Page 32 of Beautiful Revenge

PartII

The Present

Age Twenty-Eight

“I can’t keep doing this!”my client’s husband snaps, and I’m instantly on edge.

It’s been twelve years since I killed my father, and anger is still a trigger for me. At least, anger from a man the size of this prick. I know I’m not in danger of being harmed, but the incessant need to flinch away is still there.

Dylan is outside the office door at his desk, and I know he heard the man hollering. He’s probably already called Devon to have him on standby for when the couple leaves so they can settle me back down.

Taking a deep breath, I steel my spine. “Mr. Murphy, I’m going to need you to keep your voice down. There is no need for you to become aggressive,” I say, staring him down with a coolness that seeps into my very soul.

I haven’t killed anyone since my third year of university, but I’m itching to wrap my hands around this bastard’s neck right now.

“No reason to be angry? We’re paying you to fix my wife, and it’s not working! This is bullshit!” he snaps again, making his wife flinch, and I glare at him.

“I’m sure I just heard you wrong, Mr. Murphy. You couldn’t have possibly said you were paying me tofixyour wife,” I say, using the calmest of voices.

School was a great place to train my voice and body language, so this man doesn’t even know how close to death he’s currently standing.

“You’re damn right I am!” he bellows, and I inhale a sharp breath.

The second he sees that slight show of fear, his pupils blow wide, and his eyes turn ravenous. He thinks I’m scared of him, and he likes it.

There’s a smirk on his face as he straightens himself, making him seem taller before he walks over to me.

“The problem most definitely isn’t with me,” he sneers as I stand up to face him head on. No way will I allow him to use intimidation on me. “Which means she is the one that needs fixing.” His eyes trail down my body in a lustful manner that makes me sick before coming back to my face. “Maybe I wouldn’t have to step out on her if she’d stop being a lazy whore.”

His wife bursts into tears behind him, and I know I’m close to losing it. She doesn’t deserve this shit from him or anyone else.

Bracing my shoulders, I look him dead in the eye. “The only person in this room that can truly be classified as the derogatory term you just used against your wife, Mr. Murphy, is you.”

He rears back as if I’ve slapped him before lunging for me, not making it close before arms wrap around him, pulling him back from me.

I take a deep breath as I watch Devon fight him to the ground, and Dylan moves to pull me into his side while he speaks into the phone.

“Yes, you heard that right. Yes. Thank you,” he says before hitting the end button and tossing the cordless phone from the office on the couch.

“How long?” Devon asks, a dark look crossing his face as he fights my client’s husband.

“Three minutes. Don’t even,” Dylan warns him, and I snap out of it.

Giving him a quick look to let him know I’m thankful they came in, I move to Mrs. Murphy, who has crumbled to the floor. Her eyes are trained on her husband like she’s afraid he will attack her the second he breaks free from Devon, but he won’t be getting away from him until the police haul him off in handcuffs. That much I know for sure.

“Sally, it’s okay. It’s okay,” I reassure her in a quiet voice, not making a move to get closer.

She doesn’t respond. I share a look with my guys, and they give me a small nod, telling me to just sit here with her.

I do. I sit with her while the police come in and get the story from Dylan and Devon. I sit with her as I tell them my version of events, so they’re aware of exactly what happened in this office.

I don’t move until the police take her with them, promising everything will be fine. And she never stops crying.

“She’s in trouble,” I state the second the doors to the office are closed.

“She is,” Dylan says, watching me with a worried expression. “What’s going on in that head, baby girl?” he questions as he pulls me into his arms for a tight hug.

Devon snorts. “I’d wager a guess murder is on her mind.”

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