Page 17 of Saviors

“Shut your pathetic mouth before I break your jaw. And when I’m done with that, I’ll rip out your throat for speaking to your daughter like she doesn’t matter. Then I’ll shatter your kneecaps so you’re forced into your proper place; kneeling before her.”

I glared at him so he could see the psychopath I kept locked inside. So he would understand my words weren’t empty threats. “And know, I would enjoy every second of your agony.”

I straightened my jacket as his eyes filled with fear. As he realized what kind of man I really was. A smirk played on my lips just imagining how he would react to Maverick threatening him. Or torturing him.

The fantasy would have to do because I’d already decided not to hurt him. I cared more about Violet’s healing than anything else. And killing him, while satisfying, wouldn’t achieve that goal.

“But you’re still Violet’s parents. So instead I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars to forget you have a daughter.” His mouth dropped in a convincing performance of shock. But I saw the gleam of greed in his gaze.

Bastard. She was worth a hundred times that.

Reaching into my suit pocket, I pulled out my wallet. I tossed some bills onto the coffee table. They’d barely hit the surface before his wife was lunging for them.

“Don’t think you can come back later and ask for more money, because I’ll eviscerate you. Every single person you consider a friend will be on the news saying they always knew what vicious, disgusting people you were. The life you have now will cease to exist.”

Just like Violet’s had changed in moments. The second she was taken. The instant we decided to keep her. Only time would tell whether it was better or worse for her.

9

Maverick

The streets rolled by as we drove towards home. I stared at our newest addition, seated next to me in the back of the car. Violet’s knuckles were white as she clutched the pillow to her chest. Her eyes were vacant as she looked unseeing at the passing scenery.

She hadn’t spoken a word since we’d left her parents’ house. I wished I had something to say. Some experience or story to tell her. To commiserate with her. But there was nothing.

I didn’t remember my parents. Didn’t even know their last name, that’s how little I was when they abandoned me.

So, though I knew the pain of loss, I couldn’t quite relate to her sense of betrayal. To the shattering of her world.

“You must be hungry.”

Hunger; I’d experienced. At certain times in my life, it had been my only friend. Sometimes I’d end up in juvenile dentition just so I had a few months of consistent meals.

“Hungry?” Her gorgeous green eyes rounded in question as if the word was foreign to her.

My gut clenched. She was too pure. Too good to have gone through what she did. Then to have her family act like she was a liar. She didn’t deserve that. No one did.

“Yeah.” I smiled at her, but her expression didn’t change. “When was the last time you ate, belladonna?”

That’s what she was. A seemingly delicate flower. Beautiful and innocent looking until you reach out and try to take it.

“I’m not sure.” Her voice was raw, and I realized how remiss we’d been.

We hadn’t even offered her a drink. This wasn’t something we knew how to do. We’d never taken anyone before. Just each other.

But that had been instinctual. A connection forge in the darkest of times. Three broken boys without anyone in the world. Those bonds were unshakable.

Who did Violet have?

Us. She had us now.

It was an hour drive to her parents. Only a few hours since we’d rescued her from that room. And her life was still being turned upside down.

I wanted to settle it for her. Give her a place to stay. A home.

She was bringing out a side of me I hadn’t known existed. I lived for the fight. For the pain. For the kill. But when I looked at Violet, I wondered if I could live for something else. Someone else.

“There’s a fast food restaurant right around the corner. We can pick up some nuggets.” Her only response was a blink. “Or maybe a burger is more your thing.” She stared blankly “Fries.”

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