by Stacy-Deanne
“I can imagine how confused you are,” Jonathan said. “Things will become clear when you’re back where you belong. I won’t give up on us. Those three months together were the happiest time of my life. I want you to be Head Mistress and rule The Circle by my side. Do you hear me?”
She closed her eyes, swallowing.
“I suggest you call this madness off with the police because you won’t win. You have no proof of anything you claim and no one will back you up. Besides...” He snickered. “You wanted to be with me.”
Dee tensed up, feeling herself rip apart from anger.
“Oh yes,” Jonathan whispered. “Tell Winston to savor every moment you have together because it won’t be long until you’re mine again.” He hung up.
“Ooh!” Dee slammed her phone on the counter. “He’s right.” She rushed out the kitchen. “He’s damn right, Lydia.”
“What are you talking about?” She chased Dee into Winston’s living room. “What did he say?”
Dee rummaged through the nightstand and got Winston’s spare gun.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking care of business.” Dee checked the gun for bullets and grabbed the box of extras from the drawer. “Once and for all.”
“You’re not gonna kill Jonathan are you?” Lydia jumped in front of her. “Dee, wait.”
“Don’t tell me to wait. This motherfucker won’t ever let me go. I’ll never have a life with that creep hanging over me.”
“This is crazy.” Lydia grabbed Dee’s arm as she passed. “You can’t kill him.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Dee.” Lydia pulled her back. “I’m not letting you ruin your life for that bastard. Let the police handle it.”
“You forgot?” Dee put the bullets in her pocket. “I am the police.” She marched out the living room.
“I’m not letting you do this.” Lydia ran behind her. “I’m coming with you.”
Dee shrugged, opening the front door. “Suit yourself.”
****
“That was the attorney on the phone.” Travis stood at Susan’s bedroom doorway. “He’s convinced everything will be all right, and I’ll get off with the justifiable homicide defense.”
“Of course you will.” Susan yanked blouses out her dresser and threw them into the suitcase on her bed. “Everything always goes your way doesn’t it, son?”
He leaned to one side, holding the doorframe. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” She flung more clothes on the bed. “I’m leaving.” She avoided eye contact to escape the mountain of shame she felt every time she looked at him. “I can’t do this anymore, Travis. I need a break so I’m going to a motel where I can think and be alone.”
“Are you crazy?” He walked in. “How can you leave with all the shit that’s going down?”
“You’re getting off for killing Charlie, aren’t you?” She got underwear from the bottom dresser drawer. “Lord knows my lie helped with that.”
“I’m your son and you’re leaving me when I need you the most?”
“You’re playing that card?” She chuckled. “The last thing you want to be is my son.”
“Why are you doing this, Susan?” He stood at the bed. “Everything will be okay. Just trust me.”
“I don’t wanna trust you anymore!” She shook her head, moving back. “I’m sick of all the lies, secrets, and deceit. It’s killing me.”
“You can’t leave me.”
“I need a damn break.” She flounced past him to get to the closet. “You’re a grown man who decided to take someone’s life so you can deal with it. I defended you against Charlie, what else do you want?”
“That’s it, huh?” He blew air out his cheeks. “Are you missing that fucker? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“I loved Charlie.” She carried blouses to the bed. “I wanted to marry him but you made sure that wouldn’t happen.”
“Charlie didn’t deserve to share the air you breathed. How many times do I have to tell you that no man will love you like I do?”
She pushed him on her way back to the closet.
“I love you—”
“Stop it!” She flipped through the clothes on the hangers. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t be so damn selfish. Charlie is dead because of the sickness we’ve taken part in.”
He closed his eyes. “Don’t call our love a sickness.”
“It’s disgusting and vile and it ends now.” She grabbed jeans and a skirt from the closet and added them to the pile on the bed. “I want you out of here.”
“What?”
“I want you gone.”
“No.” He reached for her as she walked to the other side of the bed. “Susan—”
“This is my house and I no longer want you here.”
“What am I supposed to do?” he yelled. “You can’t just kick me out.”
“You’re a smart, intelligent man.” She folded the clothes. “You’ll do fine without me.”
“No.” He seized her. “I can’t make it without you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Let go.” Susan tore free of him. “There’s no negotiation here, Travis. If I don’t stop this once and for all I’ll be dead at my own hands because this guilt is killing me.”
“We have nothing to feel guilty about.” He grabbed her, forcing her to look at him. “You’re just scared because of what happened to Charlie but it’ll be all right.”
“It won’t be.” She held in tears. “This has nothing to do with other people but with me. I’m at the edge of the cliff, don’t you get it? I want a new life, one without guilt or pain.”
“One without me? Like I’d let you go.”
“You have no choice.” She peered at him, heart breaking for what she was about to say. “If you force this, I’ll tell the police what really happened to Charlie.”
He stared at her, bewildered.
“I’ll tell them how you murdered him in cold blood and made up this story about him abusing me.”
He turned her loose. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“I’d do anything to get away from you.” She leaned over the bed, tears trickling from her eyes. “I’ll always love you, but I hate myself Travis for allowing this to go on.”
“Let’s leave together.” He rocked, holding his hands. “We can go somewhere and change our names and live the life we want to.”
