Page 70 of Broken Promises
“Are you sure, baby? There’s no coming back from that, and I don’t want you to carry unnecessary guilt over her death,” Rhys explained, and I knew he was trying to protect me.
“I need to know that she’ll never come back to hurt me or anyone else again,” I tried to explain, but I didn’t feel like I was expressing my feelings adequately. “She’s the boogieman in the closet, and the only way for me to make sure she can’t get me is to destroy her myself.” I paused and asked, “Does that make any sense?”
He leaned over and kissed me softly as he stroked my cheek. “I completely understand, but if you change your mind . . .”
I nodded, and he took me by the hand and escorted me into the office. Pieces of the splintered door and evidence of the grenade he tossed was all over the floor. As I stepped into the room, James, Devlin, and Lucian all turned to look at me. Kelly stood in front of the desk with her head down and tears running down her face.
Devlin gave me a quizzical look, and I lifted Stella’s knife up so he could see it. He gave me a knowing nod before stepping in front of me. “I know what you need to do, but that’s not right for you. A little birdy told James you’re pretty good with a pistol.” I nodded, and he reached down to his thigh and handed me his weapon. It was silver with faint black ravens in the coating. “She’s accurate with little kickback.”
I lifted my eyes to him and offered what I hoped was a smile. Just as I went to step around him, Devlin leaned over and whispered, “We’re all a little crazy here.”
His knowing smirk was reassuring as I felt Rhys release my hand with a kiss. I glanced at him and saw the loving affection shining back in his eyes. Lucian was still in front of Kelly, and when I stepped around James, he noticed the gun and moved to the side without going far. When I was in front of Kelly, I glanced and saw Devlin standing on the other side of me. James and Rhys stood off to the side, allowing them a perfect view of my descent into insanity.
Kelly finally realized someone beside Lucian was standing in front of her, and as she lifted her red, swollen eyes to mine, I witnessed fresh tears fall down her face. “I knew it would be you,” she remarked as she exhaled. “For years, I knew you would take my last breath from me. And I deserve it for what I did to you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Hesitation gets you killed,I heard Granny’s voice whisper and remembered her guidance.When confronted with danger, hesitation gets you killed.
Lifting the gun so it was pointed at her head, I replied simply, “No,” before pulling the trigger.
The bullet struck her forehead, and for a microsecond, she stood looking at me with a surprised expression on her face. Then, a single ribbon of blood fell from the hole and she dropped to the floor like a stone. There wasn’t another breath and she made no more sounds. A hand touched each of my shoulders, and I glanced to see my brothers standing beside me, giving me strength. Lowering the gun, I absentmindedly handed it to Devlin as I moved across the room to Rhys.
He pulled me into a hug and kissed my head as he whispered, “Are you okay?” I nodded against his chest, and he pulled me tighter to him as he asked, “Are you ready to leave?”
I looked up at him and replied, “I’m going to Portstill with Stella and Hawk, so you can finish up here, and when you’re done, you can come get me.”
He pressed his lips against mine and replied, “I think that’s a great idea. And you can see the twins.”
“Speaking of twins, Lucian, you need to go home and be with Rylee and the babies. We’ve got this covered here,” Devlin suggested, and I could see Lucian teeter between going and staying.
“Why don’t you come back with me, check on the family, and you can be back within, what, a couple hours, if needed,” I suggested, and he nodded. “Good, then I won’t be stuck riding on someone’s bike for the next four hours.”
Rhys walked and Lucian and me out as Devlin and James stayed behind. I didn’t want to know what all they uncovered as long as they made sure no more innocent girls were dragged intothis fucking madness. Rhys kept his hand in mine as we walked down the stairs and out to the vehicles.
Skid was waiting for us, and he spoke quietly to Lucian. “Pearl is the granddaughter of Franco Pastori, who was the founder of the Syndicate. Her part of the family has been clean for two generations. Her father will be here in a few minutes to take her back home, and I took the liberty of assigning some of your security to her until she can get sorted.”
Lucian nodded, and I asked, “What about Ella?”
“Ella is a little more difficult. Her parents are Anita and Paulo Territs, and they were killed in a plane crash last month while they were on vacation. Her aunt took her in, and we’re looking for her now, but Ella can come back to Portstill with us until we find her aunt.”
“And neither of them was . . .” Skid shook his head, answering my unfinished question.
“It doesn’t appear that anything happened. I think they can thank you. Pearl nearly stabbed me with a butter knife when I opened her door, and she said you gave it to her.”
I shrugged as Rhys hugged me tightly to him and kissed the side of my head. Lucian smiled down at me and said, “I’m going to get Ella while you say goodbye to Pearl and this guy.”
He tilted his head to Rhys, who released me and stepped up to Lucian. They did the whole man hug, back-slapping crap guys do instead of showing emotion, and I stifled a smile when they did. Skid rolled his eyes and lifted his hand into the air to signal to the rest of the Death Hounds who were with Pearl and Ella.
Stella and Hawk walked up, and she hugged me as she whispered, “You’ll sleep better tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you up there?” I asked, and she nodded before walking to Hawk.
He offered me his meaty fist, and I tapped my little fist against his before he wrapped his arm around Stella’s neck andwalked her to his bike. Pearl walked up to me, and I hugged her deeply. “You did so good, and I’m proud of you. They said your father is coming to get you?”
“I talked to him, and he should be here soon,” she replied, and we turned at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
The Death Hounds at the road spoke with the man and pointed toward us before he pulled down the driveway and parked behind Lucian’s SUV. A man jumped out, and Pearl ran to him as she said, “Daddy.”
Rhys, Lucian, Skid, and I walked up to them and waited for the embrace to conclude before we spoke with him. He was a nice man whose brother was one of the Syndicate members jailed as a result of Sergey’s testimony. He’d moved away when he was eighteen and had no idea this was still happening until Pearl disappeared and Skid contacted him. He graciously accepted protection for them until Rhys could get their situation more secure.
