Night Fury: Second Act

  With his lips against me, he mumbles, “You’re a good girl, Cat.”

  And with that, he turns and walks away, leaving me feeling warm and happy, and unusually Christian-like.

  Chapter Nine

  “How many times must I tell you to watch what you say? We have guests,” Ari hisses heatedly.

  Frankie rolls her eyes. “Okay, Ms Partypooper. Chill out, will you? No one’s even in here.”

  The two would-be nuns, totally dressed the part, keep me company while I bake. They’ve already spotted the bags under my eyes and made obnoxious comments that people who care about you just do. I decide to tell them about my little night adventure with Xavier.

  Moving around the kitchen, gathering ingredients from here and there, I try to work it in. “How about cranberry white choc muffins today? You think Tomas will eat them? I hope he does. You know, maybe I should wait for him to get up. He might like to help me cook. I should clean the workbench. Speaking of cleaning, I helped Xavier bathe this morning around five a.m. Do you think he’d like cranberry white choc muffins?”

  When neither of them says anything, I peek up to find them both gaping at me.

  My cheeks begin a slow burn. “Well?”

  Frankie blinks then chuckles, “You just threw that in there, huh? Like we wouldn’t notice?”

  My shoulders slump. I look up, sheepishly. “I was kind of hoping. Yeah.”

  Ari smiles softly, standing gracefully behind the counter. “What has happened to your gung-ho attack on the boy?”

  Honesty is best with these two. I tip flour into a bowl, add butter and begin to crumble it together with my fingertips. “If it makes you feel any better, I punched him too.”

  Frankie cackles. “What the hell did you get up to last night? I should change your codename to Night Chaos.”

  I look to Frankie and put on the stupidest laugh I can muster. I mutter sarcastically, “You’re, like, so funny.”

  Ari prompts, “Well?”

  I sigh, “I actually went to his room to yell at him. I told him in not so many words that he was a horrible person and an even worse brother. And you know what he told me?” They look at me intently. “That everything he’s doing, he does for Tomas. Because he loves him.” I use my upper arm to scratch my chin. “I guess I just realised that we have a common interest is all. And if he’s really doing what he’s doing for Tomas, then he’s okay with me. I’ll help him. I want to help him.”

  Frankie and Ari both smile my way.

  Someone clears their throat. Xavier shuffles into the kitchen looking pale, body trembling. His cheeks look sunken. Probably more so because he’s shaved. His left hand clutches his right hand. “A little help?”

  Red seeps through his fingers. My face falls.

  Frankie and Ari rush forward. A cacophony of conversation begins.

  “What happened?”

  “What have you done, my boy?”

  “Oh, Xavier. Why?” Frankie sighs while getting the paper towels off the counter.

  I stand there with my hands in my crumble. When Ari moves to get the first aid kit, I see it.

  He’s cut himself. No. Not cut himself. But cut himself. Purposely. Deep gouges made with only God knows what line his inner arm. He looks up at me. Through me.

  My heart sinks.

  Frankie and Ari attend to him as he and I stare at each other. His eyes communicate with me. I hear his voice in my head. “Judge me. I dare you.”

  My eyes speak back to him. “I’m not judging you. Just trying to understand you.”

  Hands caked with batter, I stand there helpless, watching the two women fawn over him. The more I stand there, the more I think. My heart begins to pound and suddenly, anger courses through me. Before I can stop myself, my lip curls. “You’d better hope to God you better yourself, Xavier.” My eyes burn into his. I grit my teeth and vow, “Because I swear to you, if you don’t get your shit together, I’ll take Tomas from you myself.”

  His body stiffens. His eyes blaze.

  It all happens so fast.

  Pushing Frankie and Ari aside with as much force as he can muster, he rushes over to me. It’s such a shock that I forget to protect myself, because I’m sure I won’t need to. Eyes wide, I feel his body crash into mine with such force that I’m knocked on my ass, my mixing bowl overturned, a resounding boom echoing through the walls of the room.

