Beautiful Fiend: A Dark Enemies to Lovers Romance (North Shore Stories Book 1)
Beautiful Fiend: Chapter 39

Caden goes through the window, and I lock it before leaving my room. Aisha is in the living room, reading a book in Arabic on the sofa.

“Hey. I’m going out. Where is everyone?”

She looks up and smiles at me. “They went for dinner. I thought you were with them.”

I shake my head. “I was tired after my fight. Why aren’t you going?”

“Eh, you know I prefer home-cooked.” Her features twist as she looks away. “Ah, your face, Billie. I don’t like seeing you like this.”

I graze the bruise I feel on my cheek with the tips of my fingers. “I won. Did Dad tell you?”

“Mashallah.” Her bright smile brings me pride. “Well done. No more fighting now.”

“Sure,” I chuckle. “In your dreams, maybe.”

“How is Caden?” she asks, the shadow of a smile tipping her lips. “It’s nice that he can fit through the window.”

“Oh…” My face is still warm from the incredible fuck we just had. I feel my cheeks heating so much we could probably cook an egg on my face. She must have heard everything. “I—”

“Isn’t love so beautiful?” she hums calmly as her eyes go back to her book. “The way it can defy everything. Have fun wherever you’re going.”

I smile to myself. “Thank you.”

Caden knocks on the stepbrothers’ front door, and I hold his hand tighter.

“It’s fine, little bee. It’s only Ethan and Elliot in there.”

I nod, but it feels strange to go willingly into a house that belongs to the Kings crew. I’m not here because I’m being forced, stealing something from them, or for revenge. I was invited, and I accepted.

Before coming here, I had dinner with my family and brought Caden. Everyone was waiting for me in a restaurant in Silver Falls. Dickie and Taylor were there. So were my sister, Xi, Lik, and my dad. Aisha’s words made me realize that we can genuinely defy anything. Even our crews’ beliefs.

Xi almost said something, but Emma put a hand on his arm and he retreated. After that, no one said anything. Everyone pretended like our life-long enemy wasn’t eating at the same table as us.

We popped a champagne bottle Taylor bought for us, and I signed my contract with him. He didn’t waste one minute, saying he would contact me with the exact details for the first minor league professional championship but that we would be going to the state of New York for now.

I’ve only ever been to Los Angeles in my life, and that was because Bianco’s mafia had sent me there for underground fights. Other than that, I’ve never seen anything outside of Silver Falls and Stoneview.

When we left, my dad did mention this wouldn’t be happening regularly and that he never wanted Caden in the house.

I don’t care. It’s a step in the right direction.

I feel euphoric, everything surreal and the happiness overwhelming. Caden’s hand in mine the whole night has been grounding me. His soft words and praises keep a constant smile on my face.

When Elliot opens the door, he smiles brightly at me. “Welcome to the enemy’s house, little Scott. Please, come in.”

I open my mouth to retort something but decide against it. Elliot has already disappeared into the kitchen anyway, and we make our way to the living room.

“Would you look at that,” Ethan says from the sofa. “You did give him a second chance after all.”

“Well,” I shrug. “I owed you a favor, didn’t I?”

“You know you’re dead for snitching, right?” Caden jumps in. “She wasn’t supposed to know anything.”

“You can’t kill me,” Ethan smiles gradually. “I’m the one who got her out of Sawyer’s house. If anything, you owe me your life,” he adds dramatically.

“Not killing Jade is plenty enough,” Caden mumbles low. “You guys are lucky I fucking love you like brothers, or your bitch would be six-feet under.”

“I heard that,” Elliot exclaims, coming back into the living room with a pack of beers. “Jade’s punishment is for us to worry about.”

“She better fucking suffer, Elliot,” Caden rumbles, getting heated.

“I’ve been wanting to make her pay since she went from me to Elliot,” Ethan admits. “This is just another thing to add to the list. Trust me when I tell you Jade will pay.”

