Cheaters Anonymous

by Lacey Silks

  “Look, just let us go. Please.”

  “Pleeaasseee,” he mocked. “You fucking pulled the trigger on me!”

  I jumped up.

  “I fucking said have a seat!”

  My knees buckled underneath my body on their own, and my ass hit the chair with a thunk.

  “Your boyfriend won’t save you. He’s got too much to lose.”

  What did he mean by that?

  He cocked his head to the side and regarded me for a moment. “You don’t know, do you? You don’t fucking know!” He belted out a laugh, and it echoed through the clinic. Brad had no fear that someone would hear him, and I wondered where Scar was.

  “If Wagner crosses me, I will never sell the club. And I’ll make sure he eventually loses all the money he’s got. And if there’s one thing that Wagner loves more than the women he sleeps with, it’s his money.”

  “What do you have to do with his club?” I asked.

  He crouched in front of me. The stench was so strong, I could barely take it. That look of hate in his eyes was enough to burn a hole in my head.

  “What? I own half of it.”

  “You’re a liar.” I spat into his face.

  The moment he swung his arm at me, I knew I was gone.

  CHAPTER 23

  I wasn’t sure whether I was truly conscious until pain throbbed in my head. My wrists burned. The rope around them had cut through to my flesh. Something was tied around my eyes, robbing me of sight. I was lying back on what felt like a hospital bed. When I moved my arms, the clatter of metal bars at the side of the bed echoed. The room stank of old moisture, and I heard a moan of pain escape my mouth.

  “There she is.” Brad’s voice was like acid.

  At the sound of his footsteps coming closer, my entire body stiffened.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, removing my blindfold. It was difficult to open my eyes and get used to the single bulb light in the windowless room. We were in the basement now. Since the clinic had flooded years ago, it had that permanent smell of mold and mildew. And for someone who had just kidnapped me, I knew that Brad was full of shit.

  “Where’s Trish?”

  I wondered how long I’d been out. It must have been late, because on top of my aching body I felt tired. Could it really have been hours since I got here?

  “Don’t worry. She’s alive – for now. I thought we might want some time to ourselves, so I had to make sure my guests were comfortable.”

  For now? The last thing I remembered was sitting on that chair watching Brad play with the hand gun I didn’t know how to use. I wished I’d had more time to practice. And where was Scar? What had happened to our plan? And what did Brad mean by “guests”?

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I knew you’d be honorable and come on your own, Julia. But I also knew that you’d have a backup plan, and that Scar wouldn’t let you go without him. You know, I really thought he’d leave you for me. I asked him to do so several times. I fucking offered him to buy me out with your pussy, and he refused.”

  He shook his head, making a few tsk, tsk sounds.

  “But of course he didn’t listen. You know, everything would be much simpler if people listened, don’t you agree? But no, Scar wanted to be a hero. I swear, he’d fucking give everything for a pussy, especially yours.”

  “What have you done?”

  “Did you know we made a bet of who’d get you first?”

  He was lying.

  “Tell me, Jules. Did he get to your wet pussy before me?”

  I could feel my eyes give way to the tears.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think so. I thought you’d put out quicker. Don’t worry, once I get what I’ve been wanting for the last decade, I’ll let you go, you can rescue your boyfriend, and we’ll call me the winner of our bet. But if he tries to move and save you, he’ll be torn to shreds.” Brad reached for a remote and turned on a television set. It was so dark in the room I hadn’t even seen the TV until it flicked on.

  I gasped.

  Tied to a chair, Scar sat with his head lowered. His body was sagging, and he didn’t look conscious. Red canisters of what looked like gasoline surrounded him. His chair was a bit higher than the floor, resting on a platform. How had we gotten into this mess? I should have called the authorities.

  “He can try to get off the weight trigger. But there won’t be much left of him if he does. Or he can be the pussy I know he is and wait until you get there and turn off the switch by the door – right after I fuck you.” He laughed. “Either way, your boyfriend loses.”

