Retribution

Chapter Fourteen

"Vanessa?" Mrs. Noble--Felicia--questioned groggily. I knew this would happen, knew Boss would find her. Yet I had clung to a false hope like the stupid girl I was. Nina was dead because of me, and Felicia was likely to join her.

"My darling Vanessa," Boss drawled, "have a seat. Join us." He had a smirk on his face, which caused a shiver to run down my spine. Still I sat, and when I did, Boss turned his attention to Mrs. Noble. She looked like she'd go unconscious any second now. Head trauma, which I could tell she had suffered, does that to a person.

"Now tell me, sweet daughter of mine, what have you been doing all these years?" Slowly, Mrs. Noble turned her head towards me and pled, "Let me go." Even with the blood coating her face, I could see she was terrified. Who wouldn't be when in Boss' presence.

"Answer me," he hissed, tossing his hunting knife from hand to hand as if it were just a toy. "I hear you have a daughter. Family even."

"How--"

"Vanessa told me everything. Like a good girl."

My heart sank. Yeah, she probably knew it was me that told her about Reyna, but now it was confirmed.

"Tell me about her. Reyna, is it? Is she as much of a fuck-up as you?"

"Stop. . ." was all she moaned. A flicker of anger danced in Boss' eyes.

"You do not tell me what to do," he snarled, pointing the tip of the knife at Mrs. Noble's face. She didn't even bat an eye. It was like she was used to this kind of abuse. Not getting the reaction he wanted, Boss made a single slice along Mrs. Noble's arm. He didn't do a quick cut either, no, he took his time, making her squeeze her eyes shut. I had a feeling it wasn't because of the pain.

I wanted to look away. To do something to help Mrs. Noble, yet here I stood. Just watching.

"Oh Felicia, look at what you've done. You're good at it, aren't you?"

"What?" she slurred. He backhanded her, making me jump, and screamed, "Don't play coy with me!" She spat out some blood and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her fists, along with her jaw, were clenched.

"Say it," he seethed. "You killed him. It was all your fault."

"No," she breathed. "That's not how it happened and you know it!"

"Still in denial, eh?" The knife was slowly dragged against Mrs. Noble's skin once again. All he got out of her was a slight wince.

"Boss?" somebody squeaked. Wait. . .that was my voice. What the hell was I doing?

"What?" he snapped, his eyes locking with mine.

"I hear sirens," I lied. Seriously, what was I thinking?

Before I knew exactly what I was doing, a knife was being held to my throat. I started to panic and only panicked more when Boss growled, "Say it or the girl dies!" Mrs. Noble stayed quiet, refusing to look over at us. When the knife was pressed even harder against my throat, I begged, "Mrs. Noble! I'm sorry, I. . .please don't let me die."

Silence.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," I cried. Tears were welling in my eyes, heart racing quicker than I ever thought possible.

"It was my fault," she finally mumbled.

"Louder," Boss screamed.

"It was my fault! I killed him. Shepard died because of me."

I didn't know what exactly was going on, but was relieved when Boss lowered the knife.

"You admit it!" he wildly screamed. "You killed the only person that could have brought me happiness!"

"It was my fault," she shakily muttered. Boss went over to Mrs. Noble and kicked her chair over. His boot hovered over her head as he told her, "You should have been the one to die."

"Wait!" Josh shouted. He was standing next to Mrs. Davidson, who I had just now noticed. Mike and Josh must have took her in here.

"What now?" Boss only gave him a side glance.

"You told me you wanted to ask her about--"

"Right, right," he said with a nod, placing his boot on the floor. "Why. Felicia? Why did you leave."

"What?" Mrs. Noble asked in a tone that told even me that Boss should have known why.

He pulled her up by her shirt collar, practically dangling her.

"Answer the question," he snarled.

"Because you hated me!"

For a moment, Boss' expression softened. If I wasn't staring right at him, I would have probably missed it. It didn't take long for his face to go back to "normal". Mrs. Noble's head bowed, as if she were praying. Pretty sure she was about to pass out. Boss shook her and screamed, "Of course I hated you! Look at what you put me through! Put your mother through!"

Mrs. Noble slowly looked up, "I wish you had died instead of my aunt."

Boss roughly pushed her chair back, Mrs. Noble's head bouncing off the tile floor.