by K. A Knight
That bastard is going to pay.
I stop at the garage on the way. Sliding from the Jeep, I head to a waiting dark car. I open the trunk and take in the guns, knives, and other weapons before slamming it closed. Just as I do, Samuel slips out and stares at me. “You got a job? I didn’t hear anything,” he calls.
I ignore him, getting into the car and pulling away as he throws his hands in the air. “Hi to you too,” he yells, as I roll out and speed onto the road.
Squeezing the wheel, I count in my head, trying to rein in some control, but it’s like I’m seeing red. Nothing is easy when it comes to Scarlett. She makes everything too real, too emotional, and right now it’s filling me up like a storm, waiting to be let out and for the first time ever…I don’t know what will happen when I do.
Reggie’s house is on the other side of the city and I get there in the late afternoon. I spot his silver BMW in the drive and no others, so that means his mother and stepfather aren’t in. They must still be at work at the school. Getting out of the car, I head straight to the front door. I don’t bother knocking, I just twist the handle and step inside. I hear a TV blaring from farther in the house.
I find him watching TV on a brown leather sofa in an open-planned living room, with his hand tucked into his open jeans and his shirt off, lying on the table, and a beer waiting there.
“Reggie,” I call.
He turns before jumping to his feet, stumbling back at the sight of me. “What the fuck? Get the fuck out of my house!” he screams.
“We need to talk,” I say as calmly as I can. Heading around the sofa, I click off the TV as he stumbles back again, his eyes wide.
“Who the fuck are you? Get out!” he yells again.
“Sit down before I make you, you won’t like it if I have to,” I warn, but he grabs his phone from his pocket and I snap.
I snatch the phone, putting it in my pocket before back handing him. He slams into the sofa, rolling to the floor, and I reach down and haul him up by his shoulders. I sock him once in the face, unable to help myself, before dropping him to the sofa again. He whines, holding his lips, his eyes wide and filled with fear. He knows a predator when he sees one. Good, then he’s not as stupid as he looks.
He stays seated, watching me as I unzip my jacket and perch on the table in front of him with his phone in my hand. “What’s your password?” I demand.
He shakes his head and I arch my eyebrow at him. “One last chance—what’s your password?”
He stays silent, so I strip off my jacket and fold it before placing it on the sofa opposite us then turn to him. “I warned you,” I tell him. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
He gasps, trying to get away, and I kick his legs out from under him before beating him. I don’t even feel it as I do, not the pain of my knuckles splitting on his teeth and catching on my arm. All I see is Scarlett’s scared, crying face as I pummel my fists into him. I have to stop myself before I kill him. Picking him up, I throw him on the sofa and step back, breathing heavily as I look at the piece of shit who hurt my girl.
“Now you know what the consequences are of not doing as I ask, so I’m going to try again, what’s your password?”
He sobs, curling around his chest with blood running down his face.
“Don’t tell me, fucking don’t, I would love to kill you. In fact, it’s all I can think about.”
“1,5,6,9,” he cries, his voice breaking.
I punch in the code, scrolling through his pictures. I find the ones of Scarlett instantly, and I have to stop myself from killing him on the spot. I delete them and look for any others, there are other girls, lots of them, and it’s obvious in some they don’t know they are being taken. It makes me feel sick as I delete each and every one before looking at him. “Do you have hard copies or backups?” I demand.
“Laptop,” he wheezes.
“Where? Show me!” I yell.
He stumbles to his feet, wrapping his arms around his broken ribs as he falls down. I don’t help him, I just watch as he gets back to his feet and leads me down the corridor to what looks like an apartment over the garage. He points at a laptop on the desk and I head there, booting it up.
“Password,” I bark, getting sick of him.
“Scarlett,” he whispers and I freeze, my head turning to him slowly. I don’t know what he sees in my eyes, but he cringes and backs away from me, hitting the wall. Grinding my teeth, I type in the password as it loads the home screen, telling myself again and again why I can’t kill him.
