Cross: Fun Fact - Eagles can see eight times farther than humans. I guess they’re always watching.
I just have to hope that is enough.
Dave watches me put my phone away and angles his head towards the rolling metal door at the back, which is partially open. Yeah… this is too easy. But what choice do we have? I give a small nod and pull my piece from the back of my pants. Rolling my shoulders, I take the first step through, expecting to be tackled, shot at… something. But the space is eerily quiet.
Without pause, we slip through a double doorway leading backstage and I almost wince. Dammit, the old musty stage curtains still hung heavy in multiple rows. Dark, secluded, the perfect hiding place and here we stand like sitting ducks. Listening intently, there isn’t even the slightest rustle and that itself gives me pause. Just what the hell is going on here?
I motion for Dave to check the stage while I gesture towards the dressing rooms off to the side. She has to be here somewhere. The first room is small and filled with equipment, a thick layer of dust covering every surface. There’s no chance she’s in there. The second is much the same, except there are scuffs along the dust leaving dirty smear marks. Someone has been in here and realized all too quickly it wasn’t a good place to hide.
One room left. I hold my gun firmly in my hand and inch closer to the door. It’s closed. Everything else in here has been open, inviting us to step inside but this one door is closed. For a second, I’m worried. If she’s dead, if Ray-Ann’s dead on the other side of this door it will kill my Blue. And I would never forgive myself.
I cautiously turn the handle, letting the door slip open and bang back against the wall. It’s mostly empty, save for a few dressers and a rack of clothing. There in the middle of the room is Ray, bound to a chair, duct tape across her mouth and tears tracking down her face. She’s scared out of her mind and I want to tear apart the fuckers that did this to her.
“Damn Ray, hold tight,” I soothe, shoving my gun back in my pants and dropping to my knees in front of her. I work the knot on her wrist free first, telling her it’s going to be ok when she starts writhing and screaming through the gag. I turn just in time to see the butt of a rifle aiming straight for my temple… and a sadistic smile on Dave’s bastard face.
“I don’t understand,” Ray-Ann whispers.
“What’s to understand? He’s obviously as fucking psycho as the blond bitch,” Marcus snipes from close by.
The voices in the room are muted and low, only just managing to push through the fog in my brain. Slowly, the words take shape, gain clarity and in a rush, the severity of the situation hits me. I try not to move, letting my head get back in the game. We’re not in the dressing room anymore, that much I know without opening my eyes. There is no soft albeit stale smelling carpet beneath me now, instead I can feel cold, smooth wood. The air is musty, damp almost. Like fabric that hasn’t seen fresh air in years…
Of course, we’re on the stage.
“Come on Sefa, you need to be here for the finale my boy, it wouldn’t be the same without you. You are the star after all.”
Randy? What the fuck is he doing here?
“Hey now!” A voice whines, and I know who it is immediately. Lucy fucking Taylor. “I’m the star.”
“Of course you are pumpkin,” he croons, and I want to be sick. Don’t fucking tell me she’s banging Randy? The guy is old enough to be her fucking father.
A foot connects with my ribs and it’s so unexpected, I yell in response. Fucking bitch got me good.
“I swear to fucking god, touch my man again and I will break your fucking face,” Sydney fumes off to my left, her voice low and venomous. Nothing’s said for a few beats and then Lucy giggles nervously. I can’t help the chuckle that escapes.
“You think this is funny Sefa?” Randy questions, leaning over me to stare into my face.
I take a deep breath, wincing slightly as my head throbs. “I think it will be fucking hilarious if my girl gets her hands on Lucy.”
“Girl fights are hot,” Marcus states quietly in his corner.
“Really asshole? Is this the time?” Syd hisses back and I can’t help the shit-eating grin that takes over my face.
Randy holds out a hand and pulls me to my feet, as if he isn’t here holding us all hostage. As if things are no different today than yesterday.
“So, you’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with you,” he begins and I bark a short, sharp disbelieving laugh.
