Page 26 of The Devil Within

Throwing my stool back, I stand. At my full height I’m now bigger than my former foster brother. I loom over him as he smirks in satisfaction. The wooden stool I was sitting on falls to the floor with a loud bang. My breaths come in ragged pants as I clench and unclench my fist. I glance around the room, making sure I haven’t drawn too much attention to us. My girl is still engrossed in her father, none the wiser to my presence.

I shift my gaze back to Will and immediately realize the mistake I’ve made. His line of sight has been drawn away from me. He’s staring exactly where I was looking a moment ago—right at the pink-haired beauty across the room. My heart feels as though it will beat right out of my chest as I watch him look her up and down, hungrily assessing the way her shirt rides up as she leans over the bartop, exposing her beautifully tanned skin. Skin that is mine and mine alone to mark.

“Oh,” a satisfied smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth. “I see what has brought my baby brother out of hiding. I thought you might have come here for a little family reunion, but it seems you’re more interested in that pretty little thing across the bar.She does look like a delicious snack.” His gaze flicks back to mine and I can see the lustful lurk that brightens his eyes.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Will.” I lie, hoping that it will get him to leave her alone. The thought of this monster getting anywhere near my girl boils my blood.

“Then you won’t be upset to know that she owes me a debt.” Will’s eyes burn with desire as he speaks. He’s a fucking spider, and I’m the fly caught in his web. With every word he speaks, I’m spun further and further into his trap. “Daddy dearest there owes me a lot of money, and his good little girl is going to be doing some work for me in order to pay it off.”

All the blood rushes to my ears and pounds on my brain as all the pieces fit together into a horrific realization. I clench my fists at my side, willing myself to not hit the man in front of me. Over my dead fucking body will she have anything to do with Will.

He leans in closer and his smirk pulls wider, exposing his sharpened canines. “Don’t worry, brother. I’m sure you’ll be able to buy the video online once I get it all edited. You’ll love watching me pound into her tight little ass while she lays unconscious on my bed, won’t you?”

My fist collides with his face with a deafening crack. I can feel the bone and cartilage of his nose snap against my skin. Every ounce of rage I’ve been holding in since I was a teenager gets pounded into his fucking face.

“You stay the fuck away from her,” I growl as I pull him by the collar, bringing his bloodied face up to meet mine.

The asshole has the balls to still smirk at me. Blood drips from his nose, staining his teeth, and giving him a sinister look. “Don’t worry baby brother, if you’re a real good boy I’ll let you lick my cum out of her used up cunt when I’m done with her.”

Before I know what I’m doing, his head hits the wall with a loud crack as his skull collides with the brick behind him. His neatly styled hair comes undone and a stiff lock falls across hisforehead. My fingers are wrapped around his throat, squeezing so tightly that I can feel his pulse pumping against my hand. His black eyes bulge slightly but the bloodied smile never leaves his face.

“You touch her,” I growl as my fingers flex to a bruising tightness around his windpipe. “And I will fucking kill you.”

Just as I’m about to snap his neck, lithe fingers gently wrap around my arm. My eyes flick to the soft pink manicured nails that are gently caressing my skin. Her tanned skin is warm and soft against my own heated flesh. My sweet siren’s touch is enough to bring me back to reality and out of my haze of fury. I turn my face to meet hers. The concern swirling in her emerald irises drags my entire focus to her.

Her voice comes out as a soft whisper as she begs me, “Let him go, Luke.”

SIXTEEN

Olivia

Looking at the Devil by Seibold, Neutopia, and Leslie Powell

The man in front of me is not the man I thought I knew. The rage radiating off him in waves is so unlike the calm and collected lawyer that I thought he was. In front of me is not the man I went on a date with. In front of me is the devil within.

“Let him go, Luke,” I plead as he holds Will tightly against the wall. His face contorts as he wars internally with my request.

I have no idea what happened between them. All I know is I was talking to my father one minute, and the next, the man I hadgone on one date with had my blackmailer pinned to the wall of a bar.Like, what the actual fuck?However, when I stormed over I saw the look in Luke’s eyes. It wasn’t the typical drunken anger you see on the face of most douchebag alpha males. No, this was one of pained fury. I don’t know what’s going on but I do know that something here is very, very wrong.

His dark eyes swirl with obsessive rage as he stares down at me. I should be scared. This man is clearly unhinged. But there’s something about him that calls to me. It’s like my soul recognizes something in him that I can’t yet see.

“Flower?” he whispers as if seeing me for the first time.

“Yes.” I nod reassuringly as I slightly pull at his arm, asking him to let the other man go. Even though the asshole he currently has bloodied and beaten against a wall absolutely deserves to have the shit beat out of him. But now is not the time or place.

Luke releases Will who falls to his ass with a flop. I let out a soft sigh of relief. I have no idea what the issue is between them, but Luke doesn’t need the type of trouble that Will could bring his way. The fight broke out while my father was in the bathroom. I need to get Luke and myself out of here before he gets back. None of us need any more trouble from Will.

“Luke,” I plead as I pull him away. “Let’s just go okay?”

He nods once, wrapping his arm around me tightly and letting me lead him toward the doorway. As we’re about to exit, Will shouts at our backs, “Don’t forget Olivia, you have until the end of the month.”

Heat sears my cheeks. I don’t need anyone, certainly not a well-off professional like Luke, knowing about this. I have until the end of the month to find some way to raise all the money my father owes, or I’ll be paying with my body. The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I’m desperate not to do that. I don’t want him anywhere near me but I’m not sure where I’ll get that kindof money.

Luke leads me outside swiftly with a possessive hand on my lower back. Before we leave, I shoot my dad a quick text to let him know that an emergency came up and I had to leave. He won’t ask questions about my sudden departure, he never does. The drizzling rain hits my cheeks and cools my heated skin; the fresh air immediately soothes my soul. I know most people hate the cold, rainy winters here—but there is something absolutely refreshing about weather like this. Luke guides me to his bright red Audi parked in the corner of the lot. I don’t know how I didn’t notice the flashy vehicle when I came here, unless of course, he came here after me. Maybe he’s been following me. The car opens with a pretentious beep as we approach. Luke opens the passenger door and uses his hand to guide me into the seat. I have to hold my dress down with my hand and contort uncomfortably to get into the bucket seat without flashing him. The smell of spice and smoke hits me immediately, confirming what I already knew. Once I’m settled, he leans in across me and fastens my seatbelt.

“I’m not a child; I can buckle myself in just fine,” I snark at him as he adjusts the strap to make sure it’s snuggly across my chest.

“Just fucking let me take care of you, okay?” he snarls before closing the door and rounding the car.

---