24

“You kept this information to yourself for a month and a half?!” bellowed Shadows as Izzy stared at him blankly. “Did it not cross your mind to tell me what he had said to you?! Do you realize what this means?”

“So much for an uncomplicated year?” snapped Izzy angrily, her words dripping with icy sarcasm.

“Don’t you take that snotty tone with me Isabel! You’ve put yourself in more danger than you know keeping that information to yourself!” roared Shadows, his hazel eyes flashing menacingly.

“Well maybe if you weren’t so much of a barbaric cunt then I would feel the urge to tell you these things!” retorted Izzy getting out of her seat and slamming her fist down on Shadows’ desk

“This is your safety we’re talking about Isabel!” shouted Shadows getting up as well. “Not some trivial business plan. You’re safety is pretty high up there on the list of goddamned priorities!”

“And tell me Shadows, how is it that I feel like I’m a part of this plan? You tell me nothing!” screamed Izzy.

“I don’t have to tell you anything!” growled Shadows. “I draw up the procedures and you abide by them.”

“Ok kiddies….break it up!” came Jimmy’s voice from the doorway of Shadows’ office. Izzy and Shadows both shot him venomous glares. Jimmy held his hands up in front of him, his expression serious. “I think it’s time to take a break from this conversation.”

“Fine. You try and talk some sense into that thick head of his.” snapped Izzy as she marched out of the office without a backwards glance.

“My head isn’t nearly as thick as yours!” shouted Shadows after her. Izzy shook her head warily as she made her way to the kitchen. Arguing with Shadows always proved to be exhausting.

Muttering obscenities under her breath she pulled out some orange juice from the refrigerator and slammed it with unnecessary force onto the countertop. Seething she poured herself a glass and tried to steady her nerves. Sure, she hadn’t told Shadows about Jake Night’s warning but it wasn’t like Shadows was the most approachable person to talk to about those things. Deep down, Izzy knew she was wrong for having kept that information to herself knowing that it had everything to do with her safety but a part of her hoped that maybe Night was bluffing, that he was trying to scare her. It wasn’t until last night when Shadows had revealed who Matt Tuck really was, did she finally realize that Night’s warning was indeed very real.

“Have you calmed down yet?” asked a soft voice entering the kitchen.

“Possibly.” shrugged Izzy as she regarded Christ with her grey eyes.

“I don’t understand how something so small could be so loud.” He grinned at her and Izzy couldn’t help but return it.

“You’re one to talk.” She teased as she poured a glass of orange juice for Christ before handing it to him.

“Seems like you two can’t go five minutes without trying to tear each other’s heads off.” pointed out Christ as he sat on one of the barstools facing Izzy. “Personally I think it’s because the two of you are so alike.”

“I’m nothing like that jerk.”” scoffed Izzy as she put her glass into the sink.

“You’re more like him than you think.” stated Christ. Izzy raised her eyebrows at him and he continued. “You’re both stubborn, loyal, determined and have scary tempers with incredibly short fuses.”

“Whatever Christ.” said Izzy dismissively. She began walking out of the kitchen but stopped in her tracks. “Oh, I have to go to the bookstore today to do some last minute purchase orders.”

“It’s Sunday.” Christ informed Izzy.

“I know but things have been so hectic lately at the shop I haven’t gotten the time.” Replied Izzy as she tied up her long black hair into a messy bun.

“Well hurry up. I’ll take you.” grumbled Christ as he finished his juice. “I have to pick up a few things in town anyway.”

“Thanks Christ.” beamed Izzy as she skipped away.

“My name’s Johnny for Christ’s sake.” called Christ after her, loud enough so that she heard him.

“Thanks Johnny” sang Izzy from the foyer

*****

“Taylor? What can I help you with today?” asked Shadows as he answered his cell phone. He contemplated not taking the call from the leader of Slipknot.

“Nothing in particular really Shadows. I just happen to be in the area and wanted to clear it with you.” came a deep voice from on the other end of the line.

“Doesn’t make much sense asking if you’re already here is there?” asked Shadows warily as he kicked his feet up onto his desk.

“Can’t argue with you there.” Chuckled Taylor. Something in the man’s voice made Shadows’ blood crawl.

“You know the rules. No trouble.” Stated Shadows as he looked up at the white ceiling.

“There won’t be any trouble from me Shadows.” Assured Taylor before the line went dead.

Shadows righted himself and called Gates who was out attending to urgent business in L.A. When there was no response he called Vengeance but got no response from him either. Sighing, Shadows went in search of Jimmy whom he found playing the drums in his room. Strangely, the house was quiet for a Sunday and it took Shadows by surprise. Usually Izzy’s laughter would be ringing out throughout the house as she, Christ and Jimmy fooled around doing nonsense.