I go through every folder, deleting images and videos. Some of them disgust me so much I consider just killing this piece of shit. He recorded girls without them even knowing, and if I find one of Scarlett, I know I won’t be able to control myself, so I try not to watch, I just delete them again and again and then wipe the computer. Once I’ve done that, I toss it out of the window, hearing it smash.
“Anywhere else?” I demand, looking over at him. He nods, pointing at the top drawer.
I pull it out to see a hard drive there, so I grab it and stick it in my pocket before moving over to him. “If there are any others, I suggest you tell me now,” I warn.
“That’s it, I swear,” he whispers.
“I’m keeping your phone,” I tell him, not wanting him to be able to contact Scarlett again. Stepping closer, I pin him to the wall. “You don’t come near her, you don’t talk to her, and you sure as fuck don’t think about her again. If I find out you have, I’ll kill you. Do you understand me?” I threaten, my voice deadly, and he nods.
“Words,” I order.
“I understand,” he whispers.
“You ever take another picture or video without consent again, I will kill you,” I add.
“I won’t, please, please, I won’t,” he begs, tears streaming down his face as he snivels.
“I ever hear or see your face again, and I’ll be the last person you ever see. You’re lucky she begged me not to hurt you.” I grab his head and smash it back into the wall and he passes out instantly, sliding down the wall as I let him go, and I spit down at him. “I only promised I wouldn’t kill you.”
I check the house over for anything else before I leave. Striding to my car, I dial her straight away.
“It’s gone, they are all deleted, I’m on my way home,” I say as soon as she answers.
“Are you okay?” she asks, worried.
“I’m fine, baby girl, don’t worry about me. Are you okay?” I inquire.
She goes quiet and then blows out a breath. “I am now, thank you, Max,” she whispers.
“Anything for you, Scarlett. I’ll see you soon.” Then I hang up.
Dialling a number I wish I didn’t have to, I wait as it rings. “Keanu,” he answers.
“It’s Hunt,” I greet, staring at the road as I drive.
“I know, it’s called caller ID,” he drawls.
Every one of us is hired for our skills. Keanu happens to be into computers and all that shit. “I need information.”
“It will cost you,” he says with a laugh.
“I know. I’ll pay the price,” I snap.
“Fine, fine, go ahead. What’s up?” he asks, and I hear the sound of a chair creaking under him.
“If I delete, wipe, and restore a computer, as well as take all the backups, there is no way for that person to access that information again, right?” I demand, needing to know.
“Well, well, well, look who wants my expertise now. I remember last time we met you told me there was nothing you couldn’t do with your stupid gun and knife obsession.” He laughs and I grit my teeth. “Theoretically, yes, unless they backed them up online.”
“Fuck, I didn’t even think of that.” I smash my hands into the wheel. “I need you to wipe them all. I can give you his name and address, get rid of everything.”
“Why would I do that?” he questions.
“He was recording girls as he fucked them, without them knowing, and then blackmailing them.” I hear
him suck in a breath. “I’ll owe you. Please,” I grind out, not too much of an ass to ask for help when I need it.
“Well, shit, okay, give me a second.” I hear him typing away. “Name.”
I tell him everything, and he goes silent as he works, but I don’t fill it, not wanting to distract him until he whistles. “Damn, your boy was into some fucked up shit. Yeah, he uploaded some. Fuck, man, this is nasty. I’m going to delete them all, for good, and maybe leave him a little present.” He sniggers.
“Figured you liked porn, only way you can get a girl,” I joke, and he laughs sarcastically.
“Sure, says the guy who has a giant fuck off sign attached to his head. When was the last time you fucked anything other than your hand?” he taunts.
“Probably about the same time you jacked off to your computers.”
He laughs then, still typing away, and I lapse into silence as I switch lanes.
