Read Online Denouement (The Darkness Series Book 3) by Cassia Brightmore - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cassia Brightmore
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clean, smooth strike. Red blood appeared instantly in a straight line, running down her, pooling in her belly button and sinking below the waist band of her jeans.
“Fuckkkk! Stop!” Leanne yelled, the pain immense. She’d fucking cut her with a machete!
Mila ignored her pleas, focused on the blood. She took her pinky finger and ran it through the blood, moaning at the feel of the warm liquid. She spun her head around and pinned the man with her crazed stare.
“Get out. I want this time alone with her, I’ll call you back when I’m finished.”
The man nodded and moved towards the door without question.
“Oh, and Deputy Ridley? Sam,” she corrected herself, remembering how he didn’t like to be referred to his official status in these situations. “Be sure that my son is behaving himself out there.”
“Understood, Mila,” Sam replied and left the room. The screams that followed him were ones from the blackest of nightmares. The girl would suffer immensely, that much he knew, before Mila was satisfied enough to call them both back into the room to be involved in finishing the deed. That was just the way she operated. A fact he’d learned all too well over the past two years being under her instruction. Heading for their partner, he flashed back to the day she’d tracked him down.
Two Years Ago
Deputy Sam Ridley walked along the beach for the third time that day. He liked to hear the sound of the surf washing up along the sand, to watch the families spread themselves out on towels; either cooking like lobsters or hiding from the sun under huge umbrellas. He’d been in Florida for six months, escaping there after his beloved wife, Hailey, was the victim of a gruesome killing. A victim because he’d failed to save her. She’d trusted him with her life and he’d let her down in the worst way possible. The guilt and grief followed him like it was a part of his shadow; he couldn’t escape her or the ghost of the life he’d lost.
Brady James, his Sheriff and best friend, called him repeatedly, trying to get an answer on his well-being—on when he thought he’d be returning to Durham Heights. Sam avoided the calls, avoided his old life as much as possible. His parents and Hailey’s parents both did their best to hound him into an answer as well, but the truth was, he didn’t think he would ever go back. That life, the one he’d left behind in that small town, he hated it. Hated it with a gut-wrenching anger that was threatening to consume him. It wasn’t just him that had failed Hailey, it was everyone. Why hadn’t Brady been smarter? Why hadn’t the FBI arrived sooner? Why wasn’t there more evidence that would have led them to Jed and Mila sooner? Why was Gwyn alive and Hailey dead? That question burned him more than any of the others. Knowing that Brady was still going to get his happily ever after, it was an injustice he just couldn’t face.
And feeling that way made him feel like scum. Hailey would be ashamed of him. She’d be disgusted at his thoughts and would beat his ass for even blaming one single person besides the ones actually responsible. That was just who she was. A kind, caring, fierce woman who loved with her entire being. Sam had no doubt she’d put up one hell of a fight to survive and the fact that she’d lost that battle, well, that knowledge dragged him deeper down into Hell with each passing moment.
The warm Florida sun beat down on his back as he finished his regular loop on the beach and headed back to the main road. Unlocking his car door, he took one last look out at the crystal blue water and sighed. If only he could find some peace here. Regain at least a small portion of his lost soul. The man he’d been had ceased to exist the day that Hailey’s body had been discovered. He’d died right along with her and left behind in his place was a shell of a man. One that fed on his anger and rage and nurtured the darkness growing inside him. He didn’t just want
“Fuckkkk! Stop!” Leanne yelled, the pain immense. She’d fucking cut her with a machete!
Mila ignored her pleas, focused on the blood. She took her pinky finger and ran it through the blood, moaning at the feel of the warm liquid. She spun her head around and pinned the man with her crazed stare.
“Get out. I want this time alone with her, I’ll call you back when I’m finished.”
The man nodded and moved towards the door without question.
“Oh, and Deputy Ridley? Sam,” she corrected herself, remembering how he didn’t like to be referred to his official status in these situations. “Be sure that my son is behaving himself out there.”
“Understood, Mila,” Sam replied and left the room. The screams that followed him were ones from the blackest of nightmares. The girl would suffer immensely, that much he knew, before Mila was satisfied enough to call them both back into the room to be involved in finishing the deed. That was just the way she operated. A fact he’d learned all too well over the past two years being under her instruction. Heading for their partner, he flashed back to the day she’d tracked him down.
Two Years Ago
Deputy Sam Ridley walked along the beach for the third time that day. He liked to hear the sound of the surf washing up along the sand, to watch the families spread themselves out on towels; either cooking like lobsters or hiding from the sun under huge umbrellas. He’d been in Florida for six months, escaping there after his beloved wife, Hailey, was the victim of a gruesome killing. A victim because he’d failed to save her. She’d trusted him with her life and he’d let her down in the worst way possible. The guilt and grief followed him like it was a part of his shadow; he couldn’t escape her or the ghost of the life he’d lost.
Brady James, his Sheriff and best friend, called him repeatedly, trying to get an answer on his well-being—on when he thought he’d be returning to Durham Heights. Sam avoided the calls, avoided his old life as much as possible. His parents and Hailey’s parents both did their best to hound him into an answer as well, but the truth was, he didn’t think he would ever go back. That life, the one he’d left behind in that small town, he hated it. Hated it with a gut-wrenching anger that was threatening to consume him. It wasn’t just him that had failed Hailey, it was everyone. Why hadn’t Brady been smarter? Why hadn’t the FBI arrived sooner? Why wasn’t there more evidence that would have led them to Jed and Mila sooner? Why was Gwyn alive and Hailey dead? That question burned him more than any of the others. Knowing that Brady was still going to get his happily ever after, it was an injustice he just couldn’t face.
And feeling that way made him feel like scum. Hailey would be ashamed of him. She’d be disgusted at his thoughts and would beat his ass for even blaming one single person besides the ones actually responsible. That was just who she was. A kind, caring, fierce woman who loved with her entire being. Sam had no doubt she’d put up one hell of a fight to survive and the fact that she’d lost that battle, well, that knowledge dragged him deeper down into Hell with each passing moment.
The warm Florida sun beat down on his back as he finished his regular loop on the beach and headed back to the main road. Unlocking his car door, he took one last look out at the crystal blue water and sighed. If only he could find some peace here. Regain at least a small portion of his lost soul. The man he’d been had ceased to exist the day that Hailey’s body had been discovered. He’d died right along with her and left behind in his place was a shell of a man. One that fed on his anger and rage and nurtured the darkness growing inside him. He didn’t just want
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