Page 17 of Demon's Angel

A cold feeling settles inside me. I’ve a feeling I don’t want to know, but am driven to ask, “What wereyouintending to do, Vi? Where wereyougoing to go?”

She’s so quiet I don’t think she’s going to answer. Then when she speaks, I struggle to hear the answer.

“I was going to disappear and never come back.”

That cold feeling becomes ice. “He’d have looked for you, found you if he’d had the contacts you’re suggesting.”

There’s no attempt at evasion as she looks straight into my face. “I’d already got rid of my phone and got a new number. He wouldn’t have been able to track that I’d gone to Canon City; he’d have no clue as to where to start looking for Theo.”

“You, Vi. What wereyougoing to do?”

She shrugs. “You can’t get information from a dead woman.”

If I’d felt cold before, now I’m completely frozen. This man cheated her, raped her, threatened to take her baby, and because of him, she was going to take her own life. My anger is so great I can hardly get the words out.

“His name, Vi. Tell me his fuckin’name.”

Chapter Seven

Violet

Again, my shoulders rise and fall. I don’t know if a biker moves in the same circles as the man who raped me. It’s possible. I’m wary what he’ll do once he knows. I’d been so delighted at being called for an interview, I hadn’t looked into the man who was doing the hiring, hadn’t known anything about the man who subsequently drugged and raped me. Then, immediately after he’d abused me, I’d tried to forget him completely. But my eyes had been opened when I had no choice but to take him to court. That dreadful experience where he escaped without a further blot on his black character while mine was forever tarnished. Angry, I’d wanted to know who I was dealing with, and had done my research. Enough to learn I’d gotten involved with the wrong man.

Demon going after him wouldn’t do anything to help, and could make matters worse. The man’s powerful, he comes from an influential family. I’d rather not tell him. If I do and he knows him, I daren’t hope that he’ll have the sense to walk away from a fight he wouldn’t be able to win. I already know that kind of man isn’t him.

There’s a certain lightness, now I’ve told him everything that before only Vicky had known. I’d prefer him to remain in ignorance, but realise, having come this far, I can’t keep the name secret. The court cases are a matter of public record, and he’d soon be able to find out for himself.

My eyes find his. He’s so still, the only movement is his chest rising and falling.

“Demon, if I tell you, please, please don’t do anything stupid.”

“His name, Violet.” His tone is persistent.

I take a breath, and a leap into the unknown, wishing I didn’t have to involve him. “Angelino Silvestri.”

I’d been hoping for a simple nod to register the name and put it into his memory. What I get is far worse. His statue-like posture changes in a flash as he leaps to his feet and starts pacing the room while saying ‘fuck’ repeatedly and increasingly louder. Then, sweeping back his hair, he rounds on me, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What the fuck were you thinkin’, Vi? Even going to him for a job in the first place? What fuckin’ type of a job was he offering?”

Again, I raise and lower my shoulders. He’s probably never been in the position I’d found myself in. Has never known what it’s like to be unemployed or to exist taking jobs that may as well advertise their rates in cents. Having taken over the MC from his father, he’s more likely to have been born with the biker version of a silver spoon in his mouth. His parents and siblings are all alive and healthy. What does he know about dealing with death and loss, and the struggle to put food on the table?

“I was going to manage part of his casino.”

His mouth gapes. “You know what type of place that is?”

“Well, I do now.” Like his, my eyes flare. “I never went anywhere like that when I lived here before. I was too young. You can’t imagine how pleased I was to get an interview. I wasn’t going to be working tables, the job was nine-to-five in an office.” It was only afterwards I’d looked it up, googling and reading old news articles. It doesn’t have a good reputation, though nothing’s ever been proven against the Silvestri family who run it. I continue to defend myself, “It was a chance to at least give a nod to my business degree. A day job, ordering supplies, dealing with staff issues. I wouldn’t have been involved in anything else.”

“Christ, Vi. You can pick ‘em, can’t you? He’s one powerful man in Pueblo. The word ‘shady’ was invented for him. Do you know what they call him?” He shakes his head. “The man you…” His eyes meet mine. “Christ, Vi. You didn’t have a chance. His name makes men shake.”

“Then I’ll go back to Plan A,” I snap. “You think I don’t know that now, Demon? Why do you think I wanted Theo far away from him? A man like that doesn’t want a son, he wants a commodity.”

Suddenly he’s back, standing in front of me, then folding to his knees almost in supplication before me. “Shit, Vi, I’m sorry. Of course you weren’t to fuckin’ know. These are the type of lowlifes thatwedeal with, not someone like you. And you can put any thought of plans A, B or fuckin’ C right out of your head. You and Theo are now under our protection, and I’ll make sure nothing happens to you, or to him. Okay? I swear I’ll keep you safe.”

I stare at this man in front of me, the man I’d looked up to all my formative years. It’s like seeing Nathan all over again, my big brother who’d tease me mercilessly, but had always been there when I needed him.Could I trust Demon? At least now he knows what I’m facing. “You’ll help me get away? With Theo?” For the first time today, well, in weeks really, I let a little hope creep into my voice.

“Angel Silvestri has got a debt to pay, Vi. He’s not going to get away with hurting you, or with making your life hell. You won’t have to worry about him. I’ll fuckin’ kill him.”

Rapidly I move my head side-to-side. “You can’t, Demon!” I cry out, envisaging him dead or languishing in prison. “Nathan wouldn’t have wanted that. Either I run, or we find the right way to fight him. Maybe a better lawyer…”

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