“And I’ll get proof?” my boyfriend insists.

“Caden,” I jump in. “I’m over her. Okay? I know what Jade did, but if anything, it stopped me from being raped by Sawyer.” I shake my head. “We’re moving on to greater things. Just leave her behind.”

Elliot gives Caden a knowing look before he turns to me, pointing the beers in my direction. “So, I hear you’re a professional MMA fighter. Let’s celebrate.”

We all pop open a beer, even me. I get to let go tonight.

I feel Caden hesitate a few more seconds before he nods to himself.

“To Billie,” he says as we all join our beers up in the air. “Billie Unbeatable Scott. My fucking girl.”

“To seeing Billie in UFC!” Elliot adds before we all drink a sip.

By the end of our beer, Caden is getting restless, and I put a hand on his knee as it vibrates up and down while we sit on the sofa.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m excited, that’s it.”

“Excited?”

“Yeah, I want to show you your celebratory gift. Come.”

It’s only when he opens the door to a basement that I remember Ethan’s words about Sawyer.

He’s in my basement. Because that’s where Caden’s been keeping him for two months. He tortures him whenever he feels like it, just to avenge you.

I’m shaking as we walk down the stairs.

“Oh my god,” I gag as the smell of piss and sweat hits me. Then Sawyer comes into view. He’s only skin and bones.

“Caden,” Sawyer rasps. His ankle is shackled, and the chain is nailed to the floor. “Please.”

“I brought you a little present,” Caden smiles wickedly.

When Sawyer sees me, he retreats into a corner and starts to cry. “No, please, please…”

“Get up,” Caden snaps.

“Please…” he sobs.

“Get the fuck up before I cut off another one of your fingers.”

Sluggishly, he gets up, helping himself by leaning against the wall.

“I brought Billie so you could apologize to her.”

“Caden,” I grab his arm as I feel my face twisting. “This is…too much.”

“Help me, Billie.” Sawyer falls forward, not able to stand on his own two feet, and wraps his arms around my legs. “Please, help me.”

Caden is on him the next second, grabbing him by the back of the neck and pulling him away before throwing him against the wall.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” he seethes. “You will never touch her again, you hear me? I said I brought her so you could apologize. Now get on your knees and apologize.”

I’ve never seen such fury on his features. Even when he hated me, he never had that kind of rage toward me.

“I’m sorry,” Sawyer cries. “I’m sorry, Billie. I’m sorry for what I did to you. I never had the videos in the first place. Caden had deleted them…I lied. I’m bad, bad!” He hits his palm against his head and then slams his head against the floor. “Bad! Bad! I’ll never hurt you again. Never, Billie. Never.”

I struggle to swallow. “Caden…what have you done to him?”

He appears so relaxed now that he gets to talk about what he did. A playful grin tips the corner of his lips. “Ah, well, see. I’ve been a little on edge these last two months. Sawyer here might have been a way for me to simmer my anger.”

Sawyer is naked and so thin I’ve been avoiding looking at him, but when my eyes go to him again, I notice the cuts and bruises.

“You tortured him.”

“Little bee,” he sighs. He lets his head fall forward and brings it back up. “When will you fucking understand that no one touches you without paying the consequences? He did more than hurt you, he took you away from me. For Two. Whole. Fucking. Months.”

He grips the back of my head, his fist closing on my hair, forcing me to look up.

“I’m glad he finally apologized and told the truth. Sawyer never had the videos. Okay? I deleted them that same day I told him you’d never go on a job again. I want you to know that.”

“Okay,” I rasp, the position uncomfortable and cutting my voice. “Okay, I trust you. If you say you don’t have them anymore, then you don’t.”

“Good. Now what happens to anyone who touches you?”

My eyes widen slightly. “Don’t you think he’s been through enough?”

“Little bee.” He shakes his head, that unhinged smile scaring me to my bones. “Just answer the question.”