“It’s done. I’ll call you when I have a favour to ask.” He hangs up then. Fucker is about as sociable as me. He might pretend to hide behind his computers, but I’ve seen him fight, even done some missions with him, and he brawls like a mean motherfucker. Maybe even as good as me. It’s no mystery why the Clergy hired him, but I do wonder what training he’s had. It wasn’t army, not straight up anyway, but he’s a ghost. Nothing online, just a deceased man from over six years ago. But I’ll leave him to his secrets, he’s no threat to me, lord knows I have my own.
Now, it’s time to get home to my girl.
Chapter Eighteen
Scarlett
Staring at my phone, a relieved laugh flows from me, and Nadia glances up from her cell with an arched eyebrow. “He did it,” I whisper. “He got rid of the photos and dealt with him.”
Nadia whoops, dropping her phone and grinning at me. “Damn, you gotta applaud his efficiency.” She nods. “See? Everything is okay.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I nod, but I still have a bad feeling. I ignore it and stroke Milo, who hasn’t left me alone since Max left. Nadia and I have just been hanging out in his living room. The TV is on in the background, but she has been keeping me entertained, obviously trying to keep my mind off everything. “Thank you, for everything,” I add and she waves it away.
“Sure thing, you’re my best friend, what are we for? Though I wish I would have been able to give him a punch or two,” she grumbles, but then smirks. “I bet Max did. Did you see how mad he was?”
I frown. “What? I didn’t see him mad.”
She laughs then. “Damn, Scar, you must be blind. Dude was fucking furious. You know what that means, right?” She wiggles her eyebrows. “He’s got it bad.”
“Shush.” I grin, looking down at Milo before glancing up at her. “I have it bad though, I’m crazy for him, not that he notices. One minute, he’s hot as hell with me, demanding and in charge, and the next he’s polite and distant. I don’t know what to do.”
“Girl, you didn’t see him, but I wouldn’t worry about it. He totally wants you, maybe you should make the first move though,” she advises, like it’s that simple, and maybe it is. Something is holding him back, he said it wasn’t the age difference…so maybe it’s me? Maybe he’s not sure what to do? Maybe he’s as confused about us as I am. So let’s unconfuse it. I want him, he wants me. It’s simple. Nadia is right, I need to make the first move.
“Shit,” she groans and gets up. “I’m sorry, Scar, I need to get home. Gammie needs her pills and I need to go get them. Are you going to be okay here alone?” she asks, looking worried. I get up and hug her.
“Of course, go, look after your family. How will you get there?” I ask.
“Bus, duh, make sure to hug your man for me, okay? See you Monday, babe.” I let her out and then lock the door again. The room is silent now with just Milo and me. I look over at him.
“Just you and me, cutie, what do you want to do?” I inquire and he barks, making me laugh.
I curl up on the sofa with him, covering us both with a blanket, and focus on the TV. Before I know it, I fall asleep curled up with Milo in Max’s house.
“Baby girl,” a whisper calls, and I bury my face in the blanket under me, falling back asleep in the warmth. A laugh stirs my hair before a kiss drops on my head. “Wake up, you need to eat,” the voice says louder.
Groaning, I flop onto my back, blinking open my eyes at the unfamiliar ceiling. Then I remember I’m at Max’s. Turning my head, I meet his dark gaze and smiling mouth as he crouches beside me and Milo, who’s still curled up next to me on the sofa. “Hey,” I whisper, my voice thick with sleep.
“Hey,” he replies. “Come on, I made some food,” he says softly, moving the hair away from my face.
“Mmm, food, good,” I groan, and he laughs.
“And tea, come on.” He stands up, reaching down to offer me his hand.
That gets me moving. I let him pull me to my feet, holding his hand as I turn and smirk down at a still sleeping Milo. Releasing Max, I cover up the tired dog before taking his hand again and letting him lead me to the kitchen. I slump in a chair, pulling my knees to my chest, and rest my chin on them as he moves around the kitchen, placing a mug in front of me before he dishes up some pasta for both of us.
Wow, I must have been tired, I didn’t even hear him come in, never mind him cooking.
“I didn’t hear you come home.” I yawn and he smiles over his shoulder at me.
