Into Darkness (Whitsborough Chronicles Book 2)

by C. A. Rene

  “Give me your phone.” I stick my hand out to her, “now.”

  She hands it over with a shaking hand and I proceed to give her phone the same treatment as Shay’s. Only this time I pocket her SIM card and I smash the phone under my shoe.

  “Where’s your laptop?” I ask.

  “There.” She points to her desk with a whimper.

  I walk over to her desk and sit down, she’s amazingly quiet and it’s nothing like the Marlana I know. I guess us being here in her room without anyone to help her is scary. I proceed to open her cloud and enter the virus Carm taught me then I put it on her laptop as well. Everything she ever had saved or downloaded on there is gone. Then when I double check to make sure it’s done I smash my fist through the screen. I don’t register the pain. I stand up abruptly and exit through her window. If I stay there any longer I might kill the bitch.

  I pull out my phone and fire off a quick text to Carm.

  Me: Set me up with a fight tmr night. The same kind Father did.

  OffspringDelDiablo: You sure?

  Me: Yes. C U soon.

  13

  It’s been a long drive but Vin did most of it. He was nervous about me driving his baby, so he literally slept one hour and drove the rest of the way. He is currently sleeping in the lush master bedroom of this very impressive condo. It has three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Each bedroom houses a king-sized bed with lush down covers and satin sheets. Robert was a master at throwing his money around. The floor to ceiling windows all over the penthouse condo is breathtaking, and we have a gorgeous unobstructed view of the Empire State Building. Tonight, the lights on it illuminate in soft blues.

  As you can imagine, all appliances and electronics in this place are top of the line and even the windows have some sort of casing on it that it can shift to block the sun at the press of a button. I’m still having a hard time adjusting to wealth like this. Being so close to the only other home I’ve known is reminding me that I didn’t come from this sort of lifestyle. Hunt’s Point is about twenty minutes from here so I can be there and back within two hours and I can bet Vin will still be sound asleep. My phone pings with a message. Finally.

  OffspringDelDiablo: A car is downstairs.

  I don’t bother to answer him and grab one of the three sets of keys on the hook. I sneak my way out of the condo without making a sound. Not that Vin would hear me in this massive fucking place. Did I mention there are only two penthouses on this floor? Yeah, Robert sure loved his life decadent.

  I’m dressed in my usual fighting attire, black leggings and a black sports bra with a hoodie on top. I taped my hands so that I didn’t need to waste more time when I got there. I’m literally going just for the last fight and I will always be the showcase fight from now on.

  There’s a blacked-out sedan idling on the street and I know that’s for me. I slide into the backseat and the driver turns to give me a once over.

  “Hey Blur.” He nods, “I’m excited to have you back.”

  I nod back my acknowledgement, he pulls out onto the street and we’re on our way to the warehouse. The warehouse that leads to the underground ring. The place I spent a week in captivity and the place where I killed my father. I should be feeling some sort of trepidation now right? Would it be so terrible if all I had thrumming through my veins was excitement and anticipation? I know, so fucked up.

  The twenty minutes flies by and I’m being led into the warehouse that will bring me down to the ring. As the elevator doors open, I come face to face with Carm and Emmett.

  “Hermana,” Carm purrs, “we are happy to see you.”

  “Who am I fighting?” I nod to them both.

  “He’s a known child abuser from up in Melrose. Beats on his stepson while the mother gets doped up on crack. The Office of Children and Family Services apparently doesn’t deem him a threat, even though the kid has been in the hospital three times already this month.”

  “This won’t come back to you?” I ask.

  “Nah, one of the Heads in that area is related to the mother, a cousin I think. He’s the one that came forward when I put the word out about this fight. He’s here to watch tonight, so don’t disappoint.”

  I couldn’t disappoint if I tried, I’m literally vibrating with pent up anger from the whole Marlana and Shay situation. I can’t kill either of them so I might as well kill someone else who deserves it. The elevator lurches as we descend to the bottom, and I feel the excitement grow in my belly. The spectators enter in through a large set of doors on the front and descend down a steep staircase, they don’t get to use the same entrance as the fighters in case someone tries to pull some shady shit.