“That would be a good fucking start.”
He shakes his head, a small smirk on his lips and walks to the edge of the stage. I take the few precious seconds to glance around, immediately noting that Ray is still tied to that chair and Syd and Marcus are on their knees, hands tied behind their backs and connected to their ankles. They weren’t getting out of that easily. Sky’s nowhere to be seen and I just hope to God she knows what’s about to go down in here and has alerted the cops.
“I’ve always thought of you as a son Sefa. I hoped one day you would come back into the fold.” He turns, arms wide. “If I had known you would retreat from the music world completely and become a private investigator for fucks sake, I would’ve handled it all a little differently.”
“Handled what?” I ask, the hairs on the back of my neck prickling with unease.
He blinks rapidly, as if surprised I didn’t already know. “Why, drugging your bandmates and your woman. It was the only way. It took an epic mix of Viagra and cocaine for them, and a healthy dosing of Rohypnol and cocaine for your beloved to get them to comply, but the end results were impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cunt take so many cocks at once.”
Frozen, I stare at him, my mind refusing to understand his words. He had drugged them all, used them for his game. My friends, my band… Heidi.
“You sick sonofabitch, how could you do that to someone. That woman was raped.” Sydney screams, fighting against her bindings. I look at her, my head still reeling from the words. She clashes her gaze to mine, fury etched into the lines of her mouth and nothing but pain in her eyes. For me.
I snap my head back to Randy, who’s standing in the middle of the stage, his hands clasped in front of him. He raises an eyebrow, as if waiting for my next move.
“Why?”
He smiles widely. “Glad you asked. They were all holding you back, stopping you from reaching your full potential. Tribe and the girl needed to go. You see, from the moment I met you Sefa, I just knew you’d become family to me. I expect nothing but perfection, you’re all that and more. What better partner for my Lucy, than you? Of course, I never dreamed it would happen this way,” he gestures towards Ray and Syd with a sneer. “Two birds with one stone. You returning to music now feels like fate, the timing couldn’t have been better if I’d planned it.”
Lucy dances over to Randy and snuggles up to his side. “You’re the best daddy in the world.”
“But, what about your parents?” Ray looks over to Syd in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s to understand? I fucked her mother, got her pregnant when she was an up and coming star, and blackmailed her into doing whatever I wanted for her entire life.”
Lucy beams up at him like a starstruck fan and I feel physically sick at the sight. “But she gave you trouble didn’t she Daddy, after we killed Annabelle. That’s why you had mum and dad murdered?”
Randy opens his mouth to answer when the curtains rustle and Sky comes crashing through to the floor. She’s banged up pretty good, her eye swelling shut and I can hear the angry growls coming from Marcus. Footsteps echo along the hardwood and then Dave appears, gun in hand and a sneer on his face. “Bitch nearly tore my ear off,” he spat.
Lucy runs over to him and throws herself into his arms. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she goes to town, grinding herself all over him. “Well done baby.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Syd yells. “You sacrificed your own family for these assholes?�
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“My family were never in any real danger, it just had to look like it. Thanks for saving them though.” He laughs cruelly and levels a look at the girls. “What? You think you’re the only country music family in the industry paying for my services? Don’t take it personally, they just paid better and fucking the twins over the years has been a bonus.”
Randy walks towards him, reaching out to hold him in a tight embrace. “You’ve been amazing, especially over the last few months. It will be sad to see you go.”
Dave laughs, then stops when he realizes what was said. He cocks his head to the side, about to ask no doubt what Randy meant when the front of his head explodes, showering us all with blood and brain matter. His expression freezes and in slow motion, he drops down to his knees, swaying for a few seconds before collapsing face-first onto the stage in a pool of blood.
“And that my friends, is what we call a finale,” Randy sings. He takes the gun from a stunned Lucy’s hand and swings it around to face us all. “Now, who’s ready for the encore?”
