Evanesce (The Darkness #2)

by Cassia Brightmore

  “Agreed. Let’s do this,” Gabe said and the three set off at a job to the back wall of the estate. Theo had managed to learn that there was no security system in place (nobody asked how he figured that out), but the property was monitored by moving cameras and watch dogs. There was nothing for miles and miles but green grass and dirt roads. The estate was practically in Siberia.

  They moved as one, a single unit. Reaching the wall, they scaled it with ease and then crouched low, watching for the moving cameras. The back entrance was about 100 yards away, they would have to be fast to miss the camera’s watchful eye and avoid the dogs picking up their scent.

  Brady held up his hand and counted down silently 3, 2, 1 and they were off. The dogs immediately spotted them and with a series of vicious barks were hot on their heels. Theo reached the door first and quickly worked to pick the lock. Brady was next and panting, he urged Theo to hurry as the dogs got closer and closer. Gabe nearly barrelled into the two of them, but managed to hit the brakes just in time. Theo finally got the lock snapped and pushed open the door. The three men hurried in and slammed the door behind them just as the snarling jaws reached them. With a collective sigh of relief, they nodded at each other and went their separate ways to complete their missions.

  The house was massive, set in old day décor of thick carpets and floor to ceiling paintings. It had the feel of a museum rather than a home. Brady headed for what he thought was the basement, intent on locating and freeing any hostages. Creaking the door open carefully, he scanned the area and once it was clear, descended the concrete steps. Hearing voices, he paused on the last step and waited. Two men. Snapping the safety off, he checked the silencer and crouched down low to approach them from behind. It looked like they were guarding a large steel door. Brady wanted in that room. Moving fast, he crashed the butt of his gun down over the first guy’s head, effectively rendering him unconscious. The second man let out a yell and turned, leading with his fists. Brady dodged and the two engaged in hand-to-hand. Landing a punishing blow to the guard’s ribs—he followed up with an uppercut to the chin and then bashed him on the head with his gun. Two down.

  Running to the door, he tried it and it was unlocked. Pushing it open with the tip of his gun, he was horrified by what he found. It was a legit dungeon. Complete with shackles on the walls and buckets in the corners. The stench of rot and urine nearly knocked him over and he stumbled back, gasping. Whomever had been held in here, they were gone now. Brady was afraid to know where.

  * * *

  On the second floor, Theo was methodically searching all the bedrooms for any sign of Caleb. He’d already incapacitated three guards and had his eye on a fourth as he moved from one room to the next. The fourth was so engrossed in texting, he never saw or heard Theo coming. With a flick of his wrist Theo had him unconscious on the floor. To add insult to injury, he took the man’s phone and stuffed it in his mouth. “Hands free mother fucker, try it next time.”

  Straining his ears, he could just make out the faint cries of a baby. It was coming from the last room, the one he hadn’t checked yet. Moving swiftly, Theo pushed it open and was met with yet another immaculately furnished chamber. In the center of the room was a tiny gray haired woman. She had one baby cradled in her arms and another she was rocking in a bassinet. Approaching with caution, he called out to her.

  “Ma’am? Are you hurt?” Not trusting her, he snapped off the safety on his gun. He’d never live it down if some granny blew him away.

  Greta turned and faced the handsome man with the gun in his hands. He wasn’t one of Marcus’s men, she knew that right away. “Take the babies, please. Get them out of here before it’s too late,” she pleaded. Looking down, Theo noticed one baby was wrapped in a pink blanket, one in blue. Could it be? “Ma’am, please listen to me—this is important. Do you know when this baby got here?” He pointed to the boy. “How long?” he asked again, desperate.

  Greta smiled down at the two infants. “About three weeks. I’m told his name is Caleb. And this, this is Hope. Please, I’m begging you—save them.”

  Theo’s heart did backflips in his chest. It was Caleb, he had found Gabe and Nora’s child. Now, how in the fuck was he going to get two babies and an old woman out of there?

  * * *

  Gabe let out a frustrated breath. He’d been searching the first floor for the last twenty minutes and hadn’t come across a soul. He was beginning to think he’d had it all wrong and Marcus wasn’t involved and it had all been a huge waste of time.