“You were tired, today was hard, so I thought I’d let you sleep, though Milo didn’t even hear me, or he acted like he didn’t. You’re spoiling the damn pup,” he jokes.
“He was protecting me of course. When I nap, he has to nap, it’s the rules.” I grin and he smirks at me as he eats.
He doesn’t speak, just eats, and I sense him holding back from me, and when I help clean up, he makes sure not to touch me or say anything inappropriate, which is annoying because we had been flirting hard recently, and I enjoyed the games we played. I decide to confront him, not wanting this to fester. I was never the type to let it grow in my mind, I would rather just face it head-on. So, while he’s wiping the worktop, I hop up on it and swing my legs, watching him. He avoids my gaze and I sigh.
“I’m not fragile, Max, you don’t have to step on eggshells around me just because of what happened. It’s done, it’s the past, yes, it hurt and I’m embarrassed, but I’m still me. Please don’t start acting different, I don’t think I could take it.”
He freezes, his hands stopping their motions, but he doesn’t lift his head for a moment until suddenly, he explodes into action and presses against my legs, his hands landing on my thighs as his dark eyes cut into me, making me shiver in lust, which is just my normal reaction to this man. “Is that what you really want? For me not to treat you like you’re fragile?” he asks, his fingers digging in. “Because I don’t. I know how strong you are. Do you think I would let anyone close, let anyone in, who wasn’t? That’s not what I think at all, Scarlett, you’re wrong. I’m trying to give you space to deal with what happened and not pressure you, but I don’t think you’re fragile, I think you’re like a diamond.”
I frown and he leans in, swiping his thumb over my bottom lip and catching there. “The harder you press, the more pressure applied, only makes the rock shine more. Creating a brilliant diamond. From that harsh treatment comes something so bright, so beautiful and flawless, that it leaves people in awe.”
My breath catches and my lungs squeeze for air as my heart hammers. I search his eyes, seeing the truth written in the dark there, and it has me melting into his hands like putty. Max, my big, strong protector with a heart of gold, and his words that destroy me. With one simple sentence, I find myself forgetting the world, only we exist.
“Max,” I whisper, and his eyes darken further. I see an inferno burning there, one that has my legs clenching together.
His thumb moves away from my lip, tracing down my chin, then my throat, leaving goosebumps in his wake. His eyes follow the movement as he trai
ls over my heart and down, stopping at my stomach. He pushes my shirt up slightly and rubs his thumb there, seeming entranced by the feel of my skin. Licking my lips, I try to control my erratic breathing just from that simple touch, from the hunger in his gaze, and the knowledge that he’s as obsessed as I am. I can hear it, see it, and know I want to feel it.
“It’s getting late,” he mutters roughly, as if talking to himself, but carries on stroking my stomach, even as his eyes drag back to mine, catching on my parted lips for a moment. “I should get you home.” But he doesn’t move and neither do I.
“Should you? Or should you just shut up and kiss me?” I challenge, sick of this game of cat and mouse. I want to taste him. I want his passion to explode across my skin. I want that control he prizes so much to break, and show me the man I saw on that video. I want him all. I’m greedy, obsessed and lustful, but I don’t care. I want Max Hunt and I want him now, and a text or a call won’t be enough.
He groans, his thumb stilling as he turns hard against me, barely breathing, and the deeper need that crosses his face has me reaching for him. “Once we cross this, there is no going back,” he rasps, but he’s already leaning into me, just two people lost in a storm they have no control over. Two lost souls finding each other in the dark, not searching for the light. I don’t want to be saved if it means being without Max Hunt, I want to be damned with him.
“There was never any going back,” I reply softly. “We were bound to collide, Max, two forces pulled together without either of us knowing. Limerence, a beautiful wreck.”
He groans. “I’m dangerous, always thought I was the dangerous one, but it’s you. My darkest obsession, my dirty secret, mine,” he snaps. There are no more words, and honestly, what would I say? I send up a prayer, a sinner’s prayer, hoping this thing between us will be enough to last. That we won’t explode and turn to dust, that we will flame and only grow stronger.