Lark (Carter Family Book 1) Read online

  “Goodnight Lily.”

  Her eyes were already closed as she took deep even breaths. My bare feet padded silently down the stairs. It was time to face the man waiting for me.

  “Thanks for humoring her.”

  “She’s a sweet girl. So, it’s just the two of you?”

  The question should have had alarm bells ringing. His voice had the opposite effect.

  “Yes and no. Joe disappeared.”

  “Joe?”

  “My husband.”

  His eyes got so dark light didn’t even touch them.

  “He’s my husband in name only.”

  The words pour from me like I needed to appease him. I wanted him to relax. This was absolutely terrifying. He felt important to me. Crucial even. I feel like I’ve known him my whole life and yet we just met mere hours ago.

  “Do you want him to come home?”

  Such an odd question.

  “Honestly no. I want this to be a bad dream. I want him to stay gone and for us to be safe.”

  I was telling him things I haven’t wanted to admit fully to myself.

  “It’s late and you need some rest.”

  I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I was afraid if he walked out that door he won’t walk back in it.

  “Breakfast?”

  His nod had my feet moving closer to him. I wanted to feel his heat. I wanted to breathe him in. I wasn’t expecting his lips to press to mine in a demanding firm way. My knees buckle.

  The feel of his arms around me had a moan slipping passed my lips. I wanted something I didn’t understand. I wanted to climb him like a tree. The need to tear his clothes from his body was overwhelming.

  “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  I wanted to cry as my body felt a loss that was almost painful. Letting him walk away was one of the smartest and dumbest things I’ve done.

  Chapter 4

  Lark

  I’ve been watching her for weeks. She was a high I couldn’t live without. I now understand an addicts need for their next hit. Bethy was that for me. I lived life feeling nothing.

  Only to hit a wall of shit I didn’t understand the moment I laid eyes on my target. I never felt connected to another person before. There was a thread of gold connecting me to her.

  It was the lightest, brightest thing in my life of dark shadows. She was quickly becoming the most important thing in this world. This was what the others felt? The need to be close to see her at all times?

  The thought of her being out of sight of being gone had this gut wrenching feeling I didn’t completely comprehend. The buzzing of my phone had my attention straying.

  “Lark we have a job for you.”

  I wanted to say no that I was too fucking busy.

  “Who?”

  “Jon Mitchel retired banker.”

  “Where?”

  “21 Jackson Ave the want it messy and kept quiet.”

  So, he would go on ice for now. It was something I liked to do. My freezer has been a little empty.

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  I fucking hate the rush jobs. I have a three-day minimum policy. Hanging up, I make my way over to my trunk. The black leather gleamed slightly as I opened it. The possible tools I may need or want stared back at me.

  This was my life, a life Bethy would never fit into. Everything in me protested at the idea. She was mine and would learn to fucking live with who and what I am. I couldn’t and wouldn’t leave her.

  Collecting a few blades, I hesitate on my favorite. Its long-curved blade was a work of beauty. Sighing, I slip it into the knife sheath wrapped around my waist. Grabbing the police baton before closing the lid.

  Planning was my specialty and tonight I was going in blind. I had no idea how slow or fast Mr. Mitchel would die, but I knew it was going to be a blood bath. Grabbing the rolls of plastic, I slip them into my briefcase.

  One last look at Bethy’s house I slowly slip into the night.

  Chapter 5

  Bethy

  Watching him has become my new addiction. I watch as he slips into the shadows. His black suit so different from the jeans and t-shirts I was used to seeing him in. I knew he was doing something bad.

  There was this air to him. It spoke of danger and destruction I’m sure that followed in his wake. I should want to be far, far away from him, but something inside me said that would never happen.

  Deep down I knew I would always be safe with him. My need for him grew daily. There was this want inside me a desperation to touch and be touched by him. Turning I walk in the direction of my bedroom.

