Page 18 of The Vigilante's Heart

“I don’t want you worrying about me, sweetheart. But,” I add when I can see she’s about to interrupt, “I should be home well before that time. I reckon around midnight.”Killing that piece of shit shouldn't take me too long, although I do plan on making him suffer.

Chapter Nine

Bennett

Fifty minutes later I walk through the door of my abandoned warehouse to find Barclay exactly where I left him; tied to a chair in the middle of the space. He didn’t make it far after the hospital, I followed him to his house and we took a nice little trip, just the two of us.

“Thanks for waiting for me.”

A garbled, “Fuck you,” is mumbled around the gag in his mouth. It’s really pointless seeing as there’s no one else around here. It’s an added benefit of being stinking rich and owning half the buildings in the city; this little warehouse slips under the radar. But, if anyone did look into it, all the papers lead you to believe it’s used to store equipment, of which a global security company has plenty — there’s even some scattered around for good measure.

“Now, now, now, is that any way to speak to your host?” Another slew of garbled words leave his mouth and I’ve had enough, time to remove the gag.

“What do you want?” he asks the minute I remove the fabric from his mouth.

“That’s original,” I mutter, it’s always the same questions from them all. “Peyton.” His eyes widen at the name.

“You were at the hospital,” he declares.

“I was. You know, I actually have to thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I never would have met Peyton. Now, unfortunately for you, introducing me — inadvertently — to the woman I plan on spending the rest of my life with is not going to help you. Your fate was sealed when you decided to take away a woman’s right to say no, when you thought you were above right and wrong.”

“I-I-I no, you have the wrong person.”

“No, I don’t. I never do.”

“You’re…oh God, no, you’re him,” he cries.

“I am,” I nod, “which means you know what’s about to happen to you, and let me tell you, it’s not going to be pretty.” I walk over to the table where I keep my tools; I always find it raises the fear factor when they can see what’s coming.

“Wh-what are you going to do?” he asks as I pick up the cigar cutter and my favorite pairing knife.

“Well, you see,” I start, “you broke into Peyton’s house, you touched things that belong to her — for that I’m going to remove your fingers.” He whimpers at my words. “Then, you looked at her in the hospital, you dared to lay your eyes on what’s mine — for that I’m going to remove your eyes.” He’s full on sobbing now. “And for every other woman that you violated? I’m going to remove your cock. I’m quite sure when you were abusing them they wished they couldcastrate you, so I’m going to make their wishes come true.”And I’ll enjoy every minute.“Ever played the game ‘this little piggy’?”

***

I quietly walk through the front door a little after midnight. I changed my clothes at the warehouse once I disposed of the body — it’ll be found in a couple of days — but I’ve still got a lot of his blood on me; he was a squirter, and a screamer.Christ, did he scream. I make my way upstairs and to my room, my plan to wash off in the master bath.

I walk into the bedroom to find Peyton and the cat curled up together asleep. He raises his head and chirps a greeting at me as I walk further into the room, I’m definitely warming to him. I close the door behind me so I don’t disturb Peyton and turn on the shower. I strip off my clothes and throw them in the hamper then make my way into the shower. The water is turning a pink color when I hear the door open.Shit, I should have used the guest room.I’m not used to having someone in my space.

“Oh my God, Bennett. What happened?” She comes running into the shower still in her sexy little pajamas and my cock perks up at the thought of taking her when her body is all wet. Her hands run over my skin, checking for where the injury is, an injury I don’t have.

“It’s not my blood. I’m okay,” I reassure her. Her eyes fly to mine.

“What the hell happened?” she demands.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, just something at work.”

“You come home covered in blood and it’s nothing for me to worry about? Are you serious right now?”

“Peyton,” I say, my eyes narrowing on her and my voice firm, “with some of the jobs I work, this is going to happen. I’m not going to explain myself to you; just know that I’m okay and nothing is wrong.”

“You’re an asshole,” she mutters as she goes to walk past me and out of the shower.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I grab her arm and pull her back to me.

“Away from you.”

“Oh, I don’t think so, sweetheart.” I want to laugh at the outraged look she throws me, instead I pin her to the wall and press my body against hers.