Page 72 of The Warrior
They both looked down, and an awkward silence filled the early morning.
“I think maybe we should wait for more backup,” Hans suggested.
“Wearethe backup,” I pointed out. “Didn’t you tell me that you’re the best mediator there is?”
“I am.” Hans shifted his balance from one foot to the other, straightening up.
“Then let’s go.”
“I’ll take the left corner,” Cheryl said and pointed to Lizzie. “Why don’t you take the right?”
Hans looked terrified as we walked shoulder to shoulder, side by side to the house. When I knocked on the door, he pulled back enough for me to be in front. It hit me hard how hypocritical I was when I rolled my eyes at Hans’ lack of male pride. I had just been fighting with Magni for being too bossy and protective of me, and here I was resenting Hans for hiding behind a woman in the face of danger.
Julia opened the door. Her eyes were puffy from crying.
“Sorry to bother you this early, but we’re looking for a man named Devlin.”
Her lips quivered again and her hands dried away more tears.
Behind me Hans leaned closer, and whispered to Julia, “We are here to save you.”
“May we come in?” I asked.
Julia nodded and left the door open as she walked back in to the living room.
Hans pushed me forward, keeping his position behind me.
“Good morning,” I said to Devlin, who sat fully dressed on the sofa. “Are you Devlin Hyde?”
“Yes.”
I opened my mouth to speak but Hans peeked out behind me and beat me to it.
“We’re here to escort you back to the Northlands.”
Devlin had a grimace of disgust on his face as he watched Hans cower behind me. “If you have something to say to me then come out and face me like a man.”
Hans took a small step to the side, now visible to Devlin. “I said, we’re here to escort you back to the Northlands.” The net gun that he was holding in his hands was shaking because of his hands’ trembling.
Devlin turned to look at Julia. “I see what you mean, babe. If that’s what Motlander men act like then I don’t blame you for not feeling turned on by any of them.”
“We will need you to stay calm while I place these immobilizers on you.” I held up the thumb lock, and took a step closer.
“No,” Hans screamed. “He is a murderer – do not get any closer.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Devlin sputtered.
“We know you killed a man, and that you went to prison for it.”
“It was a drunken bar fight. He died because he attacked me. It was self-defense.”
“That’s easy for you to say, but we’re not taking any chances. Toss the immobilizers over and let him put them on himself,” Hans instructed in a high-pitched voice as he dried perspiration from his forehead.
Devlin caught the thumb lock that I threw to him, and turned it around in the air. “Do you honestly think that this small thing would immobilize me?” He smirked. “If I wanted to escape, I could kill you two with my hands tied behind my back.
Hans looked like he was about to pee his pants in fear. “We have backup,” he said while waving the net gun at Devlin.
I understood what Hans couldn’t possibly understand. Devlin’s pride was humiliated from my attack on him earlier. He wanted Julia to think he was the biggest alpha and he was throwing around big talk to impress her.