  “Why did you call for this fight?” I turn and look at my twin, his eyes shining with what could be concern.

  “It was either come here and release this shit inside or I end up in jail for murdering schoolgirls.” I retort.

  Carm chuckles and claps Emmett on the back, Emmett rolls his eyes and looks back to his phone.

  We exit into a hallway and I’m led back into the closet sized room I’ve been in for every one of my fights. Carm shuts me in and tells me to warm up as he and Emmett stand outside the door. Huh, it’s weird to have brothers and to have them be somewhat protective. I run through all my warmups and I hear ‘Bodies’ by Drowning Pool start, my theme song. There’s a knock on the door and I pull my hoodie over my head. The door swings in and Carm is motioning me to move. I follow him to the ring with the crowd screaming wild for me. The rush of adrenaline is so intoxicating and I can’t wait to sink my fists into some flesh.

  I run up the four steps and enter the cage, I throw my hoodie back and stare into the eyes of the man across from me. He’s about mid to late thirties, Caucasian with stringy brown hair. He’s tall and built which pisses me off to know he beats on a child. His eyes are dodgy as they skim over me and then out to the crowd, I know he didn’t choose to be here and I know he was told the rules. Kill or be killed.

  He gives me another sweep from head to toe and snorts out loud. “Seriously?!” He screams out to the crowd, “this is what you send in to fight me?”

  I don’t bother to address him since I will have him laying flat without a heartbeat in no time anyways. Why converse with the dead? This isn’t a cemetery. I yank off my hoodie and throw it into the corner. He does another roam of my body and I see his eyebrows raise. That’s right motherfucker, I’m stacked for a girl huh? And these scars are battle wounds you cunt.

  “Okay guys! This is your showcase tonight! We have Blur back in the building,” the crowd screams and the MC has to pause, “and she is fighting… Child Beater!”

  “What the fuck?” My opponent snarls.

  “The rules are different for this round. Tonight, these two must… fight to the death!”

  I do some jumps on the spot to get my blood pumping and keep my muscles limber. I notice this guy now has a smirk on his face as he leers at me. “Did you hear them little girl? I’m a child beater.”

  Again, I ignore the prick and as soon as the whistle blows I’m on him. I rush at him and watch as his right fist comes out to hit my face, amateur. I dodge and slam my right fist into his ribcage, then I pivot on my right foot and get behind him before he has a chance to recover. I hit him twice in the kidney and once in the back of his neck. He stumbles forward and turns around quickly with a snarl.

  My vision goes red and I give him an answering snarl as I rush forward again, he once more tries to hit me with a right hook and I once again dodge it and slam him with an uppercut to his chin. His teeth bite through his lip and his blood sprays forward onto my face. It rages me on further and I hit him with a left hook and watch as he hits the mat with a thump. Quickly, I jump on him and pummel his face with both fists, I feel his cartilage crunch and his skin break open under my fists. It doesn’t stop me though because the warmth of his blood running down my arms just fuels me on.

  I grab a hold of his shirt and pull him
up while I stand, then I get behind him and I drop to one knee, bringing him back down with me. I wrap my arms around his head and lean my mouth against his ear.

  “This is for the kid you’ve been using as a punching bag. Say hello to the Devil and tell him I’ll be seeing him.”

  Then with a push and pull motion I snap his neck and he drops to the mat… dead.

  I barely register the crowd as they scream and shout my name. I grab my sweater and quickly exit the cage behind Carm and Emmett. They lead me down a familiar hallway and I’m back in the room I spent a week in.

  “I thought you would want to shower before you go back, and there’s a change of clothes for you.” Carm states.

  “Yeah, cool.” I reply.

  “Ember, you were fucking scary in that cage.” Emmett breathes.

