Cataclysm (Four Horsemen #4)(92)

Then he was fucking her almost violently, pursuing his own end like there was nothing else in the world he needed more. He growled when he came, making Scarlett take it all. Take everything he had to offer her.

He released her and Scarlett collapsed on me, resting her face on my chest. The three of us were spent, all needing to catch our breath for a few long minutes.

Francis was the one who helped Scarlett up off the two of us as West shifted backwards. Drake had got out of the bath and unplugged it, draining the blood. The place was a mess, with blood all over the tiles. We were covered in it too. Drake stepped up to the shower and turned it on, rinsing the blood off him. We all took turns to do so, drying off and dressing again. We didn’t have time to linger now we’d done this. Not when we had shit to get on with.

Drake held Scarlett for a moment, whispering something in her ear and kissing her forehead before he looked up at us.

“We need to clean this room with bleach. I’m not taking any chances no matter what we’re planning on doing to the house.”

West and Francis disappeared to get us new gloves and cleaning supplies. Scarlett remained curled around Drake as if she needed his comfort and security. I went over to them and rubbed her back as she nuzzled her face on his chest.

“You’re okay, little wisp,” he murmured, “I’ve got you.”

I gave him a curious look.

“She just needs a minute,” he told me. “This is a lot, you know.”

I nodded. It had been. Her being back here in the place where she’d experienced so much pain. Whilst this might have been cathartic for her, it was also hurting her too.

I moved closer and pressed my face to her hair.

“You’re okay, sweetness, it’s almost over. We’re almost at the end now, okay? We can go home soon.”

She nodded and continued to hold on to Drake until West and Francis got back. Then the five of us cleaned the room, removing all traces of the blood and piled up all the towels and cleaning supplies into bags. We didn’t want to risk traces of us being found here.

We made our way downstairs and out to the cars, stuffing everything in the boot of one of them. Drake opened the other one and stared down at the large jerry cans we had in there. We lifted them out, setting them down in front of the house.

West had snagged his sledgehammer along the way and had it hoisted over his shoulder. He looked at Scarlett with a pensive expression on his face.

“You know the plan,” Drake said, picking up one of the jerry cans and unscrewing the cap. “We cover every room and the outbuildings. Make sure that barn is done too, okay?”

Inside those jerry cans was petrol Penn had sourced for us. It was all untraceable, so even if they suspected arson, and they would, there was no fucking way they would find out how we got hold of it.

“Scar will come with me,” West said, his tone brokering no objection. “We’ll do the outbuildings and join you in the house when we’re done.”

Scarlett looked up at him with a frown.

“Just don’t take too long,” Drake replied before striding off into the main house.

Francis and I picked up our own cans, watching Scarlett take one and follow West towards the outbuildings.

“What do you think he wants to do with her out there?” I asked as I walked into the house with Francis.

He shrugged.

“Fuck knows. This is West we’re talking about. Let’s just get this done, then we can leave. I’m sick of the sight and stench of this place already.”

I grinned. I was about done with this place too. And he was right. We should get this over with. Whatever West needed from Scarlett, I was sure it wouldn’t take up more time we didn’t have to waste after our little bit of fun with the blood bath. At least, I hoped. You never knew with West. I trusted Scarlett to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. She was the only one who could keep him in line.

“You’re right. Let’s get ready to burn this place down. I’m sick of it too.”

And with that, the two of us parted ways, each walking into opposite wings to cover the place in petrol. The blaze it would create would leave little trace of what we’d done here tonight.

Good fucking riddance.





Forty One


West





When we were out of earshot of the others, Scarlett turned her face towards me and gave me a look. I knew she was suspicious of why I’d asked her to come to coat the outbuildings in petrol with me.

“What?”

“You could do this bit by yourself, so why do you want me here?”

I adjusted the hammer on my shoulder.

“We went through the whole house, including your bedroom, and there was no room like the one you described. The concrete cell. I’m guessing it’s out here somewhere. I want you to show me. I need to see it.”

Maybe it was fucked up and twisted of me to force her to take me to her concrete prison. I had to see the place. Needed to know what she’d gone through. Seeing her bedroom wasn’t enough. Scarlett hadn’t wanted to go inside, so we hadn’t made her. She told us there was nothing for her other than memories of screaming at night and the metal bars across the windows. Her bedroom was on the ground floor of the family wing at the back of the house. It made me sick to see the bars keeping her inside. The whole place made me violent, but I was keeping a lid on it. I couldn’t afford to lose control when we had shit to do.