Chapter 36
Sydney
I beg my stomach not to lurch as a stream of Dave’s blood moves its way towards me. The deep crimson moving slowly has me in a trance like state until there’s a stinging in my cheek. Looking up, I find Lucy fucking Taylor smiling at me. Damn, never thought the bitch could actually put some effort into a slap.
“You’re going to regret doing that.” I promise.
She starts talking and I have a hard time hearing the first part. My ears ring from the sound of the gun shot and it isn’t until the end that I start deciphering what she’s saying.
“…don’t worry. I’ll keep him warm at night. I don’t like the thought that my future husband has shared a bed with someone I’ve loathed since I was a teenager, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it.” Lucy winks before looking down at Dave. “Such a shame.” She sighs, then retreats back to Randy.
“Are you stupid? You left evidence on everything. They’re going to know you were behind this regardless of whether we tell the police or not. I thought you were smarter than that.” I smile.
“By the time the three of us are out of here, there will be nothing to find. When the cops get tipped off, it won’t be because of a murder but because of a fire. The finale!” He spins around on stage and spreads his arms wide as if performing. “Nobody will be left to talk, no loose ends to worry about. You’ll all be dead within the hour I’m afraid. It’s really all your fault, I tried to warn Ray away. She wouldn’t take the hint and brought you guys on. You left me no choice but to take extreme measures.”
“Three, there’s only two of you.” I correct him.
“I can’t let my dear daughter’s future husband burn to death. I’ve jumped through far too many hoops to incinerate Cross with the rest of you. Speaking of…” He looks at his watch. “It’s time to take this show on the road. Sefa my boy, no funny business or you get a bullet in your brain.” Randy pulls Cross to his feet, which I’m sure is no easy feat, and places his gun at his back. “Walk.” He barks out.
Cross doesn’t move.
He looks over at me with a tortured expression on his face. I give him a small smile urging him to go, I need him to go. I love you, I mouth as Randy pushes him forward and out of my sight. Tears prickle my eyes at the thought of never seeing him again.
“Oh Ray…” Lucy walks over to my sister and drops down to her level. “I know how much you like fireworks so I planned something extra special for you.” She takes both of her hands and shoves Ray back in her chair until she lands with a loud crash. “Whoops.” She laughs and skips off the stage in pursuit of her dad and Cross.
“Fuck.” Sky yells as shrill whistling nearly bursts my ear drums. Bright lights crash against the curtains onstage and immediately catch fire.
“Fireworks.” Marcus states. “You just had to love fireworks, huh Ray?” He starts grunting as he tries to work on his restraints.
I notice my sister’s still lying down when I start to worry. “Ray, you ok? Ray!”
“Fine, fine. Just…hang on…” She grunts a few times, then she rolls away from the demolished chair and gets to her feet. She’s hunched over, limping towards me when the first wave of relief registers in my head.
By the time my hands are untied, one whole side of the curtains are incinerated and half of the opposing side join them. We don’t have much time, so we make quick work to untie Marcus. As soon as he’s free, Ray crashes to the ground in a heap.
“Ray, what’s the matter?” I yell.
“I think I have broken ribs. Lucy got a few good shots in before they tied me up.”
“You’ll be alright.” I notice the fires spreading even further and realize I’m not needed here any longer.
“Listen, you’re going to be ok. I have to go to Cross.”
“But…” Ray argues but I hush her.
“No, I need to choose him this time. You’re in good hands, I have to go save him.”
She nods her head once and then I’m up and running through the inferno towards the back of the stage. The fire has spread further than I would have thought as I dodge falling fabric and props set ablaze. I’m just hoping they haven’t gotten away yet.
The smoke billows through the halls between the dressing rooms as I try to catch my breath. I drop to my knees and I’m able to see a little more clearly, along with taking in some better breaths.
“Fuck.” I bite out as I crawl down the hall. I nearly weep when I see three sets of legs at the end of the hall just before the exit. As I get closer, careful not to be noticed, I can hear a frustrated Randy barking orders to Lucy.
