Freed (Bad Boy Hitman Romance) (53 page)

Chapter 27

Tanner

 
“I’d really like to go with you.” Emily gave me a disappointed look.

I frowned. “You know you can’t. I’m really sorry.” And I meant it. Having her company while I ran errands would certainly make the tasks more enjoyable. “If someone recognized you there would be trouble.” Reaching out, I ran my thumb along her lower lip. “I’ll figure out a way for you. Okay?”
Once your father is dead and six feet under, that is
, I silently added. I supposed that not telling her what I knew about her father would technically be lying, and up until that point I’d been very diligent with keeping things open and honest, but there are some things you just can’t tell someone. This was one of them. I was leaning towards calling in a favour with Flynn and having it done for me; she didn’t need to know the ugly truth about dear old Dad. I’d let her spend her life thinking he was the man she’d grown up believing his was.
 

She nodded, but then frowned. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course.” I cocked my head to the side, eyeing her with scrutiny, “Why do you ask?”

“Seems like you have something on your mind.”

“No.” Giving my head a shake, I leaned down and kissed her. “I’ll be back in a bit.” Turning, I exited the house and made my way to my Mustang sitting in the driveway, pulling the car keys from the pocket of my leather jacket. I didn’t bother making her wear the collar or locking her up. She’d stay. I was as confident in that assumption as I was my next breath; she’d had plenty of opportunities to leave and never had.

There was something about the way things had progressed between us since the day she’d whipped me, quite literally, nearly to death that I loved. I won’t lie, there was still that gnawing need at the back of my mind that wanted me to grab her around the neck and squeeze as she clawed at my hand, but it was manageable. Of course, unbeknownst to her, that dark part of me was plotting her father’s murder, which certainly helped keep the beast at bay.

But the bottom line was…it was manageable. She was pleasing me in a way that I hadn’t even considered I’d want to be pleased, with her unconditional love and affection. She hadn’t said the words, but I saw it in the way she looked at me. And that look that she gave me, that look of love and affection, was becoming more powerful than her tears or screams.

She was changing me and I was okay with that.

Was I on the road to being able to love her back? I didn’t have an answer for that question. What I did know was that I couldn’t be without her and would do whatever I could to make her happy and keep her at my side – aside from letting her go.

Turning on the car, I made my way to the iron gates blocking anyone from coming or going without being buzzed in. Punching in the code at the keypad, I waited as the gates creaked open and I drove through. The drive into Portland was close to a half hour; I hadn’t been exaggerating when I’d told her that the house was out in the middle of nowhere. Just as I was approaching the grocery store I always frequented, it occurred to me that I’d forgotten the damned list Emily had given me of things she wanted and needed. Sitting in the parking lot of the grocery store, I debated whether I should go back or not. With a sigh, I put the car back into gear and headed back home. Emily had spent close to a week nursing me back to health and she’d never asked for a thing. She damned well deserved whatever it was on that list.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Emily

I’d made my way into the bedroom to take a shower and get ready for Tanner’s return. Tanner had bought me several dresses and I figured that he’d be pleasantly surprised to see I’d gone to the effort to dress up for him. I hadn’t mentioned my desire to him yet, but I’d like to go buy some new clothes, something I rarely ever got even before he’d taken me; even if it was to go online and pick some things out.

Unbuttoning the shirt I was wearing, I was pulling it off when I heard a soft crinkling sound. Reaching into the front pocket of the shirt, I produced the list of the items I wanted him to pick up for me. My heart sank. I didn’t need the things on the list, it was mostly some books and feminine products, including a perfume I’d always wanted, but Father wouldn’t allow me to use perfume. But having them would have been nice.

I was crumpling the list up in my fist when the doorbell rang. I was actually startled upon hearing the doorbell. It never rang; this was actually the first time aside from the day of the auction that I’d heard it.

Hmmm.
I hesitated. Should I answer it? Maybe it was Tanner and his key wouldn’t work or something. With a shrug, I quickly buttoned the shirt back up as I made my way to the front door and without bothering to look through the window flung the door open and gasped.

“Father.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. Surely I was dreaming.

“Emily.”

“Oh my, Father.” I threw myself into his arms. He hugged me, but as usual it wasn’t a tight fatherly hug like most girls got from their dads, but more of a formal embrace before he stepped away.

 
“I see you’re not injured.” Releasing me, he took a step back and his eyes scanned me, his face contorting into a look of disgust. “And WHAT are you wearing?”

I looked down at myself, a flush colouring my cheeks. This certainly wasn’t the outfit of a decent Christian girl. I was only wearing Tanner’s button-down shirt, which was way too big for me. Nothing else, not even panties. I’d gotten so used to it just being me and Tanner that my attire hadn’t even registered to me when I’d answered the door. A rush of shame washed over me and I took a step back. “I. Father. I can explain.”

“We’re been worried sick and for what? So you can whore yourself to some disgusting flesh-peddler!” His look of disgust contorted into rage.

