Animal. Monster.
He thought that was it. He thought that he was officially going to lose her forever the other day. In the end, after all they'd gone through, he had to go and fuck it up. Their relationship wasn't going to be the same and the blame lay completely on him.
Tommy couldn't help but slowly clench his fingers around his seat belt, ignoring the sting from his bruised knuckles. The butterflies in his stomach hadn't started because he was recalling the recent past. Although, they weren't helping his current mood of anxiety.
"Yours." Her voice heavy with lust echoed in his mind.
It wasn't Jack, oddly enough, that was going to take her away from him. Oh no. He had been standing there long enough to hear her yell at Jack. He saw the way she recoiled when he called her "Lizzy". Then that slap followed by that harsh shove when Jack forced her to kiss him. She wanted nothing to do with the handsome man, and it wasn't for show. She had no idea Tommy was watching.
His heart fluttered and beat harder in his chest as he felt a wave of lust rush over him. He'd seen her angry before, but never like that. Seeing her reaction, hearing that loathing in her voice directed at Jack. She was defending herself while also clearly standing firm about her relationship with Tommy. And that had aroused him. It took all of his strength not to pick her up in that moment and slam her against the barn wall to fuck her hard. Kiss her. Grip her. Feel her nails dig into the skin of his back while she shouted his name in ecstasy. Because, it would be Tommy's name that would come out of her mouth.
"Yours."
The flutter in his stomach stopped abruptly as he felt his heart drop. Yes, his. But-
Tommy shot Lizzy a glance, her eyes remained focused on the road. Oh, those lovely eyes of hers had given him a look that broke his heart.
No, he had realized that Jack wasn't a threat. It was him . Her eyes told him so. Those beautiful eyes that held such love for him yet looked at him with so much fear. She was scared he'd hurt her somehow. After everything, after all the love and care he showered on her, there was still a part of her that saw him as a monster. A part of her that believed he'd cause her pain.
Never, Lizzy .
Even if she ended up escaping, causing him to track her down and drag her back home, he still wouldn't hit her. Oh, he'd be upset, punch some holes in some walls in frustration. Fuck her hard then mentally plead with her to forgive him. And, she would never enjoy the freedom she was enjoying now, that was for sure. He'd keep her locked up, perhaps even chained if he felt it was necessary. She was the only person in the outside world who treated him with such kindness. Who touched him without recoiling. Who loved him despite it all. He loved her. He needed her. He had to keep her.
He swallowed, doing his best to keep his emotions buried inside of him. There was no need to worry her and have her think something was wrong. Everything was just right.
She chewed on her lower lip as she focused on the road ahead. She looked excited and determined. Her fingers curled around the steering wheel as she drove them down the dirt road. She had no idea where he wanted her to take him.
His fingers tightened on the seatbelt and butterflies filled his stomach as the truck bounced over a pothole. He was always the passenger in any vehicle he'd been in. And, it never really bothered him that he wasn't in control. That he didn't know how to drive. He figured she knew and he wasn't wrong.
Tommy closed his eyes for a moment. He was never going to get tired of surprising her. That look of shock, followed by pure joy and excitement on her face always made his heart soar. He couldn't get enough of that look.
To his surprise, she hardly hesitated, when he held out the keys to Monty's truck, before she snatched them. He thought he would have had to do some coaxing to get her into the care. But, she was behind the wheel before he even had a chance to get off the porch. There was a moment, although brief, when he feared she would just take off without him. She could have easily done that. He wouldn't have been able to catch up to her. She would have been free. But she waited for him.
Trust her. She's given you no reason to doubt her loyalty. She wants you.
Tommy took a deep breath.
It was funny how his thoughts had changed now. He almost wished that the deep issue lied with Jack. That ending Jack would end his fear of losing her. He'd taken care of her traveling companion, after all. Well, she'd finished the job he'd started. But, he would have killed the man anyway. Killing Jack would not be a problem.
Tommy loosened his fists to give his knuckles a break. They still hurt, from the hard beating he'd inflicted.
