“I’m okay. This is a lot.” She shrugs slightly and I nod.
I won’t keep this going much longer. I can tell she’s exhausted and ready for it to be over. As much as I’d like to extend his torture for hours, maybe days, I know Kenz won’t be able to handle that. And after all the hell she’s been through, I’m not going to make her. I kiss Kenz’s cheek and turn back to face Bill.
“Anyway, as I was saying.” I walk over to the side of his chair and adjust it so he’s leaning back like in a recliner. I reach for his jeans that he changed into and unbutton and unzip them. He knows what’s coming with the portion of my story I’ve already told. I yank his pants down along with his underwear. “Tighty whities? Come on man, are you three?”
I put gloves on because I’m not touching his dick. Anger courses through my veins at the thought of it being inside McKenzie. I was supposed to be the only man she ever slept with and this asshole ruined that. I take the sharpest knife I have, grab his dick, and chop it off. He screams this time. Taking advantage of his open mouth, I shove his dick in his mouth. He gurgles around it, his eyes bulging so much he looks like a cartoon character. Rex is at my side, handing me a needle and thread. He holds the top of his head and the bottom of his chin, keeping his mouth closed.
I sew a few stitches, but not like with the other men. Only enough to give McKenzie time to kill him. Stepping back, I stare at him. He’s still moaning, blood pouring from his face, his arm, his fingernails, and now his groin. He’s a mess, so I bask in it for a moment.
Before I can say anything, my phone rings. Yanking the gloves off that I put on, I grab it and see it’s Felix.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“I got her boss. She needs a doctor. Do you think Dr. Chamberland is available?”
I glance toward the slumped body of the doctor. “No, he’s not. He’s no longer on my payroll. Take her to the Medical Center and ask for Dorothy.”
“Got it.” He hangs up, and I pocket my phone.
“We got Shay. You deserve so much worse than what you’re getting, but my wife wants to kill you and I’m going to let her.”
I turn to McKenzie. Her breathing has quickened and her eyes are wide. She’s not looking directly at Bill. She’s looking over his shoulder. I study her concern flitting up my spine.
“Kenz?” I say loudly so she’ll hear me. Her attention snaps to me.
She removes one of her earplugs. “I’m ready. I want to do it, then I want to get out of this room.”
“Kenz, this is something you’ll never be able to take back or undo. If you don’t think you’ll be able to handle it—”
“Phoenix, I can handle it. I’m sick of men telling me what I can and can not do. I’m sick of being lied to and taken advantage of. I’m sick of it and I want him to pay for what he did to me and Shay and probably other women.” She gestures to Bill, but I know I’m included in that sentence. I’ve lied to her and taken advantage of her feelings for me, but somehow she still loves me. I don’t deserve her.
She puts the earplug back in her ear. I hand her my gun and she takes it, weighing it in her hands. “You know how to shoot. I took you to practice quite a bit after the first time you were taken, so instinct should take over even if you can’t remember it. Aim between his eyes and shoot.”
She nods once and steps forward, standing in front of Bill. Rex has moved behind us and I stand next to McKenzie, letting her feel my support and also letting her know I’m here if she decides she can’t follow through with it. She stares at Bill for several seconds. “I hope you rot in hell.” Then she lifts the gun, points it between his eyes and shoots twice.
Chapter 30
Mcenzie
My body sways slightly and I open my eyes enough to see Phoenix lifting me from the SUV. I lay my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me into the house. I’m exhausted and feel so dirty. No one speaks as we enter the house, and Phoenix carries me up the stairs. He walks into our room and directly to the bathroom.
He sits me down gently on the bathroom counter and kisses my forehead. “I’m going to warm up the shower.” He keeps his voice low as he steps back, making sure I don’t crumple from exhaustion. He yanks the T-shirt off he put on before leaving the warehouse and throws it in the laundry basket.
His muscles ripple beneath his skin as he leans into the shower and turns it on, closes the door, and walks back over to me. He grips the camisole I wore tonight, so I raise my hands as he takes it off and throws it on top of his shirt. His fingers trace the collar around my throat before reaching inside his jeans and taking the key out of his wallet.
I recoil at the thought of him taking it off. In such a short amount of time, I’ve become attached to it. “I’ll put it back on after we take a shower,” he promises. I nod once and sit up so he can unlock it. Exhaustion and sadness overwhelms me as tears begin to stream down my face.
“If only I had it before.” I choke on the words and Nix gathers me in his arms, trying to comfort me. When he realizes my sobs aren’t going to stop anytime soon, he pulls back slightly and finishes undressing, then helps me out of my jeans. He lifts me in his arms again and walks into the shower with me. He puts us directly under the stream of the water.
I sag into him as the warm water washes away the grime, sweat, and blood. My body shakes with the sobs wracking through my body. I’m not crying over what we did to that asshole. I’m crying for innocence lost, for all the women he hurt, and for the memories I still don’t have.
Nix is like an anchor in the middle of my storm. He holds me tight and doesn’t waver. Our relationship may have started on rocky ground, but he chose me. That’s all I wanted. He chose me over his mother, even over his own morals. Morals he swears he doesn’t have, but I know him. He is good. I don’t care what hesays. He is good and I will spend the rest of my life showing him that.
My sobs finally lessen, and I look up at Nix. My husband. The love of my life. He returns my gaze, those piercing blue eyes focused solely on me. “I love you.” The relief in his eyes breaks my heart. I lift my hand and rub it along his jaw. “You checked in with me multiple times tonight. You have no idea how much I needed that. And you got rid of two men that did awful things to me and so many other women. You chose me.”
He rests his forehead on mine and pushes my wet hair over my shoulder. “I’ll always choose you. Always.” He kisses me softly.
When he pulls away, I slump even more in his arms. Exhaustion is going to pull me under any moment now. Nix grabs my shampoo and turns me around. He washes my hair while massaging my temples. Then he grabs my loofah and body wash and proceeds to wash me. He massages my spine and shoulders, trying to ease the tension in my muscles.
