Page 29 of The Ripper

~ The fucking audacity.

She froze in front of the barrel of the gun, seemingly forgetting the act of breathing, as I stepped to the side and quietly made my way behind her through the trees.

~ Heads will roll tonight.

While I did like how terror looked on her otherwise serene features, I didn’t like when that fear was caused by some asshole who suddenly decided to play cops and robbers - minus the cops. If there was anyone who I would ever allow her to be afraid of, that would be me, and even then, it would never be just fright, as it would be mixed with arousal, passion, and anticipation. She would enjoy every second of fearing me.

Her hands trembled as she clutched the bag to her chest, as if that would protect her, when the soon-to-be-dead man called her a bitch. How could he call a creature so undoubtedly pure, such a filthy word? Justin had done it too, and now this piece of human trash.

Were they blind? Couldn’t they see that she was as immaculate as angels?

~ Those with rotten eyes are blind to purity.

I bumped the side of my head with the bridge of my palm a few times as the man yelled at her again, my anger growing thicker with each passing second as I scraped my nails against a nearby tree.

When she shrieked, slowly lowering the bag clutched against her chest, I finally stepped from the shadows behind her and encircled her waist with my arm, biting the inside of my cheek when a jolt of electricity sparked within me.

She didn’t even flinch, as if she was expecting me to show up, and I allowed myself a smile because she knew I wouldn’t have allowed any harm to come to her.

Her body heat radiated in my palm as I leaned down to inhale her scent, and her hand clutched my wrist like she was trying to make sure I was actually real, a sharp intake of breath filling her lungs as she pressed herself against me.

The fact that she sought comfort in my body made me mentally drool, and I had to suffocate the instinct of licking her neck just to get a small taste.

She was intoxicating. Addictive. Mine.

“You have until I count to ten to leave,” I spoke calmly as she shivered at the sound of my voice.

I licked my lips and stepped in front of her, gently pushing her behind me so she would be shielded in case the guy’s gun turned out to be loaded, and her hands clawed at my shirt, fisting it as she glued herself to my back.

Did she really feel that safe with me?

Why did I like that scenario more than that of her fearing me?

I looked him dead in the eyes, grinning like a maniac in the face of danger. I could smell his fear, I could see it emanating out of him, polluting the air as his fingers trembled on the trigger.

~ Amateur.

Slowly, I drew my gun out of its holster and pointed it at him. His eyes widened as I held Arella behind me, tracing reassuring circles over the material of her dress, meaning to soothe her nerves.

Okay, maybe the circles were for me, but she wasn’t moving from the spot, so I figured it was a welcome touch.

~ You were joking when you said he has ten seconds, right?

I gritted my teeth.

“One,” I grinned as I released the safety.

~ Are you fucking shitting me right now?

“Fuck off, dude, I was here first,” the guy spoke as he steadied his hand.

Bravery. Usually a virtue, but a game for fools when faced with the unknown. He wasn’t just a fool, but downright crazy, since he didn’t realize he was about to die for a handbag.

“Two,” I yawned as he released his as well.

~ Fucking shoot him already!

“Who the fuck am I kidding?” I mocked.

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