cell first. Followed by a gorgeous, raven-haired woman who wears a similar colored Prada wrap dress with style and flair. If she wasn’t the one to be holding us hostage, I would inquire as to where she was able to find such a vintage dress. Bitch…

  A man dressed in a dark suit, obviously tailored for his size, strolls in behind her.

  “Oh goody. You’re both awake.” The venom drips from her impeccable lips. Actually, her entire face is beautifully crafted. Makeup not too heavy, but classic. Diamond jewelry dripping from ears, fingers, and neck. She oozes money, charm, and danger.

  Kyle moves his body in front of mine, even though we were still nestled together on the floor. Fear clings to my body, but I try to disguise it. I am unsure if the I don’t care about you look I’m trying to give off is working.

  “What do you want with us?” Keeping my voice from shaking, I lick my dry lips. Kyle grips my thigh harder, keeping me in place.

  Pacing the room, her brown eyes stare into mine. Flicking every now and then to Kyle. Fudge…she’s so dramatic. The big guy stands by the exit like a statue. Arms crossed over his mammoth chest. Tanner would take this clown down in one movement.

  Darn it…I cannot be thinking about him now. I need to resolve this freaking problem of being kidnapped. Besides, the problem of Tanner is unfixable.

  “Your hospitality is certainly lacking. No food. No drinks. Keeping us against our will in some third world room. Yet, it would seem you aren’t short on money, and considering you have more than us, I ask again. What do you want?”

  A sly grin takes over her mouth. Shivers course over my skin, making the hairs stand straight up on my arms. This woman is a serpent. A viper. A calculated and determined snake dressed up as a socialite, a wannabe.

  “This isn’t about money, sweetheart, you’re right.”

  Straightening, I stand up. If I had my shoes on, I would be eye to eye with her. She moves so she’s standing right in front of my ripped dressed, dirty hair and tear-stained face.

  “Tell us then. To what honor do we deserve to be taken by you then?”

  “Oh little girl, you are so naive.” She smiles so brightly, showcasing her brilliant white teeth. “You and he are pawns in this game. A very dangerous game.”

  “I admit that I don’t have as many wrinkles deep set in as you, but I’m no little girl. And I don’t care for games.”

  Slap…

  A diamond-clad hand slams my cheek. “Don’t mess with me, missy.” Turning my head slowly, I stare at her. “I understand the appeal. But I thought he liked his women…less mouthy.”

  The hand she whacked me with brushes through her long straight hair.

  “Excuse me?” My face is throbbing, and I blink trying to understand what this lady is trying to tell us. Kyle has finally made it to a standing position beside me, holding onto my shoulder.

  Lifting her chin toward Kyle. “Your sister will make sure Slate does anything to
get you back. That slut has him by the balls. It’s made him weak.”

  “Emerald would outmatch you any day of the week and Slate does what he wants. Make no mistake on that.” Kyle’s voice sounds weak, trembling on the last words from exhaustion. His body is still drugged.

  “You have us here because of Slate?” I’m dumbfounded. We mean nothing to The Savage Shadows. Friends by association with Emerald only.

  “I have him here because of Slate.” Gloss red nails point to Kyle. “You’re here because your boyfriend and his crew took something from me, plus he stood me up. Leaving me sexually frustrated. One thing I despise. Now I get to take something he loves away from him.”

  “Boyfriend?” I have a boyfriend? What? And who?

  “Come now, don’t play coy. The someone you were running away from. The tatted fighter, who knows how to use his hands and lips to perfection. The gorgeous piece of ass who used his tongue piercing to drive my body to the brink of euphoria before unleashing his thick, hard cock into my drenched pussy, striking me relentlessly until we both collapsed. Tanner isn’t someone you forget. Is he?” A flash of something passes intermittently across her face. Perhaps hurt? Or anger?

  Listening to her words, the sensation of his lips touching mine, his dick spearing into me plays on repeat. Her words are true. There is no other touch like Tanner’s. But the reality is, we aren’t together. We never will be. She’s delusional to think that someone like Tanner would settle for one pussy. By her speech, she should know better than anyone, he won’t be tamed or told what to do.

  Laughter starts to bubble from my stomach. This bitch has no clue.

  “You should have kidnapped the pieces of ass he has swooning after him at the casino. Not me, you stupid idiot. I mean nothing to him. There’s certainly no love.”

  If I keep telling myself this, I may believe it?

  Kyle wraps his arm around my body. We stand together, we will get through this. My mind whizzes with this ridiculousness. I shouldn’t be here. I’ve been kidnapped for no reason as I am only a piece of ass and a pussy to Tanner, yet here I am.

  Her eyebrows raise. She’s glaring at me.

  Pressure pushes me back into Kyle. I understand. I see it clearly. This witch wants Tanner. “You can have him.”

  “If only it was that simple. Things have gotten complicated since our last fuck.”

  My stomach plummets heavily. I knew I wasn’t the only one he was seeing but hearing it out loud strangles my breath.

  Grabbing hold of Kyle’s arm, she pulls him off me. “Let’s go. I want to see what I can make your body do. Maybe I’ll teach you a few new tricks while you’re my guest here.”

  Kyle pushes her off him. She stumbles slightly, gaining her footing quickly.

  “Do I have to get Tony here to help me?”

  Looking at Tony, his hand has slid inside his coat, exposing a weapon.

  Bending down to my ear, he sways a little before righting himself. “You’ll be okay. I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry about me. Try and get some sleep and rest.” Kyle sweeps his hand along my cheek before his arm is captured by the dragon’s claws.

  “I haven’t forgotten entertainment for you too, sweetheart. I owe a favor to one of my trusted partners and being something so dear to one of The Savage Shadows, I think it will earn me more brownie points.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it.”

