Bane's Shadow

by KJ Dahlen

  Bane nodded. “My dad’s. Sounds odd, doesn’t it?’

  Bastian didn’t reply as punched it into the NAV. He knew Bane expected no reply.

  Following the automated voice instructions, Bane made it to the alley.

  They both jumped out of the vehicle and headed toward the house.

  When they got there, they crept around it.

  Peering in, Bane saw what looked like a nurse standing near a wheel chair. And in that chair, was a man that looked just like his grandfather did the last time he saw him alive. He hadn’t expected that. However, his father was now at that same age.

  Bastian whispered, “Do you see Evans?”

  “No,” Bane replied.

  They both went around each side of the house.

  Then a couple of minutes later, Bastian headed toward Bane. “He’s still in the car, a half block away. Probably waiting for it to get dark. As some people who are up to no good, only break fucking windows after the sun goes down,” Bastian pointed out.

  Bane shook his head. “Oh, is that right?”

  Bastian nodded. “I fucking hate jail cells and James is too far away to bail us out quickly.”

  “So what are you saying here?” Bane asked.

  “I am saying...Just break the law more quietly.”

  Bane titled his head as if considering this request. “I can try.”

  Bastian shook his head. “So what’s your plan?”

  “I take him before he ever reaches my dad.”

  “Got it.” Bastian nodded.

  “Only I will be doing that. You can take the car back to the motel and wait there for me.”

  Bastian paused and stared at him. “You are gonna do this on your own,” it wasn’t a question.

  “He’s one man and a coward as well. Yeah, I can do this.”

  Bastian nodded. “Just give me a call when you got him. So, I will know all is well.”

  Bane stared at him. “All won’t be well for him.”

  “I get that.” Bastian nodded. “You want me to spot you?”

  Bane raised his brow at him.

  “Yeah. I’m gone.” Bastian took off through the back alley.

  Bane went the opposite way and down the block.

  Evans was sitting in his car with the window down, smoking a cigarette as the cold muzzle of a gun was pressed into his cheek.

  “You do know that smoking will kill you,” Bane whispered.

  Evans gasped then dropped the lit smoke into his lap.

  “Don’t move,” Bane warned.

  “The fuck!” Evans muttered. “I’m getting burned here!”

  “Yeah, well get used to it, there’s more coming.” Bane turned his gun and knocked him out with the butt of it. He raised his head and caught the sight of the wheelchair as it rolled out onto the lawn, powered by his father, apparently.

  Bane sighed as the old man rolled down the sidewalk and stopped. “I would recognize you anywhere,” Frank said. He nodded at the car. “I already spotted him and called the cops, so you’d better hurry.”

  Bane nodded and got into the car, pushing Evans over. He reached into his back packet to retrieve what he needed then he took a minute to ziptie his wrists.

  His father spoke again, “Come see me when all of this is over, will you?”

  Bane stared at him. “We will.”

  “We?” Frank asked.

  “Yes, me and my brother Cane.” Bane then drove away from the curb as he saw the nurse running across the lawn toward the wheelchair. The last thing he saw as he drove away was his father’s face.

  Frank Jessin sat in the chair on the sidewalk looking stunned.

  An hour later, Bane was all set.

  Dexter Evans hung on a wall, tied to huge hooks.

  Bane paced as he waited for the fool to wake up. He hated having a mark hanging around too long. He paused thinking of the pun then he actually smirked. He looked around at the old garage he had chosen. He saw a bucket sitting by an old sink. He picked it up and turned the water on. Surprised that there was still water hooked up, he filled the bucket.

  Heading back over, he swung it back and then doused Evans’ face.

  The man hanging there spluttered and shook his head as his eyes popped open. He stared blearily at Bane. He opened his mouth to speak and couldn’t.

  “Yes, I don’t want us to be overheard.” Bane stepped closer to the tied, gagged killer

  Evans’ eyes looked all around.

  “It is just an old garage, in case you were wondering where the road ended.” Bane stared at him. “I don’t want to hear your voice in any case. Why would I?”