  He roars down at me, “I fucking dare you, bitch. I will fucking kill you.” He points a finger in warning, panting, and repeats slowly, “I will fucking kill you.”

  It’s in this moment I realise he would do it. I should have never underestimated this man.

  Arms come around his middle and chest, he’s pulled back in complete silence, and for the first time in years, I look at Ari and Frankie to see disappointment.

  Disappointment aimed at me.

  As they drag him away, he doesn’t take his eyes off me. He looks crazed. He doesn’t belong here. He belongs somewhere he would be offered the right kind of help.

  My heart constricts as I realise what I’ve just thought. If that’s the case, shouldn’t I be committed to a psychiatric ward? How can a person like me, so emotionless and cold, judge a man like Xavier? I immediately regret my need to run my mouth.

  Still seated on the floor, covered in blobs of butter and flour, I start to clean the mess I’ve caused. And think about how to clean the bigger mess with our guest.

  Chapter Ten

  I hesitate only a moment before lifting my hand and lightly knocking on the door.

  “Come in.”

  This is said so sullenly that my chest squeezes. I bite my lip and lift my head heavenward in guilt. It’s been eating away at me for hours. I’ve only just decided it’s safe enough to come visit Xavier and apologise. I’ve come bearing gifts though. Hopefully this means he won’t go through with his threat to kill me. I cringe at the memory of what went down this morning.

  Gah. You’re such a turd.

  My hand hovers over the door handle before I grip it tightly and turn it slowly. I open the door a few inches and peek in. Xavier sits with his back to the bedhead, shirtless, with Frankie’s laptop on his thighs.

  My cheeks heat as we make eye contact. Mainly because I’m embarrassed that I’m such a callous, cruel person. I swallow hard and ask weakly, “Can I come in?”

  Lips tight, he averts his gaze back down to the laptop and shrugs in a suit yourself motion.

  In his state of undress, I leave the door wide open and walk in. If Bob caught me in here with the door shut, he’d shoot me. Well, probably not me. Xavier, likely.

  I try desperately not to stare at the bandages winding up his forearm.

  His eyes narrow on the basket in my hands.

  Hesitantly, he closes the lid on the laptop, puts it on the nightstand and sits cross-legged on the bed. He jerks his chin and asks, “What’s that?”

  I don’t dare look into his eyes.

  Hypocritical bitch.

  I clear my throat and lift the basket higher. “It’s just a basket of goodies I thought you might like. I went into town this morning and... um… I know Tomas like the chocolate éclairs from Nanette’s bakery. While I was there, I picked up a whole bunch of stuff ‘cause I didn’t know what you liked so I got almost one of everything.”

  His eyes narrow at my false cheer.

  My shoulders slump and I hold out the basket nervously. “Will you just take it please? It’s the only way I know how to apologise without actually apologising.”

  His brows rise a little. “Why the apology?”

  Asshole.

  He’s really going to make me say this out loud.

  I sigh deeply. “Because what I said was stupid. You didn’t need to hear that while you’re trying to get better. I had no right to judge you or be a bitch.” I pause. “A heartless bitch.”

  His face softens. “Kind of a theme with you, huh? Judging people.”

  If he wants to be a smartass, I’ll be a smartass right
back. “Not people. Just you.”

  His lips twitch. “What you got in that basket?” Not a second later, his stomach rumbles. Loudly.

  I grin. “Got your appetite back?”

  “Yeah. The shakes stopped this morning. I feel pretty average though, but at least I’m not puking anymore.”

  “That’s great. Really. You’re handling this better than most. I’m sure.” No thanks to me. “You should be proud.” I’m almost shocked that I mean it.

  His hands moves to gently scratch at his bandage and I know he thinks I’m talking shit. I don’t know what possesses me but I let him in on a secret. “You’re not the only person who fucks up, you know. We all do. It’s part of being human. You have to learn to forgive yourself and get past it or it’ll eat you alive.” I hadn’t meant for that to sound so shaky.

