CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Todd knelt frozen, paralyzed by inner torment. His eyes were blank and staring. From way down deep inside, Todd and Pete fought with all their strength for control. Their daughter needed them.
Peter knelt in front of the scared child. The small room she was in had a tiny desk and chair. There were cookies on a plate with a pitcher of juice next to it. The last thing he needed was a crying, snot-nosed kid to screw everything up. “Shh…hush now, sugar. He patted her on her round cheek. “It’s alright, don’t you worry you’re pretty little head, everything will work out.”
Starr lower lip trembled. “I want my Daddy!” She wailed. “You said I could see him.” Big, fat tears rolled down her face. She clutched her doll and rocked back and forth, trying to comfort herself.
Peter gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to scream at the little brat. She was just like her father. She stared at him with the same hazel eyes, surrounded by wet little lashes. He pulled his lips back in a poor imitation of a smile. “Why, Starr honey… What’s with the tears? I thought you were a big, grown up girl?”
She bit her lip. “I am,” she whispered. Then a little more forcefully. “I AM a big girl.”
Peter spread his hands. “Well? Then you need to act like one. Didn’t I promise you’d see you’re daddy?”
Starr nodded.
“Okay, well you need to be a patient, grown up girl and wait quietly. Didn’t I buy you books and crayons? And you’re Dolly? You just need to sit quietly in here and color for a little while longer. Then you and you’re daddy will visit. I promise.”
Starr looked at him keenly and scrunched her nose. “My daddy say’s you gotta make sure people back up their promises. What happens to you if you don’t back up you’re promise?”
Peter shook his head in amazement. The kid was her father’s child alright. A real smartass. “LOOK, I just will!” He snapped. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “I’m going to shut the door now. So color a nice picture for your Daddy…okay, Starr?
Starr sighed. “Okay, I promise to be quiet.”
“Glad to hear it,” Peter muttered in irritation. He shut the door.
Clarice watched the exchange with bated breath. Thank God Thomas’s child was unharmed. She glared at Peter Manning. “You animal,” she breathed. Her eyes were black ice. “You make me sick.”
He walked over to her and slapped her viciously across her face. “I’m crushed you feel that way,” he drawled sarcastically.
Clarice gasped as an explosion of pain shot through her. She almost blacked out. She licked at a drop of blood collected at the side of her lip. Her eyes watered as tears threatened to fall. She drew a trembling breath and forced them back. She wouldn’t give him the power or satisfaction.
She stared stonily at him. It was amazing how such a beautiful man could be so rotten and decayed. His lean, tan face was unlined and youthful. He was extremely handsome. But, once you looked into those malevolent, pale blue eyes, the evil was there for all to see. They were cold and dead.
He leaned closer to her. His warm breath tickled her face. His tongue came out snake-like and licked the side of her face.
Clarice moaned in sheer terror, and twisted her face away.
He laughed in delight. The power coursing through him made him feel like a God.
“What’s the matter, baby? Don’t I turn you on?” He lightly brushed his fingers over her belly, snickering when she sucked her breath in sharply. “I’m a much better fuck than that loser over there.”
Todd’s hair was hanging in front of his face. He was in control and alert. He cut his eyes sideways, but stayed still. He kept his breathing steady and slow. He needed to think, to plan.
“What kind of monster are you?” Clarice whispered, repulsed. “How could you do this to your own flesh and blood?”
“Flesh and blood?” Peter sneered. “You think that asshole’s my real son? He’s a bastard in every sense of the word. His Mother was a cunt who fucked a rich, old man and then spawned Todd. But, I fixed him though,” he whispered.
Clarice could only stare horrified. “What are you talking about?”
Peter smiled evilly. “I hated him from the first day he was born. When he was a kid he was always clinging to me, wanting to play, wanting love and affection. That’s when I started the game.” He picked up slim cigar case from the card table and picked one. He closed the lid shut with a smart little snap. He fixed her with a cold look as he slowly lit the cigar, taking a long, satisfying pull.
Clarice stared at the cigar in terror. He had burned her earlier, for no reason. He just touched the tip to her breast and coolly watched as she screamed in pain. She was chained up and totally helpless. Then he kissed her lips gently. Tenderly brushing her hair away from her sweating face. “Just a little sample of what will happen if you don’t do exactly what I say.”
