Page 25 of His Paradise

A sharp sting rips through my hand as water and porcelain splatter to the ground. Droplets of crimson follow as I stare at the mug crushed in my palm. My hand was already covered in scars, and most of them were my fault.

“Aden?” Nina says behind me and I turn to catch her frowning at the mess. She takes my hand in hers, sighing as she picks the small bits left behind out of the wound. The scrapes are minor, and I tug my hand away from her.

“Let’s get dressed, Olivia and her nuisance are coming to visit.” It takes Nina a moment to register what I’m saying and she smiles before giving me a roll of her eyes.

“Percy is a good person, you promised to give him a chance and be nice.” She reminds me.

“I take it back.” I mutter, following her up the stairs. Her hips sway, testing the bounds of my self control as I watch her ass climb the stairs ahead of me. This pent up energy is getting ready to explode, but I just clench my bleeding fist, letting the pain distract me.

As if the dull ache alone could be enough. Something other than my pain helped when the woman I love and cherish flinches away from a hand reaching towards her. I was going to pay my friend a visit, and Percy was going to help me.

I turn to one of my most trusted hired guards, Anne. Nina is comfortable around her, and the two get along well. “You stay with her, don’t let them out of your sight. Understood?” I ask. She nods once, standing at the front of the room with her back to the wall.

Standing with Nina safely behind me and my gun in hand, I open the door to let Percy and Olivia in. She’s clinging tightly to his shirt and his arm is wrapped protectively around her as they step inside. I roll my eyes when Nina shoves past to grab her sister in a hug and Percy tries to hold onto Olivia. The sisters walk away, their heads bent together while holding on for dear life.

Percy and I stare at each other, his eyes flicking to the gun in my palm that I’m not bothering to hide. His blue hair is lighter, as if it's faded since we saw him that day at the docks.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“Maybe.”

“Swear to me that you will protect Olivia, make sure she keeps going to therapy and don’t let her out of your fucking sight.” He crosses his arms, and I roll my eyes, motioning for him to step inside. I pull out my phone, calling in a few guards that Nina has nicknamed the babysitters.

The two men and one woman take their places by the front door, one near the back and another stands behind the women as Olivia watches with wide eyes. Nina glares at me but I just wink, nodding my head towards the back door.

“I need Percy to help me with something, we are within ear shot. If you try to leave or shake your guards, they’re under strict orders to cuff you and call me. Don’t push me today, my heart.” I grip Nina by her chin as we pass, kissing the corner of her mouth and relishing in the moment when she doesn’t flinch.

“Don’t kill him, Aden.” Olivia says, reaching over the back of the couch to grip Percy’s sleeve. He chuckles, gently prying her hand off and brushing his knuckles over her cheek before following me.

“So you rescued the princess, swept her away from the big bad man and took advantage of her vulnerability?” I ask him when we trudge through the back yard stopping at the large shed where I press my thumb to the scanner while typing a code in with my free hand.

“It’s no like that,” His voice raises in defense before I turn to quirk a brow at him. “Her therapist said she did start forming a trauma bond with me, but nothing has happened between us.”

“I don’t fucking believe you.” I say, walking into the mostly empty shed and wrenching up the carpet to open the hidden hatch.

“Then don’t believe me, but it’s true. I sleep on the floor next to her bed because she wakes up screaming. When she showers, I stand with my back to her so that she can see me but I don’t even peek at her. Physically she’s perfectly fine, but until she’s healed inside I won’t fucking touch her.” He grips my shoulder, stopping me when we get to the bottom of the stairs. I swat his hand away, shaking my head as I flick the switch that brightens the hallway.

“Keep your fucking chivalry. Nina may forgive you, she may even feel gratitude for you saving her sister, but I don’t. You stood aside while my wife was beaten, and she is the only reason you and Grayson are still alive.” I snarl, turning my back on him once again.

“Grayson is still alive?” I can hear the excitement in his voice and it only grates on my nerves as I clench my jaw. At the end of the hallway is a door with locks along the side that take me minutes to open.

“What is so important you have all this security?” He mutters. I can’t stop the twisted grin when the door opens, and the man in front of me cowers as much as he can while tied to the chair.

The two guards across from him make quick exits, and the stench hits me. Percy gags from the smell of David sitting in his own feces, but I only smile bigger. His face is swollen, the bruises slowly yellowing at the edge with blood crusted to his face and bare chest. The gag tied around his mouth quiets his threats, the empty ones that wheeze from his lungs.

“I thought he was dead,” David’s eyes flick to Percy when he speaks and rage gives him empty bravery when I yank his gag away.

“You worthless fucking scum. Your buddy Grayson fucked my girl so you just had to take her sister and run off, screwing everything up.” He spits the words. My fist connects with his weak jaw, the bone makes a sick crack beneath my knuckles as his head whips sideways. The inhuman scream that he lets out nearly makes me feel guilty.

Until Nina’s bruised and battered body flashes through my mind.

I walk around behind him, pointing to the table next to Percy. He glances down, drumming his fingers until he stops on the bolt cutters, his gaze sliding to David. The ties hold steady as he thrashes in the chair as Percy steps closer, and his boyish face has become menacing in the low light.

“You threatened Olivia, you made her sister do horrific things to protect her.” His voice is frigid, and even I’m impressed by him as David closes his eyes and begins praying.

“You’re going to watch,” I whisper, wrenching his arm around to slam it onto the table. David shakes his head, struggling like a wounded and cornered animal. But he’s weak and I’ve been pushed beyond my limit.

Percy lines up the sharp end around David’s finger, and I nod my head once. “For my sister.” My words are drowned out by his scream, followed by David dry heaving and sobbing when we strap his arm back into place.

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