“You mean as a couple?” Her stomach twisted from that dagger of revulsion that sliced deep inside her. “No matter where we go I’ll always be your mother. This has been tearing me apart for years.”
“Why?” He touched her cheek, and she hated herself for liking it. “We love each other.”
“Please, Travis.” She pushed him away and sat on the bed. “Let’s end this now.”
“We belong together. Look at all the shit I’ve done for you, Susan. I’m the one who should be upset. You always blamed me for this but it’s not my fault.”
“You’re right.” She lifted her head. “It’s mine for encouraging your problem.”
“Don’t do that.” He scowled. “Don’t act like this has been one-sided and you’re some victim.”
“I’m not, Travis.” She wiped a tear. “I know I’m the one who caused this because I was the adult the whole time. Instead of fighting this and helping you get better, I went along with it. I’m just as fucked up as you are.”
“It’s better to be fucked up than to live a lie. We have to live our lives and not worry about other people.”
“I don’t love you, Travis.” She stared into his torn eyes. “Not the way you want me to.”
“Bullshit.” He grabbed her, leaning in to kiss her.
“No.” She turned, standing. “I want you gone. I can’t take this anymore and you’re violence...” She shook her head. “I’ve had enough.”
“I’m sorry for that.” He touched her cheek and she flinched. “I’ll never hit you again.”
�
�You’re always sorry but it never changes. We’re both fucked up, Travis. It’s best to admit it, fix it and move on.”
“I don’t wanna fix it!” He tossed the suitcase across the room, clothes flying. “I want us to be together and fuck what anyone else thinks. My love for you runs in my blood.” He pulled her close. “I can’t shake it and I don’t want to.” He touched her cheek, gliding his fingers to her chin. “I’ve done more than you can imagine for us to be together.”
“What are you talking about?” She switched her eyes left and right, examining his. “Please don’t tell me you’ve hurt other people.”
“I’d do anything to have you.”
She sensed the evil from his eyes. “Prisha? Oh god.” She stooped over. “Did you kill Prisha?”
“I had to—”
“No!” She ran to the other side of the room, sobbing. “Travis, you didn’t.”
“She’d found out about us. You didn’t want that to happen anymore than I did.” His face tightened. “I never liked her, anyway. She was always so self-righteous. Always taking up your time.”
She cried with her hand over her mouth. “God, is there anyone else?”
He raised his head, radiating confidence. “I killed my father.”
Susan fell back into the dresser, her son’s vile words hacking through her soul.
“I told you.” His lips contorted into a vicious smile. “No man would ever love you like I do.”
“No!” She threw the jewelry box at him and ran toward the door.
“Susan!” He took out a gun and aimed it at her. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll kill you first.”
“Shoot then.” She pounded her bosom. “Fuckin’ shoot me, Travis!” She marched to him. “Shoot me.”
He huffed and puffed, lips trembling.
“Rescue me from this pain.” She fell to her knees, holding his leg. “Kill me, Travis. Pull the trigger. God knows I want you to.” She hit his stomach. “Shoot me.” She put her hand over the gun and pushed it to her forehead. “Shoot, damn it!”
The doorbell rang.
Travis glanced at the doorway and Susan took the gun and put it to her head.
“Mom, no!” He shook his hands out to her. “Please, don’t.”
“I can’t take it anymore, Travis.”
She stood. “I can’t take it.”
“Ah!” He slapped the gun out her hand and threw her on the bed.
“Let me go!”
“Sh.” He hugged her. “It’s okay, Susan.”
“No.” She waved her arms and legs. “I wanna die, Travis!”
A boom sounded from downstairs as if someone kicked open the front door. “Travis?” Winston shouted.
“Susan?” Connie yelled.
Their footsteps shook the house as they ran upstairs.
“Travis!” Winston ran inside the room and yanked him off Susan.
“Are you all right?” Connie rushed to Susan’s side.
“It’s not what you think.” Travis struggled in Winston’s arms. “You got the wrong idea. I wasn’t gonna hurt her.”
“Be still.” Winston locked Travis’ arms behind his back. “We know what you’ve done, Travis.”
Connie looked at Susan. “We know everything.”
“He killed Prisha.” Susan covered her mouth. “And, his father.”
“I did it for her.” Travis kicked toward the bed, crying. “I did all of it for her. I love you, Susan! I love you.”
Susan laid her head on Connie’s shoulder and wept.
****
Tran threw suspicious glances back at Dee as he escorted her and Lydia to Jonathan’s family room.
“Dee,” Lydia whispered. “Don’t do anything crazy.”
“Define crazy.”
They walked into the extravagant, brown and green room with checkered curtains and arched windows.
Jonathan rose from the chair, abandoning the book he was reading. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
Dee patted the gun in her pants pocket, trigger finger itching.
“You look beautiful, Deidra.” He took a deep breath between his words. “Lydia.” He slid his hand down his silky, gray shirt, smirking. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You want to know why I’m here?” Dee asked.
Jonathan approached them. “I already know why.”
Tran stood at the doorway, holding his breath.
