The Dark Kingdom Anthology

by Krissy V

  Red

  I can’t believe Crook is here. I’m clinging onto him like my life depends on it. I never want to feel alone again and I can’t look past him as Carly’s body is lying there. Joshua bends his head down and kisses mine, and I think I'm going to burst into tears again. I know I’m shaking from fear, weakness, and not understanding what just happened here.

  “I’ve got you, Red,” he says, squeezing me hard. I can't believe he saved me. I look over to where Dominic is in disbelief. Is he really my brother? Do I want it to be true after what his men did? Can I ever forget this?

  He looks in pain and bleeding as a woman marches into the room, going straight to Dominic.

  “No!” he shouts. “Everyone else first. Me last, Maria.”

  “But, Dominic-”

  “Me last. Treat everyone else. Get the doctor in if you need help. I pay him enough.” He says it so painfully that I want to go to him and check he’s okay.

  Maria and the men that came in with her start checking everyone that is not moving first.

  “Can someone unlock me, please, so I can help?” I say it hoping Crook didn't hear.

  “Fuck. Sorry, I didn’t realise. Who’s got the keys?” He screams at one of the young men who jumps and starts going through pockets of the dead men.

  “It’ll be in the twins’ pockets. Knowing them they probably have one each. They do everything together.” Dominic says it with so much venom that I wonder, did he even like them?

  My head is pounding but I set about trying to help. “Can someone get me a cover or a blanket? Something to cover Carly,” I plead with them.

  One of the men with Maria walks out and is quickly back with a blanket to covers Carly’s body. The only people injured are Dominic and Joshua. Maria is sorting out his injury which she assures will be good, nothing damaged.

  “You should do Dominic next. He seems to be bleeding a lot,” I say. I can’t have him dying if he is my family.

  I’ve never had a family before, so I have no clue what to do or say. Dominic looks at me and I think he smiles, although I’m not sure. I nod at him. I walk back over to Joshua and fall again into his arms. I’m feeling sick, exhausted, and hungry all at the same time.

  “Wow!” Joshua shouts as I fall.

  Immediately, Dominic shouts at Maria to help. “Is she okay, Maria?”

  “She’s exhausted and I suspect she needs fluids and food.” Maria says, looking at Stevie. Boy, do I feel awful.

  “Come,” Stevie says softly. Joshua helps me up and I take Stevie’s arm.

  “Heat up the soup that’s in the fridge. That should make her feel a little better hopefully. And water, sipping it slowly.” Maria really seems to know her stuff.

  “Stay,” I say to Joshua. “Make sure he’s okay.”

  I know he doesn’t like it but will do as I ask.

  When we’re eventually upstairs, Stevie starts talking. “You really shouldn’t worry about him. He’s not a nice man.”

  I know she speaks the truth, but still I need to know this man. “I know he’s probably not nice, the same as Joshua. It’s the business they’re in,” I say, knowing they are probably as bad as each other.

  Stevie shakes her head. I know there’s more to this than what I assume.

  “So why did you shoot him?” I know I shouldn’t press but I’d like to know.

  She’s quiet for a little bit then says, “He married me for the business. I suspect he killed my father to make that happen. I also know he doesn't love me and probably never did.” She says it so sadly as she’s standing there stirring the soup in the pot. I can’t help but feel sorry for her. “He wasn’t always the nicest husband either. I was used as a toy by him.” Now I know she’s telling me it all.

  “By just him?“ I’m seething. I’ll kill him. She nods. How do I ask this? How does she answer? Was he was a mean, nasty lover? I don’t want to pry; this is his and her story. I can’t jump in with both feet and try and sort it out. I’ve only just found them. “If you want to leave you can come with us back to London.”

  I’m almost knocked out of the chair I’m sitting in as she throws herself at me and squeezes me until I whine through it as the pain from my ribs kicks in.

  “Sorry. Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She’s out of my arms as quickly as she was in them.