  There was a slam against the front door. My scream was instinct. Slowly walking over to it, I look out the peek hole. Nothing there was nothing and no one out there. I’ve seen the horror movies and I knew what I was about to do next was a big no, no.

  It was like an invitation to be slaughtered. Still, I opened it and let out a scream, I couldn’t hold back. There was a knife stuck in my door and under it a note.

  Bethy,

  Joe has left you to pay his debt. He failed to do his job so in return we are coming to collect what’s owed. You look good enough to devour in that black silk nightdress.

  There was no name and I guess there wouldn’t be, not for something like this. On instinct, I pulled and tugged with everything in me. The knife was in my door hard it must have been what caused that bang.

  I couldn’t let Lilyanna see this. When it finally slipped free the momentum had me slamming into the wall behind me. It hurt, I knew I was going to be covered in an oversized bruise come tomorrow.

  “Auntie Bethy?”

  Lilyanna’s terrified voice echoed down the stairs. Turning I look at her.

  “Oh, sweetheart what are you doing out of bed?”

  “I heard a loud noise and it scared me. Are the monsters here to get me?”

  “No baby.”

  Placing the knife on the table by the door, I close and lock it. Rushing to her I pick her small frame up. Her little arms and legs wrap around me in a grip that was almost painful in its intensity.

  “Come on baby, I’ll tuck you in.”

  “Can I sleep with you?”

  Her whispered plea had tears stinging my eyes.

  “Of course.”

  Placing a kiss to the crown of her head, I slowly walk to my room. I needed her close anyway, after what just happened, I needed to keep her with me. She was all I had left in this world and I would do whatever I needed to do to keep her safe.

  Chapter 6

  Lark

  Messy required setting up. Knocking out the banker I slowly lay thick plastic over the kitchen floor, walls and counters. Unfortunately, there was no neat way to make messy cleaner.

  I could feel time ticking in its slow never-ending loop. The longer I was here the longer she was alone. It felt like a stone has settled into my abdomen. The idea she was defenseless and completely unprotected had adrenaline and need coursing together in a toxic mess.

  I wanted to grab Jon and throw his overweight carcass on the floor in front of me and get to work. If I started, now I may finish and be back to them in two hours. Signing I continue the preparations.

  Each job required a little something this was no different. Pausing, I take in the room. Plastic covered the walls, floors and counters. The kitchen was the easiest room to do my work in.

  Jon didn’t have a kitchen table. Actually, Jon didn’t have much of anything. A fridge and a stove were the only big things in the room. I could see no smaller appliances. Something about this didn’t sit right.

  This couldn’t be all he had. What did Jon do to warrant my presence in his life? It was a question that started to eat at me. Jobs like this were for the terrible the scum at the bottom of the chain this shady world had to offer.

  These kinds of jobs were requested for the dirtiest most vile. Once again, I look at Jon. What did he do? This was something I needed to know before I continued. How much pain did Jon deserve?
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br />   Pulling out my phone I call the number that called me earlier. Burner phones only lasted so long.

  “What crimes did Jon commit?”

  The silence on the other end had my gut screaming.

  “He like them young.”

  That was all I needed to know. Jon was in for a more than I originally planned. Bethy seemed so far away now as the knowledge I would be here longer than planned sunk in. I didn’t know why I was sent to watch her nothing has happened to warrant my presence.

  Yet I was thankful for it. It brought me to her to the one meant to be mine. It gave me my future. Turning I grab Jon by the throat and pick him up off the ground. His eyes open wide as his face changed from red to purple.

  “You’ve been a very bad man Jon. Do you know who I am?”

  His eyes showed the truth. He knew who I was and why I was here. The thought of him touching my Lilyanna had anger, trying to swallow my calm. I need that calm. Placing him in the middle of the floor I slowly let his feet touch the floor.

  The moment I release my hold on him, he crumpled like the pile of shit he was. Taking a knife from the belt of sheaths strapped to my abdomen. I look him in the eyes as I sink the blade slowly into the side of his knee.