Peter pulled his lip through his teeth erotically. He knew what she was thinking. He could smell her fear, and he felt himself grow rock hard. “You wanna hear the rest of my little tale, before you and I get…. acquainted?”
Clarice nodded quickly.
He smirked knowingly. “I thought so. As I was saying, Toddy was such a pathetic little sissy. The more he grew, the more I hated him. The more he loved me, the more I beat him. Ever hear of DID?” He asked innocently.
Todd looked up and tensed. Goddamn Peter Manning to hell. He kept silent. He needed to hear, really hear this. This was his life.
Clarice shook her head. “No,” she whispered. Her heart bled for Thomas, and the small child he was.
“Dissociative Identity Disorder. It means you’re boyfriend here, is fucked up. He has split personalities. Pete, Tom, and Rafael. I’m sure you’ve met them all, honey.” She closed her eyes. Yes…it explained everything. All the times he seemed to change, and become someone else.
Peter smiled nastily. “I can see from you’re expression that you believe me. And you should, not that the folks back in Llaneveiw did. They thought he was faking it to get outta goin’ to jail. Todd thought so too…but he knew. Deep, deep down he knew he was completely screwed up.” He leaned in closer to Clarice. “And you know what? I’m the one who made him that way,” he said in a soft menacing voice. “I knew exactly what to do… to make him split. I created him and I’m gonna destroy him.”
Todd was trembling as if he had palsy. To actually hear the words coming out of his father’s mouth was debilitating. Peter Manning did this not just because he was a sick, monster. He did it deliberately. He wanted to ruin him, destroy him as a human being and he did it on purpose. His breathing was light and shallow, and he felt as if he could faint at any moment. He hung his head and tried to fight for control. Something was happening to him, some fundamental shift in his personality.
Peter Manning ran his tongue over his lip. “I started screwing Todd on his fourteenth birthday. That was my present to him…and to me. He was and still is beautiful to behold, but you already know that, don’t you? Tom was born on that night. Shy, malleable, stupid, Tom. A pathetic little pussy that made me sick to my stomach.” Clarice stared hypnotized in a trance-like state. The evil pouring out Peter’s mouth was the blackest, vilest of poison. It was toxic and foul.
“I only had the pleasure a handful of times. Just enough at key times to keep Todd in line. He’d get so angry and frustrated, it was really quite lovely to watch. Pete was then born. You see… I carefully cultivated his alters, got to know each one … intimately.”
Clarice had her eyes locked on Peter Manning. “You Goddamn sadist,” she spat. “What you are is not even human. You are a disgusting piece of garbage,” she said in a clear strong voice. She leaned forward and spit in his face. Her black eyes were hard and filled with fury. “Did you think I’d turn away from Todd in disgust?” She screamed.
She jerked against the chains; her hands were in instinctive claws. “The shame is all yours, you filthy SCUM! I love him, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM! You don’t win…you don’t win!” She bent her head down and sobbed uncontrollably for Todd. It was heart wrenching, broken, and splintered.
Peter clapped his hands. “Wow, honey. I am impressed.” He wrapped a fist full of her hair and jerked her head up. “But, guess what? I don’t give a shit about your opinion.”
Clarice struggled against the hold on her. “So? Why did you come back? Haven’t you done enough damage?”
“You think I came back, because I cared enough about Todd to fuck with his mind again? I came back because I need money, and Todd has lot’s of it,” he yelled. “Are you insane? He wouldn’t give you a dime!” Clarice cried.
“Oh, he will. He will. You see…I plan on becoming executor of his estate. Tommy will agree to it. After he’s committed of course. He is fucking nuts. Look at him. He’s already halfway there. When he sees what I’m gonna do to you and his kid…” Peter laughed darkly. “Well, I’m sure you get the picture, it’ll finish him off. I made sure I planted a lot of evidence back in Llaneveiw connecting Todd to the kidnapping of his kid. Their gonna throw his ass away forget the key. And I’ll be long gone, with all his money.”
Clarice felt the floor lurch sickeningly under her feet. She was with the Devil. He was standing before her in human form. She was paralyzed with fear. She knew she was going to die. She hung her head in defeat and chocked back a sob.
