You Break Me (The Prospect 2)

“She thought that night meant more than it did, thought I finally saw her and not Rhonda and that our status was changing. She became a cold shell of a person and I was sick of hiding any part of my life. I was getting ready to divorce Crystal and finally make Rhonda not just my old lady but my wife in every way. I was tired of living with all the secrets and lies. I wanted out. I would always take care of you and your brother, but I was done living two lives. Three days later, the woman I loved with every fiber of my being was murdered.” Happy looks choked up, I also feel upset enough to tell him exactly how that happened, but I don’t. Mother might be a little on the nutty side these days, but I don’t want her dead, and I know he would easily do it if he knew she was behind the murder.

Everything now makes sense. The changes in Mother, especially days before Rhonda’s death. Did mother know what he was planning? That’s probably what sent her over the edge.

Happy stands up, gun still in his hand and he stares at me. “You’re not my daughter by blood, Susan, but it didn’t make me love you any less. And hearing all the shit you put Nikki through growing up, makes me wish I had the strength to end your life right here, right now.” I swallow roughly, this doesn’t sound good. “You’re dead to me, I don’t ever want to see you again, you’re to stay out of my clubhouse, out of my life, and if I catch you anywhere near my daughter and granddaughter…you’re gonna beg for death and pray for a mercy you won’t receive from me.”

He takes a shuttering breath. “I know who is responsible for killing Rhonda. The look on your face tells me all I need to know. All that guilt must be hard to carry on your shoulders, Susan. If you were smart, you’d leave town before I change my mind about killing you and if you even think of warning your mother.” He pauses and aims his gun at me. “I will hunt you down like the animal that you are and gut you.”

He storms out of the house, and I can’t move, I feel paralyzed. I thought I would be elated with him out of my life, but now, it’s a reality, and the last bit of a heart I have left just completely shatters. I screwed up. I have nothing. I am nothing. I curl into a fetal position and cry. I should warn Mother but whatever happens she is getting what she had coming. I’m taking my punishment—facing the consequences of my actions and the part I played in it all and so should she.

Chapter 21

Cruiz

I wanted to stay at Nikki’s apartment, but she could barely even look at me. Pain sliced my gut when she wouldn’t even say hi. Her daughter though, chatted nonstop with me once I picked her up from the trashy she-devil. Sophia reminded me so much of Nikki when she was that age. I hated seeing what that bastard Tricky did to Nikki and am only sorry that I wasn’t the one to end his pathetic life.

I’m in my room at the clubhouse when Happy comes charging in looking pissed as shit. “We gotta roll out, need to deal with my bitch of a wife, you’ll need to be my clean up.”

Fuck, I hate clean up.

“Do I need to send a man to the Prospect’s house too?” I ask him, needing to know where to divide the brothers.

“No, left the cunt alive, for now,” he replies, grinding his jaw. “Let’s ride out fast, before she finds out what I know and tries to run. For what she’s done, she’ll wish and beg for death.” When Happy gets like this, it’s best to just let him ramble without any input. Finding out Crystal had Rhonda murdered and what she put Nikki through, I’m surprised Happy even came to me first for cleanup. Would have thought he’d have taken care of it first.

We arrive at his house and go in quiet. Crystal is in the bathtub when we enter the home. At first, she doesn’t even realize we are here. She’s got earbuds in and her head is laid back on the wall with her eyes closed. Happy doesn’t say a word he just walks over and pushes her head down under the water. It splashes out onto the tile floor as she struggles. He lets her up long enough to catch a breath and to tell her he knows what she did.

“You think I wouldn?

?t find out what you and your cunt kid did to my daughter?”

“What?” She cries.

“Wrong answer bitch!” He snarls and punches her in the mouth so hard he broke her front tooth.

She cries and pleads but it all falls on deaf ears. “Happy, please.” Blood drips down her chin. Her bottom lip trembles. I could almost feel bad for the bitch if I didn’t know all the terrible shit she did to Nikki, the woman I love. The woman I am going to make mine again.

“You killed the only woman I ever loved and neglected and tortured Nikki. Now me and Cruiz are gonna do the same to you.” He grabs her up by her saggy tits. Soap bubbles drip down her naked body as blood leaks from her mouth. “I’m going to love bleeding you out slowly. Then I am going to hack you up and toss your pieces in the bottom of a lake. No one will ever find you.”

“Happy, please,” she begs, but it’s falling on deaf ears. “I loved you. All I ever wanted was for you to love me back. What about Tyler. You can’t do this to him!”

“Our son!” He spits in her face. “He fucking hated you. Why do you think he left town? It sure as shit wasn’t because of me. I gave our kid everything he ever wanted. I took care of you. All of you and how did you repay me.!?” He yanks her out of the tub and tosses her to the floor in front of me. “Get her dried off and then tie her to a kitchen chair.” He orders as she tries to crawl away from him.

No begging will keep her alive. Sometimes, Happy will take mercy on women, but not this one. And for once, I don’t feel guilt or shame with what’s to come.

I do as he asks while the rest of the brothers crowd into the house.

Standing back, I lean against the wall, while Happy grabs a chair and sits in front of her. Crystal is crying but she doesn’t fight the rope, almost like she knows her fate.

“Tell me, Cunt, why? Why you did it, how you did it,” Happy demands, slowly rubbing the tip of his knife across her thigh.

“She always was the favorite. I never understood why, she was a whore, I wasn’t,” she whispers, still not looking up.

“Bullshit. Rhonda was a virgin the first time I had her, yet you were already pregnant when I took you as my wife,” Happy barks at her, slamming his knife into her leg. “You tricked me, and I was stupid enough to fall for your shit. Your sister loved you enough to beg me to marry you, so you’d be taken care. You and Susan. She forgave you and you killed her.”

Crystal screams out in pain. After a few ragged breaths she continues. “I ruined her life. Yes, okay. I was the whore, not her, but she made sure I never got the attention. Especially once I told her I was pregnant. When we rolled into town, I saw you first, but you didn’t even notice me, you only saw her. I didn’t and still don’t understand why. We’re twins. She was the smart one, the virgin.” She sneers looking directly at him. “I was more your style. But still, you only wanted her. Once you both declared your love for each other, I barely saw her. I hated her for having you. I just wanted you so yes, I tricked you and ended up pregnant. And well you know the rest.” Dropping her head back down she lets out a sob.

Happy yanks his knife out of her leg and she moans out in pain again. “No, I don’t. I got that part, always knew that shit, wasn’t a secret. Why kill her?”

He goes to stab her again when she screams. “Because I found out you were going to divorce me.” She lifts her head and glares at him as she talks. “I spiked your drink, then I paid that asshole to pretend he was part of the ATF, to get you scared. I fucked you, so Goddamned good, and you still moaned out her name as you came inside me. I knew then, no matter what, you’d belong to her. Always.”