Page 81 of The Air You Breathe

“Oh my God,” she looked at me in confusion.Bingo. “Are they ok?”

“I don’t know, I have to get to them. I’m sorry, Candy,” I said, rushing out of there. I planted the seed and I wanted to see where it grew and how much she knew.

I jumped into my car as I called Darcy again. When she didn’t answer, I tried Dev, but no answer from him either. I broke every law to get to Darcy’s house and it still took me thirty minutes to get there. I didn’t even bother turning off my car, I opened the door and ran in, seeing the house a mess.

I wanted to yell out for them, but I was worried someone was still in the house. I walked around the mess trying to hear something when I heard crying coming from the bedroom. I ran to her bedroom to see Dev cupping Darcy’s face. Geraldo was on the floor, but I couldn’t tell if he was still alive.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Darcy,” I said, rushing up to her and throwing my arms around both of them. “Are you guys, ok?” I asked.

“I got here just in time.” Dev’s voice was even raspier than normal. The left side of his face was swollen but I didn’t see anything else wrong with him. I looked over my shoulder at Geraldo. “He was choking me when Darcy saved the day.”

Dev pointed at a cast iron skillet that was on the bed.

I couldn’t help but smile looking down at Darcy. “You hit him with a fucking skillet, baby?”

“He was choking Dev and I had no doubt he would have killed him.” She looked fierce as she glared with so much seething contempt at Geraldo.

“You’re so fucking amazing.” I couldn’t help it, but I brought her in for a kiss, relieved they were ok. “Come on Rapunzel, go pack a bag, we need to get the fuck out of here. You're going to stay with me, okay.”

She looked confused before she got my reference, smirking as she nodded and hugged me tightly. I felt her shaking a little bit from the adrenaline.

“It's okay, baby, we’ve got you. Go pack a bag.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here earlier.”

She shrugged before she went to the bathroom giving Dev and I a minute.

“Is he dead?” I asked, walking around Geraldo to see another guy in the closet. I had an urge to pick up the skillet and continue to beat the shit out of him.

“No, but I think we should do it.” He glared at Geraldo and then spit on him.

“I think we should take him to the pig farm and let him get eaten alive while he is conscious,” I said, kicking him to see if he would wake up.

“Call Saul?” Dev asked rolling his shoulder, moving his neck from side to side. It was red and swollen.

“You okay?” I asked, worried.

“I’m fine,” he said, looking at the bathroom door where Darcy was packing. “I didn’t think. I ran in here as he was trying to drag her down the attic stairs, she was kicking and screaming and I snapped. He had me down in a minute before he started choking me.”

“I can’t believe she hit him with a skillet.” I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I mean, you have to admit it’s a smart choice of weapon.”

I nodded as I took my cell phone out, debating what I wanted to do. Anger coursed through me at this piece of shit on the floor. I spit on him for good measure before I called Saul.

“Yeah, boss,” he answered immediately.

“I need a maid for Darcy’s home,” I said, not knowing who was listening. “She’s been busy at work, and I want to lighten her load. Two people would probably be able to get the work done.”

“Do we need them to be extremely experienced?” he asked as I heard him move around.

“Yes, the best of the best,” I said, seeing Darcy walk out of the bathroom looking at Geraldo with disdain. “I’ll leave the door open.”

“You got it,”

“Come on baby, let’s get you out of here,” Dev said, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

“I just need a few things from my dresser,” she said, walking over Geraldo to get to her drawers. Dev and I watched Geraldo like a hawk to make sure he didn’t wake up. Darcy looked down, and spit on him. A smile sneaked its way onto her face as she walked over his body, grabbed the skillet and “accidentally” let it fall on his head before she left the room.

We looked at each other and I swear we both just fell a little more for her. A scream made us run out of the room to her. Armando was on the floor in front of her bleeding from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds.

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