Page 57 of In the Light of Day

Let the World Burn - Chris Grey, G-Easy, Ari Abdul?

I have her.

Holding her body as close to mine as physically possible. The ache in my chest loosens at the same time my grip on her tightens.

I have her.

The sheer audacity of these amateurs trying to take what's mine leaves me nervous to ever let her out of my sight again.

Thedelivery mantries to put pressure on his leg, not sure what part to start with because I shot him in his thigh, his calf and his foot, ensuring I broke bones so he wouldn't be able to get away.

“Why do it?” I question. “Why come back and take her?”

He moans and rolls on the road, too lost in his pain to answer my question. I can hear the sirens in the distance, having called Seth immediately and letting him know my theory about what happened and who thedelivery manwas. He was at his desk in the station but I heard him move to his vehicle as I talked.

His car crests the ridge and I'm not surprised to see a couple of other deputies trailing behind. Kicking thedelivery man'sleg, he lets out a howl, tears streaming down his face like the worthless man he is.

“Why?” I ask again.

“Why! WHY!,” he snarls. “Because she was meant to be mine, first. She thought she was untouchable and when I finally built up the courage and asked her to go out with me, she turned me down. She was just like the rest of those whores at that school. Sleeping with everyone but me! And then one day her uncle picked her up from school. I saw the way he looked at her. I knew what he wanted, but he didn't know she was already claimed. I made friends with Thad to get closer to her, watching them interact every time we went to their stupid mansion. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out he was just as obsessed with her as I was. He just had the advantage back then.”

Nova's head pulls back, looking at me, racking her brain for who the man is.

“Tobias?” she whispers, turning to look at him writhing. “We shared, maybe two classes when I was fourteen. I don’t understand?” She says shaking her head.

Tyres squeal just in front of us and Seth leaps from his vehicle, the lights still flashing on the roof of the car. He walks up to us, his face full of wrath, becoming more contorted as he takes each step closer. A shotgun swings from one hand and for a moment I can see the man people fear. He has a reputation across the region, one of a man you do not cross. A law unto himself and the man lying on the road has hurt someone he loves.

“This him?” He grunts, and I nod in reply. Nova begins to squirm in my arms, sobbing as she wiggles free, running to Seth.

“Daddy,” she sobs, pressing her face to his chest as he wraps her fiercely in his arms. I know I share her with him. That our love for her is vastly different, but I'm so fucking grateful that our little family is safe. Her sobs echo all around us as each deputy looks on. Ready to assist if needed but letting us have our retribution.

“Are you just going to stand there!” Tobias yells toward the deputies, “He shot me! Arrest him!” He says, pointing a crooked finger at me. They look at each other, leering in disgust that he could even think of asking for help after everything he’s done.

“No one is coming to help you,” I sneer. “But we can negotiate. Tell me everything and I'll make your death quick. Tell me nothing and you will die a thousand deaths. My friend is very skilled in torture, you see. He once told me of a man he kept alive for over three months, taking his pound of fl—”

“Alright, alright,” he says taking a deep breath. “I found ... I found out what her uncle was planning. I worked at the hardware store as a teenager and he would come in for things I knew he didn't need for their house.I knewhe was up to something so I followed him, and when I found out what his plan was, I wanted in. I saw the way she was in school, flirting and having sex with anyone who would look at her, but not me. She rejected me so she needed to be punished. They all deserved to be punished.” He talks like venom. All of this, because she turned him down for a date. He became obsessed with her for that?

“I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING,” Nova screams, letting go of Seth, tears streaming down her face.

“You rejected me and then rubbed it in my face,” he spits, glaring at her. “You taunted me every day, flirting, sleeping around wit—”

“I WAS A VIRGIN. I hadn't even kissed anyone yet!”

She screams at him like it was therapy. A cathartic release. The question ofwhyhad always been there for her but we finally have answers.

Closing the distance between us, I pull her into me and she holds onto my shirt, sobbing once again into my chest.

“Do you need to know anything else, love?” I say softly, pressing my lips to the top of her head. Our window of time is closing.

We’re standing in the middle of a highway and risk someone seeing us as soon as they drive over the hill. Her fingers clench into my waist as she mumbles something into my chest. Dropping a knee, I pull her face away so I can hear her clearly.

“Make him suffer,” she grits out, years of pain and fear rising to the surface over how much she endured because of two different men's obsession.

“He was always going to, darlin'.”

Seth pumps the shotgun, taking aim at Tobias. “So you brought them supplies when they needed and in exchange, you were meant to have ... your turn ... with my daughter. I just need to be sure I understand this, right? I need to know we're not punishing the wrong person.”

I watch fascinated. I've not seen Seth work many times before but seeing him look at Tobias, consol him like he has a chance of survival. His piercing gaze and strained grin are a complete giveaway of the control he is showing.

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