Page 69 of Demon's Angel

“Ain’t that the truth,” replies his prez.

“Don’t worry, Son. We’ll get her back.” Hellfire slaps my back as he passes.

“Too fuckin’ right. Need my apprentice.” I jerk my chin at Liz who continues, “Just make sure you bring her home.” His statement needs no answer.

One by one my brothers pass me, well aware of the risk they’re taking. A lump comes into my throat, wondering whether all these good men will be returning. Wherever they’re keeping Violet, it’s going to be well guarded.

At last, we’re ready. With a loud chant of “Ride, Satan’s Devils; Satan’s Devils ride together”accompanied by fists bumping over hearts,we prepare to set out. Four groups representing four chapters. Some of my boys will be going with the visiting teams to show them where they’re going. I spare a special word for Sparky, heading out with Red; Paladin, going with Drummer, his old prez; and finally, Buzzard, who’s going to be guiding the way for Snatcher. As they’re providing the distractions, they head out first.

We’re right behind them. I’m in the lead, Thunder and Hellfire riding behind me, Pyro and Skull having our backs.

Hold on, Vi. Won’t be long until you’re in my arms, darling. Just hold on a little longer. We’re on our way.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Violet

Speculating what type of woman would be married to someone like Angelino, I stare at Vitalia, wondering what she knows that I don’t. Whatever it is, isn’t going to be good news, at least where I’m concerned. I immediately dislike her, and not just because of her relationship to the man I despise. Momentarily I wonder if I can bitchslap that smarmy look off her face, but I doubt it. I’m not a violent person, but her? She looks like she’d easily get the upper hand in a catfight. There’s just something about her that warns me to keep my hands at my sides. My first clue is that she came in here alone. That means she can’t see me as any threat. I’d love to act like a heroine in one of the novels I read and go on the attack, but I wouldn’t be able to best her.

She even turns her back on me, walking to the window and looking out. “You’ve been here before,” she says conversationally. “Well, not this room, but in this house. It was where your son was conceived.”

“He’s Demon’s son.” I can say the words quite truthfully. Demon’s claimed him.

“A DNA test would prove otherwise,” she throws back.

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see. First you have to get a court to agree.” I cross my fingers, hoping the fancy lawyer Demon’s going to engage finds some way to stop that from happening. Demon’s name on Theo’s birth certificate will, hopefully, count for a lot.

“Whatever.” She shrugs, then reverts back to what she was discussing before. “You stayed in this house for a few days.”

I gasp.What?

Suddenly it all falls into place. My strange confusion about the day when I had returned home. I’d put it all down to the effect of the drugs in my system.

“You didn’t know that, did you? Angelino wanted to make sure.”

I approach her, my gut churning. “What are you saying?”

She spins around so fast I take a step back. “You’re just a pawn, you know that? Angelino wants a child, and what better than one with the blood of his enemy.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” My head whirls. “I didn’t even know who Angelino was when I met him. I answered an ad posted by a stranger. I had nothing previously to do with him.” If I had known who he was I’d never have put in an application. “How can I be his enemy? I’m the one who’s been wronged here. Your husband drugged me, had sex with me, and you don’t even care?”

Again, she raises and lowers her shoulder. “My husband does many things which I find distasteful, but having a child will be what I always wanted. Sacrifices have to be made.” Now she sighs. “Of course, at first, we didn’t think it had worked. You’re so stupid, it took you so long to realise you were pregnant. We were going to just take the baby when it was born, but then you dragged us through the courts and made it impossible for him to just disappear.”

“You’re never getting your hands on Theo. I’ll die first.” Okay, so plan A might need to be resurrected again.

“It’s no matter. We’ve got you. Unlike me, you’re fertile. You can just have another child. One where there’s no doubt of his parentage.”

Two things, good and bad, hit me at once. One—the unthinkable—that it sounds like Angelino has brought me here to rape and impregnate me again, and the other, hope that they do indeed believe Demon to be Theo’s father. In which case, Theo is safe. That’s what’s important.

“What are you saying, Vitalia?” I speak slowly.

“You really have no recollection of what happened, have you?” She suddenly moves forward, making me step back. “It would have been fine, except Angelino’s guard, who was supposed to be looking after you, decided he’d like to also get his cock wet. He’s dead now, of course; was, the moment my husband found out.”

Jesus! As the implications of what she’s just said hit me, I reach behind me, needing to grasp the back of the couch for support. Not only was I raped by Angelino, but by another man as well? No wonder they don’t want to press the DNA case, it could prove Theo wasn’t his. For a moment I want to demand they do test, right here and now, as that might put an end to it. Then I realise there’s still a fifty-fifty chance.

When I’d first realised I had been raped I’d gone into a state of shock; was a living zombie for days, weeks, trying to come to terms with the extent of my violation. Now I know it’s so much worse than I thought.Not once. Multiple times, and multiple men. For days I’d been there for the taking, unable to protect myself or say no. Blood rushes away from my head and I start to feel dizzy.

“This time you’ll be watched more carefully. There won’t be a chance for anything to go wrong.”

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