  He breathes deeply and then replies on an exhale, “You make it sound like you’ve done worse.”

  My face remains void when I answer softly, “We’ve all made mistakes.”

  His arms rise and he crosses them behind his head. He utters, “Okay. Tell me something you’ve done that was fucked up.”

  I know what he’s doing. He’s baiting me to see if I’ll answer him. He’s testing me.

  Moving to the edge of his bed, I sit down, away from him and start, “I’ve been here forever. This has been my home since I was just a baby. Father Robert took me in and I knew my life would always be this church.”

  “Were you forced into becoming a nun?” He actually sounds concerned.

  “No. Absolutely not. In fact, Father Robert tried to talk me out of it multiple times. He thought I was only doing it to make him happy. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve gone up to my room to find college brochures there. He just wants me to be happy. And I am. But for a while there, I was really confused about what I wanted.”

  I don’t know how to explain it any other way than just telling it straight. “You see, when I was sixteen, I started seeing a guy. An older guy. He was a bad guy.” I swallow hard as I think about James and try to tell my story in a vague way, hiding most of the details. “I was young and thought I knew what love was. I hid my relationship from everyone because it’s forbidden for a training nun, and I convinced myself that he was it.”

  After a moments silence, Xavier prompts, “What happened?”

  “Father Robert found out.” I chuckle humourlessly and scratch absently at my chest. “It was fucked. Beyond fucked. I was in a lot of trouble. Years of trust flew out the door. Everyone was so disappointed in me.” My voice turns to a hush. “I hated myself.”

  Xavier sits up straighter. That definitely got his attention. “What happened to the guy?”

  What happened to the guy?

  My mind takes me back to that day.

  James pulls me closer to him, his warm lips brush over mine and my knees weaken. I’m so in love with this man. I would do anything for him.

  Anything.

  “I love you, Cat.” I smile against his lips. He smiles, too, and then whispers, “I’m gonna marry you one day.”

  My stomach dips. I’m so happy I could burst.

  He wraps his arms tighter around my waist and pulls me deeper into his lap. I feel the thickness of his erection right up against my most private place and sigh. I’m so wet. I want more but James won’t let me.

  He says it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen and we have no need to rush. We’ll be together forever. We have a lifetime of lovemaking ahead of us. And it’s going to be amazing.

  We’re becoming more and more desperate to see each other. Tonight, James has become so desperate that he’s snuck into the church grounds, behind the building by the kitchen’s entrance. We sit on the bench under the oak and kiss furiously. Frantically. As if this will be the last time we see each other.

  Who knew it would be the last time?

  Ironic, huh?

  I bite the inside of my cheek. My heart pounds. I try something I’ve never done before.

  Reaching between us, I gently stroke his hard length over his jeans.

  His mouth parts, his hazel eyes close and he mutters, “Oh, baby.”

  That being all the encouragement I need, I become braver. My strokes become bolder, albeit jerky, but he seems to be enjoying what I want to give.

  He runs a hand through his constantly chaotic light brown hair and lies back on the bench, allowing me better access. I stroke slowly but firmly. He lets me explore on my own a while before he places his hand over mine and grips himself so tightly I’m sure it must hurt him. He groans and bucks into our hands. His pace quickens as does his breathing, and just when I’m sure he’s going to fall apart, I’m startled at the sound of someone behind us.

  A growl, “Cat, what the fuck do you think you’re doing? What’s he doing here?”

  Bob.

  My heart pounds. I know I’ve fucked up. Badly.

  I jump off of James and he moves to stand too. He looks Bob in the eye and tells him, “I love her. I can’t help it. She loves me too. We’re gonna get married as soon as we can.”

  Bob glares at him. “Of course you love her. Every person that meets Cat falls in love with her.” He sneers, “She’s everything you’re not. You don’t belong together. You’ll corrupt her. Then when you turn her into everything you hate, you’ll leave and blame it on her too.”

  James shakes his head. “No. It’s not like that. I really love her.”