He never wanted her to really see that full side of him. The killer. But, the look she gave him, that fear, it made him stop caring. If she saw him as a monster why hold back now? Let the monster out. Let it kill that Jack for getting into her head and making her fear him.
She knew there was a monster in there somewhere, one that had shown up once a long time ago. The first time he took her down into that basement. He partially regretted his actions then. But she never saw his full rage. It was nice, being able to let loose his pent up frustration. How dare Jack touch his Lizzy without her permission. Hoyt did too. Hoyt did worse. But, he couldn't kill family. Jack… oh, Jack wasn't family. He could easily murder him.
Lizzy's pleas were just background noise he hardly registered. And it wasn't the shotgun blast that stopped him. In fact, it only made him add Mr. Denver to his list of eventual victims. The old man was trying to stop him and it was time that he showed the two he wasn't to be fucked with. He would have beaten and killed the old man too and then Jack. Worst case scenario, he would die in her arms while she wept over him. A hero for avenging her.
Except, as he stared at that shotgun a thought hit him. What would happen to her if he wasn't around? Luda Mae would take her home and then Hoyt would… Hoyt would…
Tommy glanced at Lizzy again.
As long as he was around Hoyt would never dare touch her again. He had to leave Jack broken but not dead. At least the man hardly resembled himself and that should have helped calm him down. That should have eased the negative emotions that gripped him. But, that rage was soon mixed with feelings of helplessness. He couldn't do anything else about Hoyt. And now, Jack was still alive too. Another failure on his end. And Lizzy saw the monster which would only add to her fear.
The car ride back home only made his mood worse. He needed to vent. He needed to expel his pent up frustration. But, he also needed to hold her. Fuck her. Just, he knew that it wasn't going to be sweet or romantic. He didn't have it in him to be extra careful in getting her ready for him. He wanted to be raw. Animalistic. Rough. But not too rough that he would severely hurt her. He didn't want to make love. He wanted to fuck and fuck hard. Even if he had the ability to communicate better with her, he knew he wouldn't have been able to in that frame of mind.
Monster. The monster was still present and she was going to see him for what he was. She was going to hate him. She was slipping away because he couldn't control his own rage and lust at that moment. Oh, he tried. He tried to get away from her. His basement, a refuge. The furthest place he could go that he knew she wouldn't follow. And he could busy himself with his latest victim. But, the damn woman had to follow him.
Tommy let out a gasp and touched her arm, pointing toward an upcoming dirt road. She didn't hesitate in slowing down and turning where he wanted her to go. His heart jumped in his chest as the road led to a dead end and a large building.
Lizzy gazed up through the window shield, then at him.
"You worked here, right?" she asked.
He nodded his head.
"Huh." Was her only response. She opened the door before he could get out and stepped out.
He'd been meaning to take her here eventually. For all the bad memories, he was still rather fond of the place. It was what he had known for nearly his entire life. He was literally born there. It was his first and really only job. He shouldn't have been working there at such a young age, but management didn't care. And he probably would have worked there until he died if the place hadn't shut down.
Besides, he figured she needed the distraction. Some new scenery. They'd done all they could in their new house for now. And, staying at home she kept a constant vigil on the phone. He wasn't sure why. She told him she didn't leave their number because she wasn't sure she wanted her parents to call back while she wasn't around. Then muttered about not being sure she wanted them to know where she was.
Tommy took a moment, securing his mask in place. It was highly unlikely they'd run into anyone, but he wasn't about to take the chance of not having it on. At home, around Lizzy, he felt a little bit more comfortable. He still preferred to have it on, but she liked seeing his face, as odd as it seemed to him. And it was nice, feeling her fingers on his disfigured skin. So much care and tenderness in her touches.
Stepping onto the firm ground, Tommy wandered his gaze looking for her. Panic started to grip him, but he forced it back. He hadn't scared her away. He needed to keep reminding himself of that fact. She saw the monster. The monster held her, but it hadn't scared her away.
The truck door opened and Tommy watched as Lizzy placed a couple of sticks onto the seat. Her eyes met his and she giggled.
