Page 86 of Beautiful Fiend

I huff into the frigid night, condensation forming around me. I need to respect that she has a fight tomorrow and can’t ruin her chances of getting out of here. Fuck, it’s hard to be decent.

I don’t know how long I wait in the cold outside her window for her to change her mind and send me a text.

It never happens.

I glance down at the box in my hand. The present I brought for her, a new pair of MMA gloves. Hers are old and falling apart. She’ll need these for her fight tomorrow.

Eventually, I make my way back to my car. Just as I do, another car drives past. I would recognize her small form anywhere. Billie is passed out in the passenger seat with a guy I’ve never seen. My gaze crosses with his, and his predatory smile tells me he’s up to no good.

Even if he wasn’t. Even if he was prince fucking charming. There is absolutely no way in hell I’m letting another fucker near my girl in this lifetime.

I’m in my car in a split second, speeding after him.

I almost lose him, but eventually, I follow where I’m sure his car has turned and recognize it in the parking lot. It’s a small motel in Silver Falls. They’re not in the car anymore, and I bet my life he’s dragged her into one of these rooms.

Except which one?

I jump out of the car and run to the motel.

It’s late at night, and all the curtains are drawn. There’s no way for me to see where he’s taken her. I will kick down every single door until I find my girl and make sure she’s safe in my arms. I don’t give a shit.

I sprint up the stairs, walking along the balcony that leads to all the doors. There are only a few windows that have light seeping through the curtains.

I knock on the first one without hesitation. “Open the fucking door,” I shout. The door is shaking under the strength of my fist.

It opens to show a middle-aged man. He’s naked from the waist up, his fly down, and his belt hanging. It’s not him, though I notice a hooker bent over the bed.

I leave his room and look at the name of the place.Silver Moon Motel.

It’s that filthy Silver Fall motel all the cheap hookers from around here bring their jobs to.

Fucking. Great.

I always feel sick being around those girls. Not because I judge them but because I do the exact same thing. Sex for money. I’m a fucking boy toy, but I do it with wealthier people than they do.

My stomach churns, making it hard to focus. Billie is in here somewhere with some fucker who thinks he can hurt her and not pay the price.

Karma is about to knock on his door and show him how deeply wrong he is.

I slam my palm on the next door that still has a light on and, before they can even answer, I knock on the third one. In the second one, a woman opens, wearing underwear only. Not Billie.

I knock on the third one again and am still waiting for someone to answer. I bang against it, hitting it with my shoulder.

Still, he doesn’t open and I just know it’s him.

Taking a step back, I kick the door just under the handle. I repeat the process again and again, feeling a beast awakening in me.

On the fourth kick, the door budges. I barge into it with my shoulder a few more times and finally stumble through.

That sleazy guy from earlier has stepped away from the bed, halfway through putting his jeans back on.

“What the fuck?” he screams at me. He buttons his jeans and rolls his shoulders back now that he’s half-dressed. “You knocked on the wrong door, fucker.”

From the corner of my eyes, I can see Billie lying unconscious and naked on the bed. My heart is telling me to go to her right now. But the bastard in front of me is clearly some NSC cunt who thought he could touch what’s mine. The second my focus goes to her, he’s going to attack me.

The beast in me is begging me to tear him to pieces, which is what I must do before taking care of my girl. Can’t save her if he kills me before I’m able to get to her.

“Right, let’s get this done,” I smile. “You die, then I need to get her to safety.”

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