  “Once we start training, I will make sure you are too.” I tell him, holding my fist out for a bump.

  He stares at the blood coating it but doesn’t flinch as he bumps my fist with his, step one-not afraid to get blood on his hands-pass. I head into the shower to wash off the blood and change. When I get out I follow Carm back up to the top. The elevator ride is quiet.

  “Hey, so tomorrow you will be back? To train with Emmett?” He breaks the silence.

  “Yeah, I need the training too.”

  “Okay, cool.”

  “I’ll be bringing Vin, it’s time he meets you guys.”

  “Okay, that’s cool.” He says with a nod.

  The elevator doors open and I follow Carm out onto the street, the same sedan and driver is there waiting for me.

  “Alright, get in.” He says, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I step towards the car, but I am halted when I hear his voice.

  “I got her from here.”

  I turn around and look into a very angry set of moss green eyes.

  Oh, fuck.

  14

  She’s sitting quietly in the Hummer as I drive back towards the condo. I’ve always been a light sleeper and I heard her the second she left. I didn’t bother to chase her down and demand her to tell me where she was going, instead I followed her. I trailed the sedan all the way to a deserted warehousing district and when I saw the crowds entering I had a feeling of what I was walking into. I paid the one-hundred-dollar admittance fee and followed everyone into an underground fighting ring.

  There was a fight going on as I came in and it didn’t look to be what anyone was really interested in. People drank their beers and chatted amongst themselves as I stood at the far back wall and tried to catch a glimpse of my fucking girlfriend.

  “Blur is here tonight, bro.” I hear a guy in front of me say.

  “That’s why I’m here, I only come when Blur is fighting.” His friend replies.

  “Were you here the last fight? When she wouldn’t fight the guy?”

  “Yeah well, it looked like that guy was already beaten to a pulp. Then he gets shot in the head. I scrambled out of here so fast.”

  The song ‘Bodies’ started playing and the crowd went mad, effectively shutting up the guys in front of me. I watched as they threw some crackhead looking guy in the ring and then from the corner of my eye I saw Ember-or should I say Blur- heading for the ring. In front of her were two guys although I couldn’t see their faces. She had her hoodie pulled over her face but I would know that walk anywhere.

  When the MC announced that it was to the death I lost my shit. This guy was a certified crackhead and I know how unpredictable fucking crackheads could be, I’ve had my fair share of them. I tried to push the crowd to get to the front but it was impossible. I had to watch and pray my girl made it out. Which she did within ten minutes, but when I watched her take that man’s life, there was no life in her eyes.

  “What happened to Tommy, Ember?” I ask her, breaking the silence in the vehicle.

  “Carm shot him in the head, it was either me or Tommy.” She whispers.

  “Carm is the half brother?”

  “The one you saw me with tonight.” She nods.

  “Is Ray your father?”

  “Yes,” she takes a deep breath, “he was, but his name was Raphael, and I killed him.”

  I park the Hummer in the parking lot of the condo and turn to look at her in my seat. I feel like my chest is going to explode. “What happened? What did he try to do to you?”

  “He made me fight to the death after capturing me at the theater, I wanted to escape, to come back to you but he changed those plans.” She says softly.

  “How so?”

  “He was the Kingpin for The Eastside Rampage and my mother was the informant that put him in jail for fifteen years. When he got out he caused the fire that killed her and almost killed me. When he confessed that to me I knew I was going to kill him.”

  I’m stunned into silence and I get why she didn’t tell me what happened. She was worried I would see her differently and she’s right in a way I do. I see her as a survivor regardless of what she’s doing to make sure she survives.

  “Okay, but why the fight tonight? Why kill someone?” I ask her.

  “That was a known child abuser, I was helping a kid who couldn’t help himself.” She retorts.

  “Why Ember? Why did you come here to fight?”

  “I need to release, okay? Because if I don’t I’m going to end up killing people who do stupid shit towards me or my family.” She yells into her hands. I know that feeling.