  The muscles contracted as they protested. Keeping them knife just shy of his bone I let his screams surround me. I knew such noise as joyful as it was needed to be silenced. Releasing the knife handle I leave it in his knee.

  Grabbing another knife from the sheath I take a handful of his stained shirt and cut a chunk of it. Looking at Jon I stuff the cloth into his mouth. His hand was wrapped around the knife in his flesh he wanted it out, but was too much of a pussy to pull it from his tender skin.

  He was going to make this difficult. Cutting another chunk from his shirt I tie his hands together. Jon tried to stop me by pulling on his wrist. It was funny really his weak, pathetic attempts to stop me from binding his hands together.

  “Jon there is no stopping this. I’m here to give you what you deserve a small taste of hell before I send you there.”

  His eyes fill with tears. I can’t help but feel pleasure as his pitiful eyes told me how terrified he was. Taking the knife I used to cut pieces of his disgusting shirt I slowly sink it into his other knee.

  The sensitive flesh, so full of nerves and muscle protested the intrusion. This could have been a swift slam of the knife, but the slow steady glide made it more painful. I wanted his pain to be unbearable.

  I wanted him to squirm and scream behind his gag. Slipping a smaller knife into my palm, I look at his feet. The gaps between his bones begged for my blade. It wanted it to be there.

  Looking in Jons face I drag the blade slowly down his leg not cutting into his bare flesh as I went. The scent of urine filled the room as Jon pissed in his boxers. The stench was something I was use to.

  They all relived themselves at some point in the game. Pushing the knife into the center of his foot not scraping the bones my percision entrance was followed by a perfect exit. Jon jerked as scream poured from him.

  “I wonder Jon how many of them screamed and pleaded? Before this is over I will have casrated you. I want you to know its coming Jon.”

  His eyes became so large they looked ready to pop from his head. His struggles became more fierce as if he was a dying fish he flopped around. It was a sad attempted to free himself from his fate.

  This was something all the others also attempted. Their beer gut giggling as they squirmed. Disgust filled me like it always does. They were all the same. Nasty over weight men who had the need to dominate in a pathetic way.

  Removing the knife from his foot I do the same to the other. I have more than enough knives to leave them in place, but I liked to see the blood leaking from his wounds. It was a beautiful red that was impossible to duplicate.

  His toes were next on my list. Slipping the blade under each nail I push until the tip touches the knuckle. Lifting with a slight pressure I watch as the nail slowly removes from the skin.

  The flesh of his toe splits the more I lift. Each toe received the same treatment. When I finished with the last toe I placed the blade on the bottom of his foot. The tip pierced the skin.

  A few layers deep I watch as it opened like butterfly wings. Tears soak Jons face as they continually poured from his eyes. Lifting his leg I keep the blade in his skin and make my way up to his knee. Slowly I place the knife of the plastic and wrap my fingers around the blade still skewering his flesh.

  Applying a slow, steady pressure I pull the knife down. A slight twist had a hole opening in the back of his knee. I keep the pressure in a downward position until it spilt the flesh and the knife was free.

  “I wanted to finish this quickly Jon I have other places to be. But your crimes earned you this. Who am I to turn away the need to see your pain. Your victims deserve this you deserve this.”

  Once again, I let the tip press into his flesh and I continue my original journey up his body splitting his flesh as I went. This was such a mundane thing. I wanted my Bethy, I needed to see her beauty.

  My world so full of pain and destruction. A place I wallowed and thrived needed her. I wanted to corrupt her drag her here with me. I was never coming out of this pit. She didn’t know it yet, but she belonged here with me.

  Cutting into Jons shirt I use the knife to push it apart. The blank canvas was begging for my art to cover it. Placing the blades tip into his belly button I let it sink slowly inside. His back bowed causing my blade to sink deeper faster.

  Tsking I pull it free.

  “Jon that was a little faster than I wanted. I appreciate the help but I have my way of doing things and you need to let me work. Stay still Jon or I will cut your jewels from your body and feed them to you.”