  Spotting a large set of double doors, he walked towards them, trying the handle. Locked. It looked like some sort of combination was needed on the keypad for entry.

  “Fuck,” he breathed, punching the door. There was a mechanical beep and the doors slide open smoothly revealing some sort of a lab. Curious, Gabe stepped inside. Stainless steel tables, glass cabinets and white tiled floors greeted him. The place was so gleaming it almost blinded him. What the fuck is this place?

  “This is my lab, Gabe. Welcome.” Gabe spun around at the voice. He didn’t realize he had spoken his question out loud. There was no sign of anyone…where had that voice come from?

  “Who is that?” he called out, his gun hand twitching. A booming laugh rang out.

  “Oh, I think you know who it is, you’re in my house after all,” the voice answered.

  “Marcus,” Gabe said his name like a curse word.

  “Yes, it’s me. Nice to see you again, Gabe. You look well.” Annoyed, Gabe turned in a circle, still not spotting anyone.

  “Stop being a fucking pussy and come out and face me, you piece of shit!” he yelled. “I’m not here to play fucking games with you. I want my son back.”

  The voice chuckled. “Gabe. Always so remise in your manners. You didn’t even say please.”

  “Fuck you. Fuck you and this fucking house of horrors you’ve built here. If you’re so fucking powerful, come on out here and fight me like a man instead of hiding like a coward.” Gabe pushed every button he could think of to get him to reveal his whereabouts.

  “Fine,” Marcus answered from a few feet behind Gabe. “As you requested, here I am.” Gabe spun around, ready to fight. Marcus’s was shrouded in the only dark corner of the room. He walked a few feet forward and into the light, revealing himself. Gabe stumbled back, shocked.

  “What do you think of my new look, Gabe? I assume you’ll approve. And we both know that Nora will,” he winked. Gabe was floored. He was staring into his own face. A carbon copy of himself was standing just a few feet away…raising a gun…

  It was his own voice that floated out from Marcus’s lips as he cocked the gun. “Don’t worry, Gabe. I’ll be sure to tell Nora and my son that you send your love.” He fired the gun in rapid succession, emptying the clip into Gabe’s chest.

  Gabe hit the floor, gurgling as he choked on his own blood. His own face swam before him as he fought to stay conscious, to stay alive. Marcus raised the gun again, aimed at his head. Nora, I’m sorry, was his last thought before the gun fired and everything went black.

  Theo raced down the great staircase with Caleb in his arms and Greta and Hope behind him. Almost running headlong into Brady, he screeched to a halt.

  “Was that?” he asked, his face pale. Brady nodded and confirmed his thoughts. “Gunshots, from in there.” He motioned to a set of sliding double doors. The doors suddenly opened and Gabe came running out, looking frazzled.

  “Come on, we have to get out of here, I just killed Marcus,” he told them. Spotting Theo and the baby, his face broke out in a grin. “Caleb?” he asked, overjoyed.

  Theo nodded and smiled, holding his son out to him. Gabe took him and cradled him close. “I’ve got him, let’s go.” He stopped and looked at Brady. “Wait. Did you find anyone else?”

  Brady shook his head sadly. “No other survivors, no other infants. I did however, find a graveyard in the back of the field. We’re gonna need to come back and exhume those bodies; identify them.”


  Gabe stared at him for a few beats and then took a deep breath. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. I’ve seen enough of this house to last me a lifetime. I just want to get home to my family.” Letting the others exit the house ahead of him, he shut the heavy oak doors with a final snap, grinning wickedly. Whistling, he shuffled down the steps, ready to claim his new life.

  EPILOGUE

  Comfort was the last thing she wanted and the only thing she could accept. Reluctantly, she let herself be drawn into his arms, his scent enveloping her as her face melted into his chest.

  “Baby, I’ve got you. Remember that.” His words were meant to numb the ache and beat away the pain, the devastation that had settled into her heart.

  “I know. I just can’t believe all that was recovered from that house. All those poor women whose babies are lost. It’s just so horrible, Gabe.” Her reply was muffled, she wasn’t sure he heard her as his hand trailed up and down her hair.

  “Nora, the police are opening a brand new case. They are going to chase down every lead and with Brady and his department involved, I know they will help bring as many of those children home as they can,” he sought to reassure her.