  “Let’s go upstairs, you must be beat.”

  “That’s it?” She looks at me questioningly, “you still want to be with me?”

  “Ember, I told you before, this is unconditional. I don’t have a choice anymore.” I shake my head, “I will love you forever, no matter what you do.”

  “This won’t be the last one,” she whispers. “I can’t stop yet.”

  “What are you going to be? A saviour for people who can’t save themselves?”

  She looks deep into my eyes and I watch as a grin slowly crosses her gorgeous mouth. Fuck, I think I just gave her a way to kill people and be happy about it.

  “Come on,” I get out of the vehicle. “Let’s get some sleep.”

  We get into the elevator and she turns to wrap her arms around my waist. I run my hands up her back and feel how small she is, sure she has muscles but you would never guess a killer lives in this skin.

  “Will you come meet Carm tomorrow?” She looks up into my face, “and Emmett?”

  “Emmett?”

  “It’s a long story, but he’s my twin brother.”

  Holy fuck, can this get any more fucking convoluted? Just when I think I have the information down and digested, she stuffs more at me. She sees the confusion on my face and takes my hand to lead us back to the condo. Once inside she grabs us each a beer from a very stocked fridge and we sit at the large dining table.

  “I’m just as confused,” she admits. “I still have no idea why my mother never said a damn thing. Not about Raphael and not about Emmett. How do you just live your life knowing you have another child out there?”

  “Are you sure he is who they’re saying he is?” I take a swig of beer.

  “Fuck yes, it’s like looking in a fucking mirror.” She breathes.

  “Did you ask him or Carm? They must know something.”

  “They don’t, Emmett was raised by Carm since Raphael was in jail. And Carm says he never knew who I was or who Emmett’s mother was until the night I was captured.”

  “There must’ve been a reason your mother did what she did.”

  “There’s no excuse for abandoning your child.” She says, downing her beer in two gulps. “Let’s get some sleep.”

  I nod and follow her into the monster of a master bedroom. Robert had no problem spending his money on unnecessary luxury things. We both strip down to nothing and climb into the lush bed. We don’t spare any more words and I make love to the girl who was made for me.

  We’re back at
this abandoned warehouse with the massive underground compound. Ember told me this is where the gang operates from and that her father lived here and held her mother captive here as well. As soon as we are out of the car, two very large guys pat us down and lead us down into the depths of Hell. I know I sound overly dramatic but fuck, this place reeks of blood and desperation.

  We’re led into a large office and the guy I saw with Ember last night is sitting behind it. He’s a big guy, he’s my height but where I’m built this motherfucker is stacked. His neck looks like a fucking cobra, and I’m slightly jealous. Looks like I’ll need extra gym sessions.

  He stands up from the desk and comes around to the front, I watch as he wraps Ember in a one-armed hug and then reaches his hand out to me.

  “Hey,” we shake hands. “I’m Carmelo.”

  “Vin.”

  Then a side door inside the office opens and in walks a guy, and I know how I must look because my jaw is fucking unhinged. When Ember told me, he was her mirror image I thought maybe she was exaggerating, but no, if my girl cut off her hair they would have the exact same head. She chuckles and nudges me with her shoulder.

  “Told ya.” She snickers.

  Emmett stays standing across the room and gives me a slight nod, from what I can see his personality is nothing like Ember’s. He seems more subdued and quieter, where she is upfront and in your face.

  “I’m going to do some combat and knife training with Emmett today.” Ember says.

  “Alright, should I come back to get you later?”

  “Do you like to shoot?” Carm asks me.

  “Yeah.” I shrug.

  “How about you and I do some gun range? And if you’re any good I will let you take your pick from our arsenal.”

  “Okay, cool.” I shrug.

  I watch as Ember goes back through the side door with her twin, she glances back at me and gives me a soft smile. I’m not comfortable being here, if I’m being honest, being caught up in any gang life isn’t safe. Ember is more than caught up though, and I would never leave her to do it on her own.