Page 20 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

I ask where Saffie is being held and am surprised by the looks of relief on their faces as I explain my new role as her jailor. I pick up on one word, Jude, and a mumbling of rather him than me, and wonder what that’s all about. They’ve done this before, and at least share what’s expected of me. After leading me upstairs and through a maze of corridors which I assume house the brothers living here, almost ceremoniously, Asslicker passes me a key ring, and indicates the closed and locked door. He leaves me alone immediately.

An hour, two perhaps, pass, then Asslicker appears again.

“Food,” he states unnecessarily, nodding at the tray as he hands it over. “And this.”

Without checking, I assume the bag contains the supplies I’d requested, and take them. Supplies Saffie no longer requires and which I wasn’t allowed off compound to buy. Hopefully she’ll take it as a sign her needs remain at the forefront of my mind. And if Duke thinks she’s bleeding, maybe he’ll give her more time.

Asslicker turns away, takes a step, then turns back. “Oh, tell her we all hope she’s feeling better.”

An innocuous request, but one that has the hairs on the back of my neck rising. Duke had given me specific instructions not to talk to her. Deciding this must be some sort of test, a permission to break my promise to their VP, I know I have to keep my mouth zipped shut. But I give no indication that I’m on to him, simply offer a raise of my chin.

Instead, I wait until he’s out of sight, then take that key from my pocket, and apply it to the lock.

My gut twists as I push the door open. My stomach roils. Saffie’s been subjected to Duke’s not-so-tender mercy yet again. Her face is swollen, not just with tears, but clearly as a result of his fists. One eye’s completely shut, the other blackened but just about able to open. Her mouth is red and looks tender, and the way she’s holding herself, she’s probably bruised everywhere else. I want to rush to her, hold her in my arms and promise no one will ever hurt her again. But I can’t touch her. My heart breaks at the woman sitting on a cot which passes for a bed, broken and beaten. How dare Duke touch one hair of her head!

He’s going to die painfully, begging for his miserable life to be spared, then he’ll start begging for death. Once again, I vow I’ll have my revenge. Nothing will placate me until he takes his last breath.

Oh fuck, Saffie.How can I get you out of this? The magnitude of my task confronts me.I’m only one fucking man.

I stand, waiting for her to acknowledge me. I can’t risk speaking to her, in case someone has eyes on me, or happens to pass by the door. Not after the strict instructions given to me. But it’s hard for me to stay silent, to not offer comfort to her. Though what could I say? Any assurance everything will turn out okay will fall on deaf or unbelieving ears. She hates me.

Slowly, at last, she looks up. When she sees it’s me, she immediately goes on the attack.

“You’re as bad a monster as Duke. I fucking believed you!”

What can I do? I can’t defend myself. By misleading Duke, I misled her.

Bravely, she stands up straight. “Why are you here? I thought you’d be back in San Diego fucking Susie by now.”

In my defence, if I hadn’t lied to get Duke to bring me along, I’d not be capable of fucking anyone. And if I was, it would be anyone but that traitor. Unable to put her right, I simply shake my head, put down the tray on a small table, then go to the door, hating taking the steps which take me away from her, wishing I could pull her into my arms instead.

I knew she wouldn’t greet me like a friend, and had thought I’d be prepared for her animosity, but I’m not. Every word she throws at me hits its target as painfully as a bullet to my chest. But I ignore her and refuse to react.

Dropping the bag I’ve been holding by the door unobtrusively, I let my eyes survey the room. It’s only just adequate. She’s got the barest of facilities, but at least a bathroom for her own use. And there, up in the corner, just as I had suspected, I see an almost invisible camera.

Is the room bugged as well as watched?I can only assume that it is.

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