Page 78 of Petty's Crime

His mouth twists at the reminder. “Take her out and get the prospects to watch over her. Make sure they know she’s a lying snake and to make her ass stay put.”

The short delay is only for Twister to find the prospects, give them their new instructions, and get Britney moved. I’m pleased that I won’t be faced with her. Then, almost before I’m ready, I’m face-to-face with the man who put me in the hospital, and who’s been making my life a misery. When I’d seen him before, I’d been more focused on Petty. Now I’m no longer distracted, I examine him more carefully.

He’s clearly been worked over. One eye is completely shut and his face and bare-chested torso are a mass of bruises, and I don’t have it in me to feel any sympathy.

Saul regards me with a look of hatred as Twister removes the duct tape that’s been keeping him quiet.

“Bitch!” Saul shouts out as soon as he’s capable of speaking.

Twister’s fist lands in his stomach so his next sound is an oomph instead of words.

Ignoring it, I step forward. “Why, Saul? Why?”

“I loved you. You should never have left me.”

My jaw drops. “You’ve a strange way of showing your love. You hit me.”

“All I wanted was you. If you hadn’t run, I wouldn’t have had to follow you and teach you a lesson. But instead of realising how much you meant to me, you went to the cops instead. You got me locked up and put away. And now you’ve got me trapped again.” His eyes find Twister and he flinches.

“So the blame is all on me?” I can’t understand the garbage he’s spouting.

“Of course. I moved you into my house, gave you everything you wanted…”

I could explain what I didn’t want was for him to take his frustrations out on me for having a bad day, but don’t waste my breath, as apparently that was one of a partner’s duties.

“You injured me enough that you were arrested. What I can’t understand is why you came after me, having served your time. Why did you follow me to Vegas? Why didn’t you just move on?”

Now I get a sly look. “Let me go now and I’ll move on as you suggest.” His open eye looks me up and down. “Now you’re here, I don’t really know what I saw in you. You’re not worth the trouble. Let me go and I’ll disappear.”

“Just like that?” Red queries in disbelief.

Saul turns to his new audience. “Yeah. She used to be soft, pretty. But look at her. She’s gone skinny and has more lines on her face. I don’t even fancy her anymore. I’ll leave Vegas and go somewhere else.”

Red touches my arm and leads me out of earshot. “It’s your call. What do you want, RoseLyn?.”

I wasn’t born yesterday. There’s no way in hell I believe him or trust him. But if I don’t do anything, the Devils will kill him. Maybe I was wrong to confront him. I haven’t gotten any satisfaction. Saul shows no regrets and has offered no apology, instead all he’s given are excuses, putting the blame on me.

Saul’s not going to change, as Red had said earlier. His lack of remorse shows in his eyes at least, he did nothing wrong.

I originally called the Devils in because there had been an attempt to kill me.

I’m in a quandary. I don’t want to be the reason a man dies, whatever he’s done to me. If I had more faith in the legal system, I’d leave it to them, but I’ve no confidence in the help I’d get from the cops. They didn’t take the fact I’d had a stalker seriously, and I’m not hopeful of him getting more than a slap on the wrist. Even if he did more jail time, it probably wouldn’t be for long. Then he’d be released and maybe twice as angry when he comes after me again.

I fear whatever disparaging comments he uttered, he’s still fixated on me.

Red’s staring at me, sympathy in his eyes. “You want to leave it to us?”

The Devil’s reputation had me thinking seriously when I first gave the security contract to them, but their references had all said they were law abiding. Now, looking around me and witnessing how they’ve already treated Saul, I know there had to at least been some truth in the original rumours I’d heard.

I thought I’d be okay signing his death warrant, but that was before I was faced with the man. But even I don’t see any other alternative.

“I can’t kill him in cold blood,” I whisper, hating myself at that moment.

“Not asking you to hold the gun.” Red’s mouth turns up before he grows serious again. “How about we test him?”

Test him? “How?”

Red’s brow creases as if he’s thinking, then he beckons Twister to come and join him. They bend their heads together for a moment and have another conversation where all I can distinguish are grunts.

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