“Because you know you belong here.” Jonathan showed a cocky smile. “Save your time and energy, admit the inevitable and come back, Deidra. What about your gorgeous sister here?” He stared at Lydia. “She can join The Circle too. I can’t wait to initiate her.”
Dee took out her gun. “Initiate this, Jonathan.”
Tran gasped, leaning forward.
“It’s okay, Tran.” Jonathan’s eyebrows rose, but he kept his grin. “Deidra won’t shoot me.”
“Oh no?” She shot at the antique table accented with Louis XVI chairs.
“What the...” Jonathan jumped, looking back and forth. “What the hell are you doing?”
She shot at the curtains, shattering the window.
Jonathan cackled, jumping. “She wants to play, Tran.”
“I’m getting security.” Tran swiftly turned on his heels.
“No, wait.” Jonathan guffawed. “I guess Deidra wants to scare me?”
She shot at his bare feet.
“Ah!” He skipped, missing the bullet.
Tran ran out the room as the women of The Circle gathered at the doorway.
Dee aimed the gun to Jonathan’s face.
The women shrieked.
“This is a warning.” Dee pressed the trigger. “Don’t call me or come near me again. Now, I’m gonna see that your ass goes to prison for what you did.”
He snickered. “I doubt I’ll see a day without proof.”
“Oh, I’ll have a witness.”
“Drop the charges, Deidra.” Jonathan held his waist. “Anyway, us being together is more important.” He reached for her and she shot at the ceiling, loosening the chandelier.
“Oh,” the women screamed, covering their mouths.
“She’s insane,” Asia whispered.
“You wanna test me, Jonathan?” Dee took bullets from her pocket, ready to feed them into the gun. “I can do this all night.”
He grinned. “You are an amazing woman.”
“I’m not letting you run my life. You have contact with me again beyond anything to do with the kidnapping and next time I shoot I won’t miss.”
“Let’s go, Dee.” Lydia grabbed Dee’s arm. “He gets the point.”
“Oh, I get the point.” Jonathan straightened his shirt. “Not sure it’s the one Deidra wanted me to get. I’m not afraid. A gun won’t keep me away from you.”
Tran walked in with two guards. “Leave or we’ll call the police and have you arrested, Detective Quarter.”
“And, if you get arrested for coming here that will throw a monkey wrench in your kidnapping case against me.” Jonathan straightened his collar. “Wouldn’t it?”
“He’s right, Dee,” Lydia said. “Let the law handle it.”
“I want Rena.” Dee glanced at Rena who stood behind the other women. “She’s coming with me.”
Jonathan’s face abandoned all amusement. “Rena’s not going anywhere.”
“Come on,” Dee yelled at her.
Rena peeked her head through the crowd.
“Come on.” Dee pulled her from the others. “You’re coming with me.”
“The hell she is.” Jonathan wobbled his head, squinting.
Rena shivered, avoiding eye contact from anyone.
Dee touched her shoulder. “You can leave with me now and you don’t have to be afraid.”
Jonathan stood wide-legged and crossed his arms. “Do you want to leave, Rena?”
She lowered her head and backed up toward the other women.
“Rena?” Dee sighed. “Come on.”
“She�
��s decided,” Jonathan said.
“Let’s go, Dee,” Lydia said. “She doesn’t want to leave.”
“This isn’t over.” Dee pointed at Jonathan who blew a kiss in return.
“Lydia.” Jonathan grabbed her wrist before she exited the room. “Stay and have fun. After you sample the goods I guarantee you’ll be begging to be a member of The Circle.”
“Get the fuck off her.” Dee pushed him. “Messing with me is one thing but if you fuck with my sister, there won’t be an army big enough to save your ass from me.”
“Ooh.” Jonathan mocked, faking a quiver. “Was that supposed to scare me or turn me on?”
“I’ll be seeing you again, Jonathan.” Dee moved Lydia in front of her, urging her toward the doorway. “In court.”
THE END
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READ CHAPTER ONE OF HAUNTED BOOK FOUR BELOW:
CHAPTER ONE
(One Month after Damaged Left Off)
“Someone, help!” Jonathan Wild scrambled through the first floor of the Baltimore clinic pulling the bloodied, half-naked woman by her arm. “Help!” He pushed through the crowded waiting room and rushed to the nurse at the front desk. “She needs help now.”
“What happened to her?” the nurse asked.
“I was driving, and she ran out into the street in front of my car. A man was chasing her.”
The nurse’s auburn eyebrows rose. “Can you describe the man?”
“I only saw a glimpse of his face. He was about my height, white and had an evil look with empty eyes.” Jonathan rubbed the girl’s matted, dirty-blonde hair. “She said he tried to kill her.”
The nurse ogled the woman. “What’s her name?”
“I don’t know her damn name. Does it matter what? She’s bleeding to death.”
“Okay.” The nurse hopped her fat ass out the chair and tromped from the counter. “Come with me, sweetie.” She took the woman’s shivering hand and led her from the room.
Another nurse got a clipboard with a thick form. “If a crime happened we’re obligated to call the police.”
“I already did and told them where I’d be.” Jonathan rubbed his forehead, realizing he’d gotten blood on his hands.
