Page 16 of Encircled in Darkness
“I thought we were past this.” He chuckled as I set the brass weapon back on the table and made my way to him.
“These two thought it was okay to touch my woman. I decided they needed a lesson in civility.” I replied and rolled my neck back and forth.
“Tough lesson for a pussy who tries to take advantage of a woman. What’s your plan?”
Devlin and I had lived through hell together and I should have expected he would have my back. There had been times I killed to protect him and there were times I killed to satisfy the beast, but never had I killed someone who didn’t deserve it. These assholes deserved to die.
“I was thinking of amputating their hands, but I don’t want all the yelling and blood that goes along with it.” I shrugged and he snickered as the two yelled behind their gags, twisting and fighting their binds.
He motioned with his head toward the back office of the warehouse, and Skid joined us as we left them to their fear. Their mind would conjure up worse fates than I had planned, and a good mind fuck was half the fun. Leaning against the old desk, he watched me with appraising eyes, and waited for me to explain. I had been distant since stumbling upon Amaya, and while he had a general idea of her predicament, I had yet to fill him in completely.
“I was waiting to follow her home tonight when those two pieces of shit tried to attack her. They had her cornered, and I wasn’t going to let them hurt her. I want them to know the kind of fear she felt when she thought she was alone and vulnerable. I want them to bleed.” I flexed my hand again and saw the gleam in his eyes.
“Works for me.” He smirked and removed his jacket, revealing his usual black and grey ‘hunting’ outfit.
Strapped to his leg was a large hunting knife and a .45 was in the holster on the other side. Devlin needed little excuse to hurt someone, and since he married Elise, he had been less active in the rougher parts of our business. Seeing him standing there, ready to defend my woman, made my heart full. I never knew what love was, but loyalty I understood. I hoped with Amaya, I could find that missing piece to make me whole and it started with removing any threat to her.
Devlin opened the door for us to exit the old, dilapidated office when my phone rang inside my pocket. He turned his head at the noise and gave me a quizzical look as I pull it out and saw Amaya was calling. I grasped his forearm, stopping him from leaving as I answered the phone.
“Hello.” I spoke, happy that she was calling but feeling like something was wrong.
“It’s Amaya.” I could hear the tremor in her voice and the flames of anger began to lick up the side of my face.
“What’s wrong?” my tone was demanding, and Devlin shook his head and mouthed the words ‘calm down’ to me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.” She mumbled into the phone and I felt her slipping through my fingers.
“Tell me what’s going on? I can hear the panic in your voice.”
Speaking in a whisper to Skid, I asked him to pull up her security feed. He pulled up the cameras from her house and Devlin chuckled as he saw her house come to life on the computer. I gave him the middle finger and I stood in front of the small screen. I saw her with her back to the wall and her legs tucked up under her as she spoke into the phone. The tremble in her hands was clear as we watched her.
“You’re busy. Forget I called. Please.”
“Sweetheart, I’m never too busy for you. Tell me what has you so scared.” My tone was softer, more controlled as I waited for her to speak.
From the camera, I could see her eyes glancing around her house. “Someone... someone was in my backyard and ran away when I went to see what was causing Nova to yell.”
“Nova?” Who the hell was Nova.
“The stray cat I feed. Something upset him and when I went to see what it was, a man ran out and disappeared into the trees behind my house.” She explained and my vision grew red.
Turning, I left the office and stalked past the assholes squirming on the chairs to be set free. Devlin and Skid followed, having heard the conversation. I muted the phone before I climbed into my truck. Speaking quickly, I gave them instructions.
“Find out who he was and see if this is the first time. Something tells me this is connected to Victor and I want a report as soon as you have anything.”
Devlin and Skid were aware of her connection to the playboy of Lincolnville, but I hadn’t told them anything else I knew about her. Victor had a reputation as another trust fund asshole who thought he ruled the world, and any trouble he came across was swept under the rug by his powerful connections.
“Consider it done. Go take care of your woman. I’ll handle them.” Devlin prompted with a nod back to the warehouse. I unmuted the phone before cranking the truck.
“Are you safe?” I inquired as I pressed the gas harder, needing to get to her now.
“I’m locked inside, and he ran away. He scared me, but he never made a move toward me. I overreacted. I shouldn’t have bothered you.” Her voice was small and scared.
“I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.” I promised to her. From this point forward, she wouldn’t be out of my sight.
“You... you don’t have to do that.” She whispered with a sniffle.
“I’m on the way. Double check your locks while I drive over.” I wanted her to talk to me, hoping my voice would give her security until I had her in my arms.
