I smirked, already envisioning his punishment as I prepared my response to his silly attempt at manipulation.
“Sure, you will get to leave.” I said in a dry, nonchalant tone.
“Good. Fine. The guy’s name is Teddy Bishop. I owe him a – some kind of debt and he said if I did this favor for him that in return he would clear up my debt.”
Gritting my teeth at hearing Teddy’s repulsive name, I nodded for Dillion to continue with the disciplining.
When he stepped up to finish the job, I laid my hand on Dillion’s shoulder and said: “So, now, Ididgive this man my word…” I sighed loudly for theatrics, holding back a menacing chuckle.
“Break his face and then his fingers, one by one. Then please, uphold my promise – and get him the fuck out of here.” I smiled in the still nameless man’s direction, no need in learning his identity now that he would soon be unrecognizable anyway.
“I never go back on my word. Honesty and integrity are important, don’t you agree?” He threw me a panicked look, his brow drenched in sweat and blood.
“Come back to my club again and I’ll see to it that no one ever sees you again.” I leaned in and whispered: “Tell Mr. Bishop.I’m coming for him.” I said each word slowly through clenched teeth.
I turned and started to open the door. I wanted to get back upstairs to Delaney and check in on Twyla. From what we could tell Jacob was able to get to her before that bastard could do any permanent damage, and Twyla is a feisty little firecracker so I was willing to bet she was already plotting her revenge.
My mind went straight to Delaney, and how she took charge, quick to throw herself into action when she saw Twyla needed help. Like she was already a part of our family here at Club Crawl.
I stopped when I got to the door when a thought crossed my mind, making me pause.
“Why Twyla? Why was she chosen as your target?” My voice was loud enough to be heard through my mask and over the pathetic whimpering fromMr. Tough Guy.
“Mr. Bishop said his plan was to pick them off one at a time. Twyla was just the pick of the draw.”
I nodded to Dillion, then quickly turned to leave, slamming the door behind me. As I exited in my anger, I caught a familiar sound of bone crushing under what I know to be a monster of a right hook.
* * *
As I approached the door to the security office, I could hear laughter coming from inside. Not just any laughter but the sweet sound that I knew so well to be Delaney’s laugh, and not the timid, ‘I’m just laughing to be nice,’ laugh, it was a huge roar of laughter that forced her to take a deep breath before she could make a sound kind of a laugh.
When I barged in, I saw Delaney sitting on the sofa with Twyla, who looked so much better than she did only a short time ago. She was bandaged and wearing my loose clothes. I chuckled as I watched her teaching Delaney about pressure points using poor Jacob who only now did I notice was sitting on the floor rubbing his throat.
“If that doesn’t work, always go for the throat punch, they never see it coming. Right, Jacob?” She hollered out in his direction.
“How are you, Twyla?” I announced while making my way over to Delaney.
“Hey. I’m fine, it will take more than a couple of punches to keep me down, you know me.” She gave me a pointed look.
“Sheesh Twyla, they don’t make ‘em like you anymore do they?” I teased, resting my hand on Delaney’s knee. She tensed a little, but relaxed shortly after.
I’d have to find out what that was about.
“Where did you find this one?” She stuck her thumb out gesturing to Delaney. “I kinda like her, she is definitelygood girlmaterial. If I have any say.” She smiled.
Delaney’s eyes darted in my direction, curiously.
“Jacob, take Twyla to get her things and get her home safely. I’ll have Enzo put some security on her until further notice. We can’t be too sure of anything right now.” I said.
Was this what she was warning me of or was there something bigger coming?
“I’ll take her to my place and keep an eye on her.” Jacob announced gripping Twyla by the waist.
“Fine.” I snapped. Not wanting to get into it with him in front of the ladies.
“Jacob, take the rest of the night off and tomorrow too. See to it that she gets that lump looked at before you settle in for the night.” Jacob nodded and gilded Twyla toward the door to leave.
Twyla turned quickly and darted to Delaney, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling her into a hug. She whispered something in Delaney’s ear that made her smile one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen across her lips.