After a few seconds of silence, I give him what he wants. “They die.”

“That’s right. Sawyer trapped you. He beat you up, threatened to rape you. Or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” I hiss, rage for Sawyer burning up in my body.

“Then kill him.”

He lets me go softly and moves back so he can look down at me. “I can do it if you wish. I’d kill anyone for you, but I want you to have the chance to get your own revenge.”

My hands start to shake, and it takes me a minute to realize it’s not fear.

It’s excitement.

“Do it, Billie. Get it out of you.”

Caden is the devil on my shoulder. The one who worships me. Who wants every piece of me, especially my soul. I’m more than happy to give it all to him.

“No one can ever know,” I whisper. “My career would be over before it even started.”

“This is between you and me. The boys upstairs don’t have to know you did it. I’ll tell them it was me.”

Leisurely, I approach Sawyer who’s still on the floor. “No,” he shakes his head. “Please…I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

I don’t hear him anymore. I jump on him, falling onto his body as my hands wrap around his neck.

I’m completely silent as I end his life slowly. He chokes and tries to fight me, except he’s too weak from two months of torture.

“Maybe Caden will let you go in the morning,” I sneer as his eyes start rolling to the back of his head, repeating the exact words he said to me. “Whatever’s left of you,” I growl before putting more pressure on his neck.

He turns all shades of blue and purple before he’s motionless, and his heartbeat stops beating frantically against my palms.

With sudden realization, I jump away from him, but Caden is ready to catch me.

“Shit,” I panic. “Shit, shit, shit…he’s dead.”

“He is,” Caden says softly as he hugs me against him. His hand caresses my hair softly, and I feel him lower his head to breathe me in.

“I’m scared,” I admit in a trembling voice. “I’m scared someone will know.”

“Don’t be,” he whispers in my ear. “Nothing will ever happen to my queen again.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

Only once we’re upstairs do I allow myself to take another breath.

“Done?” Ethan asks.

“Done,” Caden confirms.

The two brothers look at me, small smiles on their faces.

“I’m sure Kay will be happy to know she can take her rightful place as the head of the Kings,” Elliot says.

“You two need to get rid of the body,” Ethan adds more seriously. “I’m not keeping a dead man in the basement of a house the cops love to raid.”

Caden nods and turns to me. “Ever been to tree thirteen?”

“No,” I shake my head. I’ve heard of it, of course. It’s where we bury the North Shore bodies. Xi spends a lot of his time there.

“First time for everything.” Caden wiggles his eyebrows at me from the excitement.

It takes us almost two hours to get the body in my car. Caden and I are taking it to tree thirteen while Elliot and Ethan clean their basement.

“I like when you drive me. Who fixed your car?” Caden asks as we drive alongside the forest.

“One of Xi’s guys changed the windows for free, but he didn’t have the bulb for my light. I need to get that fixed at some point.”

“I’ll take you to Ashley again. She’ll fix it in no time.”

“Last time we went there, I hated you.”

“What about now?” he asks with a smug voice.

“I guess you’re okay.”

“Okay? How about I ask your little pussy what she thinks, huh?”

He wraps a hand behind my neck, and I glance at him before looking at the road again. We’re in the exact same position we were in only a few months ago. I was terrified of him then. Terrified of the things he had done and what I knew he was capable of.

Five months later, I’ve seen the worst Caden King has to offer…and I love him for it. The bastard ultimately made his way under my skin, slithered all the way to my heart, and made a home there.

“She can’t be trusted. Leave her alone,” I laugh.

“Sure thing. Count on it,” he says deadpan, knowing perfectly he will never.

A cop car drives past us, and I tense, my hands tightening around the steering wheel.

“Don’t worry,” Caden says softly. “They have no reason to stop us.”

But in the mirror, I see them stopping to turn around and putting their lights on.

“Caden,” I panic.

“Shit,” he hisses as they turn the siren on. “Your light.”

