Page 47

PSYCHO

I’m not especially happy when my girl is holding his severed dick in her hand, but neither is he, judging by the violent screams.

I watch Hadley with curiosity as she walks over to Jimmy’s head. There’s an unsettled feeling in my chest as she stands close to him. I’m not sure why, because he’s restrained and can’t touch her but still, I don’t like it.

“Open wide,” she says, as she cuts the end of it, like you might a hot dog for a little kid.

“Jesus Christ,” Bones says, echoing my very thought. She is not going to make this man actually eat his dick. When Athena did it, he choked on it, but he didn’t have to actually chew it.

“Be a good boy and chew well, I wouldn’t want you to get it stuck in your throat,” she says, as she pops the first piece into his mouth.

Kage steps closer to me and speaks low, while Jimmy chews his fucking junk, and after a lot of gagging, swallows.

Hadley immediately goes to cut the next bite for him, and Kage says, “So…”

Without taking my gaze from her, I ask, “So what?”

He chuckles low.

“I’ve been thinking when the right time is to stab you, but I’m also thinking your girl may have it covered. What the fuck did you do to her? That is not the Hadley I remember.”

Watching Jimmy gag more with his second bite, I watch my girl in fucking awe.

“She’s been through some shit that had nothing to do with me. I think it wasn’t one thing, but many, and fuck, she’s more perfect now than ever.”

Jimmy gags more, and shakes his head back and forth, as he begins to vomit. Grabbing his chin, she covers his mouth, and holds it closed.

“Swallow it all.”

Kage leans in and speaks low, probably trying to make sure she doesn’t hear him.

“I’m just saying, brother, maybe watch your back. This is the type of girl that will fucking stab you while you sleep.”

I can’t help the grin that overtakes my face, as I spare him a quick glance.

“Fuck. I hope so.”

Reaper rubs his hands together excitedly when Jimmy swallows the last piece of his own goddamn dick, and says, “Bella is going to love her.”

Bones says, “Little Psycho, when you’re done there, the doctor is in the other room, waiting to remove your IV.”

She turns to me, knife still in her hand, and wraps her arms around my neck, and Kage is quick to take it from her, so no accidents happen. I’m completely thrown off when she sobs into my chest.

“Thank you,” she cries.

I didn’t set out for her to enact revenge. The plan was to come get my girl, and kill the fucker that took her from me, but now I see it clearly. She needed this. This was Hadley taking back her power, and fuck, I know more than anybody the power she holds. There was something about her, even from the moment I found her at my warehouse, that captivated me. Normally, I would’ve killed her, sure there would’ve been torture, but not fucking. I don’t fuck my victims. She was so goddamn beautiful, I couldn’t help it. I still can’t.

Walking her into the other room, Kage follows with the IV pole, and I sit her on the bed, as Dr. Palmer glances at me with a disapproving look. He knows what we do, but he won’t say a damn word. He wouldn’t dare, and he’s paid well for looking the other way. Chances are quite good that he heard Jimmy’s screams. Quickly, he pulls the IV from her arm, and places a bandage on it.

“Keep your fluid intake up. You’re out of the danger zone, but that could quickly change.”

He hands her a bag of medication.

“Antibiotics for seven days, and pain meds, in the event that you need them. Antibiotics are important. If you have further swelling or a fever, you need to call me immediately.”

I sit on the bed with her as Kage walks the doctor out.

“Look, Hadley, I don’t know what I’m doing here, so I’m going to have to ask you to tell me what you need. I’m not good at this.”

She smiles softly.

“You’re better than you think you are, but I’ll tell you what I need. Right now, I need to wash my hands, because I have bits of burnt weiner stuck to them.”

Rising off the bed, as I shake my head at her, I lift her in my arms and carry her to the bathroom. Setting her on the counter, I turn the water on for her, and get the soap ready.

“The doctor didn’t say I couldn’t walk.”

Giving her a glare, I let her know it’s not up for negotiation.

“Until I’m convinced you won’t hurt yourself, I will fucking carry you everywhere. Don’t argue with me, because you won’t win. Not when it comes to your wellbeing.”

“Fine. Carry my fat ass everywhere, but your arms are going to get tired.”

I narrow my gaze at her. “I don’t want to hear that shit again. I don’t know what kind of things you’re used to hearing about yourself, but that’s not something I’ll tolerate.”

The look on her face tells me everything I need to know. I shut the water off and lean down, kissing her neck, before I speak low.

“You’re perfect, Hadley. You always have been. Fucking beautiful. I promise you, anything that asshole said to you was a lie. Now, let’s get you home, so you can take a shower.”

“Home? Your house was set on fire.”

Right. Fuck. How had I forgotten that? It feels like a lifetime ago at this point.

Scooping her into my arms, I say, “Hotel then. The where doesn’t matter.”

I hold back my tongue, and don’t tell her that she’s my home. Wherever the fuck she is, is where I choose to be.

Bones stands outside the bedroom door when we exit.

“Your house is probably going to need some work. Come stay with us,” he glances at Hadley, before adding, “Both of you.”

“Thanks, brother, I appreciate it, but we’ll get a hotel.”

He arches an eyebrow and shakes his head.

“Mama wants to see her. She’s at my house waiting.”

I sigh heavily. I hate making her wait, but she needs to.

“Hadley has to be exhausted. We’ll come by for breakfast tomorrow. Tonight, she needs quiet and rest.”

He pats my shoulder as he turns away from us.

“Go get your girl settled. We will take care of shit here.”

I walk her out of the house, and she sighs a shaky breath. We get to my SUV, and I set her in the front seat, noticing tears streaming down her face.

“I did not think I’d leave there alive,” she says when she spots my concerned expression.

Kissing her on the cheek, I admit, “I wasn’t sure myself. This was the first time in my adult life where I experienced true terror.”

I close her door, walk around to the driver’s side, and get inside, releasing a heavy sigh as guilt gnaws at me once again. My brother was right, maybe it’s not love, but I feel something for this girl, and I always have. Even before I knew who she was, I felt something, and it scared the fuck out of me. If I’m honest with myself, it still does.