"Couldn't decide," she said. "Figured Chance should have a say in which stick he finds the best. After all, only the best for our puppy," she stated.
Tommy walked around the truck then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she rose onto her tiptoes to kiss him. She unhooked his mask from his ear so she could kiss his lips properly.
Only the best for you, love , he thought as he held her. His muscles tightened around her waist. Was he the best?
" Yours."
Pulling back, he brushed her hair behind her ears. Didn't matter.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
He nodded his head. More than alright , he thought. He didn't need to explain why he needed to fuck her the way he did, because she understood. She got it without him needing to tell her. She saw the monster. She held the monster. She loved the monster. She was truly his.
"My driving didn't scare you too much, did it?" she teased. "It has been a little bit since I've been behind the wheel."
He placed his hand on his chin as if he was thinking about it. It did scare him, but not in the way she thought.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Well, no take backs," she said. She glanced up at the sky then jerked her head toward the factory.
"Well, let's not waste more daylight," she said. "Doubt the place has electricity."
Tommy nodded in agreement.
The two ignored the "No Trespassing" signs on the trees and broken fence. She paused for a brief moment next to a sign that read "Condemned".
Wrapping her arms around her chest, her body shivered. He frowned. Although they were in Texas, it was getting into those winter months when the evenings were cooler. She wasn't wearing long sleeves since she was at home for the day. He hadn't thought about making sure she had something to cover her arms. His fault.
Without another thought, he took off his blazer and placed it over her shoulders. She didn't protest. Instead, she gave him a grateful smile, slipping her hands through his sleeves. It looked so big on her.
Tommy gulped. A mental image of her walking around in one of his shirts was suddenly very appealing.
"So, always been a meat eater, huh?" She teased, jabbing him in the side with her elbow. She pointed toward the name on the building. "Lee Bros. Beefs, Meats, Poultry."
He huffed. She moved away from him to wander.
Tommy forced himself to look around instead, putting his hands into his pockets. It was so quiet now without the live animals blaring and waiting for their ultimate doom. Oddly enough, the smell of animals still seemed to linger despite the years that had passed. Or, perhaps it was just his brain recalling.
Tommy's eyes focused on the old building.
Born in. Worked at. It was what he knew for most of his life. Losing that job because the place had been shut down, condemned, terrified him. His purpose in life had been taken away from him. That was until he started killing people to protect and feed his family.
His gaze wandered till he found Lizzy. He never would have imagined that losing his job, going down the path that he did, would have brought her to him. He thought that was the worst day of his life, but, turns out it truly was the best day. If the factory was still running, he never would have been out on that road that day. Never would have gotten them to swerve their car and crash. Never would have taken her unconscious body home. Never would have made love.
Lizzy tugged a chain that locked two doors together.
"Dammit," she said. "Maybe it was too much to ask to get a sneak peak inside?"
Tommy felt a smile tug on his lips. He strode over to her and grabbed her hand before escorting her around the building. She followed without protest. All the doors were chained and locked, except for one. The one he had to break to get back inside years ago. The one he still used from time to time.
Tommy reached the door, unhooking the chain that looked as if it was still put together. His eyes danced with amusement as he glanced down at her.
"Now how did you know?" she said in a knowing voice..
He pushed the door open. The inside of the building was practically pitch black, but that was to be expected. The windows were caked in filth and always had been. There was no electricity since no one worked there. Tommy stepped inside then reached up, grabbing a flashlight he'd hidden over a set of lockers.
He gave her a mischievous look as he held it up then flicked it on.
She huffed. "You, mister, are full of surprises, ain't ya?" she asked. To his joy, she wrapped her arms around his and then pressed her body to him as if she was afraid of the dark and needed his protection. He placed his arm around her and she squeezed him.
Nothing had changed since the place shut down. Everything was still there. The owners never bothered to clear the place out. Not that anything was really worth any money.
Lizzy gasped then pressed closer to him as a few things scattered away from the tiny light. Rats or mice no doubt. He stopped and looked down at her, raising his eyebrows.
Continue?
"I hate critters," she mumbled, hugging his arm tightly. "But, let's go on."
