Page 64 of Safer Together
~ Chapter Twenty-Nine~
Elliot
The moment Angie’s body goes limp, it gives Price just enough space to place a shot perfectly in Dylan’s shoulder. As he reacts to the intrusion of the bullet, the three of us lunge at him. I manage to get Angie in my arms, as Price and Drake take the piece of shit to the ground, hard.
I lift her in my arms and take her to the bed. As I get closer and I see the amount of blood covering the sheet underneath, I feel my own anger overflowing from within. Seeing what this animal has done to her will forever haunt me. I lay her down as gently as I can and lay my ear on her chest, hearing her heart beating. Her chest rises and falls with each breath. She may be knocked out, but she will be completely fine. I press a quick kiss on her forehead before spinning on my heel.
Drake has him on the ground, his heel against his throat, while Price stands like a statue beside him, his gun angled down towards Dylan’s chest. I reach them and stand at Dylan’s feet, looking down at his pathetic form. I bend down and wrap my grip around his wrist, I pull him to his feet as Price and Drake step back. I drag his ass into the living room and Price closes the bedroom door behind us as we exit.
Drakes glances at me, he can see the emotions running through me, no doubt knowing I am about to do something that I can’t come back from. He grabs my upper arm, Price comes over and takes hold of Dylan, pushing him down into the hard rocking chair, the tip of his gun pressed against his temple.
I let Drake pull me over towards the kitchen, “I know what you’re thinking man. You can’t kill him,” he says.
I whip my head around to face him, “Like hell, I can’t. You saw what he did to Angie. You can see the damage he has done, the blood over her body, on that fucking bat.” He nods.
“I agree wholeheartedly. The asshole needs to pay. But if you kill him, you can’t come back from that. No one will think twice if you rough him up a bit. Hell, I’ll help you, but trust me man, you kill him and you will lose yourself.” I look at him and I feel my nostrils flaring.
“He can’t get away with this, Drake. He can’t.”
I turn on my heel and walk away from my best friend, and over to the man I am going to kill.
Price reads my expression and nods. “Sir, there is no one for miles around. Shall I stay and assist, or would you like to do this yourself?” He asks. As much as Price’s military skills would come in handy in this moment, I know that this is something that I need to do myself and I won’t allow either of my friends to get involved. If I go down for this, then it will be me and only me who pays for the crime I am about to commit.
“I’ll deal with this scumbag myself. Wait here or wait outside. But either way, don’t get involved.” He nods once more, before making his way to take up position next to Drake, watching me. I pull Dylan from the chair and throw him to the floor, he rolls over, and tries to sit up. I connect my foot in a strike hard on the bullet wound in his shoulder, as he rolls onto his back, I bring it down once again, over his nose. I see the blood spreading over his face and know that it is broken.
He raises his uninjured arm to his face, and wipes at the blood. “You cunt. What the fuck do you think you are doing? Haven’t you already ruined my life enough. Firing me, for no reason might I add. I’m going to sue the hell out of you” Dylan pushes to his feet and takes a swing at me and misses wildly. I connect with his kidneys first, and swipe my leg underneath him, bringing him to the floor, landing on his back once again. I bring my foot against his throat and push down hard,
“I’m going to kill you, you worthless piece of scum” I growl down at him. His eyes flicker with fear.
“You’re not going to kill me. You wouldn’t hurt a fly, moneybags” which is where he is wrong. The voice fails to sound like anything other than a whisper.
The caged animal from within breaks free and takes over my body. I push on his throat to the point where I see the life leaving him, his hands scramble on my foot trying to get me to release pressure, but I can’t do that, and I certainly don’t want to.
“Elliot. Stop. You’re killing him.” Drake’s voice comes from over my shoulder. I hear the tell-tale signs of his boot clacking on the wood,
“Don’t come near me right now, Drake” I warn, but he is beside me, pulling me back. I see Dylan gasping for breath below me, clawing at his throat.
I launch my whole body at him, wrapping my hands around his throat, squeezing as hard as I can. I hear Drake’s voice again followed by Lenny’s, but the blood swirling in my ears makes it impossible to really hear what they are saying. I look into Dylan’s eyes which are now going bloodshot. Just a little bit more and he will be dead.
Two sets of arms are on either side of me, pulling me off him. I stumble backwards, and Drake holds me down. I shove him off and as I sit up I see Price slashing Dylan’s throat, blood spurting everywhere.
“Price” I call out, I raise my forearm to my forehead and swipe the sweat away, as I get to my feet to help him, he holds his hand up “I’ll clean up, sir”, he lowers his blade, wiping it on his pants, “go to, Angela. She needs you.”
I walk past Drake and into the bedroom and turn the light on so I can fully see Angela’s injuries. Blood stains and bruises cover her entire body. I walk to her and gently shake her shoulders. She moves slightly. I kiss her on the lips, as gentle as a feather and I feel her response, her body tightening, recoiling. She thinks it’s Dylan. “Wake up sweetheart. It’s Elliot. I’m here now.” Her eyes flutter open and look at me. I pull away giving her space, resting my hands on her own smaller one.
“Where’s Dylan?” she asks,
“He is gone, honey. He won’t bother you again. I promise.”
“What have you done?” she whispers.
“He will never hurt you again. You have no reason to ever fear him for even a second longer. You are safe, my love” a lump forms in my throat, “You scared the shit out of me just then, I thought.…” I pause. “Are you okay?” I lift my forefinger to stroke her cheek. Her eyes scan around us.
“I don’t know, I’m sore all over.” She lifts her arm to her face and wipes her cheek, smearing the now drying blood across her face, “Why are you still here? Why didn’t you leave? I’m spoiled goods. You heard him. You can’t marry me now.” Her beautiful voice cracks on the last three words.
Needing her in my arms, I hook my forearms underneath her ever so gently, lifting her closer to me. My free arm I bring to the side of her face, guiding her to look at me slightly. “Angela White, you listen to me and you listen good. I love you. I love you so much, baby, that it hurts when I am not with you. When I’m not touching you, I feel like I will die. You are not spoiled goods at all. I never, ever want to hear you say that again. You are absolutely perfect. What that animal did to you made me want to kill him. Seeing you like that, it took everything in me not to beat him to death.”
I shake my head. How on earth could she be anything but perfect in my eyes? I inhale a breath and close my eyes for a minute, “When we made love, it was the most incredible experience in my entire life, and I know every other time will be just as incredible.” Tears flow freely from her beautiful green eyes.
