Chapter 22: Punishment
"You haven't really thought this through, have you?" Tom asked. "The hotel is full of guests, some of them ex-military and some ex-mafia. They will be looking for me soon. You cannot detain me for long without exposing yourself. Think of your sick mother. What will happen to her if you are caught and sent to prison for the rest of your pitiful existence?"
"I have made arrangements that my mother gets taken care of but I am here to take care of you. Both of you have taken care to ruin the lives of those around you. I know all about you Thomas Monroe, a prostitute's legacy, you deserve to be in the gutter."
"Dave". It was Daisy who warned him to desist.
"I have to say, bro, you must be a magician to elicit fire out of the ice queen. What did you do? Did you brainwash her? Or was it some trick your demon father taught you?" Dave asked.
Tom was visibly shaking. He realized that Dave's words were getting to him. Dave wanted to rile him up for some reason and he couldn't let that happen. Tom took a calming deep breath. "Who told you of my parentage?" he asked.
"There are many narrations of your infamous story in the corners of Ralph Street, the urban legend that haunts the brothels. You have ruined more lives than you know." Dave sneered.
Tom shook his head. "I have saved homes from being ruined, souls from getting tarnished," he emphasized.
"Is that what you believe? Do you really believe that you are one of the good guys? Even after what happened to Mallory?" Dave asked.
"Mallory?" It was Daisy who asked the question. "What did you do to Mallory?" Daisy asked tugging Tom's sleeve.
"Mallory is your sister. I would do nothing to her. I promise. I helped her." Tom confided.
"Why did Mallory need your help?" Daisy asked.
"Yes, tell her Tom. Why did Mallory need your help after you ensured that she lost everything and everyone that mattered to her?" Dave insinuated.
"I did not cause the accident," Tom said.
"But Jonathan couldn't be there because you ensured that he left her for good. That is why she had to turn to me to help her punish you. In return, she promised to look after my mother as she has been looking after that of hers because her own daughter is too busy playing family." Dave explained.
"What accident is he talking about?" Daisy asked.
"The day after our wedding Mallory was run over by a car. She lost her baby. The hospital called your number. You were getting dressed so I answered. I told the hospital not to bother you and I took care of it." Tom said.
"Mallory lost the baby." Daisy gasped.
"This is why I didn't tell you. I remember how you cried on my shoulder thinking Jonathan would never let you be a part of your niece's life. I knew her death would affect you more than it affected Mallory. You are too compassionate for your own good." Tom told her.
"Compassionate? Seriously. She is the most unfeeling bitch in the world. She wouldn't know compassion if it hit her in the face. Why else would her boyfriend of five years have to drug her to satisfy his needs?" Dave asked.
"You scoundrel. You deserved worse punishment than I gave you." Tom seethed.
"Oh, I am not the evil person here. You know what your precious Daisy did when she was fifteen. She got her sister's boyfriend drunk and in bed. She has been trying to paw Jonathan ever since then till Mallory finally put her foot down and stopped them from meeting each other. Your wife is a bloody whore. I guess that is why you married her. Didn't you?" Dave continued ranting.
"Stop. Please stop." Daisy cried.
"I am not believing a word he is saying. So you don't have to say anything Daisy. All he has is words. What we have is much stronger." Tom told her.
"Huh," Dave scoffed. "Stronger. Let's see how strong you are when you are shot dead and I rape your girl within a few feet of your still warm body. Would that make you stronger Thomas Monroe?" Dave asked.
"You are not touching Tom without killing me," Daisy said coming forward. Tom tried to pull her back.
"It's okay Daisy. He can't hurt me. He is just a coward with a gun." Tom cajoled. At that point, Dave fired a shot hitting Tom in the shoulder. Tom felt the searing pain along with the warm liquid flowing out of it. Daisy let out a blood-curdling scream. Tom swayed but did not fall.
"I could have shot you in the heart or between your eyes. I was an expert marksman in college. However, I have five more bullets." Dave admitted.
"Stop it. You want to rape me again. Rape me. Let Tom go. I am the enemy here." Daisy admitted.
"You really do love him, don't you," Dave remarked. "I guess you did need devil spawn to satiate all the evil in you. And I actually felt bad for drugging you. But Mallory said that I would be doing you a favour by being your second since you were still pining after your married brother-in-law for being your first. She even got the pill for me to give you. I guess if I had gone and taken you to a witch to find something evil for you." Dave said.
"Mallory got you the Rohypnol?" Daisy whispered.
"I was the nerd, Daisy. Where would I get a contraband drug?" Dave admitted.
Daisy looked into Tom's eyes where she saw the emotions washing through her. It was then a shot was heard from a distance and in front of her, Dave collapsed. The door to the terrace sprang open and Fred walked in along with Andrew. "Keep the pressure on the wound," Andrew instructed.
"What have I been doing so far?" Tom asked mocking him. "This isn't my first gunshot wound," he admitted to Daisy whose eyes widened at the information.
"What took you so long?" he asked Fred.
"After you sounded the panic alarm we started searching for you. It was Julia who said that you might be on the terrace. I informed Alfred who said that it would be better to get a bird's eye view of the situation. So he got to the building opposite and positioned his sniper gun. He informed us that the guy had a gun on you and it would be better to take him out first, before rushing into the terrace. He was about to take the shot when Dave fired the bullet. I almost broke through the door but he said that it was dangerous for us. So he took the shot and now the culprit is dead. Who was he anyway?" Fred asked.
"Competition," Tom said lying down on a stretcher that had been brought in.
"Business rival?" Fred asked.
"Nope, romantic" Tom answered and Fred looked at Daisy whose head was bowed in guilt and sorrow.
"It's all my fault," she admitted.
"Daisy, don't you dare," Stella warned. "You didn't cause this. He was a psychopath. "
"You sure know how to pick'em" Fred joked.
"Stop it." It was Julia who spoke. "I need you to come with me to the hospital. You need to get checked for trauma. Ignore the guys. They are insensitive brutes." she stated and took her by the hand.
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