The Devil's Eyes

by Jennifer Loren

  “You fucking son of a bitch!” I yell fighting my restraints.

  “You are a fighter. I can see why Nick has taken such a shine to you. Now, Kayla, why are you here alone? You must think I am afraid of Nick. Why else would you feel so confident leaving yourself vulnerable this way? I will have you know honey despite the power you think Nicholas has, I promise you I have even more. I wish we could work together Kayla, but since you made the wrong decision I am going to have to take you out of the business. Unless you think you can convince me otherwise?” He laughs checking out our modest home.

  “It must be hard to live up to Nick- what with all his manly assets compared to your glaring dysfunctions.” I said proudly.

  Harvey turns several shades of pissed off, “Leave us.” I am released and Harvey approaches me quickly, knocking me backwards into a wall. He begins taking off his coat and shirt while I struggle to reach my bat. Harvey grabs my leg and laughs as he pulls me closer to him. “Let’s see what you think about my assets once I am finished with you.” Harvey pins me down and forces his smoked chapped lips towards mine.

  “Hi, Harvey! What brings you to this neighborhood?” Nick said before nailing Harvey’s shocked face in the jaw with his foot. I slide quickly out of Nick’s way as he takes out a wire and wraps it around Harvey’s neck. Nick’s smile is bigger than I have ever seen as he continues pulling the wire against Harvey’s throat tighter, “I was starting to wonder if you were going to show. You have always been disappointingly slow, Harvey.”

  “Nick? What a surprise. I hope you are not still holding a grudge.” Harvey grunts out of his burning throat.

  “No. I am over you shooting me and trying to kill me. Although, I am not too happy about what you are trying to do to my girl and trying to steal her away from me, what is that about?”

  “Oh, is she your girl? I didn’t realize.” Harvey chokes.

  “Who told you about her?” Nick asks directly into Harvey’s ear as he tightens the wire a little more.

  Harvey harshly laughs, “Nick, you should know better. But I will tell you this: it is somebody you know well.” Harvey tightens his lips as his breathing becomes labored.

  “Ahhh, Duke.” Nick guesses as he watches Harvey closely to confirm his suspensions. Laughing, Nick looks up at me, “I told you that man is sick and twisted.”

  “And I thought you told him that I wasn’t worth his time?” I said back to his smirk.

  “Did I?” Nick cocks head before smiling. “Well, maybe I actually told him to stay the hell away from you.”

  “Nick! Why would you lie about that? That is so stupid!” I yell.

  “Kayla, please, if I had told you anything else you would have went after him just to spite me.”

  “I most certainly would not have.” I said, crossing my arms.

  “This coming from the girl who was determined to piss me off to win my favor.” Nick huffed.

  “I wasn’t trying to piss you off. It just happens to be easy to do, you fucking Hothead.” As I yell at Nick, I notice Harvey pulling something from his leg. “Nick!”

  Nick takes hold of the wire with one hand, grabs his knife with the other, and quickly stabs Harvey in the leg. If he could breathe, he would have screamed out. Harvey refuses to say another word, but just smiles at Nick, pissing him off more. “One thing you should know, Harvey, before I kill you: it was me that cleaned your safes out.” Nick said stabbing him in the neck and then stepping back to watch him gurgle words through the gushing blood. “Disgusting fucker! Next time don’t distract me, Kayla. You could have gotten us both killed!”

  “Distract you? You’re the one that was too busy enjoying yourself instead of getting right to it.”

  “Trust me, I deserved to take my time, Princess.” Nick kicks Harvey’s lifeless body away from him. “You okay?” He asked reaching out for my hand to help me up.

  “For now. But how are we going to get out of here?”

  “Good question. I didn’t expect him to bring so many men.” Nick said taking a quick look out the window.

  “Well, can’t you call someone?”

  Laughing, he replies “Who? The police?”