  I thrashed in the bed wishing I could do something – anything.

  “This is not a fucking game, Brad. You will not get away with this.”

  “I already have.” He came to the bedside and brought his face close to mine. “I will fuck your brains out the way I was supposed to in high school, I will win my bet with Scar – and only then, if you’re able to walk, will I let you go.”

  Scar wouldn’t have made a bet on me. He’d never do that. Brad was not only delusional but also suffered from schizophrenia.

  And then Scar shifted on his chair.

  Don’t move!

  He lifted his head enough for me to see the damage that had been done. His eyes were swollen, and his nose was mangled as if someone had smashed it in with a hammer. Scar looked like he’d had red paint dumped over his head, except I knew that this time it wasn’t paint but blood.

  “I need to help him. He needs medical attention.” Tears streaked freely down my cheeks. How could I not cry? The only man who’d ever made me feel alive was helpless. And so was I. There was only one thing I could do, and I prayed Brad would do it quickly. Feeling hatred burn my eyes, I looked at my captor, whispering, “Get it over with and let me go. I’ll do whatever you want.”

  Scar’s face twisted in pain as he looked right into the camera, barely able to open his eyes. And that’s when I realized that he could see me. There had to be a television in his room. He could see us and whatever Brad was going to do to me; he’d made sure that Scar would witness every second of it.

  “Don’t, Jules. Not for me.” His voice was hoarse, as if his vocal chords had been tightened by something.

  “She doesn’t get to have a choice, you asshole.” Brad’s face was right in the camera’s lens.

  “You sick fuck,” I said.

  But Brad wasn’t paying attention to my words. He appeared to be in some sort of a trance. His face was emotionless and determined. I could see the devil’s fire spark in his eyes. What else could it be? When he backed away, he unbuckled his pants and lowered them to the ground. Then off came his briefs. No erection had ever disgusted me as much as Brad’s. I shut my eyes. How could he even get excited by forcing me to be with him?

  “Scar, close your eyes, please,” I begged. “I’ll be there soon. Just close your eyes and don’t watch.”

  “Nooooo!” he screamed. I could tell it took all of his strength not to get off his chair. The desperation in his voice pained my heart.

  Brad came closer and rested his cock on my shoulder. The foul smell squeezed my stomach, and I felt the bile slowly rise up. I turned my head to the other side and shut my eyes.

  “Be a good girl now.” He tapped himself over my cheek, slapping me there as if it was something he thought I’d enjoy. I wanted to throw up.

  “Call it what you want. I’m just catching up on lost time, Julia. You know all this could have been avoided if you’d just put out for my birthday.”

  I opened my eyes to have one last look at Scar. A bright light flashed on the screen before it turned to static gray… and Scar was gone. The sound of a bomb exploding hit me like an avalanche. The building shook as if we’d just had an earthquake, and I realized that Scar was being held captive nearby.

  “Scaarr! Nooo! Please, noh... oohh,” I sobbed.

  “Too late. Maybe he wasn’t such a pussy after all. You should think of a quote for his gravestone. ‘Scar
Wagner: Not a pussy.’ Although I must say, there won’t be much of him left. Unless you want to scrape the walls.”

  “Shut the fuck up! Just shut up and get it over with, will you?”

  And then please kill me, because I cannot live without Scar.

  Brad’s phone vibrated. He frowned at the caller display and pressed the speaker on. His other hand kept busy as he stroked himself back and forth. I wiggled my hands, hoping I could free myself.

  “Brad, honey, open the door please.” I heard Trish’s voice through both the phone and on the other side of the metal door. She knocked gently. He threw the phone down to the table, and with his naked hairy ass on display, he walked toward the door.

  “I’m busy now. What do you want?” he shouted. “Go back to your boyfriend.”

  Had he let Trish go? And she came back for me?

  If so, I prayed she had the sound mind to call the cops.

  “I just want to talk. You know, I remember you saying something about the three of us enjoying each other. Wouldn’t that be nice, Brad?”

