Page 107 of The Devil's Hunt

“Isn’t that what Maddie is for?” she snapped through clenched teeth.

My ears perked up at the mention of Maddie’s name.

“Yes. But Maddie’s not here, is she now?”

She shook her head, but I could see the muscles in her jaws clenching in anger as Alexander started unzipping his pants. “If I’m late to the club, you know Dad will find out about it, and he won’t be happy if his friends aren’t happy.”

Alexander clicked his tongue, his hands still on his zipper as he contemplated her words. “We don’t want to anger Daddy. Rain check, then.”

He zipped up his pants and headed toward a bag resting on a large wooden desk in the corner of the room. Haven looked at me, and I swear I’d seen her before. The expression on her face was one of concern, but it disappeared as quickly as it came when she stood up, fixed her clothes, and walked toward her brother.

“Make sure you and the girls are ready for the auction. I expect all my patrons to be happy and satisfied while they bid. Oh, and wear that little red dress you know I like. Understand?”

“Understood,” she replied, grabbing the bag out of his hand and turning on her heel, leaving me alone with her monster of a brother.

44

FORTY-FOUR

ARCHER

My fingers drummed impatiently on the doorframe as we waited for Haven to return from work. Kai was just as anxious as I was, pacing back and forth in the hallway. We both knew it was a risk being here together at her apartment, but every minute that passed meant Mila was still alone with that bastard, and who knows what he was doing to her.

We were on high alert, our hands hovering over the guns concealed in our waistbands as we heard the elevator ding. As the doors slid open, Haven emerged, and her eyes widened at the sight of us. She hastened her pace to reach us quickly.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“I called you,” Kai told her.

“You can’t be here right now,” she said, her voice panicked as she quickly pulled out her keys and unlocked her door.

“We need to talk,” I told her.

“Alex is on his way up right now,” she told us as she ushered us inside her apartment, slamming the door shut and throwing her things on the ground. Pushing us towards her bedroom, she opened her closet door and shoved us inside. “Stay in here and keep quiet. Whatever thoughts you have in your head, forget about it. If you tryanything, Mila is as good as dead. Don’t come out, no matter what you see or hear. Got it?”

“Got it,” I agreed, my fists clenched.

Her green eyes darkened with worry as she looked at Kai.

“Fine. I got it,” Kai finally said.

She closed the door, and we both moved to it to peer through the slats. Muffled voices sounded in the next room, and I strained to listen as the voices came closer.

“I’m tired, Alex. Just take the money and go.”

There was a loud crash and some grunting outside the room, and then Alexander appeared, dragging Haven by the throat into her bedroom. He threw her onto the bed and held her down, choking her.

“When I tell you to do something, you do it,” he screamed in her face.

Kai moved toward the door, and I grabbed his arm. He looked back at me, his expression murderous. I shook my head at him and put a finger to my lips to remind him to stay quiet. Kai gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw clenching as he nodded but moved back to the door to stand watch.

“Alex, pl-please stop. I can’t breathe,” Haven cried out, trying to rip his hands from her throat.

He released his grip, and she gasped for air, coughing as she lay on her side, taking big gulps of air and rubbing her throat.

“I don’t know why you always test me, baby. You know I have a temper, and you always push me,” Alexander said, sitting next to her and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You know I love you so much, and sometimes it just makes me so crazy.”

She looked at him, her chest rising rapidly and tears filling her eyes.

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