The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 27

"Maria was right. You're fucking deluded! It's not going to happen, Jonny! My security team will be here in minutes!"

"You mean the same lot that left over an hour ago? Don't give me that bullshit!"

"They've changed shifts, that's all! A new team is arriving as we speak if they haven't already."

"You must think I'm stupid!" He roars grabbing my hair jerking my neck back, his haggard ugly face coming into view, his rancid breath stale from whiskey. "He always was a crap liar. My Mel knew it too." Trembling, I bite back with all I have.

"You have the audacity to speak her name after all you put that poor girl through?" Startled to be questioned he glares surprised.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Maria told us everything."

"That stupid cow wouldn't talk to you. She can't stand the pair of you for what you did!"

"Then how else would we know that Melody was using again?! You fed your own daughter's habit in a bid to sustain your own!"

"That bitch said that?! I'll fucking kill her, too! You know nothing about us!"

"Of course, we do! As does Max's brief. Maria came to see us because she realised she missed her grandson much more than she feared you." Yanking my hair again he meets my eyes, his furious expression full of resentment.

"We know you made her change her will because you'd snorted most of your own money. Alexanders' are as bent as you so you paid them off, just as you paid off Dr Peel. Did you know the police have made her talk?" I lie.

"She wouldn't!" He snarls through gritted teeth.

"Oh, she would, especially since she found out you were knocking off Geri Devlin!"

"Fuck you!"

"She prescribed you sleeping pills. Pills that you gave Melody days before she died. Max saw the bottle, as did Maria." Max begins to climb onto the platform as I attempt to distract Jonny. His eyes widening in disbelief.

"Stop right there, or I swear I'll put a bullet in her skull this second!" Halting at once Max freezes.

"You said to get out. I'm just doing what you told me."

My face hits the water from the force of the thrust granting Jonny the freedom to stand and cranking my head as far as I'm able I partially see them through the gaps in the boards. With Jonny's eyes and weapon fixed firmly on my husband, Max slowly reaches for one of the throws we'd abandoned.

"OK, Jonny. Let's get this over with."

In moments the vibrations on the jetty settle, the cabin door slamming behind them, and unable to bear my inner turmoil I scream Max's name into an abyss.

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"Where do you want me?" Despite the throw wrapped round my waist I continue to shiver watching him pull handcuffs from his back pocket.

"Sit at the table. Arms behind the chair." Not taking my eyes from the gun pointing at my chest I have no choice but to do as I'm told.

Clicking the locks he secures my hands, the sound resonating deep in my bones accompanying Gracie's torturous cries. For an instant I'm taken back to the horrific night in our kitchen during her arrest. I could've saved her then if I'd had a different plan but how can I save her now? Is this how it will end? Me, Max Jacob, with a bullet in my head, my lovely wife undeserving of such wickedness strangled by this sicko?