  She was stalling. Trish was buying me time. Why didn’t she just run?

  “You said I was obsessed. I’m not.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I was saying. I was misinformed. I don’t like seeing you upset, Brad. I want to make you happy. I love you, and I want us back to where we were. I need you, Brad. I’ll do whatever you want.”

  His gaze flew from me to the door as he pondered her offer.

  “Anything?” he asked.

  “Of course. Open the door, Brad. I’m here for you… and for us.”

  Before Brad turned the door knob, he looked at me and loud whispered. “I guess it will be a party for three after all.” He tied a gag around my mouth before adding, “Except not the kind Trish thinks. The bitch will get what she deserves as well.”

  Oh no! He set Trish up!

  CHAPTER 24

  As soon as the door opened Brad’s demeanor changed.

  “You watch her, and I’ll grab a few props. Do not fucking move!”

  Trish stood frozen in the same spot until he left the room. Then she ran up to me and pulled the cloth off my mouth.

  “It’s a trick, Trish. He killed Scar. He wants...”

  “Shh, I know. Don’t worry. Just play along. I will flip this bed down when it’s time.” She paused for a moment. “It will probably hurt, but help is on its way.” Before I could say anything else, she covered my mouth again – and just in time, because Brad was back with another chair and a bag full of god knows what.

  “Sit,” he told her.

  “Brad, wouldn’t you want to find a more comfortable spot?”

  His demeaning look was enough for Trish to bend at her knees and sit where he was still pointing. When he turned around, she looked at me and mouthed “One minute,” and I nodded in understanding.

  The next sixty seconds felt like an hour. Brad removed his shirt and removed a pair of handcuffs from the bag he carried into the room. “Put your hands back,” he ordered Trish.

  “Is that necessary?” she asked. As strong a woman that she was, I was sure that not even Wonder Woman could find the courage to stand up to this bastard.

  As he stepped toward her, she yelled out, “Now!” The room went dark. I felt my bed flying to the side. It hit the floor and I was face down on the cold ceramic. Tear gas filled the room, and I began choking. I wanted to yell out, but I couldn’t. The noise and commotion, along with a few gun shots, blended into a constant din in my ears. Soon enough my hands were freed, and I was being carried out in someone’s strong arms. They felt familiar, and his shape reminded me of Scar’s, but that was impossible. My boyfriend was dead. When we reached daylight, I covered my eyes. It was already morning.

  Once my sight adjusted and I was lowered to the ground, a familiar voice said, “You’re safe now, Jules.”

  “Ace?” I felt my body shake. It was then that I realized how much alike the two brothers were. Not only their voice and physique, but also their eyes.

  “Scar’s... he killed... Ace, your brother.”

  “Scar’s fine, Jules. Trish got me just in time. We found him.”

  “He’s fine?”

  And that’s when I saw him. Limping and almost dragging his body toward me, he found whatever strength he had left in his limbs to head my way. I pulled a long sniffle through my nose and ran toward him, slamming into his beaten up body. He moaned in pain but wrapped me into him.

  “I’m sorry,” I sobbed.

  “It’s okay, Jules. You’re okay. I’m sorry. I should have never let you come here.”

  I pulled away, examining him. “Are you okay? Jesus, you need to get to the hospital.”

  “I had to see you first.” His face twisted as he held back the pain. “Brad set a trap. Tranquilized me. I couldn’t get to you. I’m sorry I put you in this mess.”

  “Don’t be. None of this was your fault. You’re alive. That’s all that matters. I thought you were dead.”

  “No, Trish called Ace. They both came to get me out, and Ace called a few friends.”

  I nodded in appreciation to the team of men dressed in black, with thick belts of accessories around their waist. “Hunter is Grace’s boyfriend.” He pointed to one of the men, and let out a yelp as his hand lowered back to the side.

  “Jules, what he said about a bet…”

  “You don’t have to explain.” I shook my head.