  “No, your people.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Those boys out there will get suspicious and come running in here before I can have anyone get here.” Looking around the room, he looks up at me with an emerging smile, “How are you at playing dead?” Nick begins to clean up the blood with a nearby towel, “Come here.” I shake my head but he pulls me to him and spreads the blood over me. I am barely able to stand from my nausea. He covers me in a blanket and puts on Harvey’s trench and hat before throwing me over his shoulder. I grip hold of him and release a shaky breath as the blood drips onto the ground. “Try not to breathe too much,” he whispers. Nick walks out with a similar limp to Harvey’s and surprisingly matches Harvey’s coarse voice, “Let’s go.”

  “How was she, sir?”

  “A fine piece of ass boys. A fine piece of ass, I must say.” Nick says smacking my ass.

  “Where to next? Jayzon’s club?”

  “That’s the plan, that’s the plan.” Nick says sliding me in the car ahead of him and following in quickly. Trying to remain still, I watch Nick take out his phone and rapidly type something. When we arrive at the deserted club, they open the car door for Nick and he gets out throwing me over his shoulder once again. Walking up to the door of the club, he shoots off the lock. “Wait here, boys, I want to leave a love letter for Mr. Jayzon.” Nick walks us into the club and once the door shuts, he quickly pushes me under some tables, “Stay put.” He said before running to meet Luke who throws him a gun. Now that I am free from my barrier I see all his boys running out the doors with guns. Cowering tight into the corner he put me in, I close my eyes and wait for it to be over. “Get rid of them all! I don’t want any trace of any of them! And make sure to go to Exie’s and clean up too!” Trembling and still clenching my eyes shut, I feel Nick’s hand on mine. “Kayla, it’s alright now.” I look up at him shaking uncontrollably. “It's okay. Come on, let’s get you into something less disgusting. Not that it was much better before.” He says handing me some clothes from the club’s gift shop.

  “Shut up.” I whimper and wobble forward on my shaky legs. Nick sighs as he helps me become a little more stable. Giving his men some final orders Nick escorts me into the back of his car and sits quietly next to me, calm and at ease. I crave that. I wish Daniel was here. I wish Exie or someone other than him was here. Wanting that comfort, I ease in next to Nick and wait to be smacked backwards. But with each inch I take, he gives up a little more until I am curled up under his arm. He’s a little stiff but at least he’s not being his usual self. When we pull up to his house, I am already half asleep- drifting in and out of consciousness. Nick nudges me to wake up, “Just leave me here, I’m good sleeping here.” I said closing my eyes and leaning on him for support.

  “Pushing it. She is so pushing it.” He mutters as he carries me to a bedroom where he leaves me for the night.

  At some point, I wake up and step into the adjoining bathroom where I take full advantage of the luxury shower. When I finish cleaning up, I dive back into the plush bed, letting the soft sheets comfort my now clean, bare skin, drifting back to sleep with no worries.

  ~

  “Kayla.” I feel the low whisper in my ear. "Hey Princess, do you always sleep naked in other people's beds?" Nick says with a slight tug of my blankets.

  Yawning and stretching fully, I look up at his humored face with little interest. “What do you want?” I spit out roughly.

  "I want my bed back."

  I quickly sit up and take in the room around me, “This isn’t your bed, is it?” I asked.

  “Well, it is my guest bed but still.” He said smiling his stupid smile.

  “Screw you, Nick, go away and leave me alone.” I said lying back down and curling up within the cloud of pillows.

  “Damn! I have had it with your
attitude towards me.” With my back turned towards him I feel the cover move from my body and instantaneously turn. “Just seeing how naked you are.” He said with an easy smile.

  Glaring up at him, I snatch the cover from his hands and tighten it around myself, “Do you not have other people you can bother?”

  “You know I did save your life. You could be a little more grateful.”

  “If you hadn’t of made such a big deal about Duke staying away from me, then you probably wouldn’t have had to.”

  “Hmm … maybe. But if I hadn’t, Duke would have taken you himself. Then you would have surely been viciously raped and tortured to death.” Nick leans down to look right into my now wide eyes, “Harvey would have just shot you … that is, if you could have kept your mouth shut.”

  “Why were you associating with him in the first place, if he is so disgusting?”

