The Killer's Keeper

Chapter 2

"Oh Luca you shouldn't have!"
"It was the least I could do babe, you have been so good to me. Here let me help you put it on."
Luca comes up to Laura with the simple silver necklace. It had a small heart on it with an emerald in the center since green is Laura's favorite color. She was sitting at the edge of their love seat. He had finally convinced her to move into his apartment. She figured after eight months of dating that it was time for her to take a risk. He sat down behind her and softly wrapped the chain around her neck. His fingers brushing against her, his warm breath tickling her ear, she was happy.
"Is this too tight?"
"No, it's perfect. Thank you so much!"
Laura felt him finish clasping the necklace and kiss her right behind the ear before standing up in front of her. He just stood there for a minute so Laura looked up to see his eyes darken.
"Is something wrong Luca?"
"You just look so good in chains," He muttered under his breath.
"Sorry what did you say?"
"Oh nothing baby, I was just saying how lucky I am. You know I love you right?"
"Of course, I love you too."
"Fantastic! I was worried there for a minute," Luca said winking, "But it is really late so we should probably head to bed."
"You are right, I have a big day at the office tomorrow. I think we are really close to figuring out the identity of the serial killer. It's weird because all of his victims look so much like me, it is nerve wracking. I will be glad when we have him behind bars."
"Shhh just go to sleep babe, no one is going to harm you when I am around."
Then Laura fell asleep, her boyfriend's arms around her and she was happy. Two hours later there was a hard knocking on the door. Luca was asleep so Laura quietly got out of bed in one of Luca's big shirts and tiptoed to the door.
Quickly swinging the door open without looking at the person on the other said Laura stated, "You know it is quite rude to be slamming on someone's door like that in the middle of the-"
Kenneth grabbed her and ran away from the door. Laura quickly took in her surroundings and asked Kenneth what was going on but he ignored her. She started yelling at him but he kept ignoring her. Finally back at the FBI's van, he set her down and tossed her a jacket.
"You want to explain what the hell is going on Kenneth?! You better have a damn good reason for pulling me out like this. Why are there so many cop cars here? Why is the whole office (FBI) here?"
"I am so sorry Laura, I know how much you loved him."
"What, what are you taking about?"
"Luca... he is the serial killer going around that has been killing all of the girls."

.....

Laura slowly starts coming to and Kenneth comes into view. Her breathing is hard from the flashback. She had missed so many signs with him and so many people have had to pay because of it. Laura looks up to Kenneth teary eyed and he looks down at her sympathetically, already knowing how she must be feeling.
"We will figure this out Laura, you will never have that man around you again. I promise."
Shaking her head in agreement, Laura slowly sits up and let's the medic check her out. Once they clear her Kenneth decides that it is best to walk away from the job for the night and get Laura settled into her new home for the time being. So he gives some officers the rest of his orders and helps Laura to the car against her will.
"Why are you so damn stubborn just let me buckle your seatbelt for you Laura! The medic said you could have a slight concussion." Kenneth yelled while pulling the seatbelt across a thrashing Laura.
"Because I am fine Kenneth, I do not need to be babie-"
"Oh you can be my baby any time you want as long as I can be your Daddy."
Laura just sat there with her anger rising and simply stared at him. She glared for another second before calmly asking, "Kenneth, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course Sugar Plum, what is on your mind?"
Laura leaned in till her mouth was right by Kenneth's ear, her warm breath fanning him.
"If I let you be my Daddy..."
"Go on Babygirl"
"Will you let me have a later curfew and get me some new My Little Pony's? My current Dad says I have enough but I want more. All the kids at school have the new ones and Mom said that they were not super-"
"Shut up Laura"
Laura laughed until she could not breathe while Kenneth slammed the door and got into the driver's seat. The rest of the car ride to her house was spent with her trying to change the radio station and him smacking her hand away. Kenneth slowly pulled up to her house and Laura jumped quickly out of the car and bounced up the stairs to her home.
"Careful Laura! The medic said to take it easy!"
"I am fine Kenneth just wait down there and I will be down in 15 minutes with everything I need."
"Are you sure you do not need help?"
"I'm fine Kenneth, I'm not giving you an excuse to go through my underwear drawer."
Shrugging his shoulders Kenneth muttered, "Can't blame a man for trying." And took in his surroundings. He felt slightly strange with how loud he and Laura had been compared to the quiet atmosphere.
He heard a slight rustling in front of the car but could not see what it was due to the headlights. He grabbed his gun and got out of the car quietly. Kenneth creeped around to the other side of the car and after a second jumped up to the front with his gun raised, looking for something to shoot. The only thing he found though was a Golden Retriever sitting in front of the car, nothing moving except for his tail. Kenneth glanced around for a moment to make sure nothing else was around and then finally lowered his weapon. He crouched down so he was eye level with the dog and looked for a name tag on the collar. After grabbing his phone so he had a proper light he read;
Butter,
If I am lost please return me to 5187 Wood Mtn. Drive!
After giving the dog some water he had in the car Kenneth realized that Butter lived on the next street over and figured her had enough time before Laura was done and the area was safe for the time being. Luca would not be dumb enough to come out of hiding right now when he knows everyone is working overtime to bring him in, especially now that he has out this deal on Laura thought Kenneth. The balls on this man. Kenneth quickly shoots a text to Laura telling her what he is doing, and shaking his head at his own thoughts Kenneth whistles to Butter and he starts through the bushes Butter popped out of.
Meanwhile Laura walks into her home and turns on the lamp as she steps through the door and just stands for a moment. She remembers what her life was like before she met Luca and was put through hell, before she had to send away what few relatives she had left in fear that Luca would try to hurt them as well. She misses the past desperately and is miserable, and just for one second she wonders if it would be better just to go with Luca and piss him off until he breaks his promise and killers her just like he killed everyone else.
She keeps thinking of the pros of taking the deal and her eyes glide past a picture of her and her sister, Samantha (Sam for short), at the beach. Laura was giving Sam a piggyback ride in the shallow park of the water and their parents had taken the photo of them right as a big wave came in and knocked them both down. They both had sand all in their hair and they were in slight pain from the tumble but then both were happy and carefree. That was the last time she saw a smile on Sam's face that bright. Not like the grim smile Sam gave her when she told her that she had terminal cancer. Or the weak smile as she went for surgery in a last ditch effort even though it was risky, and never came out. She knew Sam would be mad at her for thinking like this; for wishing death would come when all Sam would want is her life back. She was too young to go, but now Laura lives enough for both of them; she will be damned if she gives up now. Getting pulled out of her thoughts by Kenneth's text she slightly smiles and mutters, "at least some bitch likes him."
Walking into the room she quickly flashes on the light and heads to the closet, unaware of the other presence in the room. She grabs a bag and turns to set it on the bed, and when she does she notices the dog leash on the bed for the first time. Before she has time to finish connecting the dots her bedroom door slams shut and Luca steps into view. He looks past her toward the leash, and then down to the collar in his had. The same one that was on Butter when Kenneth messaged Laura. Luca looks back to see Laura and notices the slightest bit of fear hiding underneath her glare. He frowns at the glare, lifts up the collar, and says,
"I do not think Butter will mind you borrowing this for a bit Love, she is already home safe and sound by now. Cannot say the same for your little boyfriend Kenneth though, I really though you could do better than him."
Not wanting to appear weak Laura quickly spat back, "and what? Do you somehow think that you are better than him?"
Luca looked at her for a moment and controlled his temper at her outburst and thought, then just smirked and said, "No, I am much worse," and before Laura could react everything went dark.