“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 112

***Kai’s POV:***

We all sat in silence as Zelma Fynch told us a harrowing story of Gracie’s upbring, filling in any gaps that Tyler had not yet received. If I was disgusted with the Rochesters before this…now my feelings were that of pure unadulterated hatred. I wanted them to burn a million years and only then…would I allow them to die a gruesome death.

There was something I needed to know. A question that had been burning my mind since learning about the Rochesters.

*“Ms. Fynch…by any chance do you know WHY the Rochesters hate Gracie so much?”*

She stared at me with a blank expression before answering.

*“I honestly don’t know Mr. Christiansen.”*

*Dammit.*

I was just about to tell Tyler we would have to find another way to gather that information when she continued.

*“What I can tell you however….(sigh)….My madam never had any intentions of that child surviving.”*

The room fell in complete silence at that last part. Was she implying...no...that couldn't be it….I needed clarification.

*“Are you saying there was complications during Gracie’s birth?”*

Her eyes went dead as she stared at me.

*“No sir…she was born perfectly healthy. 8lbs…7oz…19ins long. A head full of curly thick dark hair…she was perfect.”*

Parys then asked.

*“So, then what exactly do you mean by your madam having no intentions of her surviving?”*

Her expression and her silence said it all.

*“So, you’re telling me…she planned to murder Graceland.”*

She nodded.

*GASPS!!!!!*

*“Was she the one that was going to do it…or did she want someone else to get their hands bloody.”*

My voice was heavy...I slowly raised my eyes, looking at her with a glare of a thousand deaths. She immediately understood what I was implying.

Holding her hands up, she clarified.

*“Not me Mr. Christiansen! I could have never-”*

*“THEN WHO!!”*

My fist slammed on the table; I could no longer contain my rage. They were going to kill her! Gracie!! My fucking Gracie!!!

*“I-It was…a man they often hired to-”*

*“His name!!!”*

I barked at Zelma Fynch causing her to shutter. Tyler placed his hand on my shoulder as Cameron stood up. Just then, the waiter walked in with Zelma’s order.

*“Get the fuck out!!!”*

I roared as the waiter walked over. I needed him gone now so that she could tell me the name of the fucking asshole that was going to kill Gracie as a baby!!

Tyler pulled me over to the corner. My rage was boiling over. At this rate, I was going to hurt someone.

Cameron notion for the waiter to bring the dish. He whispered something in the waiter’s ear and then handed him what looked like money. The waiter smiled and nodded. He gave one more nervous glance in my direction before leaving.

*“You have to calm down Kai. She’s just telling us what she knows. I know it’s a lot…but you have to calm down.”*

I looked at my best friend; his expression was weary as well as empathetic. Though I think the empathy was for Gracie.

I took a few breaths. He was right. I needed to calm down. I immediately thought of Gracie, and then…as if she could sense my stress…Gracie sent me a text message.

The text was a picture of her eating a vanilla ice cream cone with sprinkles.

She was smiling brightly but with a mischievous grin. Below the picture was a text.

***\[Look what I’m eating! I miss you! I hope you like what I brought…only for you…something you would like.\]***

And just like that; all the anger and fire that was burning inside my chest began to simmer. How the universe knew what could calm me…was always mystery to me. I smiled lightly as I began to reply back.

***\[Well then Miss Graceland…I look forward to tonight. 😉\]***

After texting Gracie back, I looked up at Tyler. He looked relieved. Probably thanking the inner gods for her text message before I went grizzly bear in the restaurant.

*“When she tells us that name…”*

*“I’ll be on it. We’ll have all of his info in less than 48hrs.”*

I nodded at Tyler as we headed back to the table.

Zelma was eating her food; it looked like Douglas and Parys were able to calm her in my stead. She looked up at me with a weary but warm expression.

*“How’s your meal?”*

My voice was still husky.

*“It’s excellent Mr. Christiansen. You were right.”*

She smiled lightly as I sat down.

*“Ms. Fynch…I want to apologize for my-”*

She held her hand up as she wiped the corners of her mouth.

*“No apologies necessary Mr. Christiansen. You love Ms. Graceland, that much I can tell. Your anger is beyond warranted.”*

I nodded. I was glad she understood, but my behavior was out of line.

*“I appreciate you’re saying that. But please accept my apology.”*

*“Accepted.”*

She smiled as she sipped her water.

*“Benard Thorton. He’s called their ‘handyman’; but really what he is…is the person they call to handle all of their dirty work. I would locate him as soon as possible if I were you.”*

I didn’t like the way she said that.

*“Do you have concerns?”*

*“Yes. As of now, there’s nothing I’ve heard regarding Graceland…but I would never put anything past a person that had no problem killing an infant. The day my madam found out Graceland was still alive, he didn’t seem surprised, but he did offer to ‘handle her’ for my mistress. The only thing that stopped them…my sir had already arranged for her arrival.”*

We all sat in shock at those words. She was STILL considering murdering her own daughter. I could feel my temper rising back up when Douglas asked an important question.

*“You said he didn’t seem surprised Gracie wasn’t dead…is it possible he couldn’t kill her when she was a baby…so he gave her to Diana Teagues?*

*Interesting.*

Zelma looked at Douglas with a look of clarity.

*“You know…that’s highly possible. Maybe he isn’t a complete monster.”*

I needed to know EVERYTHING about the night Gracie was born. I needed to speak with this Bernard Thorton ASAP.

Zelma finished her meal, clarifying any information or questions we had regarding Graceland. There were a few things I was certain of following this meeting,

***1.    The Rochesters were without a doubt some of the worst people to have ever be born.***

***2.    Benard Thorton would be the key to answering all of Gracie’s questions regarding her adoptive mother.***

***3.    The punishment I had instore for the Rochesters…it was sure to be filled with exquisite pain.***

I ordered a ride share for Zelma, she stated she would be staying with her friend this weekend. As she headed to the car, I thanked her for everything she’d done to protect and help Gracie.

*“I wish I could have done more…I should have done more…I owed her this.”*

I nodded in response; I knew the feeling.

As she prepared to get into the car, she called back out to me.

*“Mr. Chris!”*

I turned back in her direction; my mask was now back over my face.

*“Graceland…is she happy?”*

I paused for a moment before pulling out my phone. I walked over to her and showed her the picture Gracie had just sent me.

She stared at the picture for a few moments; tear drops falling onto the screen. She let out a light sigh and got into the car. I closed her door and wave her off as she drove away in her ride share.

It was now almost 5:30pm, time to get back home to my love.