“What?” I sit upright, my knuckles white from clenching the steering wheel.

“It’s your fucking light. Motherfucker! Even in death, he is going to come at me.”

“Now is not the time to hate Sawyer for breaking my car.” I try not to hyperventilate while waiting for him to say something else. He hesitates for a second, and I read the danger on his face.

“Caden…”

“Floor it.”

“I-We can’t…”

“Floor it, Billie. Now!”

I don’t even think about it, my body just follows his voice, and I press the gas pedal so hard we’re crushed against our seats.

“This is stupid,” I shout at him.

We never get into car chases on the North Shore. The town is too small, it’s too risky. By foot, yes, because we know the secret places we can hide. But in a vehicle, you easily end up blocked between two cop cars and at the mercy of their easy triggers. We’re never in these situations because we’re too smart to get chased in the first place.

This is not good.

He grabs his phone and starts sending texts, although I’m too focused on the road and the police car accelerating behind us.

“Turn right,” he says calmly. So calmly I barely heard him. “Don’t slow down.”

He pulls the handbrake just as I turn right, and we skid across the road before he undoes it and I accelerate again.

“Holy shit!” I scream. I’m losing all sense of direction as a feeling of dread takes hold of me.

“Stay focused, little bee,” he says calmly.

The cops are still behind us. Softly, with no fear whatsoever, Caden guides me across the North Shore. He knows the town like the back of his hand, barely keeping his eyes on the road while he texts and indicates where to go.

“I think we lost them,” I breathe out since I can’t see them behind me anymore. I barely believe it myself. I have never heard of one single car chase that ended well in our town.

“Don’t slow down. You’re going to take the next left.”

Nodding, I press the pedal until I turn into a rundown road. There’s only space for one car here, and we’re at the back of buildings. It’s not even a road; it’s an alley surrounded by brick walls only.

“Caden,” I snap as I reach the alley’s end. “This is a dead end.”

We’re facing two garage doors I recognize. That’s where Xi locks stolen goods to resell them. We have no way to go forward or even turn around. How could he fuck up like this?

“I know.”

“What?”

“Get out of the car.”

I look around, utterly confused. “What are you doing?”

“The cops are going to replace us either way, Billie. Right now, they’re filtering every street to replace us. You think we know the North Shore? They spend their lives chasing after us. They’re not far. Now get out of the car and leave.”

“Okay, you too. Come,” I say as I undo my seatbelt in a hurry.

“I’m not coming. These guys have been looking for Sawyer. I’m going to give him to them.”

I blink at him, trying to understand what the hell is happening.

“No.” I shake my head so harshly I see spots at the edge of my vision. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not leaving you here.”

“We’ve got a body in the car. They’re going to want someone to take the fall.”

“Fine. Let it be me, then!” I say, throwing my hands up. “I killed him, so I’ll take the fall.”

In a split second, he’s out of the car and opening my door.

“Get out,” he hisses.

“I’m not letting you sacrifice yourself for me again!” I fight back as he grabs my arm and drags me out of the car. “Stop! I killed him. I should be the one—”

He tugs my hair harshly, bringing my back to his front and slamming his other hand against my mouth.

“Shut the fuck up,” he barks. “You did not kill him. I did. Got it?”

I shake my head, tears welling up in my eyes. I try to fight him, but I know there’s no point. I’ve never been able to make him see reason. Why would it start now?

“I was jealous and furious that he had attacked you. So I kidnapped him, held him hostage for months, and tonight, I strangled him to death. Do you understand?”

“Please…” I yell out, my sounds muffled by his hand.

“I killed him.” He lets go of my mouth and wraps his hand around my throat. “Say it.”

“Caden, please,” I whimper. “They’ll put you away for life. I can’t…I can’t live without you. I can’t live knowing you took the blame for me.”

“I said,” his grip around me tightens, “I killed him. Now, say it.”

