Page 135 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

The phone rings again, and once more, it’s Niran.

“Swift, you’ve got my fuckin’ life in your hands. If anything happens to Saffie—”

“I won’t let her out of my sight,” she promises patiently.

My hands are trembling. When Niran’s off the line, I admit, “I’m scared.”

“Of course you are, Saffie. Fear helps, it makes you sharp. It makes you more observant. Adrenaline makes you faster on your feet. Embrace it, don’t fight it.”

If she’d told me to calm down, it wouldn’t have worked. The thought of using the pent-up terror inside me actually helps, as long as I don’t have a full-blown panic attack and fall at Duke’s feet.

“I hate him.” All that passion comes out in my voice.

“Hold on to that, Saffie. Hold on to that.”

We’re in stop-start traffic as we queue to get into the parking lot. Once through the barrier, we easily find a spot to park.

“We need to head through that door there,” Swift points out as we get out of the car.

“How do you know?” I’ve never been here before, and as far as I know, she hasn’t either. I thought we’d have to find someone and ask how to find the meeting spot Duke had chosen.

“Honor sent me the floor plans.”

Of course he did. I should have known the brothers in Utah would have our backs.

Swift clicks the button and locks the car, then hefts a sparkling jewel-studded purse over her shoulder, I believe that too is courtesy of the sweet butt. As she starts striding away, I run after her, suddenly realising.

“What’s your name? I mean, I know you’re Swift, but if we get into conversation and Duke asks who you are…?”

She hesitates, then tells me, “Karen.”

I have never met anyone more unlike the proverbial Karen in my life. Shaking my head, I follow her into the mall.

As soon as we’re inside the entrance, Swift links her arm through mine. It looks casual, but her grip is firm. It gives me the confidence it will be hard to part us.

We go to the area Duke had instructed. I scan my surroundings, but I can’t see him anywhere. Swift seems preoccupied with a mannequin display, but I’m sure she’s using the reflective glass as a mirror.

“He’s not here,” I whisper.

“He probably is,” she says, getting a firmer grip on my arm. “He’ll be checking there are no bikers with us.”

“Where is Dart?” I hiss.

Swift checks her phone. “Held up,” she says, reading a text. “But they’re on their way.”

“I wish we knew more about what was going on.” I’d heard that all the others were linked on different comms channels, but when it came to us, I was to be ignorant of what was happening. That way I couldn’t inadvertently give away the bikers’ plans to try to rescue Mary. I hate it, but even I know I’m not that good of an actress, and if, heaven forbid, they find Mary dead, then my face would probably give that knowledge away.

I’m trying to spot Duke when a voice behind me makes me jump.

“My lovely wife,” he starts, sarcastically. “I really didn’t think you’d have the guts to turn up today.”

My mouth opens and shuts. I’m speechless as fear paralyses me. I thought I’d be prepared to see him again, but instead I’m just as terrified as I ever was. The rest of my life seems to flash past me—me being tortured, molested and imprisoned by Duke again.

“Mary’s my friend,” Swift says from beside me. “Where is she?”

Duke looks my companion up and down and sneers, “I expected her man to come with Sapphire. Who the fuck are you?”

Swift shrugs. “Grumbler would have torn you apart. So,” she looks around, “where is Mary?”

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