  Her sinister chuckle makes me feel nauseous.

  “Tony…get her some water and food. And new fucking clothes. He’ll be here in thirty minutes. Behave yourself and it will be so much easier on you. You may even enjoy yourself.”

  She’s got to be insane. “I’ll remember to ring Air BnB with a five-star rating when I get out of here. Great bedding, wonderful hospitality, warm and hospitable host, food and clothing, oh and for an added bonus, being available to alleviate sexual frustrations.”

  Holy hell…

  I have to stay strong.

  I slump to the floor, watching Kyle walk out behind the poisonous reptile. Tony re-enters two times within about five minutes, with some food, water, and a scrap of lace that looks like it wouldn’t even cover my big toe.

  I refuse to change into that, but the food and water I need. I pray that it’s not drugged or maybe I should pray that it is. The uncertainty of the next few hours has me feeling scared for the first time since we were taken. If this is about The Savage Shadows, I have no doubt, Emerald will look for Kyle tomorrow at work and when she doesn’t hear his smart mouth, she will get Slate involved.

  I can do this, but will my body be able to handle itself without its medication and with a ton more stress?

  Time isn’t on our side.

  Another sunrise. Another new beginning.

  One of my mother’s favorite sayings. How many times have I heard her say those words?

  She tried her hardest to bring positivity into our house, but the creature residing in our house by the end of my late teens was too big for this pure quote to combat.

  She and my father had been sweetheart lovers. First loves. They did every together, inspiring each other to rise through challenges and adversities. My childhood had been normal. And when I say normal, I mean run of the mill. A standard suburban house, a dog, a cat and some type of bird that used to drive me mental with its squawking, but it was alive and ours, so we had to keep it. I attended school, maintained my grades and they both worked. See…normal.

  Our lives were non-eventful until I was twelve years old and a woman landed on our doorstep hollering and screeching that my father was going to be a proud new papa to her child. My mom took her inside the house and spoke calmly to her. My father listened and I never saw her again.

  They worked on their marriage. They stayed together. Tears were shed, voices were raised, but my father blamed it on these women wanting money. He told my mother he was being blackmailed. After years and years of putting their lives on hold and building their business from the ground up to owning a chain of select boutique stores worldwide, they now had more money than they knew what to do with.

  The first woman was lying apparently but after five or more claims of my father having a mistress, an affair and other one-night stands it became clear to my now seventeen-year-old self that there was a commonality with these stories.

  Dad…

  She’d put up with his crap. Private humiliations, unfaithfulness, and lying. I’d been trying for years to make her leave him, but she wouldn’t. That was, until he paraded in public, hand in hand, with his latest whore on their wedding anniversary. Waiting for him at their restaurant they had been to on that exact date for the past thirty-one years only to witness him flaunting the new piece. It became too unbearable.

  She had the locks changed to their mansion in Pasadena within the hour. Codes changed on the gates and she tossed everything that he loved in a dump truck which was then tipped at the address of his apartment by nightfall.

  Her quiet voice telling me how she was going to beat the man that stole her heart makes me smile. She wanted revenge, but Iris was going to do it her way, like she did most everything. Subtle, yet would pack a punch. And she continued to humiliate him until her death a few months ago. Car crash, fire and her body burnt beyond recognition. To this day, I am at a loss how this could happen. I couldn’t protect my own mother. I let her down.

  She was the only woman that could yell at me and get away with it. My mother respected me and what I did, even if it was illegal. I didn’t lie to her, just omitted some of the truths. I wouldn’t disrespect her by lying after all she had been through. We held mutual trust and respect.

  Their split changed something inside me. They didn’t divorce, she wouldn’t grant him one. She refused to let him take more from her. It was her small way she held revenge. No other woman would hold the Grayson name. Not that she particularly liked it, but it irritated Dad like nothing else so of course, she didn’t budge.

  Looking out at the sunrise over LA, I smile knowing that I have
the chance to make this day my new beginning with Crystal. The only woman, other than my mother who I care enough for to give a fuck about what they think.

  I want to be that special person for Crystal.

  Holy hell, I sound like a damaged rose petal. Or a whiny love-struck fool.

  I don’t chase women.

  But I want to be the one who makes her smile even if there are days when I can’t function or talk to her. The one who protects her before anything. The one who puts in one hundred percent effort to understand her smart mouth that challenges me with each syllable spoken.

  I want Crystal solely for me.

  Fuck…

  My elbows rest on the breakfast bar and my shoulders slump, hands on my head. How do I do this? Lack of sleep after my fight and the unknown whereabouts of Crystal clouds any clarity I should have.

  Shoving my arm to the side, I swipe the entire contents of the counter onto the floor. Glass shatters and fruit pieces roll along until their momentum stops.

  Grabbing my phone and keys, I know I’m out of my league.

  Killing a man a hundred different ways isn’t a problem. I can make a person talk with various techniques, I can bring down empires of families and run a casino and multiple businesses with one hand tied behind my back.

  I have no idea how to reach Crystal though.

  Changing isn’t an option.

  I need to ask for Emerald’s help if this is going to work.

  Motherfucker…

  Wildcat and Slate are going to have a fucking field day with this.

  Fuck…

  Banging on their apartment door, which is next to mine and Ocean’s on the eighteenth floor of our business and apartment block, I clench my jaw while small beads of sweat break out on my neck.

  My keys rattle around in my hand, as I fist the other against the barricade. “Emerald…open up.”

  My loyal friend who has helped me become who I am today pulls open the door. “You want to rephrase that?” A grin spreads across his unshaven face.