Page 146 of Injustice and Absolution

“I’m so mad that I didn’t see the warning signs until it was too late.” I run my hands over his muscular biceps. “I could have saved everyone so much worry—and money.”

Royce caresses my face.

“Don’t you worry, kitten. He’s not done paying for his sins yet.”

When he got to the part of his story where they apprehended Drew at the hotel, I assumed he’d been killed and disposed of by now.

“You…? You…?” With wide eyes, I attempt to form a coherent thought. “He’s…?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Opening them again, I find Royce patiently waiting for me to gather my thoughts.

“You have Drew?” My words barely make it out due to my shaky breath. “Here?”

“I do.” His matter-of-fact confession comes as easily as if he were telling me the sky is blue. “At the hotel, while you were unconscious, I promised you I was going to make him suffer, kitten. He’s barely hanging on by a thread, but I’m not even close to being done with him.”

“Good,” I nod, Royce going in and out of focus as relief settles in me.

“I have another confession to make, Delilah.”

I refocus my sight on Royce, swallowing at the trepidation in his soft eyes.

“What is it?” I press my palm to his cheek, trying to ease him.

“I’ve done horrible things in my lifetime. Made decisions that have ended lives… Changed lives... And I never batted an eye making them. But when it comes to you, kitten... I feel I’ve made the wrong move at every turn. I’m scared, and I don’t want to make the wrong decision with you again.”

His display of raw honesty latches itself around my heart, locking my lifeforce to him forever. I don’t have much in this world, but I would bet it all on the fact that he’s never been this open with anyone else before.

Pressing my palm to his heart, I take his hand and place it over my own. “As long as we make any decisions that affect both of us together, we can never go wrong again.”

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

ROYCE

Stealing Delilah away to the shack was the first decision I've made, recently, that hasn’t bitten me in the fucking ass.

After I confessed my worst fear to her then laid my heart at her feet we made love.

And then we did it again.

I don’t use the shack often anymore, only when I need to get away from everyone. Mostly when the need to distance myself from her hits. When my cravings become too much to bear. But when I’m there, I don’t like to leave until I’m forced to, so I keep a few things on hand.

Coffee, pasta, shampoo. The staples.

I held her in my arms until the sky darkened outside, then I made us some dinner. After that, we showered, then I tucked her back into my bed and waited until she was fast asleep before calling my brothers to church and telling them what needs to happen next.

As Delilah described the hell she’d been through to me earlier, I discovered Drew isn’t the only problem that needs to be dealt with.

I already knew that bouncer of his would need to be punished for his role in the attack at Mathieu, but another of Drew’s employee’s, a woman named Josie, will have to be taken out as well.

I asked Rocco and Zephyr to stay behind and continue Drew’s punishment. We’ve been giving him just enough water to keep him alive, despite his constant requests to let him die. Ronin was tasked to stay behind to keep an eye on Maggie. And specifically, to make sure she doesn’t go snooping around at the shack.

Not that she’ll be able to get in.

I double bolted the front door when I left—to keep others from getting in rather than Delilah from getting out. The only way to unlock it is with a key. I left her a note to explain my absence should she happen to wake up before I get back.

If she does awaken, she’ll likely be mad when she realizes she can’t go anywhere. But I’m trusting that after our discussions today, she’ll understand I only did it to keep her safe.

The rest of us are waiting in the shadows, surrounding Spotlight on all sides as the last patrons leave for the evening. Delilah mentioned earlier that the employees usually leave before the closing manager, and I’m hoping the same is true tonight.

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