Page 53 of Royal Pain

“Yeah, well, Joseph will have him tucked away somewhere by now. I’ll try and get one.”

“Still, get me one if you can.”

“Okay. I’m headed back in the morning with Evangeline. The community is exclusive so it should be easy to find. See what you can discover.” I thought about the events that had occurred. “Add a name to the mix. Christopher Bentley. I have a feeling he is tight with this mob of people.”

“Whew. Okay. I’ll ask for Braxton’s help on this. Just don’t get yourself in the middle of something you can’t get yourself out of.”

“You know me.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

After we hung up, I debated if there was anything else I could do. There was one thing. I could put the gruesome group on notice. I knew it was risky but if this community was as dangerous as she said, and I suspected it was, they would still have no idea what I was capable of.

I headed back into the living room, stopping a few feet from the couch. Evangeline was asleep.

As I gathered her into my arms, she murmured, even opening her eyes once as she placed her hand on my chest. For a woman who had no reason to trust anyone, the fact she’d placed her trust in me was daunting. But also promising.

I walked her to my room, pulling back the covers and gently placing her underneath. After pulling them tightly around her chest, I brushed my fingers across her face. I couldn’t imagine what else had been done to her.

A fucking hunt. I still couldn’t get it off my mind. I’d heard of community associations gone wild, including guns being brought to board meetings, but what she’d told me was terrifying. The fuckers needed to pay for what they’d done.

And I was just the man to make that happen.

I threw on some clothes and even grabbed a weapon. I could never be too careful with the members of the horrible group.

I headed to the door, ensuring it was locked. I doubted she’d try to leave given how distraught she was, but if she woke up and I wasn’t there, it would scare her.

As I drove in the dark to Christopher’s bungalow, I had to face the facts that my early interference might have escalated things. Although I had no doubt the trip was meant to take her out of the country so she’d have limited recourse for stopping Joseph.

I was on the porch and pounding on the door within seconds. When the bastard didn’t rise and shine quickly, I pounded again, prepared to break in if I needed to.

He threw the door open, ready to growl at whoever was standing on the opposite side.

He didn’t have the chance. I had my hand wrapped around his throat so fast I was certain his head had tried to spin.

The small light turned on inside barely reflected the terror in his eyes, but I felt it. I slammed him against the wall, squeezing until I sensed he was turning red, choking already. I did so love the sound of a man spitting and squirming to breathe.

“What the fuck did you do?” My voice was exceptionally quiet, calm, and reserved. Of course, the man was wheezing, finding it impossible given my iron hold to catch his breath. Was I supposed to feel sorry for him that my hold was strangling? Well, too bad.

He couldn’t speak or breathe but I kept my hold for a full minute before backing off just enough. Up until now, he hadn’t fought me in the least, the shock too significant.

“Now, I’m going to let go of you and we’re going to talk about this community in Connecticut, the people involved in this basic cult, what you have to do with them and where the fuck the child is. Understood? Grunt if you get it.”

At least he did that.

I let go of his throat. However, I’d learned a long time ago never to underestimate your opponent. Or in this case, your enemy.

When he took a wild swing, I easily caught his fist, twisting his arm in a martial arts move. “Now, I can either break your arm, bad enough it will likely require surgery, or you can calm down and talk to me. Man to man. It’s your choice, Christopher.”

I could swear the man was debating. Finally, he nodded. I let go, cocking my head and studying him. I gave him time to recover as I walked to his bar, which was close. He couldn’t make any moves at this point. Or if he dared try, he would face the kind of wrath he didn’t like.

A broken arm would be the least of his worries.

I made myself a scotch, turning around and facing him. He was clearly unnerved, which was dandy by me.

“You heard my questions. I need answers.”

“You’re one crazy fuck, Gage, if you dare think going up against a group like the Elite will do anything but get you killed.”

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