“Where is everyone?” asked Shadows leaning against Jimmy’s doorframe.

“Dunno. Vengeance is out cold in his hotel room before he comes back tonight and you sent Gates to L.A.” said Jimmy thoughtfully as he spun his drum sticks idly in between his fingers. “And Christ took Izzy to the bookstore.”

Shadows’ blood ran cold at the idea of Izzy being out of the mansion with Slipknot in town. Taylor hadn’t specified how many of his men he had brought with him. After Izzy’s revelation of Night’s warning, Shadows was now on edge. Each one of his rivals was a potential threat and Izzy was on her own with only 2 of his men on security detail.

“Taylor just called. He’s in town.” voiced Shadows causing Jimmy to drop his drumsticks which clattered to the floor.

“He hasn’t been in Huntington in almost two years.” Noted Jimmy with concern as he got up from behind his kit.

“Exactly. What’s changed Jimmy?” asked Shadows knowing the answer.

“Izzy.” Breathed Jimmy as he threw on a t-shirt. “Oh fuck no!”

*****

Izzy texted Shadows to let him know that she was at the bookstore finishing up some work, but got no response after an hour. Practically buried under a mountain of paperwork, Izzy began the arduous job of clearing her desk as well as filling out purchase orders for new books. She turned up the volume on her iPod after putting her cellphone to charge on the table behind her. The iPod which was her birthday gift from Jimmy came pre-loaded with all her favorite artists and Izzy was grateful to have music to help pass the time as she began sorting the papers on her desk.

It was a little after 10 by the time Izzy was three quarter way through the stack on her desk. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and took off her sweater, placing it on the back of her chair. She had been in her office at the back of the bookstore for well over 2 and a half hours and the time seemed to have flown by without her realizing it. She looked at her phone and saw 2 missed calls from Jimmy and 3 text messages; 2 from Jimmy and 1 from Shadows.

‘Why aren’t you answering your phone?’ was the first one from Jimmy, sent at 8:15pm

‘I’m coming down to the bookstore.’ Was the second one from Jimmy, sent at 8:45pm

‘Lock the doors of the store, we have a problem. Sending the Berry Twins to get you. Stay in your office and lock the door.’ Was the third which was from Shadows sent at 9:37 p.m. Izzy quirked an eyebrow but instantly got out of her seat and headed to the front of the store.

Peering outside, Izzy double checked the dead bolt on the front door. The streets were unnaturally quiet and Izzy felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Usually there were people bustling up and down on the street, even at this late hour. Tonight there was not a soul lingering in the cool February night. Suddenly something jumped in front of the glass of the storefront and Izzy stumbled backwards at the sight before her a terrified scream escaping her lips. What looked like a distorted clown mask stared at her menacingly while another sinister looking one with pins protruding from every surface of the mask leered at her from outside. Whoever these men were, they were doing a hell of a job scaring her nearly senseless. They moved closer to the window in their orange-red jumpsuits and Izzy noticed a large stone in the hand of the clown masked man.

Panic consuming her, Izzy continued to stumble backwards and her back hit a hard surface. At that moment, the large glass window of the bookstore shattered into a thousand glittering shards and strong arms wrapped around Izzy’s chest. She struggled violently, her mind seizing with fear. She stamped down hard on the man’s foot with her high heel and he howled in pain, releasing her from his hold. She spun around and her brain tried to process what she was seeing. Two more men in masks were hovering near her within the bookstore, one of which was clearly in pain from her assault on his foot. These two men wore masks more terrible than the two outside. They were dark and twisted and made her blood crawl at the sight of them. She made a beeline for her office, narrowly avoiding the reach of the man in what appeared to be a white mask with black markings and a tangled crown of thorns. She slammed her office door shut and locked it, knowing that the feeble single lock wouldn’t keep those men at bay.

She grabbed her cellphone and dialed Shadows, his phone instantly going to voicemail. She tried Gates and prayed silently that he would answer. On the third ring he did and Izzy let out a sob of relief.

“Brian!” she cried into the phone. “Brian there’s four men outside in masks. They’re in the store!”

“I’m almost there Izzy.” Said Brian, his voice strained as he tried to calm Izzy down. “Where are you?”

“In my office.” Sobbed Izzy. She screamed as banging on the office door began. “Please Brian, hurry!” The pounding continued and Brian kept talking on the phone but Izzy barely heard anything he said. The splitting of wood filled the room and Izzy screamed again, backing into a corner of her office, her back pressed against the wall. She spotted a Louisville slugger leaning against the filing cabinet and wrapped her fingers around it just as the office door shattered open, revealing the man with the thorn topped mask and the other man who appeared to have some sort of gas mask on. Izzy dropped her cellphone in panic as she wrapped her fingers tighter around her weapon. They advanced on Izzy and she swung out at them blindly through her tears. She felt the bat make contact with one of the men and she struck out again, this time with more force.

