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“Don’t whine. You asked for this when you decided to target my woman.” Handing Devlin the axe, I remove my suit jacket, then shirt, not wanting to stain another one. With his ankles and wrists shackled to the wall, he stands nude and unable to move. “If you tell me who hired you, I’ll make this quick.”
The weak man barely spares a thought before blurting out, “Roberto Santos,” as tears stream down his cheeks. What a spineless weasel.
Shaking my head to ensure I heard the name right, I debate going back on my word to Arturo about leaving him to deal with his bastard child, but that would only cause more problems.
Reaching for the axe again, my fingers grip it once it touches my palm, and I swiftly lodge it deep into the man’s chest. He screams, blood spurts out around the edges of the steel blade, and when I pull back, it flows from the gaping wound. I’m not sure how he’s still alive, but he lifts his head, blood leaking from every hole as I reach inside his chest and feel his beating heart.
His eyes widen as my fingers wrap around it like a vice. “Burn in hell,” I growl, then yank the organ out like it never belonged. He stays alive only long enough to watch me drop it to the ground and stomp on it, blood exploding from every side, making a larger mess than anticipated.
“I guess the Kern River is out of the question to make it appear like an accident,” Devlin comments dryly. “That’s okay, I have other spots for bodies. Can I presume you’re catching a flight back tonight?”
“I need a drink first.” I’ve never been afraid to get my hands dirty, but this is the first time I’ve truly enjoyed myself. Holding a heart in your hand while it beats inside a chest makes a man feel powerful, invincible. It’s a dangerous emotion, but one well deserved in the moment.
“I’ll have someone clean this up. We’ll get a drink. Any particular way you’d like him disposed of?” We glance back together.
“In pieces.” He deserves nothing less.
CHAPTER 26
Hester
“Hester?” Scarlett’s soft voice draws me out of my daydream as I sit poolside alone while the sun gets ready to set.
“Yes?” I open my arms, and the little girl doesn’t hesitate to sit next to me on the lounge chair. I came out here after dinner because I felt overwhelmed, and Sandra had taken the kids to the movie room to watch Jungle Cruise, one of their favorites, so they were distracted without me.
“Are you going to marry my daddy?” Her fingers play with the ring on my finger. The one I can’t stop marveling at.
“W-w-would that be okay with y-y-you?” Damn my nerves!
Scarlett sits up, turns sideways, and grips my cheeks, a serious look on her face. “Would I get to call you Mommy?”
Stunned, my mouth flops open, not sure how to respond at first. “I th-think you have to ask your f-f-father that.”
“But would you be okay with it?” How is she only four? This girl is so insightful. I nod because words elude me, and she smiles brilliantly before looking past me to someone behind us. “Told you so!” She sticks her tongue out at them, then throws herself into my arms for a strangling hug. She’ll get no complaints from me because I was deprived of hugs my whole life until this family.
“Don’t need to be smug.” I hear Nate’s amused tone as he reveals himself, before sitting on my other side. His eyes drop to his lap, and his cheeks redden as he bites his lip.
Clearly, he has something else to say.
“What’s on your mind, Nate?”
Instead of answering, he grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. Curious, Scarlett and I follow him into the house to the den, where Ella stands holding a stunning purple-lavender silk wedding gown and a matching crown of flowers, sprouting sprigs of baby’s breath.
“W-w-what is this?” The thing about being with Cato is that his love and support have eased my anxiety about being around people, and sometimes my stutter is minimal because he’s shown me not everyone is bad.
“Well, Cato gave me a call earlier, then I enlisted the kids' help, and they chose this gown for you to get married in. It arrived about twenty minutes ago.” Ella’s happy, whimsical smile is contagious.
“W-w-wedding? N-now?” I step into the dress, noticing it’s the perfect size, and even spot a pair of matching heels on the floor next to it.
“I have a flower girl dress too!” Scarlett dances over, hanger in hand, with a dress in the same shade but with a tulle bottom, plus her own little flower crown and a basket filled with white rose petals. “We’re ready for a wedding!”
“When?” I stare around the room, and butterflies flit in my belly.
“Duh…right now!” Chelsea’s voice fills the silence. I spin to find Nate holding a tablet with her face on the screen. “You didn’t think I’d miss this just because someone added another hole to my body, did you?”
“Chels.” Reaching for the screen, I nearly hug it to my chest; I miss my friend so much. “H-h-how a-a-are you?”
“Don’t start the tears and stuttering, girl; you’ll get me sappy and pissed all at once. Ella said you’ve been doing so good without stuttering. I’m so proud of you, H!” I just laugh and nod. “I’m good, I promise. I just want to watch you marry the man of your dreams, and Ella has promised me optimal seating.” She gives me her signature playful wink, so I know my friend will be okay, and it encourages me to jump on this quick wedding ride because there’s no better time for it.
