Through Time Again

Ch.35 Turn Of Events

July 5, 1933

Click-click-click CLACK

Tommy's eyes snapped open.

What happened? He recalled throwing fists with Mason and his thugs. And now...

He was in... Anet's room.

On her bed.

Anet tangled across his chest... skin against skin—

Click-click-click CLACK!

His head popped up. "Oh, sh—,"

"Good morning, sunshine."

"Vic," he spoke cautious. "This isn't what it looks like."

That cool collected set of his mouth... that venomous, hollow look in his eyes... told Tommy Vic was sold and set.

"I have reason to believe otherwise."

Anet stirred. Groaned. "Thomas?" She looked as confused as he had. He saw her register their situation.

"So waketh fair Guinevere."

Anet looked over her shoulder, drawing the sheet to her bare chest.

Vic tossed a stack of photos at them.

"You two had me fooled for quite some time.

Thomas sat forward as Anet pulled away.

They were photos of them in her bed necking that night she told him she loved Vic. Nothing had happened, but these photos suggested otherwise. Taken just so.

And the others— photos of them making out in the car Vic had given her years back before...

He lifted his eyes from the photos. He couldn't find any words.

~

Vic shifted his glare at Anet. Noticed Tommy's hand reach over protectively.

"You're lucky you weren't there when I received these."

He recalled the rage he was in, as if he wasn't already dealing with enough, this little extra gasoline on the fire sent him into a torrent of rage and fury. The recall would have caused him shame as he looked at her now... but the time between last night and this morning was just enough to allow that monster inside him to breathe and assume control.

Seeing her recoil didn't send the pangs of guilt it normally would have. She was scared. He liked it. He wanted her to be afraid. Even Tommy looked fearful. Good. That's exactly what he wanted. Just looking at his cousin's face made his chest ache, but he'd been letting the betrayal feed the beast.

I'm so sick of everyone else getting what they want!

Vic blew a sharp whistle.

Four hoods enter the small apartment. All pawns off the street.

"As I explained." Vic said.

The four spread out. One to the claw foot tub. One holding a bag to the table. One to Thomas. One to Anet.

"Don't resist, or I will shoot you both."

Anet clutched the sheet twisted around her as she was yanked off the bed.

The two were thrust to their knees before the tub. Forced to watch the water rise as their hands were tied behind their backs.

Vic took his position on the opposite side. Crouched to their level. Silent as the water rose.

It reached three quarters, "I haven't decided which of you to kill first." He smiled at their facial responses. He met eyes with Anet, "Tommy Boy here knows what to expect when I get into these little moods." He locked eyes with Thomas. "But the betrayal is different this time."