Page 39 of Darkness Tempt Me
Drake Sinclair is on his phone, walking my way.
The blood rushes to my ears as my heart races. Going with my gut, I pull out my phone and pick up my pace. I rush inside the café, thankful for the busy chatter and the comforting scent of coffee beans. I walk further inside and pause by a table to send Mavik a text.
Peyton: I just spotted Drake. I’m inside the café, and there are lots of people here. He hasn’t walked inside yet, but I swear it felt like he was following me.
Mavik: Good boy. I’m happy you followed my advice. I’m on my way. Don’t leave the café until I’m with you.
Despite the adrenaline still pumping through my system, I smile. He’s on his way. Whether I’m paranoid or not, Mavik believes me, and he’ll be by my side.
Peyton: Yes, sir, Daddy. *wink emoji*
A barely there touch slides against my spine. “Who was that you were waving to?” A rough voice suddenly fills my ear. Yelping, I jerk back, startled.
Billy is standing right next to me. As soon as I register it’s him, some of the tension leaves my body. A few people glance over at us from their tables.
I clutch my chest. “Fuck, Billy. You startled me.”
His eyes narrow. “Sorry, Pey. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
I bristle. I still don’t like it when he calls me Pey. We aren’t that close.
He reaches out his hand, letting it slide against my arm. “Who were you waving to outside?”
I glance over my shoulder suspiciously and peer at the café door. Was he behind me the whole time? “Did you just get here?” I ask wearily.
He nods, waiting for me to reply.
“My brother. He’s dealing with an abusive ex.”
Billy stiffens. “Another abusive asshole? You’d think that with the number of pricks out there, one of us would have good luck finding a decent guy.”
A few guys in suits catch my eye as they walk past the café window. I’m still on edge, waiting for Drake to walk inside.
Billy points at the long line. “You’d better hurry if you want some coffee. The lunch rush has already started. I’ll be at the cash register as soon as I clock in.”
Since Mavik isn’t here yet, and I don’t plan on leaving without him, I might as well get in line. While waiting, I scroll through my phone and social media. That was a dumb mistake. A link to an online article mentions the Adam Costa case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Just like my case with Jimmy. It’s obvious he’s guilty. But then something else catches my eye. Another headline. Concern and speculation about Adam’s whereabouts. Since the case’s dismissal, Adam Costa has vanished, with rumors swirling about his escape or foul play. Some comments from readers even state that it sounds like someone took justice into their own hands.
I continue reading, unable to look away. That uncomfortable feeling swirls in my stomach, only now I can’t tell if it’s because I still feel like someone is watching me, that there is some politician who looks and acts like my ex is out in the world, or that the dark part of me hopes someone really did take justice into their own hands.
“Hey there, little light.” Mavik’s voice is deep and smooth. His scent of citrus, pine, and a splash of vanilla is so comforting, I feel tears prick the back of my eyes. When we get to the front of the line together, and Mavik orders for us, I don’t know whether I’m more embarrassed that I’m too shaken to speak, or that Mavik knew to order me the tea that smells like him. Billystudies the two of us, his eyes widening when he sees Mavik lace his fingers with mine.
We wait for our order together in reassuring silence. Mavik is giving me time to feel like myself again. I can’t figure out how he always knows what I need or how he’s always there, but I don’t care. I like that he makes me feel cherished, respected, and cared for. I like knowing I can trust my husband to care for me at home, just as he knows he can trust me at work as his assistant.
When our order is finally ready and we make our way toward the exit, I don’t even flinch when the bell chimes, and the café door opens to reveal Drake. Mavik just wraps a possessive arm around my shoulders and tucks me into his side. Neither of us acknowledges Drake or the smirk he gives us as we walk outside. Instead, I lean against the man I’m falling for, happy that I found someone who is willing to protect me.
Chapter twenty-three
Mavik
Isend Peyton a text letting him know I’ll be home late tonight. The fear mixed with the amount of relief on Peyton’s face as soon as he saw me at the café fucking lit me up inside. I’ll do anything to protect my boy.
Now, I’m wired as fuck. I don’t know whether this is pent-up energy from having Peyton grinding in my lap before marking me with his cum, if it’s that I was left hard and horny alone in my office, or if it’s because I need to kill the man I have tied up in front of me.
Drake Sinclair is one boring motherfucker. I’ve been stalking him for a few weeks now, trying to find the perfect opportunity to take him. Every evening after work, Drake leaves the company that good ol’ Daddy owns. He eats dinner at various expensive restaurants, sometimes meeting with a friend, but almost always alone. Before wandering over to an exclusive member-only strip club. Every night, he picks up a new stripper, takes them home, and fucks them.
It wasn’t until tonight that he actually deviated from his routine. Tonight, he took a pretty male stripper with curly blond hair home. He looks similar enough to Peyton that I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. He had sex with the stripper just as he did with all the rest. The whole thing was so boring and predictable that when Peyton texted me, I decided to head home. I almost took off my mask and gloves and called it a night. That was until I heard the scream.
I stormed into Drake’s house and found him straddling the poor blond and beating his unconscious body.
