Page 40 of Ours (The Possession Duology #2)

“Come, Sweetheart. It’s time for you to play,” he said, glancing over his shoulder.

Spitting strained curses, Bloodbayne tried in vain to pry his hand from his throat. Somehow staying on his feet, his gnarled body twisted to and fro. Fighting with all the energy still left in his wilting muscles, he begged for his life.

“Kade!” he choked. “I’ll give ...you... anything... anything ...you want!”

Reaching his destination, Kade grit his sharp teeth. Lifting his father a couple of inches from the ground, he viciously slammed his curved back against the cement wall. Leaning his livid face close, he met his terrified blue eyes.

“Yes you will...your death will give me everything I’ve ever wanted,” he said.

Holding him securely in place, Kade looked over his shoulder at Lexi. Motioning her closer with a quirk of his head, he took in the excitement brewing behind her wide eyes. She was always so radiant right before a kill.

“He’s all yours, my love,” he purred.

Keeping her focus on his reddened face, Lexi squeezed the metal hilt in her hand.

Clearing the space, she stood in front of the bleeding, pleading man.

Listening to his strangled words, she lifted her blade and began the process of cutting the buttons from his pressed, crimson stained shirt.

As each button flew off, the old man winced.

Barely able to move his dangling arms, Bloodbayne tried to swat her hand away.

His feeble attempt was countered by his son’s large hand pressing harder into his neck.

Feeling the weight of intense pressure in the back of his eyes, he stopped wiggling and kicking.

His number was up, fighting against the inevitable was useless.

“You’ve kept my daughter away from me for one hundred and sixteen days ,” she growled, ripping the tucked in shirt from his slacks and yanking the fabric open. “I think it’s fitting that I give you one hundred and sixteen cuts, don’t you?”

“I...didn’t! That’ssss...that’s….nottt...true!” he protested.

“SHUT UP!” Kade yelled, trying to keep his own anger in check. He had no idea his daughter had been without her mother for that long.

Lifting her Stiletto, Lexi’s eyes trailed over the sharp blade.

Preparing herself for the euphoric high coming her way, she once again met his scarred face.

His skin was starting to take on a purplish hue from the pressure being applied to his throat.

She knew she had to hurry, she wanted him to feel as much pain as possible before he slipped into hell.

“I counted! I counted every single day!” she screamed, remembering the heartache from not having her daughter. “And now you will count. I know you will count in that pathetic little mind of yours!”

“No! Please!” Bloodbayne squeaked.

Tired of hearing his strained voice, she made her first cut. Stabbing her blade into his lower abdomen, she twisted it from vertical to horizontal and back again.

“That’s one! That’s for making me have that amnio! I could have lost my son because of you!” she hissed.

Opening his mouth to scream, Bloodbayne’s vocal cords refused to respond. Slowly blinking at the livid woman, he watched in helpless terror as she claimed her pound of flesh. Absorbing the searing pain of every quick stab and slash, he writhed in pitiful agony.

Stopping her verbal count at ten, Lexi continued to mentally tally her wicked cuts.

Consumed by her revenge, she stabbed the old fucker again and again, taking pleasure from the sounds of her blade slicing through skin, muscle, and bone.

Carving her revenge, she let out a dark laugh as she felt his blood splatter across her face.

It’s a badge of honor, Lexi, Nikki said. You’re doing fabulous, Sweetie! Keep going!

Spurred on by Nikki’s encouragement, she ramped up her attack.

With her forearm beginning to burn, she slashed over and over until there wasn’t an inch of unmarred flesh on his torso.

As her counts neared their goal, a sense of peace melded with her bliss.

She found comfort in knowing that the disgusting man would never hurt her, or her family, ever again.

Keeping his dark eyes on her, Kade stayed silent as he soaked in her impassioned movements. She was wild and feral, unlike anything he had ever seen. He was so incredibly proud of her. It made his desire for her spike to new heights.

Reaching one hundred fifteen, Lexi sliced her blade one last time across his mangled chest. Finally losing her grip on the slippery hilt, she let her weapon drop to the floor.

Taking in gulps of air, her chest heaved from the physical exertion.

This was the one part of pregnancy she hated, her stamina never stayed for long.

Furrowing his brow, Kade cleared his throat to gain her attention. “Lexi? Why did you stop?” he asked, feeling Bloodbayne’s pulse weaken against his touch.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she turned her attention to him. She was exhausted and had accidentally cut her own hand a few times in her frenzy, but that’s not why she stopped. He was the one that deserved this kill, not her.

“He’s yours, Kade. You end this,” she replied.

Shocked by the tender gesture, he blinked at her. That wasn’t their deal. That was never part of their deal. “What? Why?” he asked, confusion dancing over his strong features.

Ignoring the dying man as he gurgled in his own spit and blood, she gave him a knowing look. It was sweet of him to want to give her this moment, but he was the one that deserved it. She hoped it would offer him closure, so that he could become the man he was destined to be.

“He’s been abusing you since you were born, Kade. He nearly succeeded in taking everything from you, including your life. What he did to me is nothing in comparison. You finish this. You kill him.”

Taking in her truthful words, Kade swallowed hard.

A flood of memories tore through his mind, painful images that he had long suppressed.

Their emergence stirred up years’ worth of maltreatment caused by the husk of the man wheezing before him.

Nodding his head, he accepted her precious gift.

