Page 10 of Manipulations

I thought back to how her affair with Riley’s dad had forced Audrey and Riley to move into my aunt and uncle’s estate. She was partly to blame for Riley being left fatherless and, unfortunately, a victim to God only knows what with my uncle.

“You had your fun and then fled back to Canada before my uncle could get ahold of you. But you got greedy and came back to the US.”

“I came back for you, Griffin.”

“No. You came back for my uncle. You were going to pick his pockets and then move on to me. You’re just a gold digger. You escaped my uncle, but you won’t escape from me.”

“You’re not going to get away with this, Griffin,” Kathryn cried.

“I actually am. You’re not the only greedy one from your family. Everyone has a price for silence. As it turns out, your family didn’t have a very hefty price tag. It’s been very easy to make you disappear. Which is what you’re about to do.”

“Griffin!” Kathryn cried as I went to my workbench.

She continued to make noise to plead her case as I cut the fabric for a gag and strode to her. The shed was free of her voice as I tied the gag behind her head. Sounds of her muffled cries could still be heard through the cloth, but they didn’t faze me.

“Riley, I’m going to get you out of your restraints. Get dressed and don’t do anything stupid, Wolverine,” I warned. As soon as he was freed, he scampered to his clothes.

Back at my workbench, I grabbed the rope, heavy gauge tape, and carabiners. I wrapped Kathryn’s ankles and wrists in the tape, then the rope, and lastly, wrapped tape around the knots. I glanced at Riley and saw that he was dressed in his pants, shoes, and undershirt. That was good enough.

“Riley, on the shelving unit there are some black nylon bags with metal holes toward the top. Grab one of those,” I instructed.

As Riley hurried to the shelving unit to follow my directions, I put the carabiners in my pocket. Once I saw that he had it in his hands, I tossed him the tape and rope to carry. I hoisted Kathryn over my shoulder and looked at Riley.

“Ready, Wolverine?”

“I’m ready,” he replied.

I smiled at him. I’d waited so long for him. This was almost surreal. In the pitch-dark night, Riley walked quietly beside me as we made our way along the path in the woods that led to my aunt and uncle’s property and the small lake. We walked along the wooden dock, and once we reached the end by the brick and wood bench, I set Kathryn down.

“Lift the wood planks off the bench, Riley. Fill the bag with bricks,” I instructed as I wrapped a noose around Kathryn’s neck.

Riley worked quickly and began to put the loose bricks that had supported the planks of the bench in the bag. I attached a carabiner to the end and connected it to the chain dangling from the post on the dock.

“Good, Riley. Bring the bag over.”

Riley dragged the heavy nylon bag toward the edge of the dock. I zipped the interior of the bag and then secured the flaps by slipping the carabiners through the metal holes that lined the top. I attached the carabiners from the bag to the two I put on the rope around her ankles. I grabbed her by her hair and looked into her fear-stricken eyes.

“You messed with the wrong Evans,” I said, right before I rolled her over the edge.

I gripped the top of the nylon bag with the bricks and dropped it over the side of the dock. As the metal chain clanged and pulled tight along the dock post, I grabbed Riley by his shirt and pulled him close. I crushed my lips to his and poured everything I had into the kiss. There was so much I wanted to share with him. Our mouths were locked to one another’s as the chain continued to clang and thrash against the dock post.

The stubble on Riley’s chin as it rubbed against mine felt invigorating. I’d wanted him in the worst fucking way, and now he was finally mine. I knew we’d have a wonderful partnership, in all things. He wanted to please me; of this, I was certain. I held his face in my hands, keeping him still so I could kiss him how I wanted to.

“Griffin,” he murmured into my mouth.

“Shh, don’t talk, Riley. I’ll take care of everything. I just need you to trust me and believe me.” I pulled my head away from his and looked into his eyes.

“I’ve always trusted and believed in you,” he whispered.

His words fueled me and forced a smile onto my face. Things were going to be different between Riley and me than they were between myself and Lars.

“I will never steer you wrong or deceive you, Wolverine.”

I pressed my lips against his again and dove my tongue inside his hot mouth. I gripped the sides of his thin t-shirt and pulled him against me. I kept him against me with my mouth on his until I heard the chain stop moving. Killing wasn’t new to me, but it was new to Riley, and I needed to be cognizant of that until he was ramped up. When I knew that Kathryn was gone, I stilled and softly kissed Riley’s lips.

“Ready to go for a ride?” I asked.