  “It’s fine. Anything to help my sister-in-law. Wow. I’ve never had a family before and now I’m getting them all.” I say it laughing, but she starts sobbing. “It will all work out, and if it doesn’t, you have Joshua and me." I say it and mean every word of it.

  I start tucking into the delicious soup and I’m already starting to feel a little better. I don’t think I will ever forget what happened here this week, weekend; I don’t even know what day it is. “So how did you find out I was his sister?” I need to know what she knows.

  “I’m a pretty good hacker, but Dominic never knew, so today I followed the men down the stairs and saw you and the other girl. I needed to know why so I hacked his computer and there was an email about you. He’d had you checked out and blood tested. It caught my eye. Fox usually does all the checking but he must have not trusted him and used someone else which made me curious.”

  Woah. I don’t know how to take this news. I’m stunned by it and want more answers. I need to face Dominic and ask it all before I can leave it behind me.

  Chapter Ten

  Dominic

  What the fuck just happened? I’ve been shot twice by my wife and most of my men are dead. It appears the feeling I had was right. I have a sister. I didn’t see that coming. I was thinking something totally different. My mind is fogged. A family. I’ve never had a family except Stevie, so I’m confused. I kidnapped my own sister and locked her up to watch a young woman being attacked and killed by my men.

  Shit. How can she ever forgive me and accept I did it for the reasons I did? I can feel the hate from Crook radiate across the room.

  “What?” I shout, staring straight at him. “I know you want to ask, so fucking ask!” I know that pisses him off but I can't be nice to one of my enemies.

  “Did you know before you grabbed her she was your sister?”

  I’m seething. I know I’m a bastard, but fuck, how could I do that? “Of course not, you fucking dick. The first I heard of it was when my wife shouted at me then shot me. You think I’d kidnap my own sister willingly?”

  He fumbles with his gun. “So why take her? What were you going to do to her?”

  I bow my head in my hands. I have no clue how to answer him so I go with the truth “I thought if I took her and used her to blackmail you, you’d cave in and stop trading with my customers that you were stealing!“

  He gets up and strides up and down the room. “You thought I’d just cave in? And stealing your customers? They came to me, I didn’t steal them!”

  “I know that now! It’s stupid. We should be working together, not against each other.” I know I’m speaking the truth.

  “Working together? You killed my Uncle Thomas, the man I took the business over from,” he says as he wraps his hands around my throat.

  I can’t breathe. I hope the fucker squeezes more so I can end it. I’ve never felt like this in my life before.

  “Do it,” I gasp, but the bastard lets go. “Why didn’t you?”

  “You think that’s what I want? What my Red would want? She’s only just found you. She’s always wanted a family, no matter how much she denies it, I know deep down she does. I’ve tried to find out without her knowing for years if she did to no avail, yet here you sit. The fucker that killed my uncle.”

  What he says shocks me. “She’d want a family? Especially me? I didn’t kill him. Richard did. It was one of the last things he did before he died. I couldn’t stop it. It was what he wanted before he went.”

  “I thought you killed him?”

  I don’t want to answer, but I know I have to. “I did on his orders. He was dying anyway, of cancer, but he didn’t want
anyone to know. He wanted to die with a bang so the deal was made.” I know nobody will want to hear the valiant Dominic taking the life of a dying man to make him a hero that nobody would believe he was.

  “Fuck!”

  I can’t make it any better so I say what I’m thinking. “Who knew she’d want a twisted fuck like me for a brother?”

  “Of course she would. She grew up in an orphanage with no one looking out for her until she left at sixteen..”

  That lets me know he loves her with all his heart. I need to escape this all. It’s breaking into my feelings that I’ve had locked away for years. I don’t do feelings. I can’t.

  “I get it. I can’t change the past. I wasn’t even aware she was my sister. I’ve had no one my whole life. I can’t start now!” I scream at him, making Maria jump. I totally forgot she was here still dressing my wounds and taking care of me like she always does.