“Come here you fucking bitch!” growled the man in the gas mask. He grabbed Izzy roughly and shook her violently as the thorn topped masked man snatched the bat away from her. She trembled in the man’s hold, averting her eyesight from the mask that could have been ripped out of a demented nightmare.

The smell of smoke filled Izzy’s nose and she stared wildly out into the space of the bookstore that she could see from her office. Smoke curled into the air as taunting laughs filled the room.

“Tie the bitch up and lets go.” Said the man with the thorn topped mask.

Gas mask man pulled Izzy roughly to her office chair and bound her hands and ankles to it with thick rope. She struggled all the while and received a harsh backhanded slap from him.

“That’s for earlier.” He sneered as he began walking out of the room with thorn topped mask man in tow. Izzy struggled against the ropes that bound her to the chair but it was to no avail. Thick, suffocating smoke filled the room and terror seized Izzy’s soul.

“Someone help me!” she screamed. “Please. Someone help me!” she began to cough but continued to scream. The heat of the fire in the front of the bookstore combined with the influx of smoke caused Izzy’s nose and chest to burn. Sickening red and orange flames licked every surface of Izzy’s Corner, ravaging the store with each fiery caress. Izzy’s lungs filled with smoke as the fiery blaze neared her office. In the distance she could hear the wailing of sirens but she prayed to a God that she didn’t believe in that they weren’t too late.

****

2 Hours Earlier

“She’s not answering the phone.” grumbled Jimmy as he punched a text to Izzy seconds after hanging up.

“Then try again.” growled Shadows as he picked up his phone, dialing Gates’ number. On the second ring he answered.

“A little busy Shadz.” Cautioned Gates before Shadows could say anything.

“I don’t care. Stop whatever you’re doing and get your ass back to Huntington. Taylor is in the area and Isabel’s at the bookstore.” Snapped Shadows. He could hear movement in the background before Gates sighed loudly in frustration as something metallic clicked in that familiar way.

“Hold on.” Stated Gates, his voice cold and distant. The sound of a gunshot rang on in Shadows’ ear. “Right, what were you saying?”

“Izzy never told me what Night said to her the at Scream for her birthday.” Began Shadows. He could hear Gates’ footfalls in what sounded like a large empty space.

“Uh-huh”

“Turns out that Night gave her some kind of warning” continued Shadows trying his best to sum up everything quickly. “A warning about our rivals taking an interest in Isabel.”

“Mhmm” came Gates’ muffled reply.

“First Tuck now Taylor.” Finished Shadows.

“What do you mean ‘now Taylor’?” asked Gates with concern.

“I mean that Taylor is in Huntington after 2 years. He’s here now and Isabel is at the bookstore. She’s been there for almost an hour and a half. We can’t get a hold of her.”

“I’m leaving now, it’ll take me half an hour to get to the shop.” Said Gates hurriedly. Shadows heard an ignition start followed by the screeching of tires.

“We’re leaving the mansion now.” Said Shadows shortly before hanging up. With that, he and Jimmy pulled on their jackets and headed to Shadows’ SUV. Pulling out of the driveway the two men headed towards the bookstore.

Shadows’ phone vibrated in the center console. Jimmy reached for it and pulled a face at the sight of Taylor’s name flashing on the screen. Jimmy answered the call and put it on speaker phone.

“Hello Rev.” drawled Taylor on the other end of the line. Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up.

“Taylor.” He replied curtly.

“Now where are you two off to in such an obvious hurry?” asked Taylor innocently.

“I think you know the answer to that already Taylor. Just cut the fucking crap. I know why you’re here and I think it’s time you left.” growled Shadows as he floored the accelerator.

“Now is that anyway to talk to your superior Shadows?” said Taylor with disdain.

Shadows and Jimmy let out matching barks of laughter. “Superior? You were stripped of that title months ago Taylor. Still delusional I see.” Spat Jimmy, his voice hard.

“I’m not the one who’s delusional Rev. It seems to me that you and the mighty M. Shadows are the delusional ones, thinking you could keep such a delicious secret to yourselves.” sneered Taylor causing Shadows to bristle slightly. “Now, I suggest you pull onto PCH and stop at the pier, I will meet you there in fifteen. If not, you can kiss your raven haired princess goodbye.” The line went dead. Shadows and Jimmy exchanged ominous looks.

“Get the Berry Twins on the line.” Commanded Shadows. The line rang thrice before Jason’s voice filled the vehicle. “JB, get Matt and Cam. The three of you need to get to the bookstore now! Gates will meet you there.”

“Sure thing boss.” Said JB quickly.