He led her around, automatically following his old routine. Not that there was much to his job. He stopped in front of his workstation where he chopped meat all day. It was an easy job for him. Something he enjoyed despite it being monotonous. Or maybe it was because it was monotonous. He didn't have to deal with complicated problems. Besides, there was something special about the feel of the cleaver separating meat.
Lizzy let out a yip then let him go to look at the ground. Tommy quickly pointed the flashlight at her feet.
He felt his body freeze for a moment. His cleaver. He never went back for it that fateful day. She picked it up and then examined it before handing it to him.
"Yours?" she asked.
He nodded his head. His fingers slowly clasped the familiar handle. He missed it. The blade was covered in rust. It wouldn't be able to perform the job it once did. At least, not in the state it was in.
His eyes rose up, following the stairs to the manager's office above them. Hard to forget the look his manager always gave him. Such disdain and annoyance as if Tommy was some sort of inconvenience.
He didn't want the closure to be true back then. He tried to ignore it. Tried to keep on with his job as if maybe, by some miracle, the doors would stay open.
"You gotta get the hell out of here, you dumb animal! " the scared voice of one of his coworkers echoed in his mind. He'd been sent by the manager, Tommy knew that. The old man was too scared to face him.
Tommy's jaw moved in annoyance. Dumb animal? It wasn't the first time he'd been called that. But, for some reason, that had been the final trigger. The moment that truly changed his life forever.
Tommy climbed up the stairs and pushed the manager's office door open and froze just inside. A broken table lay against the wall. The phone, papers, a lamp, and pens all lay on the floor as if they'd been thrown there during a struggle. And they had been.
He moved his flashlight toward a dark stain in the wood. The only thing missing was that man's body.
"Can't have good meat go to waste," Uncle Hoyt had said.
This, Lizzy. This is where it all started.
His first victim. The family's first taste of human flesh.
Taking in a deep breath, Tommy slowly let it out. Most victims who now fell into the family's hands, his hands, it wasn't personal. They were just at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Or, they ended up being a threat to the family.
This is where one life ended, Lizzy. And another began. One that led me to you.
"I'm sure he deserved it," Lizzy said, breaking the silence. Tommy raised his eyebrows and turned to look down at her in surprise.
She quickly clamped her hand on her mouth and shook her head.
"Sorry," she said softly. "I shouldn't have said that. He was a person after all."
Unhooking his mask, he turned to face her. She didn't shy away, tilting her head up just a little as his fingers went into her hair. He pulled her to him, pressing his lips firmly against hers. She kissed him back just as eagerly.
The old man did deserve it. They all did for disrespecting him. For seeing him as less than them. Killing that man had given him a strength and power he never expected. Except...
Tommy pulled back and smiled at his soon-to-be legal wife. It would have been nice if the old man was alive for a brief moment just to see that Tommy wasn't dumb. Or useless. Or an animal. See her by his side. Hell, he could imagine her yelling at the old man in rage at how he used to treat Tommy.
She understood him.
Tommy looked around then nodded to go back downstairs. There was no reason to stay longer in the dark, musty smelling building. He quickly led her back outside and closed the door behind them.
Lizzy stared out into the forest.
"We're not too far from home," she stated.
He nodded his head. That was one of the bonuses of his old work. He could walk there if he needed to.
Lizzy examined his face as she thought. "As in, we could have walked here."
She wasn't wrong. They had walked that distance a few times now on their little outdoor dates.
"But," she paused. "You let me drive us here."
Tommy smiled under his mask.
She threw herself on him, surprising him, partially knocking him off balance. He stumbled back but caught himself. Her fingers dug into the skin of his back as she hugged him. And her face buried into his chest. He didn't know what else to do but pat her hair.
She wasn't crying though. Or at least, not audibly.
He waited for her to let him go. She only did long enough to reach up and wrap her arms around his neck. She rose to her tiptoes, her intent was clear. He unhooked his mask to kiss her again.
"I love you, Tommy," she whispered. Her fingers played with his hair. Monster and all.
I love you too, Lizzy.