Page 9 of Her Dark Melody
The assailant narrowed his eyes at her. “I did no such thing…I found her likethat.”
Atlas’s eyes swept over the man’s hands. “And those cuts and bruises on your own hands?” He grabbed the man’s arm as the man reached into hispocket.
The man screamed in pain as Atlas squeezed hard. He would have been more than happy to crack the bastard’s ulna clean in two, to leave him writhing on the floor wailing, but fortunately the Haven security guards intervened and hauled the husband away. As they pulled backwards and he let go with extreme reluctance, a bloody knife skittered to the floor from beneath the guy’s hoodie. In the distance, sirens beganapproaching.
“You’re about to be arrested for attempted murder,” Atlas growled at the man, his fists balled up tightly. “Don’t make it worse foryourself.”
Romy appeared by Atlas’s side, wearing bloodied scrubs. “Make that murder,” she said in a dead voice. “Kiersten didn’t makeit.”
Kiersten’s killer smirked and before he could help himself, Atlas landed a powerful punch to the side of the man’s head, knocking him backwards and onto the concrete. He lunged forward, intent on breaking the guy’s arm, face, whatever he could reach, even as Romy shouted for him tostop.
“Atlas! This isn’t helping!” She dragged him away with all the strength in her small body as the man cussed themout.
“Fuck! Fuck you, and fuck that bitch. I’ll kill all of you, all of you. You, pretty doc, want me to gut you like I did her? My fuckingpleasure…”
So much for being the usual soul of calm. Atlas erupted in a white fury and it took three huge police officers to eventually manhandle him away. Romy bore him off while the police arrested the killer and a few minutes later, while Atlas was still spitting nails, a detective came to interview themboth.
“He could press charges of assault, Mr. Tigri, but as he had just threatened your life, I can’t see themsticking.”
“He didn’t just threaten me, he threatened Doctor Sasse. He threatened to do to her what he did to his now deceased wife.” Atlas’s protective instincts had always been hardwired, but the notion that anyone would lay a finger on Romy in anything other than kindness made him livid. “He’s a sickfuck.”
“No doubt, but we have to follow due process. We’ll need access to the body, and to your premises while weinvestigate.”
“Of course, whatever you need,” Romy told him. Her hand was on Atlas’s back, rubbing him, comforting him. Atlas drew a deep breath in as the detective left them alone. He marshalled his temper at last,embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, Romy. Such behavior is acceptable from no one. I just saw red. Are youokay?”
“I’m fine.” She nodded, letting his arm go at last. “Just upset at losing another one. But, that’s what I signed up for. We knew this kind of thing was apossibility.”
Atlas shook his head, grief for the dead young woman leaving him as numb as he’d been furious. Always even keeled, unaccustomed to such mood swings, he found himself suddenly exhausted. “Blue’s going to kill me for putting you indanger.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Romy replied. “I chose this job. I knew the dangers. Besides, our fortress home is just that. You know how Blue is about our family’ssecurity.”
“I think we should go ahead and escalate our protection atHaven.”
“Well, let’s see what the police think. In the meantime, let me fix your handup.”
Romy didn’t knowwhether to tell Blue about the incident later, and when he came home in a good mood because of a successful surgery, she decided against it. Also, she didn’t want to scare Ebony. When she got home, she knocked at Ebony’s door. “Eb? Honey, how are you feelingtoday?”
Ebony opened the door, smiling. “I’m good. Must have just been a bad burger or something. Look, can I help you with dinner? I feel bad just sittingaround.”
“Actually, that would be wonderful if you don’t mind. I want to get the kids fed and in bed by the time Atlas getshere.”
She said nothing when Ebony’s face flamed scarlet, too tired to ask questions just yet. As they both worked in the kitchen, Ebony smiled at Romy. “I thought all billionaires hadstaff.”
Romy laughed wearily. “Oh, Blue has staff, but we don’t like to have people around us permanently, especially during family time. Obviously, we have our nanny, who is wonderful, and essential if I want to work, but both Blue and I love to cook. So, no fancy schmancy chefs for us. Speaking of fancy, I hope Atlas treated you wellyesterday.”
“He’s a great guy,” Ebony said. “So much fun and I’m really looking forward to thefundraiser.”
“Not your typical billionaire, is he?” Romy noted, still shocked at Atlas’ anger earlier. It was a side of him she’d never knownexisted.
“Not at all. He brought me to Haven, and I have to say, the work you both do there…soinspiring.”
“Thank you. So, you got alonggreat?”
Ebony nodded, and this time Romy hid a smile at the two pink spots high on her friend’s cheeks. While it hadn’t been her intention to play matchmaker, if Atlas and Ebony got along, she would love to see her two friends happy. Ebony could only benefit from having such a devoted partner, and Atlas had long needed a good woman by his side. She knew what Blue would say. He would roll his eyes and tell her that she couldn’t makeeveryonein the world love eachother.
If only I could,she thought now, and her mind flew back to the horrific incident earlier. Another woman lost to her partner’s violent jealousy. Romy’s own experience with her murderous ex was never far from the surface, still after almost six years. Dacre Mortimer had vowed to kill her,hadkilled several women in order to get to her. She had to remind herself every day that Dacre was dead and couldn’t hurt her anymore. Ironically, it hadn’t even been Dacre who had almost killed her in the end. It had been Blue’s stepbrother Gaius, insanely jealous of his brother, who had shot Romy in an attempt to make his half-brothersuffer.
