CHAPTER34
FLYNN
It feels strange escorting Louisa to the basement, where I have chained my naked uncle to the wall. I’m pretty certain she won’t enjoy the experience half as much as I will. If anything concerns me, it’s that she will never look at me in the same way again. Women don’t get to see the harsh reality of our life. They are protected and cherished and live in a bubble protecting them from the evil world we live in. But Louisa is different, and I love her for that. So strong, curious, probably foolish but independent and knows her own mind and I would never treat her any less than my equal. However, now that I’ve found her, I’m desperate to keep her and this will be the biggest test of our relationship so far.
As Silvio turns the key and slides back the huge iron bolt, I’m more anxious about what Louisa thinks than anything else.
As we enter the room, she grips my hand a little tighter and an eerie silence wraps around us, making me wonder if my uncle has passed out. Then a low laugh of pure evil reaches out and claws at my senses, and his voice slides across my soul like the slithering snake he is.
“So, you showed up at last. Maybe now we can make some progress.”
I say nothing and grip Louisa’s hand a little tighter as he casts his devilish eyes over her and laughs out loud. “Is that the best you could do? I knew you were mad but come on, Flynn, where’s your taste?”
Dropping Louisa’s hand, I step forward and punch him hard around the head, causing her to gasp and the blood to coat my knuckles. To my uncle’s credit, he merely laughs as I growl, “Louisa is the most beautiful woman on the planet and don’t you dare even look at her, you dirty bastard.”
My uncle spits blood and growls, “You’ve made your point. Now cut me down and tell me what this is all about. We both know you won’t get away with this, so make it easy on yourself and your punishment will be a little less severe.”
I stare at Silvio in astonishment because my uncle really believes he’s still calling the shots around here and that this is just a weak show of power to make a point.
Stepping back, I pull out my phone and say darkly, “The reason you are hanging from your own torture chamber is because of a conversation I had with a woman you once knew.”
As I press play, Iris’s voice sounds loud in the confined space and, as she speaks, Wesley looks up in surprise. As the words hit home, I see the expression in his eyes change in a heartbeat and Silvio’s gasp of surprise tells me even he knows how serious this is.
Betrayal is a terrible thing when you are caught and the fact the man you went against is the biggest monster in the pack makes it all the worse and as Iris Young spills Wesley’s darkest secret, he starts shivering and not just from the cold.
“I’ll set you free, I’ll give you money, anything, just delete that recording.”
It’s interesting that he thinks he has a choice here and I laugh into the gloom, with all the madness of my past spilling into the atmosphere. “Even now, you are trying to save your own skin. You will do anything to protect yourself; you always have. As long as you’re ok, nothing or no one else matters.”
I spit on his face and growl, “You hide behind your men and only venture out when the coast is clear. You pick on those more defenseless than you to stroke your own over-inflated ego. You rape, torture, and murder innocent women for pleasure and hide behind locked doors when your own men are under attack, only coming out when you are sure the threat has gone. You are a coward, a bully, and the most despicable man I have ever met. And the fact I am the result of that, is the reason the madness lives inside my soul. Well, not anymore, uncle, or should I call you daddy?”
Wesley shouts, “You only have the ramblings of a senile old woman to go on. She’s mad, can’t you see that? You’re wrong, you are Massimo’s son and he asked me to make your life a living hell. I have carried out my end of the bargain and he will protect me. This is your madness, Flynn, your fabrication just to get what you want, and he will gut you like a pig for my enjoyment when he learns what you have done.”
“That’s interesting.” I step back and twist my mouth into a sadistic grin. “He didn’t seem so happy when I played this recording to him less than an hour ago.”
You could cut the tension with a sweep of the finger as all hope drains from Wesley’s face and he loses all his fight in an instant. He starts to shake as he whispers, “Massimo knows.”
“Yes uncle, he knows everything, and he didn’t seem too pleased, did he Louisa?”
It makes me smile when a strong voice rings out, “No, I would even say he looked angry. I don’t think I’ve experienced rage quite like it.”
To my surprise, she moves and stands by my side and fixes him with a dark glare. “It’s funny how sins have a habit of catching up with you. To be honest, I’m glad I met you, Mr. Vasquez, because now I can put a face to the name of the monster who stars in Flynn’s nightmares. And do you know what? You’re not that special. In fact, I would even go as far to say you’re a big disappointment because I was expecting someone strong, but all I see is a coward, a bully, and a dying man. Enjoy the transition to Hell, Mr. Vasquez. I’m guessing they are preparing a place for you as we speak.”
She steps back and says roughly, “Do what you must, Flynn. Get this bastard out of your system and don’t hold back. I’m happy to watch.”
Silvio’s low laugh makes me smile because God knows, I fall in love with Louisa all over again.