Page 40 of Devil's Due

“But you’re not. Not while this woman thinks there’s a chance you can get back together.”

She’s not wrong. I swear my cock’s starting to shrivel through lack of action. Even before I’d left town it had been weeks since I’d last made polite love to Sally. If I don’t get back in the game soon, I might forget how to use it. “I’m going to cut her loose. Soon as I can do it without hurting her.”

Her hand hovers in the air. It seems like an invitation to take it. As soon as I do, her fingers tighten around mine, well, circling my big paw with her tiny one as much as she can. “She’ll hurt, Beef. May be kinder to pull off that band-aid rather than letting futile hope fester.”

I’d come clean with her to try and get her to trust me. By laying my own soul bare, thought I could get her to reciprocate, or start that in motion at least. I didn’t expect to find talking to another woman so helpful, giving me a clarity which hadn’t been there before. “I’ve done this all wrong, haven’t I? Should have been honest as soon as things started going wrong.”

“How long have you been with her?”

“I’ve known her four months, lived with her two. Not very long.”

She squeezes again. “Beef, I might not be able to see you, but I’m a fair judge of character for all that. You’ve told me you and your brothers were on the right side of the law when you took down that politician. You’re here because you hate letting someone down. If I had someone like you in my life, I probably wouldn’t want to lose them either.”

“I’m not a good man,” I warn her.

“I think you are.” She bites her lip. “I’m in witness protection.”

Jesus H Christ. It worked.“You gonna tell me enough so I can help you?”

Her expression isn’t what I expected. Her head swivels on her neck, but not in my direction, she’s focused on something behind me.

“What…?”

“Shush,” she says fast and quietly. Her brow creases. “I heard something. At the back door.”

Her hearing must be acute. There’s nothing wrong with mine, but her ears are definitely sharper, I’d heard no sound at all.

Not doubting her for one minute, I stand. She does too. “Stay here. I’ll go check.”

Seeing she clearly has no intention of obeying me, I half wish she’d be more like Sally and just do what she was told. But too eager to find it’s a cat foraging so I can put her mind at ease, I slide my gun out of my cut—just in case—and waste no time heading into the kitchen. The view afforded by the window, looking out onto a backyard shows nothing of any concern. The door has frosted glass in the top panel, I’d be able to see a shape if anyone was there.

“Stayhere,” I use a sharper tone. “I’m going outside to check. Lock the door behind me, okay?”

She nods. “Yes.”

I place my hand on the handle and pull. The door doesn’t budge. I glance up and down, there are bolts, but she hasn’t slid them. There’s a key in the lock.Fucking idiot, Beef.I turn it. The door though, gives a fraction, but won’t open.

“You got problems with this, babe?”

“What? No.”

Someone’s already tried to kill her. My brain computes facts fast as my body is already surrounding her, pushing her back as a blast comes from the front of the house.

My ears are ringing, my nostrils suddenly fill with acrid smoke coming through from the living room.Someone’s thrown a bomb into her house and locked the back door, so she couldn’t get out.

“Beef!” she screams.

“Stand still.” I turn back and kick the door. It won’t budge, not even with all my strength directed at it. “We’ve got to get out of here,” I spit at her. One glance into the living room where the fire has already taken hold shows me there’s no way we’re getting passed that and to the front door. I grab hold of her hand. The window might have a good view, but it’s too small for us to use to get out. I’ve got to find one that’s bigger. Yanking her along behind me, I’m pulled up by her oomph of pain.Fucking idiot that I am, I forgot she couldn’t see.

I sweep her up into my arms, kicking doors open. The bathroom’s no good. Ah, her bedroom. Yeah, we can get out of that. I open the window.

Is someone waiting outside?But that’s the least of my worries, I already feel heat at my back, we’ll have to chance it. Thank fuck the window opens easily. In other circumstances I’d make sure she’s out before me, but if anyone’s waiting to stop her escaping, I’d rather him deal with me first.

“I’m going out. You come after.”

She’s shaking with fear and the smoke’s making her choke. But like everything, she takes the destruction of her house and her need to escape in stride. Within seconds I’m in the fresh air, taking a moment to survey my surroundings.No one in sight.

“Come on,” I urgently instruct, watching her hands and feet, giving her precise instructions. As soon as she’s out I have my body around her. A bullet will have to go through me first, and with my size, I should stop it. I eye her worriedly, she’s coughing. Having been in there a few seconds longer, she’d inhaled more shit than myself.Doctor? Ambulance?Nah, I’ll take the risk she’ll be alright. Need to get her to a place of safety.

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