  I was going to do just that anyway, but not yet. We still had more work to do before I gave him that pleasure. I use the side of my blade already coated in his blood, to slice off each of his nipples.

  Carving into his flesh over and over I take pieces like a turkey at thanksgiving. I was tiring of our game. My time was needed elsewhere and Jon was on the brink of his final fate.

  Keeping my promise I remove his dick. Removing the gag I force it into his mouth slowly pushing it down his throat. His face purpled. His air supply was cut off by his own appendix.

  A satisfying way to end our game. When his struggles ended and his body went limp I started the process of cleaning up my mess. Snapping a quick picture with a burner phone I send it to my client.

  I wanted to show him it was messy and complete. Wrapping Jon in the plastic he was laying on I use zip ties connecting them until they were the right size to hold the plastic to his mangled body.

  Once he was wrapped in all the plastic I used to cover the room, I slip him into the body bag. The black bag blended perfectly into the night. Opening my trunk I place the bag into it before closing it.

  My meat freezer awaited him and Bethy awaited me.

  Chapter 7

  Bethy

  Sleep was allusive. My body ached in a way that made me feel old. My stiff muscles strained as I pulled myself from the bed. Lilyanna slept peacefully beside me. Indecisiveness filled me.

  I wanted, no I needed a shower, but leaving her alone terrified me. Would I be a horrible mom if I stepped into the shower leaving her here? The heat would help with the tender skin and aching muscle.

  Hunching over I shuffle my feet to the bathroom. Time was of the essence here. Turning the shower onto hot mixing in a little cold, I strip off my panties and tank top. The cold air brushed against my sensitive bare flesh.

  Goosebumps erupted. I want to dive into the heat I knew awaited me in the shower. Just behind the snoopy shower curtain it sprayed its liquid warm all over the white glossy tiles.

  I moved like my nana use two slow, uneven steps as my body protested each movement. The longer I lingered the less time I had under its divine spray. My feet sloshed the water in the tub as I slowly climbed in.

  The drain
was always slow to do its job something I have been meaning to call someone about. I couldn’t do that now, though I didn’t know who I could trust. Every molecule of my being screamed, I could trust Lark.

  Closing my eyes, I let the water pour over my face as the spray hit the top of my head. Long strands of black hair pressed against my head and face. Slowly I turn around and let it hit my back.

  I fight the scream that wanted to erupt. Every drop of water that was forced upon the sensitive flesh of my back was like needles stabbing into my skin. Each one hard enough to have blood welling. I knew there was no blood it was just water, but it felt like it.

  Whimpers slipped out as tears filled my eyes. Sinking my teeth into my lip I press down hard. Still the pain fought to escape. The slamming of the door had everything instinct inside me running from the shower and diving for Lilyanna.

  Only she wasn’t there. She wasn’t in my bed. Turning I run from the room and down the steps. Whoever was here had her and I wasn’t letting him get away with her. Arms wrapped around me as my feet hit the landing.

  Sinking my teeth into the arm holding me, I struggled to get free. My baby needed me I wasn’t going to let her down.

  “Shh Bethy.”

  The voice sunk in deep past the fear past the anger past the desperation.

  “Lark?”

  “Everything’s ok. Lilly was on the porch again and I heard your moans of discomfort….”

  Slowly my body released its tension. We were safe everything was ok. The reality of my nakedness slapped me in the face. Embarrassment swamped me.

  Slowly he lowered his arms and I quickly raised mine. I did everything I could to cover my girly bits. Lark slowly removed his black dress coat and slipped it over my shoulders. Grabbing the lapels, I pull them closed.

  “She’s in the kitchen having breakfast.”

  Running my fingers over the inside of his coat I felt this wetness coat my fingers. It was cold and dry in some places. I knew I was being silly here like every other woman in the horror movies I was going to go upstairs and let the killer run free in the house.