Peter caressed her cheek. “Shhh…don’t cry kitten. You are so very lovely and desirable. I’ve waited a long time, and have been very patient, but I want you…badly.” He pushed her head up and roughly slanted his mouth over hers in a bruising kiss.
“Well guess what Manning? You’re gonna have to wait a little while longer. It’s my turn now.” Pete was standing with his arms folded. He looked dark and dangerous. His hair was tangled wildly around his face and his eyes glowed in his face like a tiger’s. “She is one fine piece of ass and I get first crack.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Peter whipped his head around. “What are you talking about, boy?” He was amazed to see Todd up on his feet. He was staring a hole through him and looked lucid and in complete control.
Pete laughed harshly. “Boy?” He sneered. “I know you’re not talking about me, are you? That title is reserved for that idiot Todd, or maybe that fool Tom, it sure as hell isn’t me. I haven’t been a boy in a long, long time.”
He shrugged off his leather jacket and tossed it on a foldout chair. He stood clad in a tight white tee shirt and faded jeans. His star tattoo was on full display, only adding to his ominous appearance. He flexed his shoulders and grinned whitely. “Hey, you mind if I bum a smoke?”
Peter inclined his head slightly. He watched him like a hawk. What the fuck was he up to? “Go ahead,” he said roughly.
Pete casually crossed the room and opened the cigar case. He pulled one out, inhaling its aroma. “Nice brand,” he remarked, rolling it between his fingers. He put his hand in his pocket and produced a stick match. “Never leave home without one of these,” he joked lightly.
He put a booted foot up on the card table and struck the match off the bottom of the sole. Peter never saw Pete reach in and slide his switchblade out from the side of his boot. He slipped the blade in his pocket. He cupped his hands around the flame and coolly puffed until the cigar was burning nicely. He took a long drag and held it in his lungs, then slowly released it through his mouth. The smoke curling around his head looked sinister. He stared at Peter steadily. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Peter rapped out. He shifted uneasily. The way Pete was staring at him was unnerving. He wasn’t one bit nervous or rattled. The opposite in fact, he was enjoying the cigar and looked cool and remote.
“Well… I wanna fuck her,” he enunciated as if he were talking to a stupid child. Clarice was breathing rapidly. She could not believe what she hearing. Everything seemed surreal. “What are you talking about Thomas,” she whispered helplessly. Pete pointed a finger at her. “Shut-up,” he said in a low voice. “There was never any Thomas. Ever.” He spread his hands and smiled. “Like what you see, Clarice? This is the real and only me.” He was standing with both hands at his hip, in a male, arrogant stance. His eyes were like lasers and they pinned her like a moth to a card.
Clarice shook her head. “No,” she trembled. Tears were rolling down her face. He tipped his head to the side, he had the cigar clamped in between his white teeth and narrowed his eyes through the smoke. “Yes,” he whispered sarcastically. He threw back his head and laughed. It was deep and throaty.
Peter was watching the exchange avidly. “Tell me Pete, just what the hell makes you think I’d let you do her?”
Pete turned his attention back to Manning. He dropped the cigar and ground it out with his foot. He raised an eyebrow. “Because I know you want Todd’s money, so do I. And guess what? I’m the only one who knows how to get to it.” Peter stared keenly. “I’m listening.”
“A couple of months ago I moved his funds. There in about ten different accounts in the Cayman Islands, earning a shitload of interest. All tax free, of course. I’m the only one who knows the numbers to those accounts. Don’t bother trying to find out where I have them written. It’s all in my head. There burned into my memory. And you know…I have a lot of things goin’ on in my head,” he joked. His smile faded abruptly. “If you wanna see one fuckin’ dime of that money. You better plan on having me for a partner. Because a fuckin’ nut house just isn’t my idea of a good time.”
Peter glared at him. He tried one more tack. “I thought you cared so much for the girl and your kid?”
Pete shrugged indifferently. “Todd did. I could give a rat’s ass about the kid or Clarice. But I do want to fuck her though.” He tilted his chin in Clarice’s direction. He smiled nastily. “And I know you like to watch, Manning. I know just how much it turns you on,” he whispered. “Come on,” he urged. “Slide those keys to the bitch’s chains on over here.”
Peter bit his lip. For now he’d have to go along.