  I stupidly add, “I love him, Bob.”

  Bob ignores James and looks down at me like he doesn’t know me. “You don’t know what you’re saying. He’s a fucking criminal, Cat.” He runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t fucking believe this. How long has this been going on?” Before I have a chance to answer, he places his hands up in front of him. “Don’t answer that.” He looks at me stone-faced. “This ends. Tonight.”

  My heart stops. “No.”

  Bob’s jaw tics. “You listen to me, girl. You end it.”

  James steps forward. “Father Robert, I know this sounds crazy but—”

  Bob booms, “If you know what’s good for you, boy, you’ll shut the fuck up. Right now.”

  James stops talking.

  Bob utters in warning. “I’m serious, Cat. This is done. Finished.”

  The thought of losing James is enough to make me ill. I stand straighter and respond shakily, “No. I won’t.”

  Bob stares at me for a few seconds before he mutters, “You think I’m not serious?” He steps closer to James. “How’s this for serious?”

  Bob pulls out his .357 magnum from behind him, aims it a hair’s breadth away from James’s forehead and pulls the trigger.

  The shot echoes throughout the distance. Something warm splatters my face.

  I gasp in shock as James falls to the ground, motionless.

  My mind blank, eyes tearing, body trembling, I whisper, “No.”

  Bob stands there, looking down at James, huffing and puffing from adrenaline.

  This is just a dream. I’ll wake up any moment and see this was all just a dream.

  “No.” I look up at Bob and wail, “No! No, no, no, no.”

  I drop to the ground and kneel by James. There’s a hole in his forehead and his eyes are open. He bites his tongue. His head lolls.

  He’s very much dead.

  Not able to stand it, I let out a keening cry so pained I think that God himself hears me. I cry in hurt and heartache. I cry til I’m numb.

  I feel Bob behind me. His hand touches my shoulder but I shrug him off. “I hate you! I fucking hate you!”

  Bob stands back, allowing me distance. He stays quiet a long time, listening to me cry, before he tells me something I didn’t know. “He wasn’t just a drug dealer, Cat. He was selling women. Not just women but teenagers, close to your age. You know what his position was?”

  But I don’t answer. I don’t want to know. Still kneeling, head dipped, my body shakes in silent sobs.

  “He would break them
in.”

  I don’t know what that means. Bob obviously knows this so he explains, “His job was to have sex with them, sweetie. He would rape them until they wouldn’t fight back, then they’d be sold. I’m sure you don’t want to hear it but I need you to know this. Whenever they fought back, he would beat the shit out of them. Beat them within an inch of their lives. Before you ask, I have evidence of this. A lot of photographic evidence.” I cry harder. Bob utters, “He deserved to die, Cat.”

  The tears won’t stop. I find it hard to breathe.

  Before I can register what’s happening, everything fades to black.

  I blink away tears, look at Xavier and whisper, “He screwed with some dangerous people and got himself killed.”

  Xavier nods. We sit in a comfortable silence. He takes a sweet pastry out of the basket and hands it to me.

  I lift my head and smile softly.

  As he takes a bite of a croissant, he smiles back.

  I nibble on my tart and think:

  Aren’t we a pair?

  Maybe Xavier and I have more in common that I thought.

  Chapter Eleven

  Huff-puff-pant.

  The long thin stick in my hands feels heavier by the second. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. For an old guy, Bob has the stamina of a twenty year old.

  Just my luck.

  Although he pants, he holds the stick in one hand, circling me. He smirks. My eyes narrow and I want to wipe that smirk off his face using as much force as necessary. So I do.

  Lifting my hand, I swing the stick down over my head so fast that I hear the whoosh of the wind as it cuts through it. Bob moves fast, but not fast enough. The stick comes down on his shoulder and he winces. If it were anyone else, an unprepared person, that shot could have been a kill shot.

  I smirk back and then stick out my tongue. His body shakes in silent chuckles. He kneels as though catching his breath but the long stick he holds spins out and catches the back of my calf.