Page 32 of Broken Promises
“I’m okay,” she replied. “I understand.”
I stroked her cheek and just held her close for a minute before I pulled back and stood from the couch. My boxer briefswere a mess, and I would have to clean myself up and get changed before I took care of the urgent situation. Holding my hand out to her, I helped her stand keeping her hand in mine.
“Whatever that little voice is saying to you, it’s wrong. I will be back in a few hours. I’m not having second thoughts. I do care for you and love you. I’m not changing my mind.” Pausing, I asked, “Am I missing anything?”
She smiled and shook her head. “That about covers it.”
“Good. Never doubt my words, Hannah. I don’t use words I don’t mean, and I never make promises I don’t keep. And I promise you, I’m not going anywhere.”
Pecking her lips again, I released her hand, walked to the back porch, and grabbed my laptop from the table. Coming back inside, I saw her rinsing our coffee cups in the kitchen as I slipped my keys and phone into my pants pocket. Walking to her, I wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her neck.
“Will you lock up behind me?”
She looked over her shoulder and replied, “Yes.”
I held her hand all the way to the door, and when we were standing in front of it, I kissed the back and reluctantly let her go. “Don’t go anywhere without sending me a text please. Until we have a better handle on this whole thing, I’d feel better if I at least knew where you’re going.”
“I’m surprised my phone isn’t tapped,” she joked, and I chuckled along with her, not wanting to give that piece of truth away just yet.
Kissing her again, I unlocked the door and walked to my truck. She stood in the doorway, and as I opened my door, she blew me a kiss and then went back inside, closing the door behind her. Only then did I get inside the vehicle, reconnect the computer, crank the engine, and back out of the driveway.
I used my hands-free to make a call, and James picked up on the first ring. “What was the message?” he asked.
I bypassed answering by asking a question of my own. “Do you have anyone in the area to sit on her house until I get back?”
He covered the phone, and a moment later, Lucian came on the line. “Hey, James said you need someone for Hannah.”
“I got a message and have a two-hour window to take care of two important things, so I need someone watching her until I get back.”
“I’ll send one of my men to keep an eye out,” he replied.
“Thanks, man. I’ll touch base in a few hours to see what you’ve uncovered.”
“We’ve got Skid working a new angle. I’ll keep you in the loop.” Lucian paused and added, “Happy hunting, old friend.”
“Yep,” I responded then disconnected the call.
Lucian knew the only way I would leave Hannah at this point was if there was someone on my list who needed to be handled, and the two fuckers I’d finally got a lock on needed to be gone yesterday.
This was a part of myself I hoped Hannah never had to see, but if by some chance she did, I hoped she could look past the monster I sometimes needed to become. This wasn’t something Ihadto do, but it was something Iwantedto do. People who hurt women and children, and abusers of those who society marginalize, often walk without recourse for their actions. I found the ones who slipped through the cracks and made sure justice was served.
Yes, it was true I had more blood on my hands than Devlin, Lucian, or James, but my reasons weren’t any better or worse than theirs. But mine were more personal, because the first two people I’d killed were my bitch of a mother and her fucking sister.
Those two cunts deserved to die for what they’d put us through, and when I experienced how fantastic I felt afterward, knowing I’d gotten rid of two useless people, I became addicted.Over the years, I’d racked up the body count, and I was sure more than a few business associates had looked the other way at my transgressions.
And don’t think I killed them all the same way. I mean, variety was the spice of life, so I kept things . . . fresh. From brake failure to gas leaks, 3-D printed guns with no registration to common kitchen knives you could buy at any big box store, I varied each kill and made sure I never overlapped locations.
If I was caught, my work would end, and there were a few people I’d kept hidden for years to guarantee their tormentors never found them. And now that I had Hannah, I couldn’t let anyone or anything keep us apart.
Pulling onto the highway, I went three exits and got off before turning into a truck stop. My windows were as dark as I could get them legally, so I put the vehicle in park and slipped through the front seats into the back. I used wet wipes to clean myself up before redressing in basic clothes. Black jeans, a dark red T-shirt, and a pair of black tennis shoes were enough to blend in. After getting back behind the wheel, I pulled my baseball hat on and slipped a pair of latex gloves into my pocket.
As I got back on the highway and headed south toward my target, I felt the animal inside me slip from its cage and begin to sharpen its claws.
Chapter 14
Hannah
As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep the negative feelings from creeping in. It was less than ten minutes from the time I had one of the best, non-sex orgasms of my life to the time he was saying goodbye and walking out the door. Even though Rhys thoroughly reassured me he was coming back, I still heard the little voice whispering in my ear.