For now.
Besides, he did have a dark thrill running through him at the thought of the both of them taking turns with the woman. He took the key from his pocket and kicked it across the floor to Pete.
Without taking his eyes of off Manning, Pete bent down and picked up the small key. He rose slowly and advanced towards Clarice. His eyes were locked on hers; his tread was slow and deliberate.
Clarice stared hypnotized. She leaned back against the pole as far as she could. “Please, Thomas…I know you are there,” she begged.
He stopped about a foot from her. “Call me by my real name,” he said roughly. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Say it,” he commanded softly.
“Pete,” Clarice said faintly.
He briefly closed his eyes. “That’s good, Clarice. I knew you were a smart girl.” He reached out and lightly ran his knuckle down her cheek. He brushed his fingers down her collarbone, in between her breasts, and on down to her stomach. He kept his eyes fixed on her, inspecting every emotion that raced across her face.
He ran his hand back up and circled the burn around the side of her breast. He bunched his jaw. His eyes narrowed… darkened. He looked scary and ominous. Clarice bit her lip and trembled, bowing her head in shame. Peter Manning was leaning against the wall watching. His eyes were feral, like a wild animals. God, please don’t let this happen.
Pete moved in closer, until he was straddling her and the pole between his legs. He lightly rubbed his hips into hers, biting the side of her neck. He wrapped his arms behind her back to unlock the padlock that was securing the heavy chain.
She moaned in terror and shook violently. He was going to rape her. She stood passive and waited.
He slid his open mouth against her ear. “I’m going to get you out of here, Clarice,” he whispered urgently. “Please…just go along with this. It’s our only chance, do you understand, baby? I need you to get Starr out of here. I love you…I love you. I would die before I’d let Manning touch you.”
Clarice sagged against him sobbing in relief. “Thomas?” She whispered back.
Todd glanced up at Manning who was watching intently. He ground his hips into Clarice’s a little harder, grinding against her crudely and letting his hand’s roam insultingly all over her back and buttocks. “No, honey. Not Thomas. I’m Todd… and I’m Pete. I don’t know where one of us ends and the other begins. This is who I am.”
I am you and you are me. He finally understood it. Todd and Pete blended together. The best and worst sides. Making up one whole person.
“But, I swear on my life. The three of us will walk out of here,” he whispered in her hair. He worked the key into the lock and opened it. The heavy chain dropped. Clarice sighed in relief as the Todd removed her from the shackles. He closed his long fingers around her wrists and rubbed them, working the circulation into them. He looked at her worriedly; his stomach churned at was he was about to do. He silently pleaded with her to forgive him.
Clarice slightly nodded. She understood and forgave.
Todd glared at her and yanked her to him. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, baby.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and kissed her roughly, biting at her lips and rubbing his open mouth all over her face.
Clarice moaned and struggled. Kicking her bare feet against his calves.
He grabbed her wrists holding them in his one hand. “Go ahead, fight me. I love it.” He laughed in her face. He picked her up and walked across the room a couple of feet from where Starr was being kept. He dropped her and pushed her against the concrete wall. He pinned her with his body and breathing harshly, began to simulate raping her. He eyes were locked on Clarice’s. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” he chanted desperately. Tears of helplessness ran down his face. He felt like a monster, a destroyer…a rapist.
Clarice saw the devastation in his eyes, the guilt and the self-loathing. She lightly touched her mouth to his. “I love you, and I will never stop. Do you understand me? We are doing this for us…for you’re child, Todd,” she whispered. Clarice knew how much danger they were in, his child was in peril and that was unacceptable. Peter would kill Starr and feel no remorse. She trusted him with their lives.
Todd clenched his jaw and stopped. He was out of breath and trembling violently. Getting his emotions under control, he turned around. His expression was blank and cold. “You’re turn I believe,” he said remotely.
Peter grinned. “Why I do believe it is, Pete.” He strutted over, his face a mask of pure undiluted evil. “I am gonna rip you open, kitten,” he said softly.
Todd smiled a white, toothy grin. He waited until Peter crossed in front of him. He yanked the gun out from the back of his waist, and held it hard against the side of Peter Manning’s temple. “Wrong again, motherfucker. Get ready to die,” he snarled into his ear.