  Frank mumbled through the gag.

  “Oh yes, I will explain. Well, as you seemed to know everything about me, you must know that the rumors say that I do not torture kill.”

  Evans’ eyes widened.

  “Well, usually this is true.” Bane motioned to a table of tools, ones he had collected from this very garage. An old pair of plyers, a rusty tire iron, a box cutter and a pair of wire cutters. All rusty and at least over a decade old.

  Evans stared over at the table and sweat began to roll down his face.

  Bane spoke again, “But in this case, I made a promise.”

  Evans kept staring at the tools.

  Bane snapped his fingers. “Hey, up here fool.”

  Evans swung his gaze up.

  “As I was saying,” Bane continued in a casual but cold tone. “I made a promise. To your best buddy.”

  Evans furrowed his brows in confusion.

  “Oh, I forgot you don’t have any friends.” Bane sniffed. “Well, Paulie made me promise to make you suffer before I killed you, or he wouldn’t tell me where you went.”

  Evans’ eyes widened in shock.

  “Yes.” Bane nodded. “Apparently, he wasn’t dead when you left him. But I wouldn’t worry. I just know he will be standing right there at hell’s gates, waiting for his dear old buddy to show up.”

  Dexter was now hyperventilating through his nose.

  “Now, now. Don’t get upset,” Bane soothed. “It takes the fun out of this.”

  The hanging man now started to cry.

  Bane shook his head. “I get it. I do. You now remember all those people. The ones you tortured.”

  Dexter was whining and weeping through the gag.

  “I wonder how they felt...” Bane picked up the pair of wire cutters. “When you cut off their ...Appendages? Did you muzzle them like I have done to you? Probably not, as I was told that you got off on their screams.”

  No answer of course, from Evans... just weeping.

  “Did they pass out before and after you cut them?” Bane went on. “Or were they lucid before and after?”

  Dexter was now howling behind the gag. Tears and sweat streaming like one fluid down his face.

  “Why don’t we find out?” Bane stated as he moved in close.

  The screaming Dexter made through the gag went on and on as he went completely insane.

  Then Bane pulled his silencer out and put one bullet in his forehead.

  Stepping back, he said, “The fuck if I’m going to go home to my family with your torture in my head. I promised a dying man that you would suffer.” Bane moved to the side and picked up a large bag to dispose of Evans’ remains. “I kept that promise.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Geneva, New York

  The car went through the iron gates.

  Bastian parked it in front of the wide stone steps. He turned to look at Bane.

  Bane stared ahead at the house he grew up in. “Go ahead and ask whatever it is. You’ve been itching to do so for 200 miles.”

  Bastian shook his head.

  “No.” Bane sighed. “To the one about torture. And yes, I talked to my father briefly. The old coot had already spotted Evans and had called the cops. And yes, I got rid of Evans in my usual but methodical way.”

  Bastian chuckled. “All I wanted to ask was how do you feel?”

 
Bane turned his head and stared at him. “What the fuck is it with this question? How do I feel...” He turned his head back to stare at the house again.

  Sarah was coming slowly down the steps.

  “Except I do know how I feel now.” Bane got out of the car and moved toward his woman. He came to the bottom of the steps.

  Sarah jumped from the steps into his arms.

  Tugging her close, he whispered into her ear, “I feel whole.”

  Sarah had tears in her eyes as she rained kisses on his face.

  Setting her down, he grasped her face with his strong hands and kissed her.

  The kiss deepened and they melded together.

  Bane finally pulled back.

  Sarah sniffled through her tears.

  “Damnit woman, don’t cry. I came back like I promised.”

  “I-it’s hard now. I think its hormones?” Sarah swiped her tears away.

  He nodded and smoothed her hair with his hand. Looking over her shoulder, he saw more people coming down the steps.

  Cane and Roz. Raine and Cricket.

  He turned Sarah around and faced them.

  “So how goes it, brother?” Cane asked.

