Jaded Hearts
Chapter 47

Matt

Taylor was tucked in bed fast asleep, and she was safe. I would never have to worry about something happening when she was out of my sight again, and I’ve never been more relieved.

I stood in the basement watching as Tyson and Kade snapped silver-coated shackles onto Drew’s wrists and hoisted him up into the air. I had no idea how much tranquilizer Tyson had given him, but he was basically comatose the entire ride home.

“You gentlemen ready to wake him up?” Tyson asked.

“Absolutely. I’ve waited long enough,” I said, stepping closer to Drew’s dangling body.

Kade walked over to the table in the corner and picked up a syringe and a blow torch.

“Which one? I’m sure either will get the job done.”

“Why not both?”

He smiled at me, then handed me the blowtorch while he positioned the syringe of wolfsbane at Drew’s neck.

Once I had the torch lit, I looked over his body to replace the best spot to begin. I settled on his left hand. It was the closest, and I’m sure he used it more than a few times against Taylor.

“Let’s do this.” I lowered the flame to his knuckles right as Kade rammed the needle into Drew’s neck.

It didn’t take more than three seconds before he drew in a deep breath and let out a horrible scream. His body kicked and thrashed as the poison worked its way through his system. When all of the skin on his hand was charred beyond recognition, I stepped back and watched as he tried to comprehend what was happening. His eyes were huge in his head, damn near popping out as he tried to look around the room.

In each corner stood a man who wanted nothing more than to watch him take his last breath. And right in front of him was Xander.

“Welcome back to the Blue Moon pack, Mr. Witt. It seems that the last time you were here, you didn’t quite comprehend what the words ‘zero contact’ meant in regard to our Gamma female. You didn’t keep your end of the deal, but don’t worry because we are men of our word. And you will now die by our hand.”

Drew’s head whipped around, looking for any escape he could replace until his eyes landed on me. When the recognition registered on his face, he spoke his first words since waking up.

“WHY ARE YOU ALIVE?! I saw your body! You were dead!”

“You saw what I wanted you to see,” Tyson said as he walked into view. Drew’s face turned red with rage, and he spit and cussed in Tyson’s direction.

“You f*****g bastard! I trusted you, and this is what I get for it? I gave you what you wanted, didn’t I?”

Tyson grabbed the sides of Drew’s head and smashed his forehead down into Drew’s face, crushing bones and cartilage. “You can’t give me something that’s not yours, you sick f**k. Did you think I wouldn’t replace out what you did to her?”

B***d poured from Drew’s nose and mouth and gurgled in the back of his throat. “Why do you care what happened between us? I was free to do whatever I wanted. If she would have learned to listen, she never …”

His eyes began to roll back in his head, but before he could pass out, I ran the torch across his chest, eliciting another ear-piercing scream from his mouth.

“This guy can’t even withstand a simple headbutt? He’s not going to last the night,” Alexi said from his place in the corner.

“He’s not dying until we give him permission to,” Kade responded.

“I see you guys have this under control, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to spend some time with my wife. You boys play nice and keep the noise down as best you can,” Xander said before he left the room.

Alexi walked over and looked Drew up and down before he too headed for the door.

“As much as I’d like to stay and help, he’s not mine to deal with. If there’s anything left over when you three are done, let me know.”

Now it was just Tyson, Kade, and me with a terrified Drew. Tyson took off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Kade and I just removed our hoodies as we got ready to get to work.

“Let’s see what else we’ve got in our toy box, fellas,” Kade said walking back to the table.

I followed him over and saw something that immediately put a smile on my face. I lifted it up and measured its weight in my hands. It was perfect.

Tyson smiled at me and nodded in approval. “Damn, I wanted that one. But first come, first served.”

I walked back over and stood in front of Drew. His eyes were beyond swollen shut thanks to the headbutt, so he didn’t see what was about to happen.

I flipped the switch on the circular saw, and when the blade began to whir, Drew’s head snapped up.

“What’s that you like to say, Drew? ‘All who are weak will be punished?’ Well, who am I to argue with that logic?”

The sounds of his screams when the saw touched his flesh were music to my ears, and food for my soul.

And we were just getting started.

* * *

Taylor

I woke up in the middle of the night to replace that Matt still hadn’t come to bed. I knew that it meant he was still in the basement, and it scared me.

Matt, can you hear me?

I sat in the bed and pulled my knees to my chest and waited.

