Daddy’s Little Pet

RENEE

‘THIS IS WHAT YOUR VILE, DESPICABLE BOYFRIEND DID!

YOU ARE SHARING YOUR HEART WITH A COLD-BLOODED MURDERER WHO GETS HIGH ON THE PUTRID FUMES OF DEATH AND DECAY, AND IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER BODY BURIED IN HIS YARD.

HE IS A SOULLESS BASTARD WHO LEAVES A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION IN HIS WAKE. HE SHATTERS LIVES & DESTROYS THINGS.

HE DESTROYED HIS FAMILY, AND YOU’RE NEXT ON THE LIST.

OR DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SPECIAL? YOU’RE NOT. LOVING HIM WILL DRAG YOU INTO THE ABYSS. IT WILL SUCK YOU DRY. IT WILL LEAVE YOU SCARRED, BROKEN, AND EMPTY.

SO, GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

YOU SHOULD RUN BEFORE HE DESTROYS WHAT’S LEFT OF YOUR SANITY.

RUN BEFORE HIS POISONOUS GRASP ENVELOPES YOU.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

RUN, RENEE MICHEAL. RUN. OR ELSE YOU WILL PAY IN THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE WAY.’

As I said farewell to Nicole and watched her leave the suite with Harry, these words replayed in my mind like an endless echo.

I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t block or drive it out of my mind because it kept returning, like some weird, perverse version of a mantra.

Every word written in that anonymous sender’s note had been etched into my brain, and there was no way to erase it now, not even if I wanted to.

I turned away from the door, passed the living room, where Robert was deeply conversing with his lawyer, and entered the bedroom.

“You are sharing your heart with a cold-blooded murderer who gets high on the foul smells of death and decay, and it won’t be long before you are nothing more than ANOTHER BODY BURIED IN HIS YARD.”

Dazed, I slid down onto a nearby couch and buried my face in my hands. I tried to block the words from my thoughts. But to no avail.

“RUN, RENEE MICHEAL, RUN.”

The warning rang out in my head. Along with it came a reminder of what we’d discovered in the black box.

Pieces of decaying flesh. Bits of human organs that had been ripped clean out. Broken bones. Blood and more blood.

There were pictures, too. Photos from that night at the club. Of Darren and Robert fighting. And then more pictures of Darren lying dead in a narrow alleyway, his neck shattered, broken, and bloodied.

Everything was so horrible to look at, and I’d stumbled, desperately attempting to ignore the nausea, the pain, and the horrific images assaulting my brain.

Nicole hurried toward me, her face pale but her steps quick. I heard her yelling after me as I started to walk away, but I didn’t look around. I didn’t stop. I walked until my legs failed me. I lost all of my strength and collapsed on the ground.

“Renee, please…” She’d begged, but I didn’t understand why. I could scarcely register what came after.

I lay there on the floor, staring blankly ahead and into space, unable to comprehend what was happening.

I’d heard Robert’s angry snarl from the living room. Then, there was the sound of something smashing and orders being yelled out in solid tones. I didn’t pay any attention to that, though.

Nicole had crouched alongside me, and as I felt the heat of her trembling hands against mine, I tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip, leaving me with no choice.

“Renee…” She called out softly again, this time in an attempt to console me, and that’s when I lost it.

As if emerging from a haze, tears flowed freely, and I cried. I sobbed. I shed tears for Darren, for the innocent young man whose life was brutally cut short…because of me.

“I caused this, Nicole. I did.” I’d mumbled brokenly between sobs. “If I hadn’t gone to the club that night…he wouldn’t-”

“No. No. It wasn’t your fault, Renee. You’re not accountable. Don’t even say that.”

“But…but it’s the truth.”

“It is not. Do you know what type of guy he was? Do you know if he had somebody on his tail that night?”

“Still, he didn’t…” I started to say something, but she cut me off. “Your meeting was fortuitous, Renee, and don’t forget he attempted to drug you. I hate to say this, and I know he didn’t deserve what he got, but perhaps he just tasted his karma in the worst way conceivable. It’s not your responsibility that happened, girl.”

Her final words were very gentle, as if she wasn’t sure of herself, which worried me. She was merely saying this to make me feel better, but she knew the truth. She knew that man’s life was doomed when it became intertwined with mine. I knew it, too.

I mean, Robert beat him to a pulp just for touching me. I’d thought of the possibility that Robert might’ve killed Darren just as the note claimed.

His rage might have triggered something in him making him go full beast mode, doing much more than he thought. But still, he’d given me his word, and I believed Robert. I truly did. If he said he didn’t do it, then that was the truth.