  “It went like I wanted it to.” He narrowed his eyes at him. “And like you wanted it to. No run ins with...any of your friends.”

  Nodding, Cane looked over at Roslyn. “I suppose we can go home now.”

  Roslyn shook her head. “I have been invited by Cricket to go and... well, see a real live MC compound.”

  Cane stared at her. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

  Roslyn placed her hands on her hips. “I am over thirty, Cane. I can do what I wish.”

  Cane shook his head. “Then I will have to go with you.”

  Bane spoke up now, “Well, that may not be such a good idea either.”

  Cricket laughed. “He looks just like you, Uncle Bane. But he is not like you, so I think once the shock wears off, he’ll be fine.”

  Bane said nothing and he felt no insult either. Facts were facts. Most of that MC only saw him as he used to be. He had earned that. His actions with Cricket were set in stone. He swung his gaze over to Raine.

  Raine shrugged. “They are welcome if they want to visit.”

  “Yes, they are,” Cricket added with a nod.

  Bane glanced over at his brother. “Maybe hold off one more day.” He then looked at Raine. “When are all the children coming back?”

  “Whenever we are done with the house,” Raine replied. “In fact, they are having adoption day tomorrow there in Troy for the kids. Perspective parents are coming to meet with Cassie. So, it could be a couple of days before they need to return here.”

  “Good. Good.” Bane nodded. “Cane and I have to...have a talk.”

  Cane met his identical gaze. “Yes, we do.”

  “Well,” Sarah finally spoke up. “Cricket and I are almost done with dinner.”

  “Yes, we are.” Cricket nodded. “Let’s go and get it ready.”

  The two women moved up the steps.

  “I can finish setting up the table and the dishes,” Roslyn said then followed them.

  Raine went up the steps after them.

  Bastian took the bags from the trip up and disappeared through the double doors.

  Bane stared at the doors. “So odd.”

  “What is?” Cane asked.

  “Seeing family here at the Jessin house.”

  “Wasn’t it a family home?” Cane asked.

  Bane looked over at him. “No.”

  Cane stared at him. “But I thought—”

  “Our grandfather was an astute, disciplined man, Bane interrupted his assumption. “But not a loving man. Protective as hell, but that is as far as his warmth went. Orrin and I were nothing alike. He was perhaps more like you, I am assuming. We were never close.” He looked over at Cane. “My fault.”

  Cane tilted his head at him.

  Bane went on, “You are unaware of...well, the Jessin’s traits and dynamics. This is partly why we need to have that talk.”

  Cane nodded. “I look forward to it.”

  Bane shook his head. “You shouldn’t.” He then walked up the steps.

  Cane followed. “Are you always so...” he paused to try to find the right description.

  Bane stopped at the top to look at him. “I’m afraid so. It is getting better though.”

  Cane chuckled. “If that is true, what the hell were you like before?”

  Bane actually smiled. “Very funny. I see my brother has a humorous streak. I bet you got along well with James.”

  Cane shrugged. “Not really. He is a bit... unruly.”

  Bane stared at him. His twin’s answer was Bane’s exact opinion of the man. Then he did something, no one had ever witnessed. He tilted his head back and laughed.

  Cane laughed with him.

  The identical sound of their laughter rolled along in waves through the front door.

  Unbeknownst to the brothers, the front room was not empty. The entire group that had just gone through the open doors were all huddled at the window, watching this most unusual reunion.

  At this sound, they all gasped simultaneously. Then they all looked at each other. Bastian and James. Raine and Cricket. Sarah and Roslyn.

  James of course, spoke up first, “I don’t know whether to run and hide or say a rosary and hope the world did not just come to an end.... Because this...” he spluttered. “I-it’s...”

  “...wonderful,” Sarah whispered as she swiped at a tear and looked over at Cricket.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks too. “It is. Oh, my god...” She placed her hand on her chest as shock remained on her face.

  Raine put his arm around her and led her to the kitchen.