Matt, please answer me.

Taylor, what’s wrong?

Where are you? It’s after 3:00 a.m.

I’m in the basement. I’ll be up soon, I promise.

Now.

What?

I want you up here now. You’ve got five minutes max before I’m coming down there.

Taylor, do not come down here. Do you understand me?

Then you get your a*s up to this room right now.

I don’t know why, but I was livid. Drew had already ruined my life, and now my fiancé was too occupied with him to be in bed where he belonged. Six minutes later, Matt walked into the room and headed towards the bathroom.

“Stop. Turn on the lights.”

“Tesoro, I need to take a shower. Please.”

“Matt, don’t test me right now. I’m not in the mood. Now turn on the damn light.”

I heard him sigh, then backtrack to the switch on the wall.

“Please don’t make me do this.”

“Now!”

He flipped the switch, and I instantly wished I had listened to him. He was covered in b***d and gore, head to toe. His usually perfect dirty blonde hair was soaked and hung in thick clumps.

His hands and arms were coated in what looked like layers upon layers of … I don’t know what. If it weren’t for his beautiful blue eyes shining through, I wouldn’t even recognize him. Tears started to run down my face. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“Please don’t cry, baby. I can’t watch you hurt like this.” He took a step towards me, and I scrambled backwards away from him.

“No! I can’t see you like this. This isn’t the man I love.”

“I’m still me, I promise you.”

I couldn’t look at him anymore, and the smell was making my stomach violently roll.

“Go shower.”

He sighed but didn’t say anything else. He just walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. When the shower turned on, I broke down. I had no idea what happened down in the basement, but I knew that Matt was not this person. Drew had pulled him into a deep and endless darkness that I prayed he could make his way out of.

But he was in this mess because of me. And I wasn’t going to abandon him. I pulled myself together and walked into the bathroom. Matt was standing under the water as deep red water pooled at his feet. The sweet and loving man who I knew and loved should never have looked like this.

“Matt.”

He opened his eyes and looked at me. And I could tell that he was hurting, bad. “Just give me some time, Taylor. I can’t talk right now. Please.”

Matt had never brushed me off, ever. No matter how tired or stressed or annoyed he might’ve been, he always had time for me. “No, look at me.”

He sighed and began to massage shampoo into his hair.

“Matt! Don’t ignore me, not when I’m standing here trying to help you.”

“You can’t help me, not with this.” He stepped back under the water and went back to trying to ignore me. So, I shut the water off and snatched his shampoo, throwing it across the room.

“That was uncalled for. I told you I needed to shower, but you wouldn’t let me. Then you changed your mind, and now what? What do you want because I’m really f*****g confused right now.”

I was shocked. Did those words really just come out of his mouth, directed at me? “Do not talk to me like that. Ever. I don’t know what happened down in that basement, but do not take it out on me.”

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, pushing the mess away from his face.

“I’m sorry, baby. I truly am, and I promise I’ll never disrespect you again. Please just give me a few minutes to rinse off, and I’ll come talk to you. I’m begging you.”

“Fine.” I went back to the room and sat on the bed and waited. Never had I wanted to drive my fist into his perfect face more than I did right now. When he came out of the bathroom ten minutes later, he just stood in the middle of the floor.

“I am so sorry that I spoke to you that way. I will never, ever do that again. I swear to you, baby. It’s just been a rough night, and I did some things that’ll stick with me forever. Please forgive me.”

“Did you kill him?”

Matt looked confused at the change in conversation but shook his head. “No, he’s still alive. You called me away before we could finish the job.”

“Before? We’ve been home six hours, Matt. Six entire hours! What the hell were you guys doing down there?”

He shook his head. “No. You don’t need to know what went on. I wish I could forget, but I never will.”

“Come sit down.”

When he did, I turned his face to mine and took his hands. “I need you to come back to me. I need you. The real you, not the man who spent the last six hours in the basement.”

“Taylor, I don’t know if I can be that man anymore.”

“You promised that you’d never hurt me, so keep your promise and come back. This baby and I can’t do this without you. And nothing would hurt more than losing you.”

Matt rested his head in my lap and snuggled up next to my belly. “You won’t have to do anything without me. I’d never leave you alone.”

“Don’t let him change you or ruin what we have, okay? You’re too good for that.”

Matt nodded his head but didn’t say anything.

“I forgive you.” I just hoped that no matter what, he would replace a way to forgive himself.