  “I’m just so glad that Caleb is okay. That you, Theo and Brady made it out of that hellhole alive. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you. I love you, Gabe.”

  He smiled down at her and placed a light kiss on her forehead, wrapping his arms around her once again.

  She would never see the slow, deviant smile spread across his face, or know the dark glee that danced in his veins at her surrender.

  The prize had been caught.

  In the background, Caleb began to cry, missing his Daddy.

  THE END

  THE DARKNESS SERIES

  Reading Order – Catch Up On The Series!

  Malevolent – AVAILABLE NOW

  AMAZON

  Evanesce – AVAILABLE NOW

  AMAZON

  Denouement – COMING SOON

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I have a lot of people to thank that have been with me through thick and thin as I wrote this novel. This story touched me deeply and opened up some very raw emotions. Towards the end of writing it, I unexpectedly lost my mom. To say that I am heartbroken over this is an understatement. My mom was the kindest person, so loving and supportive. She was proud of me and my accomplishments. I hope I have made her proud with this book. So to my mom I say this:

  Mom – thank you for giving me some of your strength. Thank you for the guidance and the kick in the pants when I needed it. Most of all, thank you for being my mom. I love you and I miss you.

  Jerzie, Charlee, Lexie – my three BFF’s, My G’s. I love you guys so much. Thank you for being there with me as I did this again. Two books! Who would have thought?

  Toni Thompson – My FANTASTIC PA! Thank you so so so much…I don’t even have words to say how lucky I am to not only have your help with everything, but to also call you a friend. Love you, whore.

  Gilly Grybas, River Savage, Alissa Evanson Smith (Ed, Lissy, and THE River Savage bahaha) – I don’t know how I would get through the day without any of you! Our friendship is so precious to me and I am so fortunate to have met you. Thank you for all of the support along the way, especially during the hard time.

  Ellie McLove – Thank you for working with me again! I trust you so much and I’m so happy I have you to rip my work to pieces and then help me put it back together again. You are an amazing Editor, lady.

  L.J. Anderson at Mayhem Cover Creations – There is just nothing that I can say that will express how much I value you, L.J. You are so amazing at your work! You have given me two spectacular covers now that I’m in love with and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for always being there and for saving me from disaster many times haha.

  My Betas: Kiki, Dawn, Melissa, Gilly, Toni, Ivy, Jerzie, Charlee, Lexie – you ladies saved me!!! Thank you so so much for all of your hard work and feedback on Evanesce. You listened to my rants, you encouraged me and picked me back up when I was ready to quit. For that, I will be forever grateful and indebted to you. Evanesce wouldn’t be the book it is without your help!

  My Street Team: Cassia’s Sassy Sirens: You are the light of my day! I love each and every one of you and appreciate the support you offer me so much. I feel as though I’ve come to know all of you and I hope you know how much it means to me that you share your lives with me. I am truly a very lucky girl. Thank you for listening to my rants and keeping me from killing everyone (haha).

  To My Family – thank you for putting up with me through the writing of another book. I know it’s not easy. The absent nights, the wonky hours and the talking to myself as I plot out scenes – you’ve been there by my side through it all and I’m so grateful for all the support. Thank you for believing that I could follow my dreams.

  To The Book Community – We are a close-knit family, aren’t we? I truly feel honoured to be a part of such a supportive, kind, generous community. I need to say a huge thank you to everyone that reached out to me over the past few weeks. The out pouring of emotion and support I received just blew me away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, it gave me a little bit of light in a very dark time. A special thank you to all of the Bloggers, Authors, Readers that have supported me. The indie world is lucky to have people like you!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR CASSIA BRIGHTMORE

  Cassia Brightmore is a Dark Romance Author. Her first series, the Darkness Series includes three books, Malevolent, Evanesce and the upcoming Denouement. Each book can be read as a standalone; although it is recommended to read all books in the series to experience all the thrills.

  Writing has always been a passion of hers and publishing her first novel is truly a dream come true. She enjoys writing dark stories that she hopes will thrill the reader.

  Cassia lives in Grimsby, Canada with her two furbabies, Harley and Molly.

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