Just when he didn’t think he could love her any more, she always found a way to surprise him.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.

Grinning at him, she took a step backwards. Shaking her stinging hand, she waited for him to rid himself of his father’s steely grasp. He could finally be his own man, now. It was what they had both hoped and wished for.

Lifting his Baretta, Kade placed the barrel of the silencer against his forehead. Studying his aged face for a long moment, he slowly pulled the trigger of his gun. Lodging a fraying bullet into his brain and putting an end to the misery he had been settled with for his entire life.

Dropping the limp carcass to the floor, he turned to look at his beautiful brunette. Taking in a cleansing breath, all the weight pressing upon his shoulders evaporated, leaving him with a sense of relief he had never experienced. For the first time in his life, he was free. Finally free.

Securing his gun in its holster, he cleared the space to his other half. Scooping her up into his arms, he twirled her in a loving embrace.

Laughing as he spun her, Lexi closed her eyes. Thanking the universe for granting them their wish, she enjoyed the blissful moment. They would never have to worry about Bloodbayne tearing their family apart ever again. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt such elation.

“It’s over, Kade...it’s finally over,” she said.

Squeezing her tightly, he came to a slow stop. Holding her against his torso, he held in a happy sob. He almost didn’t believe it, he didn’t think it was possible to feel so complete.

“Let’s clean up and go get our daughter,” he said, his deep voice shaking at the seams.

Pulling her head back to look at his handsome face, she nodded in agreement. She couldn’t wait to see Loey’s face when she saw her daddy.

“Yes, let’s,” she replied.

...

Mindful of her bandaged hand, Lexi opened the glass door to the penthouse balcony. Stepping out into the starry night, she smiled as she saw Kade resting in a teak patio lounger. Cradled against his chest was a sleeping Loey, to his right sat an

unusually relaxed Valentina. Their hushed voices going over the details of the transfer of power.

Trying to be as quiet as possible, she walked towards the trio.

She didn’t want to disturb her daughter, it had taken hours for her to finally fall asleep.

Loey had been so excited to see her daddy.

She kept touching his face, saying “Dada, Dada ,” as if she didn’t think he was real.

It was a tender scene that had made her weep with joy.

And to think, he was worried that his daughter wouldn’t remember him, Nikki said.

Laughing to herself, she could almost feel her alter roll her eyes. Saying a silent “‘goodnight,” she closed the door in the back of her mind. Something told her she wouldn’t be hearing from Nikki again for a long while. It was almost bittersweet.

Taking a seat on the lounge chair flanking Kade’s left, she arched her brow as the pair’s conversation trailed off. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, keeping her voice soft.

Turning his head, Kade moved his attention from Valentina to Lexi. Looking at her lovingly, he shook his head. She was his equal in every sense of the word now, he couldn’t wait to fill her in on the details of their new Empire.

“Not at all, Sweetheart. We were just going over how to handle the transition of power. Val is going to call the syndicates tomorrow and alert them. They should have no problems accepting the change. But if they do well, we can handle it. Can’t we?

he said, adjusting the blanket covering his sleeping princess.

“We certainly can,” she replied confidently. Sweeping her gaze to Valentina, she softened her face. “Thank you for everything. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

“No, you couldn’t have,” Valentina agreed, lifting her scarlet lips into a smirk. “But honestly, I should be the one thanking you. I was trapped and didn’t know how to get out. I’m grateful for what you and Kade have done, and I want you to know that you both have my loyalty.”

Taking in a breath, she gave the striking blonde a warm grin. Perhaps it was foolish, but she believed her with every fiber of her being. She was thankful to have her help as they rebuilt the Organization. It felt good to have someone capable in their corner.

“And you have ours,” she replied.

Taking comfort in her words, Valentina decided to take her leave. Slapping her hands on her knees, she slowly stood from her comfortable chair. Dancing her blue eyes back and forth between the pair, she let out a sigh.

“Well, I’m going to make one last call to Geno and then I’m heading to bed. He and his crew should have the office cleaned by dawn. Have a good night you two, I’ll see you in the morning,” she said.

Almost in unison, Lexi and Kade wished her a good night.

Watching their new Underboss as she left the balcony, he waited for the door to close before he spoke his mind. Moving his dark eyes along the City’s skyline, he snuggled his snoring baby close.

“We did it, Lexi. We fucking did it,” he said, soaking in the surreal moment.

“I can’t believe how lucky I am! I’m madly in love with a dynamic woman, I have a beautiful daughter and a son on the way.

I finally have the Organization that was dangled in front of my face for years.

..I have everything I’ve ever wanted. And it’s all because of you.

I wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for you.

Thank you so much for loving me. Thank you for loving every broken, terrible piece. ”

Turning his face to meet hers, he lifted a hand to cup her cheek. Gliding the pad of his thumb across her skin, he memorized her beauty in the moonlight.

“Thank you for saving me,” he added.

Nuzzling against his touch, Lexi closed her eyes. Breathing in the sweet moment, she committed every second to memory. There were still incredibly tough times ahead, but at least they wouldn’t have to fight a battle alone ever again.

“We saved each other, Kade,” she said, raising her eyelids to meet his intense gaze. “I love you so very much.”

Giving her a full smile, he leaned towards her. Pausing as she met him halfway, he continued to caress her cheek.

“And I love you, Sweetheart. Now and always,” he promised, claiming her lips in a passionate kiss.