  “I didn’t. I never bet on you. But Brad is part owner of the club, and he’s sick. I did everything I could to get him to sell his share, but he wouldn’t budge. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. There was nothing else, Jules. I promise. No fucking stupid bets. When I first saw you, I wanted to keep you away from him, but I didn’t know how. Then Brad would disappear more often, which made it easier to run the club. But then when we saw him at Kissed, and you told me he’d been stalking you, I tried to find him – but I couldn’t.”

  “Scar, stop. I believe you. I always believed you. I know you’d never hurt me.”

  He tried to squeeze me in tighter in his arms, and winced. “Fuck, this is gonna take a while to heal, Jules.”

  “Then you’re lucky you have the best doctor in the city to take care of you.”

  “The city? I’m pretty sure at least in the state. So, we’re okay?”

  “Sucking up will definitely earn you some bonus points, Scar, but we should get you to the hospital. And yes, we’re definitely okay.”

  “Come on, brother.” Ace and Trish came to our side, and Ace supported Scar with his arm as we headed toward his Hummer.

  “Trish, how did you know Ace?”

  “Axel introduced us before he left for Europe.”

  I wondered what he was doing there, but my attention was turned to the other hero brother. “Ace, I don’t know what to say, or how to thank you.”

  “You can start by giving me your blessing to ask for your sister’s hand.”

  “Wait… what?”

  “You heard me. I want to ask Zoey to marry me.”

  “Haven’t you guys just started dating?”

  “It’s been two months. When you know, you know.” He shrugged.

  Scar leaned into me, whispering, “What he’s saying is that Zoey’s holding his balls in his pocket.”

  “Screw you, Scar.”

  “Come on guys, stop it. Yes, if it’s what makes Zoey happy, then you have my blessing. But my threat stands true, Ace.” I lifted my finger to make a point. “Scalpel and arsenic, and you can add a good punch to that as well.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll remember that, sis.”

  I rolled my eyes. “And please don’t call me ‘sis.’ We should call an ambulance,” I said.

  “We’ll get there much quicker if I drive,” Ace insisted.

  I took Trish’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you...”

  “I owed you. You were the one who saved me from a doomed relationship. God knows what would have happ
ened if I’d stayed with him. If you knew half the things he made me do…” She paused. “I’m just glad it’s over. Thank you for believing in me and being a friend when no one else would.”

  “I only did what anyone would have.”

  “That’s not true. You did much more than that.” She hugged me.

  Just before Ace turned the ignition, led by the team of men, I saw Brad step out of the building. He was cuffed and pretty beat up and had something tied around his hips to cover him.

  “I don’t ever want to see him again,” I said.

  “You won’t, Jules. He’s going to prison for a long time. It’s all over.” Scar wrapped his arm around me and I leaned into his body.

  “Ouch.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’d rather be in pain with you at my side than dead.”

  I preferred that as well, and promised myself not to waste any more time in fear. I no longer had doubts about my commitment to Scar. I knew that he’d had my heart the moment we met underneath the bleachers. It might have taken us longer to connect than some others, but we did so with a lifetime’s worth of experiences behind us, ones we could hopefully use to build a wonderful future together.

  Unfortunately, that happiness we’d been waiting for still wouldn’t happen for a while.

  CHAPTER 25

  Scar spent a week in the hospital and was released under my care. Given that we’d gone to meet Brad straight from the airport and then to the hospital once we were rescued, Scar had never had a chance to gather his belongings and move back to his house. Since I was still at the guest house and could help him with the recovery, it made sense for us both to stay there. At moments I wondered how we had come to live together so quickly when we were both afraid of a commitment and making a mistake. Then I just stopped wondering and laughed at my urge to send a “Thank you” gift basket to Fate.

  In addition to his external injuries, he had a fractured rib and sprained foot, but that was the worst of it. When he went into surgery to get his nose fixed, he insisted the doctors reconstruct it to the way it was before. Yes, Brad had definitely wanted payback when he smashed Scar’s face.