Page 26 of The Cleaner

Sighing as I wipe my tears from my eyes, I can't help but feel that Devin's dad isn't finished yet. A man that not only physically but sexually assaults their child, or anyone for that matter, isn't going to let go of them, ever. They're going to do whatever the fuck they can to get them back. I just want to know why he's not behind bars. Surely with Devin's face and the fact that there's a court order dictating that he's not allowed near his son, that would be enough to have him sent to prison?

I hear footsteps grow closer and turn to see a drunken man stumble from the thick bushes. I roll my eyes. This isn't uncommon. There are a lot of homeless people around, and as this place is secluded, I know they tend to frequent this spot to lay low when needed. I rise to my feet, knowing that it's time to go.

"Where are you going, bitch?" I hear the man slur from my right.

I glance at him and wonder how the fuck he got so close to me. He's quick on his feet.

"Home," I reply, picking up my pace and moving away from him. My heart's racing as I hear his footsteps get louder, faster, closer.

"Not happening," he sneers. "I know you've been keeping him from me." The coldness of his tone makes my skin crawl. "I won't let you keep him. No way. I need him."

I spin on my heels, wondering what the hell he's talking about. Who does he need? The moment I catch a glimpse of him up close and personal, I don't need to wonder. It's so very clearwho he's talking about. God, he's Devin's dad. He's the spitting image of this man. My stomach churns as I look at the man who hurt that poor baby.

"You," I snarl, my anger whipping through me thick and fast. "How dare you? You deserve to be six feet under after what you did to that poor boy."

"I do what I want. He's my boy. You've taken him. You've ruined everything," he growls. "Everything. He was my money maker. Now you will be."

This man is fucking delusional. There's no way in hell I'll ever do anything for this prick. "You're crazy. Devin is better off without you."

He steps forward, his hands reaching behind his back. My heart races as my gaze moves to the side, trying to find something, anything, that'll help me fend him off.

I only see small rocks and tree sticks. Nothing to help me. Crap. What the hell am I going to do?

Chapter

Eleven

LISA

I swallow hardwhen I turn back to him and see that he has a thick rope in his hands and a sinister smile on his face. "You'll fetch a pretty penny," he says, still grinning like a madman.

My blood runs cold at the thought of being sold like some kind of animal. I can’t help but feel sickened at the thought of him doing this to Devin. His words are clicking in my head. He was planning on selling his child. I can’t believe this shit.

“Not happening,” I snap, unable to keep my anger from bursting out. “You’re a sick motherfucker. You’re disgusting.”

His face contorts with rage, and my heart skips a beat as he edges closer to me. “You think you’re better than me, bitch?" he spits out, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm going to make sure you wish you'd kept your mouth shut." He lunges toward me, his hand reaching for my throat.

I stagger back, tripping on a nearby rock, and I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of me. He looms above me, his eyes promising destruction.

Fuck, I'm not going to let him win. I claw at the ground, searching for something, anything, to use as a weapon. Myfingers brush against something heavy and jagged, and I grab it, my heart pounding in my chest.

As he nears me, his eyes never leaving mine, I leap up, the heavy rock in my hand. I smash it against his chest, hearing the sharp crack of bone. He stumbles back, his hand flying to his chest, a look of shock and pain crossing his face.

I don't hesitate. My adrenaline pumping, I swing the rock again, this time hitting him in the temple. There's a sickening thud as his head connects with the rock, and he crumples to the ground like a broken doll.

I stand over him, panting heavily, my heart still racing. I can't believe I just did that. But I did. My breaths come in ragged gasps as I lean down, almost afraid to check for a pulse. Relief rushes through me when I feel the faint beating against my trembling fingers. Hatred mixes with my relief as I realise he's still alive. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He's still alive.

Shit. What have I done? Panic sets in as I try to figure out my next move. Do I run?

If I do that, it’ll mean Devin will continue to be in danger. Hell, maybe even me. But what other choice do I have?

Sinking to my knees, the reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. My hands tremble as they rake through my hair. Crap. How do I end up in these situations?

I glance around, my eyes landing on the rope. Fuck. A plan forms in my head. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do it, but I have to do it. There’s no other choice. I can't afford to waste any more time. With a deep breath, I push myself up from the ground and rush toward his prone body. Reaching for his feet, I manage to drag his unconscious body to the edge of the old bridge. I’ll only have a matter of moments to get this done before he wakes up. I can’t let him survive. I hate that I’m doing this, but for Devin, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. I need him to be safe.

Over the past four months, I’ve grown to love that boy. He means the world to me and I want to protect him. Doing this? Killing the man who raped and abused him, it may hurt me, but I’ll do it, and I’ll do it over and over again if needed.

Taking a deep breath, I drag his body so that his legs are hanging over the edge of the bridge. It’s not a big bridge. It’s fairly small, more like a walk bridge, but it’ll do what I need it to do.

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