Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(37)

“Close, but no.” He laughed. “I wanted you to see some of the destruction she caused, as well as a few of her records I managed to get. Some places should have a better security system if they want to keep records off the grid.”

They went over the papers as he watched them. Marc would read them, then hand them to Jonny. Sebastian was happy for them both, especially his brother. No one had ever dreamed that he’d find someone else. Sebastian was going to be the best mate he could be if he ever found his. He had been keeping mental notes on what he noticed his brothers did to both piss off their own mates as well as what made them smile. Jonny by far smiled the most.

“It says here that she’s living in Jersey with her father. Do you have any idea where she really is?” Jonny asked. Sebastian nodded. “Let me guess, the house I was in.”

“Yes. She’s been there for nearly two years according to DMV records. Then last year she was supposed to get her licenses renewed but couldn’t. It doesn’t say why.” He had an idea it had something to do with the hit and run she’d killed someone in and never spent any jail time over, but he would let them find that. “Jonny, I think you should learn to fire a gun. She’s going to come for you, and the more prepared you are, the better chance you stand of living.”

“No. If I take the bitch out, it’s going to be by my own hands. She wanted my cat, so she’s f*cking going to get it.” Sebastian looked at Marc. He looked as nervous as he felt. Jonny wasn’t as timid as she first appeared.

~~~

Roy was ready to take what he had and leave the country. His latest dealings with Anita a week ago had ended with him being tied to his bed while she beat him with a whip and a bat. He shivered when he thought of what she’d done to him—all the things she’d done to him—and he shifted in his chair.

She’d walked into his office like she owned the place. He had been going over ideas on how to make it up to the people that were screaming at him and threatening him with a lawyer. His only solution was to simply disappear. He’d been about to tell her that when she came around behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her affection soon turned violent and she slammed his head down on the desk twice before he lost consciousness. When he woke, he felt terror like he’d never felt in his life.

She’d gotten him to his bedroom. He had no idea how she’d done it, but there he had been. A gag ball had been strapped to his mouth, and he’d been naked and on his belly. He tried to jerk from the cuffs at his wrists and ankles, but all he managed to do was tear into his skin. He glanced down at the bandages there and knew that they covered nine stitches. It was nothing compared to his back and legs.

He had no idea how long he’d been in the room with her. He knew that there were times when he simply wanted her to kill him, begged her to hurt him. But she’d only hit him more and harder, never once saying a single word to him the entire time. Every time he blacked out, he’d wake to find her lying next to him masturbating.

When he woke, as it turned out three days later, she was gone and he was loose. There was a note beside him, and he struggled to read it until finally things came into focus. His body was wracked with pain, and when he read her words, he knew that it was her or him. Reaching for the bedside phone, he’d called the only man he knew who could help him. An hour later, he was in a special hospital being treated. And Anthony Kidd was seated next to his bed the entire time.

“Can’t do this again.” Anthony nodded. “Have to leave before she kills me. If I don’t, she’ll kill me.”

“I understand. And I’m sorry, Roy. But I’ll take care of her. This is my mess and I’ll take care of it. You simply wait for me.”

Roy handed him the note he still had in his hand. He read it aloud.

“When I find my daddy dearest and get all his money, I’m coming back for you. Both of you will suffer much more than this little slapping around I’ve given you. Love you so much, A.”

Anthony lowered his head and began to cry. Great sobbing came from him as he sat there with the note in his hand. The doctor at his back never said a word, but handed him a box of tissues and went back to work. Roy could only watch Anthony in stunned silence. When he lifted his head, Roy thought he looked like he’d aged ten years in just those few moments.

“I’ll take care of this. You just let me know when you find her or she comes back to you. I’ll have a team standing by. Also, you won’t be able to live in this area for the rest of your life when I’m done. So you’d better have all your affairs in order before she gets to you. You’re going to take the fall for killing her. It’s the least you can do for me.”

Roy nodded. And armed with a few hundred pain pills and a nurse to come by twice a day to change the dressing, he was sent home. The bedroom that he’d been held in was completely empty of everything, including his clothes. He found them in the room down the hall, dry cleaning bags still on them, and his other clothing in bundles on the bed. And something else he’d noticed; not one thing that belonged to Anita was anywhere in the house.

That had been two days ago and he’d not seen her since. There were others around the house now that hadn’t been there before. The cook was new and wore a gun on her hip, and the men who worked in the yard seemed to trim the same bushes every day. He didn’t care so long as they kept him from being killed.