  “Well, it is not because of his charm. I needed some information and that’s all you need to know. For now I suppose you can sleep here however long you want. But you should know your home has been … well, let’s say somewhat destroyed.”

  I sit up straight and look him in the eyes, “What?”

  “Sorry, the boys got a little out of hand with Harvey and the others. So we had to set it on fire. But, the good news is that only the living room and most of the kitchen are missing. The rest is fine.” My eyes widen and I can feel my face heat up. “Calm down. I set Exie and her son up in a nice place rent free for a while. She was forgiving.”

  “She may be but I …” Nick covers my mouth and shakes head.

  “Be quiet please. In the meantime, I want you to stay here until I can make sure no one else is out to kill you. You can have this room. Do what you want with it and whatever you can’t salvage from your old place, I will pay to replace. For now, I guess you can stay in bed for as long as you want. At least you’re dressed a little better than you were before.” He laughs at his stupid joke before pausing, “Wait, what’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. Why?” I asked, confused by his question.

  “Because I have rarely told you to do something without being met with attitude. Are you figuring out a way to defy me or are you sick and I need to get you a doctor or something?”

  “No, I‘m fine. I’m not arguing with you because I feel safe here and it will be safer for Exie and Jerran if I am not living with them. So, I am good with your decision.” I smile at him only making him more suspicious, “Thank you … Nick.”

  “Uh huh. Well, I am going to leave you before this feel-good moment gets any more disturbing.” Nick said shaking his head as he leaves my now beautiful room.

  I fall back into MY bed with a great feeling and exhale: “Yes!”

  ~7~

  Kayla

  “Oh Daniel you should see it, my room is bigger than my last apartment and I have my own bathroom and a maid that has it cleaned up before I can even turn around to make another mess. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.” I said, bouncing happily next to him.

  “I don’t think I have ever heard you this excited. It is too bad I’m not the reason for it. I can’t stand the thought that it is that … loser who is responsible for your beautiful smile.” Daniel said.

  Sitting up on him with a smile, “Why, Mr. Bonner, are you jealous?”

  “I am jealous of anyone who gets to spend time with you.” Daniel smiles as he pushes the strands of hair away from my face.“Do you spend much time with him?”

  “No, not really.” I shrug, not giving the question much thought.

  “So, he doesn’t try to do anything with you?”

  “No, we can barely stand each other.” I said, looking at him from the corners of my eyes.

  “Oh, come on! Isn’t it nice to have a man a little jealous over you? Especially one that is so in love with you and wants nothing more than for you to move in here and let him take care of you?”

  “Daniel, I told you I don’t like being taken care of.”

  “But it’s okay for me to pay that punk to spend time with you? Kayla, I don’t like you being there with him. The man is dangerous, he is into some things I don’t think you know about.”

  “I know everything about Nick.” I said ignoring his concern.

  “Does he tell you things?” He asks with a smile as I shrug. “I love you.” He said taking my hand and leading me into the steaming shower with him. Placing me against the wall, Daniel raises my hands over my head and begins rubbing my body, lathering me all over. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”

  Smiling with a low hum as he soothes my warm body, “Sure. What?”

  “I would like to send you some flowers but I don’t want Nick around when I do it so I thought maybe you could call and let me know when he leaves.”

  “When tomorrow?”

  Daniel kisses me sweetly, “Tomorrow and the next and the next, I want to surprise you so I don’t want to tell you exactly when they are coming."

  “You want me to spy on Nick for several days?” I ask feeling oddly exposed.

  Daniel shrugs, “Days or a couple of weeks at the most. If he has a routine, then once I know what that is, I can send them safely. Unless you already know his routines, then maybe I can bring them to you myself and we can have some dirty sex in his bed!”

  I try to laugh with him but I see something curious in his eyes. “Nick would kill me if he ever found out I was letting someone know his routines. Besides, he doesn’t have any and I don’t want you coming to his house.”

  “I guess you’re right, but wouldn’t that be a rush? Having sex in Nicholas Jayzon’s bed?”