“You had one fucking job. To make sure our escape route was foolproof. You’re worthless!” There’s loud pounding on the door. “Harder Sefa!” Then the click of his gun registers.
I know I don’t have much time, Randy is starting to panic, and anxious people tend to do crazy things. When I’m close enough, I can see that he has the gun trained on the doorway. Cross is trying so hard to break the door open it breaks my heart. He’s fighting so hard.
What Randy doesn’t realize is nobody fucks with what’s mine.
I jump at his legs with everything inside of me and hear the gun go off before we hit the ground. He’s momentarily dazed but snaps out of it fast enough to register it’s me that took him down.
“Stupid bitch. Although I think Lucy would love the honors of personally killing you herself.”
“I’d love to see her try.” I growl then slam the bottom of my shoe straight between Randy’s eyes. He goes out like a light and at this point visibility is almost nonexistent.
“Daddy, Daddy! Cross got the door open, let’s go!” Cross coughs from just outside the doorway and I see Lucy’s tacky red heels take a step back into the building. “Daddy!” She screams as I make my move.
She doesn’t see me coming as I plow into her and propel both of us outside the door. The fall leaves me at a disadvantage as she falls into Cross and I fall straight into the pavement. She bounces up and comes at me.
“You fucking troll! Where’s my father?”
“He’s indisposed at the moment.” I smile at her as she charges me. Lucy lands on me hard, knocking the air right from my lungs. Damn, she’s stronger than I ever gave her credit for. With her hands threaded through my hair, digging into my scalp, she slams my head into the concrete until tiny specs dance in my vision.
Then she’s gone and I’m left trying to shake my vision back to normal. Fuck. I roll to my back and take a quick deep breath before getting onto my feet. I use the wall of the building to steady myself as I walk over to where Cross is dragging Lucy backwards.
I’m in awe as I watch Cross pop the trunk of a car open and throw Lucy inside before slamming it closed. He turns back to me and checks me from top to toe.
“Damn you’re a sight for sore eyes.” He shoulders sag and his hand clutches his ribs.
“You have no idea.” I run towards him and decide jum
ping into his arms looks great in movies, but wouldn’t do him any good right now. I stop in front of him and wrap my arms around him.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“They were untying when I came for you.”
“You left your sister?” He whispers.
I look up into his caramel eyes and grip his face in my palms. “I chose you.”
“Fucking finally.” His lips crash to mine, but only for a second before we hear a chuckle.
“Always so dense.” Randy states with his shoulder propped up on the brick building. “Get my fucking daughter out of that car before I blow this place to Mars.”
“She’s not going anywhere. I’m sure the cops are on the way, it’s time to admit defeat.” I state, my focus on high alert expecting him to throw anything he has our way.
“There’s always a plan B Syd.” Randy holds up a tiny remote and presses the button.
“Game over.”
Chapter 37
Cross
For a moment, nothing happens. Syd and I share a look, preparing to tackle the man in front of us when the roof of the theater explodes up into the sky.
“Get down!”
I throw myself on top of Syd, sheltering her as best I can from the burning debris dropping down around us. The old building behind us groans, the foundations barely holding from the blast.
“Fucking hell,” Syd stammers, her eyes wide and glued to the inferno behind us. “Oh God, please… tell me she got out.”
I can’t answer her, and it fucking kills me that she came after me instead of getting her sister out of that building. Clambering to my feet, I grab Syd’s hand and haul her up. Above the roar of the fire, I can hear sirens in the distance.
“We’ve got to get out of here, get to the road and see if they made it out.”
Syd nods, turns to the side and stops, her jaw dropping. Following her gaze, my eyes widen at the sight before us. A huge chunk of the roof has landed on the car that I stashed Lucy in, the metalwork bent and smashed under the weight. Randy is frantically clawing at the debris, desperately trying to get to the latch to set her free.
Deception (A Stalker Novel Book 2) Page 17