“Don’t…” The moment a sob comes out, numerous others follow. I’m shaking so violently, his hard chest hurts against my neck.

I choke when his hand grips harder on my throat. “Say it, Billie.”

The edge of my vision narrows, and I shake my head again.

A siren is heard down the street, and I feel his head snapping to the side, probably looking at the other end of the alley.

“Say it!” he rages, crushing my windpipes.

“Y-you…” I cry, “k-killed…Caden, I love you, please.”

“Finish that sentence,” he says, death controlling his voice.

“You killed him,” I blurt out. If this is our last moment together, no matter what happens next, I want to be able to look into his eyes.

‘Good girl,” he exhales, anxiety seeping out of him. He lets me go, grabs my shoulders, and turns me around. “Good girl,” he repeats with a broad smile on his face. “You’re so strong, Billie. Fucking unbeatable.”

‘Stop,” I shake my head.

“Billie,” someone calls out as they run down the alley. My face snaps to Xi running to us.

“No…” I sob. “Don’t. Caden, don’t.” He must have been texting Xi in the car. He knew what he was doing all along.

“I love you so fucking much, you know that?” he rasps.

“No!” I shout, anger coursing through my body. I hate him for sacrificing himself again. Behind us, Xi uses his keys to unlock one of the garage doors.

“There.” I point at the garage hopelessly. I already know he’s going to refuse. “We can all hide in there.”

“Billie,” Caden shakes his head. “If they don’t replace someone to blame, they will keep searching. I can’t risk your career, your chance to get away, your freedom. The world is yours, baby.”

“I don’t care about any of that!. You can’t do this. You said the world was ours, you…fucking liar!”

Smiling softly at me, he squats and brings his palm to the ground, tapping twice.

Our gesture to stop it all. Our version of a safe word.

“No,” I force between clenched teeth. “You don’t get to tap out.”

Instead of defending himself, he wraps an arm around my waist and cups the back of my head with his other hand. He slams his lips against mine and kisses me like there is no tomorrow.

Like it’s the last time.

“Remember, baby. The sun never stops shining above the clouds,” he whispers against my lips as we separate. “No matter what comes our way, I’ll never stop loving you.”

Xi grabs my upper arm and drags me away. “Come on, they’re going to be here any second. Let’s go.”

“No, no, no,” I explode into tears again. “Caden!”

“We’re going to meet again, little bee. I promise you,” he smiles. “Somewhere far from this shitty town. There.” True hope shines in his eyes. The misleading kind. The betraying hope that makes people do crazy, unfixable things.

I fight Xi, but he doesn’t even give me a chance. He grabs me by the waist from the back in a bear-like hug and lifts me off the ground, carrying me with him. He holds me tightly as he pulls the garage door down.

Caden is smiling as he disappears, and I take him in one last time. His beautiful, messy hair, and those piercing green eyes. I don’t think he realizes that he’s rubbing his hand just below his heart, exactly where his tattoo of a bee is.

Just as the door shuts, as if they had all conspired against me, the siren gets louder, and I see blue and red lights from under the door.

All I can do now is listen.

Screeching tires.

Doors slamming.

“Hands behind your head!” someone shouts. “Turn around and get on your knees!”

A whimper escapes me, forcing Xi to slam a hand against my mouth. He’s holding me so tightly I feel his heartbeat raging against my back.

“Gentlemen,” Caden’s calm, mocking voice rises.

“Fuck!” one of the cops shouts. His radio crackles. “419. Calling for backup. I repeat 419. We’ve got a dead body in Greenfield Alley. A known gang member is present at the scene.”

My eyes squeeze shut, tears falling onto Xi’s hand.

My heart shatters into a million pieces knowing this is it. This was the last time I ever felt Caden against me. The last time his lips touched mine. The last time I heard those three magic words from him.

We fought all we could against our tragic fates.

And yet, it wasn’t enough.