  Sarah sniffled as her hands shook a bit and she followed the couple out.

  James looked over at Bastian. “I wonder if the local store sells lottery tickets? Because the odds must be completely out of whack. I need to buy some today for damn sure.” He snorted and left the room.

  Roslyn looked confused. “What is the huge deal? Cane laughs all the time.”

  Bastian stepped closer to her. “But Bane has never laughed as far as we know. Not like that.” He paused. “Maybe...”

  “What?” Roslyn asked while looking curious.

  “Maybe now that he has his brother and a life with Sarah...he does feel whole for the first time in his life?” Bastian surmised.

  Roslyn shook her head slowly. “Wow, are you like a counselor or something? To have figured that puzzle out. Like you know the human mind so well?”

  Bastian smirked. “I have some experience with the human psyche yes. You could say it was a profession of sorts.”

  Roslyn jumped with a start as she heard the brothers coming in. “Oops, we’d better run. He always catches me eavesdropping, damnit.”

  Bastian shook his head at her as she ran off. He ignored the two men when they came in as he turned his back to walk up the stairs. Tapping his phone, he raised it to his ear. “Sawyer?” He listened for a moment. “Yes, baby. I missed you too. I just needed to hear your voice.”

  It was dark now as the sun set on the Jessin house. Bane arranged for him and Cane to have their talk, tomorrow morning. A talk that had taken all of their lives to finally have. He noted Sarah had disappeared an hour or so ago. He worried a bit about her. He had no experience with pregnant women. Here was another new thing to deal with. He should ask Bastian for some advice maybe. For now though, he would talk to his woman and perhaps...No, he had no instincts to help him in this. He went into the bedroom that used to be his. He appreciated the fact that all the dust was gone, as the women must have cleaned it while he had been away.

  Sarah was there on the bed in a white gown. She wasn’t reading as he’d expected. Instead, she looked like she had been waiting for him.

  He removed his jacket and then sat down in one of his grandfather’s favorite chairs to take his shoes off. He noted there was a few bloo
d splatters on them. He shoved them under the chair. It wasn’t like him to be so sloppy. He stood and removed his shirt. Finally looking over at Sarah, he noted she simply stared at him. Often, he appreciated her quiet nature. But he appreciated everything about her in any case. He stepped over and sat on the bed to take her hand in his. “Are you well?”

  Sarah nodded.

  “I don’t want you being ill, Sarah. Tell me the truth.”

  She bit at her sweet pink lower lip. “Just what is natural, Bane. Morning sickness and...”

  And...?” he pressed.

  “Moods?” She shook her head. “I am unused to that.”

  “Moods?”

  Nodding, she explained, “Emotional reactions to things like seeing your twin coming here and...Well, I passed out when I realized he wasn’t you.”

  “Passed out?” He scooted closer to her and tugged her to him. “Is that normal?”

  “Cricket said it was. All of it is because of the pregnancy.”

  Bane looked into her eyes. “I promise to...not have anything come up to scare you.”

  Her sweet laugh echoed in the room. “Bane, you cannot promise that with the life we live.”

  He realized this was truth.

  “But you really mean it don’t you?” she asked.

  “Yes, I do. You’re mine and I would do anything to keep you from harm. I know I’m not easy to live with, but I aim to make you happy.”

  “Ok, then make me happy,” she whispered wickedly. “Show me that I am yours.”

  This he knew he could do, if this was what would make her happy. He growled and turned her over flat on her back. He crushed her mouth with his own and he dry humped her warm core. But he wanted to feel her skin to skin. He grabbed the bottom of her gown to tug it up and off.

  Standing again, he unbuttoned his jeans and got rid of them along with his briefs. Kneeling on the bed, he tore her panties from her hips.

  With that sweet giggle, Sarah opened her legs.

  Tugging her close, he growled again as his hard cock rubbed her hot wet core. He suckled her nipples and moaned. Then he eased a finger down to her clit and fingered her there. Her juices coated him as he did everything but enter her.