  “They are okay. I’ve dressed as much as I can but I will keep checking them.” She squeezes my hand then gets up and starts clearing it all away. The boys have come and moved the bodies, apparently. Knave is gone as well. Can’t say I will miss the fuckers, but they were my fuckers. My weird, fucked-up kinda family that I didn’t give a shit about.

  I’m starting to feel unwell. I know I should be with the amount of blood I lost, and adrenaline is kicking in, but this isn’t good. I don’t like the feeling. The room starts to go black and the voices are starting to slur and sound distant. Someone drugged me, I’m sure of it. Is this how Lily felt when it happened to her?

  Chapter Eleven

  Stevie

  I’m sitting in the kitchen talking to Lily, and it feels like I’ve just made a best friend. I think this woman is amazing and I want to know more about her. Shouting from downstairs interrupts us and we jump up at the same time, running to find out what’s happening down there.

  Please don’t let Dominic be dead.

  I can’t believe that’s the first thing I think of. I want him gone. I want to escape from this hell hole.

  As we approach the cellar, the boys are lifting a semi out of it. Dominic with him blabbing like he’s talking another language.

  “I think he’s lost too much blood and needs an infusion. I will get the doctor to come.” Maria’s worried. I’ve never seen her like this.

  “Is he going to be okay? Please say he is,” Lily pleads with her.

  Right at this moment I don’t know how I’m feeling. I wanted him dead but I love him. I can't hide it. I always have, no matter how badly he’s treated me. I think I’ll love him always.

  As they carry him up the stairs, he's still speaking, saying names and stuff. Nobody knows what until we get to his room.

  “Stevie, tell Stevie I love her. She thinks I don’t, but I do.” Everyone stops and looks at me.

  “We need to keep an eye on him all night. We can take turns,” Maria says.

  “It’s fine. I will be here. After all, he is my husband.” I’m not sure they all believe that I won’t end him, but they start walking from the room.

  “As long as you’re sure. I’ll be next door. Shout if you need me.” Lily looks exhausted. The poor woman needs to rest.

  “It’s fine. Now, will you go rest, please?” I’m feeling so guilty over her, but I can’t help what Dominic has done in the past. All I can do is try to help care for her after it.

  The whole night, Dominic tosses and turns. He’s running a fever, and a few times Maria came in and gave him an injection of antibiotics to fight the infection he's got. We don't know if it’s from the bullet wounds or something else, but all night he says my name with affection, speaking to me like I’m there in front of him and he’s awake.

  Maria says, “He’s trying to tell you how sorry he is. He believes he’s awake and talking to you.” She speaks with so much love that I’m not sure what to think. Both her boys are nodding in the background, agreeing with her, and I know they all have their own beliefs but I’m not sure of mine, so I ask him for the truth. I’m not sure I’m ready for the truth.

  “Did you end my father, Dominic?” I ask, because I’m pretty sure I will get the answers I want.

  “Yes.” I want to run but then he starts talking, telling stories of how my dad wanted him, and the word cancer pops in. I know deep down that my dad asked him for help and Dominic did as he was asked.

  My mother died of cancer and my dad and Maria nursed her through it all, so the story he has no idea he’s telling to me makes more sense than probably it should. I know I want to listen to them all. This is a man I thought I knew and loved for so long, and yet I’m seeing a different side of him. I’m going to take this opportunity to hear and feel what he feels. I can’t explain it but the bond is there, and as the sun rises through the window, I lay in bed with my husband’s head on my chest, checking to make sure he’s okay.

  What can I say? I love this man with all heart. I always will. After his confession last night, I know his feelings now, and I can’t deny the love that’s pouring from me.

  Yes, I shot him and I wanted him dead, but maybe we can get over this together as a family. I’ve never asked if he wanted one as I was always scared of the outcome. Now, he's not getting the choice.

  The End….

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