  “Are you an adrenaline junky?”

  “I think you are bringing out the worst in me.” He laughs. “I was wondering though, what is your favorite flower?” His sweet smile warms me as it always does. Once we finish our shower, I say good-bye, which takes a little longer than usual. I leave Daniel daydreaming and smiling, but as soon as I get back to Nick’s, I find him waiting for me impatiently.

  “Where have you been?” Nick asked with a tense posture.

  “I was with a client.”

  “I don’t like not knowing where you are.” Nick said, becoming disturbingly unglued.

  “Luke knew …”

  “Luke is not in charge. I am! I didn’t let you move in here so you can wander around freely without anyone there to protect you.” Nick stands strong in front of me.

  “Nick…”

  “Don’t you start with me! From now on, someone is to be with you at all times. You are to be escorted to everywhere you’re going and you are to stay there until someone can pick you up. Do you understand me?” He asked eyeing me until I nod in acceptance. Nick leaves me standing silently like a punished child.

  The house is huge but the silence makes it feel even bigger. Needing to hear a comforting voice, I call Daniel’s cell, “Hi! Miss me already?”

  “Of course. But I was also needing a little …” I sigh heavily.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Daniel asks sweetly.

  “Nick. He was not happy that I got back so late, so now he wants me escorted everywhere I go.”

  “Well, that’s going to make things interesting. I take it he isn’t around since you are calling me to complain about him?”

  “No, he left.”

  “He left you there alone?” He asked with a hopeful tone.

  “Yes. I feel like Rapunzel isolated in her tower.”

  Daniel laughs, “Where did he go? You don’t want him coming back and catching you talking to me.”

  “Oh, I doubt he comes back any time soon he … well, who knows with Nick.”

  “What were you going to say? He- what?” Daniel’s voice jumps with excitement suddenly.

  “Nothing. I just had an impression that he might not be back soon.” I said wishing I could take it back.

  “He took something with him, didn’t he?”

  “I don’t know. He just seemed like he was going to be go
ne awhile, but I … Daniel, don’t you dare even think about coming over here.” I said.

  Daniel laughs. “Okay, but just in case, I better let you go so he doesn’t catch you doing something naughty again. I love you so much.”Smiling, I hang up my phone and go to bed. Feeling better, I can fall asleep peacefully until I am awakened out of a dead sleep by Nick yelling. Getting up quietly, I go find out what he is so mad about and see Luke surprisingly calm and Dwayne blocking my view of Nick.

  “Who let him get near me?” Nick yells again.

  “I don’t know, Nick. What I would like to know is how he knew you would be there?” Luke said.

  “Fuck! That son of a bitch! I should have killed him when I had the chance!” Nick walks around Dwayne and I can see him holding his severely bleeding arm.

  “Are you okay?” I yell at him without thinking.

  The three of them turn and stare at me. “Kayla, go to bed!” Nick yells back at me.

  Running down the stairs, I reach out to him, “But your arm!” He pulls away from me before I can touch him.

  “It’s nothing. Go to bed.” Nick said forcefully.

  “It doesn’t look like nothing! And you don’t have to be such an ass I am only trying to help you. I can bandage it for you, if you want, or you can be your typical asshole self and let it get infected and …”

  “Oh my God! Fine.” Nick turns towards Luke, “Find out how Connor knew I was there and whoever let him near me …”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Luke said glancing over at me with a cursing expression.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about if that makes you feel any better?” I said.

  Luke walks around me, “Not really.”

  Dwayne follows him out, “Kayla.” He nods in my direction.

  “So, where are your bandages?” I ask as Nick motions for me to follow him.

  “I can do this myself you know.” He sighs.

  “Oh, I am sure. Because you can do everything, right?” I mock him. He shows me a storage closet where I pull out what I need and follow him into his bathroom. “Take your shirt off.” Nick smiles and I roll my eyes. “Shut up.” He slips his shirt off with a low grunt and a knowing look in my direction. His body is only half exposed and I already have bad thoughts. None of them include me killing him, unfortunately.