Page 17

Colt

Nova has given me a lot to think about.

She wants to kill my mother, and I kill my father.

It’s not a bad idea, but I don’t know if she’s up for something so brutal. I know she killed her own mother, but she lit a match, snuffing out her life. Torture is an entirely different scenario. It’s up close and personal. I’m worried it’ll be too much and fuck her up later on down the road.

Sitting at my desk, my phone rings.

“Yeah.” I answer, seeing it’s Max on the screen.

“Daniel Hollinger is our guy.”

“How do you know?” I ask. I got a lead on him a few days ago. Putting Max on his trail, I told him to follow his every move and let me know when he finds something.

“We followed him to the shipyard. He and a few other guys were moving crates. Our crates.” He grits out.

My blood pressure rises as I recognize the implications of what he’s telling me. Hollinger is one of Frederick Morrison’s men. Since Morrison is dead, a new head dick was appointed to take his place.

His son, Junior.

I’ve always hated that little bastard. He’s arrogant and just as fucking useless as his father. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was waiting on him to die so he could take over. Obviously, my killing his daddy didn’t do anything to deter him from moving my product.

“Take him to the warehouse. I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Got it.” Max agrees and I end the call.

I should’ve suspected something like this on the horizon after cutting ties with Morrison. While I’m raging on the inside, I have to keep a cool head.

The thought crosses my mind to use this as a trial run for Nova. Snatching my keys from the desk, I head outside, jumping in my truck. I speed towards the cabin, hoping she’s still there.

She better be.

Pulling in the driveway, I shut off the truck, and head inside. The sound of the air fryer catches my attention, so I stride towards the kitchen. It beeps as I enter the room quietly, watching her remove fried pickles from the basket. I creep up behind her, bounding my arms around her waist. She screams bloody murder, the tongs flying through the air. She spins in my arms, ready to kick some ass. I chuckle at the death glare she gives me before kissing her soundly.

She pushes at my chest. “I could’ve stabbed you in the eye with the tongs!”

“You mean the ones that went flying through the air?”

“Asshole.”

“I’m sorry, baby. It’s good to know you have quick reflexes though.” I grin and she punches me in the arm.

“What the hell are you doing home?”

My heart thunders at her use of the word home , but I don’t say anything, worried it’ll spook her into leaving. “We have the guy that killed my men. He worked for the bastard I killed at the funeral. His son runs things now and one of my guys saw him loading our crates.”

Her eyes widen. “What are you going to do?”

“You mean, what are we going to do?” I grin.

Her brows furrow. “You want me to come?”

“Where I go, you go, remember?”

She gives me that beautiful smile, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thank you.”

I hug her tightly, burying my nose in her hair. “It’s going to be gruesome, little demon. Think you can handle it?”

She pulls away, nodding her head. “I can handle it. Just let me change before we go.”

She rushes to the bedroom, and I follow closely behind. She changes into some dark jeans and a t-shirt, throwing her hair up in a messy bun. The girl could wear a potato sack and she’d still be fucking gorgeous. She slips her phone into her back pocket, meeting me at the doorway where I’ve been watching her.

“I’m ready!” She sing songs and I chuckle.

Gripping her hand, we head towards the door before she pulls me to a stop. “Oh! Let me grab my pickles.”

Shaking my head, I wait for her to grab her snack and grin as she skips towards me with the energy of a child.

Damn.

Is this what happiness feels like?

If so, I’ll watch the world burn to keep a smile on her face and this peace inside me.

She grips my hand, and we lock up the house, heading to the truck, hitting the road.

The drive is quiet as she munches on her pickles, and I formulate a plan in my head. I want her to see what it is I do. I need to know if she’ll truly embrace who I am or shy away from it.

We pull up to the warehouse and I shut the truck off. Before I can utter a word, she flips up the console, climbing onto my lap.

She kisses me once, cupping my face in her palms. “I can handle this. Don’t worry about me. Focus on what you have to do, Devil.”

Gripping her by the back of her neck, I pull her closer, kissing her deeply. The lingering saltiness and tangy flavor of the pickles hit my tongue and suddenly, I’m starving.

For her.

I pull away before we get sidetracked. “Let’s go, little demon.” I open the door, and she squeals as I hop out of the truck with her in my arms.

She slides down my body and we head towards the warehouse hand in hand. I jerk open the heavy metal door and usher her inside. Walking further into the abandoned building, Daniel is surrounded by my most loyal men, not moving a muscle as they circle him like prey.

Max turns our way, and his eyes widen when he sees Nova. I gauge his reaction, determining if he has an issue with her being here. Tough shit if he does, but I really don’t want to kill him. He’s been a good second in command.

He nods subtly, accepting her presence.

Once we’re a few feet away, I stop Nova, turning to face her. “Stay here. No matter what, don’t interfere.”

