Page 303 of Dark Love

“Sweet little Dahlia just wants to show the whole world that sexy body.”

Eugenia steps past Basil and slams a fist into Montgomery’s abdomen.

“If you aim up and to the left a bit, you’ll hit a kidney. That will hurt more,” I volunteer instead of walking over and doing what I want to the man currently hanging from the warehouse rafters.

“Thank you. Like this?” She follows my instructions.

“Exactly.”

“I vote we kill him.” Dahlia’s father says.

“I second that.” Basil glares at his once best friend.

Eugenia turns to Dahlia. “It’s your choice, jail or prison.”

“Jail.” Her sure, steady voice brooks no arguments.

Even though I want to very badly. “Jail it is.” But I’m with her father. Dahlia doesn’t need any more trauma in her life from this incident. “You don’t need to worry about Dahlia having to testify.” I move Dahlia towards her father so he can support her while I take care of business.

He nods, wrapping his arms around his daughter.

Will our children feel that safe in my arms?

Now isn’t the time to think about our future children. Take care of business. “She doesn’t have to. You’re going to confess.” I walk up and get in his face, letting all the evil my father taught me show. “Because if you don’t, I’ll find you, and when I’m done, you’ll beg to spend the rest of your life rotting in a hole far, far away from me.”

“Man, that was terrifying.” Basil reaches up to fist bump me.

“Basil,” Eugenia warns.

“What? It was. Can you teach me how to be a person’s worst nightmare?”

Dahlia’s whole family is a bit nutty.

***

A while later, we walk out of the warehouse.

Dahlia’s father makes eye contact with me, and I let the women and Basil step into the waiting car first, closing the door behind them.

“I love my daughter. And I want to respect her wishes, but all I see is her dying a little more every day in my guest house. Eugenia convinced me not to burn it to the ground.”

Completely understandable.

“But this I just can’t agree to. That filth doesn’t get to live after what he did to my daughter.” He turns to me. “I need you to promise me that he won’t survive long in that prison, or I’m going to go back in there and take care of him myself, regardless of what those two women have to say.”

“After he enjoys a warm welcome to the prison system, I’ll ensure Monty leaves this earth painfully.” Even if it won’t be by my own hand.

“Good.” He pats me on the back. “We better feed those two women before they get hangry. One thing you need to learn about Fleur women is they’re scary when they forget to eat.”

They’re scary all the time. “Noted.”

“You’re going to fit in just fine.”

Max was right… I have a family now.

Nosy People And A Country Club

Dahlia

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