Page 24 of The Reaper
She huffed sarcastically. “We both know that’s rubbish.” She moved forward herself and hissed, “You’re an evil little shit, and he always hated you. I’ve been to the police, you know. I’ve told them all about what kind of a boy you are, you and those degenerates who call themselves soldiers that you run around with. One day, they’ll throw you in jail where you belong. I’ll go to my death bed happy, knowing you’re all rotting away.”
“You’re a crazy woman.” I shook my head then lowered my gaze, giving her a warning glare. “But if I were you, I’d be careful what you’re saying and to who. I wouldn’t want you heading to that death bed before your time.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Of course not. I don’t hurt women.” I smiled and sat back again, giving her an air of confidence that I knew would piss her off.
“One of these days, I’ll wipe that smug smile off your face,Devon.”
Just then, my mum and Brooke walked into the room, and I gave a low, patronising chuckle.
“I’ll look forward to it,Gran.”
ChapterTen
DEVON
Istalked back into the sanctuary a few hours later, still feeling pissed about my face-off with Stella. I slammed the door behind me, keeping my head down and heading for the stairs. I needed to go and work off some of my tension. But when I got to the first step, I stopped and backtracked. Some random guy I’d never seen before was handcuffed to the banister. Life was never dull when you lived here.
“I see you’ve met our new friend, Ross.” Colton’s voice echoed through the empty building as he strolled down the stairs.
“Who the fuck is this?” I gestured to him with my hand, and Colton laughed.
“It’s Ross. I just told you.”
“And why is he tied to our staircase?”
“Because this little fucker needs to be taught a lesson, don’t you, mate?”
Colton came to stand next to me, and he stared down at Ross sitting on the bottom step.
“I caught him trying to steal tools off the back of a builder’s van this afternoon. This cheeky fucker thinks it’s okay to steal from honest, hard-working men. But I don’t.”
Colton stepped forward then kicked the guy hard in the shin. Ross flinched but he didn’t retaliate or try to fight back, just cursed quietly under his breath.
“You thought taking someone’s livelihood, the tools that help him put food on his family’s table, was okay, didn’t you? Thought you wouldn’t get caught?” Colton knelt to look straight into Ross’s eyes, even though Ross was hanging his head in shame. “But it’s not all right, is it? It’s not okay to take from a man and sell his shit at the local pub for fuck all, so you can get your next fix.”
I had intended to get a quick shower in before I gave the security briefing tonight and did all my checks for the club, but it looked like Colton had other ideas. I had to admit, with the tension I had bubbling under the surface after my encounter with Stella earlier, I was fully on board.
“We need to move him to the chapel or the warehouse. I don’t want to get blood on the floor in here,” I said, and Ross gasped.
I don’t know why he was surprised. He’d been asking for trouble coming around here and taking what didn’t belong to him. So, the fact he’d found trouble with us was all his own fault. Trouble was what we lived for.
“We’ll move him. All in good time.” Colton smiled as he stood up and placed himself right in front of Ross. “Me, Adam, and Will are going to sort this. You and Tyler can get started on the checks for tonight.” With a patronising grin, he slapped Ross on the cheek and added, “It’s nothing that a little rap on the knuckles with a hammer won’t cure.”
“I don’t think so,” I argued through gritted teeth, but at that moment, Adam appeared behind me.
“You won’t miss anything,” Adam stated. “And you’re the best one at briefing the staff. You’ve got a good rapport with them.”
He spoke sense; I knew that, but I still didn’t like it.
“If someone is getting taught a lesson, I want in.” I wasn’t ready to back down.
“And if it was any other time, I’d say have at it, but he’s a ball ache we don’t need right now.” Adam gestured to Ross, who sat cowering on the step. “He won’t be getting our full experience, just a clear reminder of what the rules are around here.” He turned to face me and added, “And after what happened last week, with the girl in the private room, we need to stay on top of things here. I don’t want a single thing going wrong tonight. Don’t see it as missing out on a hit. He's not a mark––”
“He’s a shit stain,” Colton added, and Adam rolled his eyes.
“As I said, he’s not a mark, just a fucking inconvenience. This is me delegating and making sure we’re all playing to our strengths. Your strength is this place. Focus on that.”
