Page 128 of Cuffed By Love

“Fuck!” I exclaim. “I swear if he’s hurt a hair on her head, I’m going to rip that mother fucker apart!”

Levi nods, forebodingly cracking his knuckles, “You and me both. Step on it.”

* * *

While I’m speeding,swerving in and out of traffic like a maniac, my mind is conjuring up all sorts of images. My body is pulsing with fury and apprehension. I knew it—I knew something was off. I really hope Wyatt and I are jumping to conclusions, and she’s okay and just pissed off at me for something. I’ll take her being upset and hating me over her being hurt.

The tyres screech as I pull up outside Mira’s place. Her car is still in the driveway—

she’s not gone anywhere, at least. I jump out of the car and run over to the door.

“Mira!” I pound my fist against the door. Levi moves to look through the window, pressing his face against the glass.

“Devin!” My heart thuds against my ribcage when I hear her scream my name. I kick and ram my shoulder into the door again and again.

“Mira!” Levi shouts furiously, pounding his fist into the glass. I hear Mira screaming from inside, and I kick at the door furiously. “Fucking Christ, he just hurled her across the floor!”

“Levi, break the fucking window!” I bellow. Levi looks around for something to throw through the window. He picks up a heavy stone flowerpot and throws it through the window. He steps back as it shatters in the frame. I vaguely hear another screech of tyres and a car door opening and closing.

“Mira?!” Wyatt comes racing over to the door. Wyatt uses his keys to unlock the door, but it doesn’t open. “Fuck! It’s locked from the inside.”

“Dev, he’s got a fucking knife!” Levi shouts, and I move over to the window. I see Mira on the floor, blood seeping from her mouth, a blade in her face and that fucker looming over her. I push Levi out of the way and climb up on the windowsill to crawl through the shattered glass. I don’t care if it fucking cuts me. I’m getting to her if it kills me. I manage to crawl through, and he looks at me as I approach him.

“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll slice her throat open.” He threatens, pressing the knife to her neck. Mira looks over at me and shakes her head, silently telling me to back off.

“Let her go!”

“I would, but your little girlfriend here choose to die today.” He glances down at her and presses the blade further into her neck. “Isn’t that right, baby? You’d rather die than be with me, right?”

“Yes.” Mira hisses.

“And I’d rather kill her and spend the rest of my life in prison than let you have what’s mine.” The lunatic declares darkly. Oh God, he’s going to fucking kill her if I don’t do something. I hear the door break open, and Wyatt comes rushing in with Levi.

“Don’t!” I shout, shaking my head. “Please don’t hurt her.”

“Scott, let her go right now.” Wyatt forewarns, moving over to them, but I grab his arm and stop him. Scott lifts Mira to her feet, the blade still pressed to her throat, and she cries out, holding her ribs. I clench my fists. I’m fighting my every instinct to not hurl myself at the son of a bitch. Levi moves to stand next to me.

“Mira.” Mira opens her eyes and looks at Levi. “You’re okay. G and T.” He tells her meaningfully, and she blinks. What the hell does that mean? Before I could figure it out, Mira grabs a handful of his nuts and twists until Scott wails like a bitch and loosens his hold on her, dropping the knife in his hand to cup his balls. “Atta girl,” Wyatt rushes over to Mira, catching her before she hits the floor. We move in, Levi and I go to Scott. I kick the knife away and deliver a swift uppercut, knocking him back on the floor.

“You fucking maniac. I’m going to kill you!” I growl, pulling him up and pounding my fisting into his face repeatedly. Each crack of his bones like music to my ears. I can hear the police sirens, but I don’t stop until he’s a bloody mess on the floor.

Levi pulls back. “Dev, that’s enough, that’s enough, bro.” I go for him again, but he pulls me back. “The police are here; stop. Go to Mira.” I’m furious; anger is seeping through my very pores. I try to pace it off. I hear Scott’s scream of pain and look back to see Levi break his hand.

Wyatt is on the floor with a sobbing Mira. I rush over to her side just as the police officers come rushing in. “Mira.” She looks up at me. My heart shatters into a thousand pieces at the state of her. Her cheek’s swollen and bruised, her lip busted and bleeding. The look of fear and defeat in her eyes breaks me. I take her into my arms and kiss her forehead while she helplessly sobs. “It’s over, baby; I’ve got you.” I lift her into my arms carefully and carry her out of the house. “For now and always, I’ve got you.”

* * *

I pacethe corridors at the hospital impatiently. Waiting for them to examine, Mira. Everyone’s here, both our families, Wyatt, Lexi and Logan, all waiting to get the all-clear that she’s okay and not suffering some sort of internal bleeding or head trauma. I couldn’t be there because our families don’t know about us. Ayla’s the only one with her.

“I want answers!” Uncle Noah barks furiously down the phone. “That lunatic almost killed my daughter again because you failed to inform us of his early release. He was serving a sentence for attempted murder. How could you let him out without notifying any of us so we can protect her!” He shouts, pacing back and forth. “We’ll see about that. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer, don’t you worry.” He grips and hangs up the phone. “Incompetent piece of…”

“Honey, please calm down.” Aunt Kate tries to soothe him by rubbing his back. He utters something back about needing air and walks off.

“Sweetheart, you should get your hand seen too. It’s really swollen.” My mother says worriedly, lifting my hand to look at my bruised knuckles.

I sigh, “I’m fine, mum. I’ll ice it when I get home.” I assure her, and she nods and goes to sit by Aunt Kate. I walk over and lean against the wall near Levi.

“You saved her back there,” I tell him. Levi looks at me and shakes his head.

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