Shadows made quick work of getting to the pier. He knew that it wouldn’t take very long for the Berry Twins and Cam to get to the store. Pulling up at the curb, Shadows tucked his gun into the waistband of his jeans and watched Jimmy do the same thing. He pulled out his phone and sent Izzy a quick message.

‘Lock the doors of the store, we have a problem. Sending the Berry Twins to get you. Stay in your office and lock the door.’

The two men stepped out onto the deserted sidewalk and carefully walked to the pier where they could make out three shadowy figures in the distance. Shadows had no doubt in his mind that Taylor had gotten wind of Izzy and had come to investigate. There were a handful of gangs that were powerful enough to rival A7X and Slipknot was definitely cut from that cloth. They were by far the most dangerous and deviant gang in the circuit, the stories of their torture techniques and blood crawling murders reaching every possible ear in the mob world. Slipknot had been around before A7X but that didn’t mean that they were above them. Slipknot’s appetite for chaos, destruction and blood preceded them by leaps and bounds.

“I’ve heard such fascinating things about your newest acquisition Shadows.” taunted Taylor as Shadows and Jimmy approached him. “It’s a shame that you’ve kept her under lock and key.”

“Miss Blackburn is not an acquisition.” Stated Shadows formally, his demeanor calm and collected.

“What is she then?” asked Taylor with interest, his eyes glinting wickedly.

“That is none of your concern.” warned Shadows, his body tense and rigid with agitation.

“So many of us have heard such great things about your little Miss Blackburn. You all have gone to great lengths to protect her.” Drawled Taylor as his two cronies chuckled darkly on either side of him. “What is it about her that makes her so special?”

“Her protection was a final request from her father.” Said Shadows shortly.

“You go to such lengths to protect the spawn of a traitor?” jeered Taylor, flashing Shadows and Jimmy a sickeningly sinister smile.

“Do not speak of what you do not know.” Cautioned Jimmy, his voice lethal.

“I know enough” responded Taylor. “Enough to know that she is more valuable then you let on.”

“That may be true Taylor, but Miss Blackburn is none of your concern. You have worn out your welcome here, I suggest you take you leave.” Said Shadows curtly.

Jimmy and Shadows watched Taylor and his men slink off into the darkness. Though their departure should have relieved them, the two men stood in an agitated silence. The cool February air was suddenly ripped apart by the sounds of wailing sirens and not for the first time for the day did Shadows’ blood run cold.

“The bookstore.” He said softly as if knowing that that was exactly the place the sirens were heading. The two men hastily climbed into the SUV and peeled away from the pier.

The sight that greeted them caused both Shadows and Jimmy’s heart to skip a painful beat. Flames engulfed Izzy’s Corner, the heat from the fire intense as they quickly climbed out of the vehicle. Shadows made out Gates new M5 parked next to Jason Berry’s hummer. Firemen tried to get a handle on the vicious flames, aiming streams of water at the blaze.

“Someone just ran in there. He just went in the second we arrived.” Said one of the firemen as Shadows approached the burning store.

The seconds ticked by painfully slow as Shadows and Jimmy stood watching the blaze. Movement from the corner of Shadows’ eye caught his attention and he turned to see the Berry Twins wrestling a masked man to the ground. Anger surged through Shadows’ body as he recognized the disgusting pin covered mask. Slipknot was behind the blaze. Shadows and Jimmy headed towards the Berry Twins and arrived just as the mask was ripped away from the man’s head.

“I will enjoy putting a bullet in your skull you filth!” snarled Shadows drawing his gun from the waistband of his jeans. Something deep inside of him snapped as rationality flew out of the window. He pulled the trigger of his gun, his eyes cold and vacant and relished in the blood splattering his jeans as blood gushed from the man’s head. “Dispose of his body.” Commanded Shadows looking at the Berry Twins whose faces were both hard and expressionless.

“They have her.” Barked Jimmy as he pulled Shadows backwards towards the blaze.

Shadows’ eyes found Izzy in an instant but his heart dropped to his knees at the sight of her limp body in Gates’ arms. Two paramedics took her from Gates and began their attempt to revive her as Gates looked stricken with worry, his face darkened with smoke from being inside of the burning building. Shadows and Jimmy closed the distance between Gates and themselves. Through the sooty grim on Gates’ face, the two men realized that he was white as a sheet, his hands visibly trembling. Jimmy reached out and steadied his friend but Gates collapsed against him, his breathing ragged.

“Medic! I need a medic over here!” roared Shadows as one of the paramedics attending to Izzy jumped up and ran to them.

“They tied her to a fucking chair.” gasped Gates, fighting off the medic who tried to put an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.

Shadows watched as Gates struggled against the medic as Jimmy tried to hold him down. The only thing Shadows could think of was bloody murder. He would rip Taylor limb from limb even if it was the last thing he did.