“I…Father. You don’t understand…” Why was he acting like this? Shouldn’t he be happy to see me? He advanced on me and I took a step back. I don’t know why I stepped back; this was my father. But something wasn’t right about his demeanor. I’d seen him at his angriest, but he’d never looked like this. His expression of cold rage. He was looking at me as if I disgusted him.

“You’ve given him your virtue.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me roughly to him. “You’ve spread your legs and are now impure.” With his free hand he grabbed my chin, staring down into my eyes. “Haven’t you?”

Tears sprang to my eyes and began to stream down my cheeks as I choked on a sob. I didn’t understand. “Daddy, what’s going on? It wasn’t my fault. He forced me.”

“DON’T LIE TO ME!” he bellowed, releasing my chin and slapping me open-palmed.

I wasn’t sure what stung worse – the left side of my face or my heart. Why wouldn’t he give me a moment to explain? Why wouldn’t he…

His words broke through my thoughts. “You’re not chained. Not bound. You spread your legs and spoiled yourself while your family worried. You’ve shamed me and your family. Don’t dare lie to me, girl.”

“But—”

His fist drew back, then collided with my face. I groaned as the world went black.

~*~*~*~*~

Tanner

Maybe I should just take her with me. A ball cap and sunglasses and maybe she wouldn’t be spotted. It wasn’t like people would be expecting a missing person roaming the mall looking for clothes with her boyfriend. As cute as she looked in my T-shirts, I knew she’d like her own clothing, and some sexy lingerie wouldn’t hurt either.

Pulling up to the door, I got out of the car and jogged to the front door. Pulling out my keys with one hand, I put my hand on the knob with my other and to my surprise it turned easily in my hand. I frowned. I’d told her to keep the door locked, hadn’t I? Thought I had.

Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck began to rise. Something was wrong. I don’t know why I knew it, but I just did. My years had taught me to trust my instincts and my gut was telling me to proceed with caution.

Slowly closing the door I rushed back to the car, opened the glove compartment and grabbed the pistol from inside. Double checking that it was loaded, as quietly as possible I closed the car door and made my way back to the house. But I didn’t enter the front door. If something was wrong they’d be expecting me in through the front, assuming I wouldn’t know something was up.

Had Flynn sent men to kidnap Emily and use her as leverage to get me to work for him? It certainly wasn’t outside the realm of possibilities. Maybe the business associates of the man I’d killed a couple of weeks back had come back to seek revenge. Damn. I had so fucking many enemies and now that I had Emily in my life they had a way to hurt me.

I just wouldn’t let that happen. I’d pull a Lance Winters and make us completely scarce if that was what it took. It wasn’t like I needed them anymore; we could just go away. Start over. It didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Going around back, I unlocked the door to the basement and snuck in through that way, into the wine cellar. I’d kill whoever it was who’d dared come to my house. If they hurt Emily I’d make them suffer before allowing them the privilege of death. Something awoke in me as I quietly made my way through, something that I’d been keeping at bay for Emily’s benefit, and it felt damned good to unleash the monster inside me. The chase, the thrill, the eventual torture and kill.

Exiting the wine cellar, I stood and listened. After a moment of listening I heard a faint murmuring, more of a grunt. Someone was gagged. Emily was gagged. Rage filled me. Someone had had the nerve to bind and gag MY Emily. The sound was coming from my showroom.

Then voices, or a voice, rather. A male voice. I cursed as I strained to hear, but couldn’t make out what was being said. Then a scream. The gag muffled the scream, but I knew very well what a gagged scream sounded like. I had to resist the intense urge to go storming into the showroom. I had to be smart. Whoever had her was hardly stupid; the fact they’d got onto the property and into the house said that.

The door to the showroom was open. I could see the light streaming into the darkened hallway from the room. Keeping the gun ready, I crept to the end of the hallway and to the corner. Crouching, I peered around the corner and my entire body tensed to see the good pastor and Emily. Emily was naked and strapped down on her back onto one of the platforms. He’d already made one cut into her chest. I assumed it was the first 3 in his signature. He was crouched behind her, the blade close to her neck. I could shoot him, but if I did and he fell backwards…

I cringed. I didn’t even want to imagine the “what if’s”.

So then what? Wait? Hope I get a good shot before she bled out or before he finished his work on her? Or try to reason with him?

When he poised the knife at her chest again, intent on marking the 1 in her flesh, I couldn’t stay in the shadows any longer. There was no way I could continue watching him mark her, not because of my own vanity but because I couldn’t bear see her suffer like that. I’d have to talk to him, attempt to outwit him and hope for an opportunity. It was the only way.

“I wouldn’t do that.” I entered the room with more bravado then I felt and pointed the gun at his head. It was an easy shot. One pull of the trigger and Pastor William would be reunited with his maker, if that was what he really believed, I would wager a guess that he didn’t. I’d wager his holy routine was smoke and mirrors.