She glares. “What are you up to, Everly?”

I shrug. “I’m going to have some fun.” Before she can question me further, I kiss her quickly, leaving her behind as I focus on my target.

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I close in on the piece of shit I’m about to destroy. “Daniel.”

“Look Devil, I just do what I’m told-” He starts but I cut him off.

“I know. It’s hard being the low man on the totem pole. The boss tells you to steal shit and kill people and you have to do it, right?”

He nods furiously. “Exactly!”

“That’s why I have a proposal.”

“Sure, man. Anything.” He’s so eager which makes this even better.

“I haven’t had a good fight in a while. We’ll have a go and if you put me on my ass, you’re free to leave.”

“Boss.” Max chimes in and I silence him with a glare.

Stepping closer to him, I lower my voice. “Keep your fucking eyes on Nova. Do not let her out of your sight.”

Turning back to Daniel, his mouth hangs open. I quirk an eyebrow and he finds his voice. “I’ve heard the stories, man. I don’t stand a chance against you.”

“Sure, you do. I’ll even let you have the first punch.” I offer.

His eyes dart around the room nervously and I glance back at Nova. She’s taken a seat in an old, rusted chair, one leg crossed over the other, a shit eating grin on her face.

She’s confident I’ll win, and something I’ve never felt before hits me.

I want to make her proud.

Turning my attention back to Daniel, I taunt him. “Make it count.”

In a split second, he lunges forward, his fist connecting with my jaw. My head snaps to the side, and I spit a little blood on the floor at my feet. His eyes widen as I face him again. “My turn.”

Taking a menacing step forward, I punch him in the face, and he stumbles backwards. With every step he retreats, I gain two. His back hits the wall and I lay into him, pounding his face over and over until his arms shoot out, pushing me back a step.

His leg kicks out, but I’m faster.

His weak punch connects, but I’m stronger.

Blood soaks his face and shirt, but he doesn’t give up. His hands come up in a defensive posture, but it’s no use. My knuckles begin to split open and bleed. His bones crunch from the force of my blows.

My bloody fist meets his throat, and he crumples to the ground, choking. He looks pathetic as he lays there coughing and gagging, both eyes already swelling shut.

“You lose.” I smirk, turning my back on the asshole.

My gaze collides with a smiling Nova. Excitement plays across her face until her eyes widen and she screams. “Colt!”

Spinning around, the motherfucker slashes my arm with a dull fucking pocketknife. My body twists to the side to avoid another swing, the burn is a little more than uncomfortable. I see Nova knee Max in the balls, and he falls to the ground.

Before I can subdue Daniel, she whirls by me like a fucking tornado, swinging a wood plank at his head. He bellows in agony as he collapses to the ground, but she doesn’t stop there. She lifts the plank vertically, ramming the end into his ribs until he curls into a ball. She brings her foot down on his nuts, the plank down on his knee.

She’s a picture of savage perfection.

“You piece of shit! I’ll fucking kill you!” She shouts and while I’m enjoying seeing her lost in a fit of rage, this shit needs to end.

She spins to face me, the flames of hell in her eyes. She takes a few steps, reaching around my back, pulling the gun from my waistband. She turns to Daniel again, pulling back the slide, a bullet loading in the chamber. With fury like I’ve never seen, she aims the gun at his head. “A woman just kicked your ass with a piece of wood. Lights out, motherfucker.” She pulls the trigger, the bullet hitting him in the center of his forehead.

My legs are moving before my brain can catch up. Taking the gun from her trembling hand, I slide it back into my waistband. Wrapping my arms around her, she does the same, blood covering both of us.

She pulls away, her eyes meeting mine. “I’m sorry. I kind of flipped out.”

Gripping her chin, I kiss her hard. “My beautiful demon queen.” I whisper against her lips.

She smiles and I know she can handle anything.

Gripping her hand, I pull her along as I approach Max. “You couldn’t keep her back?”

“She kneed me in the fucking balls.” He groans, cupping himself.

Nova giggles beside me and I try to stifle my smile, but as my next question comes out, I’m instantly pissed the fuck off. “You didn’t search him?”

“He was searched. I don’t know how we missed the knife. I’m sorry, boss. It won’t happen again.”

“Clean this shit up.” I bark, leading Nova out of the warehouse.

Once we’re settled in the truck, she turns towards me. “Let me see.”

“It’s not bad, baby. I’ll clean it up when we get home.”

The engine roars to life, but as I reach for the shifter, she grabs my hand. “Let me fucking see.”

Rolling my eyes, I pull up my sleeve, the nasty looking gash from the dull blade on full display. Blood trickles down my bicep as she studies it. “I think you need stitches, but I can fix you up.”

I’m taken aback. “Why do you know how to stitch someone up?”

“I’ve had a few scrapes in my life.”