With my thoughts spiraling, I began to sob loudly, burying my face in Nicole’s shoulders while I wept.

Crying was easier than talking. And somehow, my best friend understood. She stroked my hair and whispered calming words into my ear till the storm within me faded. Not once did she-

“Renee.” Robert’s deep voice sliced through my thoughts in an unrelenting whisper, bringing me back to reality. He stood in front of me, his eyes full of concern. “Are you okay?”

I blink slowly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” He gently nudged my cheek, reaching out with his right hand to touch it. The contact sent sparks racing over my skin. “You seemed lost in thought when I walked in. What were you thinking about?”

“No…nothing,” I stammered out the lie. “Why are you here? Where is Mr. Patrick?” I looked past him into the living room.

“He already left. You must’ve missed it.”

Of course, I did. My mind was too preoccupied with everything happening. I was so busy running in confusing circles that I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.

I nodded numbly. “Right.”

“Baby…” Robert pulled me up with one arm and held me tight. My knees buckled somewhat from the pressure. “Talk to me.”

“About?” I fluttered my half-wet lashes and averted my gaze. I couldn’t force myself to look at him directly. If I did, I’d break down again. Cry wildly and inconsolably. I did not want that.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Renee. Something’s bothering you?” He grimaced. “I don’t like the look on your face.”

A whimper escaped my lips. I covered them with my palms and squeezed my eyes shut. The tears flowed again, hot and salty. I couldn’t help it. They just slipped out.

“Oh, Renee…”

“I’m scared,” I blurted out without meaning to. “I’m freaking afraid, Robert. That’s not so hard to understand, is it?”

His arms eased over me slightly, almost giving way, but not quite. “Easy. Easy.”

“Easy? Are you telling me to take it easy?” I scoffed. “You just got out of jail today, and while I thought everything was going well, boom, this happened. And all you say is EASY?”

He exhaled.

“Every time I close my eyes, all I see are those images. Those photos of Darren’s lifeless body bleeding all over that alley.” As I continued, I felt a shudder run through my body. “And then to think that all this could’ve been prevented if I hadn’t stepped foot in that club and I-”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, stop blaming yourself, Renee,” He interrupted, pulling back and shaking his head in disdain. “How many times do I have to tell you that none of this has anything to do with you? And it’s crazy that you continue to blame yourself when you shouldn’t.”

“I…”

“Whoever brought that package, wrote that note, and made those sick and twisted claims has a very deep grudge against me. That’s it.” His tone was soft, and he caressed my cheek. “This has nothing to do with you, dear. Nothing at all.”

“How did they get those things?” I was referring to the photos and fleshy bits found in the box.

“The photos can be sourced from the net. As for the organs, we have no idea if they belong to Darren. His body was sent in for an autopsy, so I doubt it’s his. I think the anonymous sender was trying to send a message. That’s all.”

There was a brief silence before I spoke again, admitting in a low murmur. “I’m still scared, Robert.” I looked up to meet his stare, and my eyes watered for the hundredth time.

I wanted to add that I was scared for both him and us. I was worried about our future and the child growing inside my womb. But I kept my mouth shut.

Now wasn’t the perfect time to say that. I couldn’t tell him about our child, not with the entire situation throwing us off guard. It’d just complicate issues further and make things worse. Even Nicole cautioned against it, and just before she left, she told me to chill for a little while.

“But you don’t have to be scared.” Once again, Robert’s voice pierced through my thoughts. “We’ll be alright.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” He chuckled softly, the sound sending warm tingles through my entire being. “I have things under control. And besides, Cade is flying in tomorrow.”

“What?” I blinked in amazement. “I mean, why?”

An odd expression crossed his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. “To help. He has one of the best and most well-known investigative teams in the country.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah. And I need all the assistance I can get.” My brows furrowed as he continued. “Funny how he offered to help with the case when I informed him about the frame-up in Aspen. But, I declined.”

“Why?”

“I had no tangible reason at the time. I thought I could manage it. But now, with all of these threats, I have no choice but to use every resource at my disposal. And that’s where Cade comes in.”

“Well…that makes sense.”

“Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?” He leaned down for a brief kiss on the lips. “But enough about all that.”

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t we forget about the box, the threats, and our problems and simply enjoy the evening? We could see a movie. Perhaps something frightening or humorous. Anything that tickles your fancy, but most importantly, whatever puts you, my darling, in a happy mood.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

He was doing it again. Doing that thing where he managed to make me feel at ease with his words. Hearing him make even the slightest bit of fun while we were in this predicament was enough to put things back on track, although momentarily.

“Okay,” I mumbled as he led me out of the room. “Let’s do it.”