“Why didn’t I? Well, Richard, you motivated me.” He grabs a handful of Richard’s hair and yanks his head back. “Everyone I kill deserves it. They either abuse women or young girls. Most are assholes in a woman’s life who need to be punished. You are the worst of the worst.”
“Who are you?” Tears hover in his eyes, and blood drips. The sound is ominous.
“A man who is going to stop your world, and the horrible things you do.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I do, Richard. I know what you were going to do in there.” Richard’s eyes roll in the direction of the room. “I know what you’ve done in the past. I want to make it hurt.” Ezra grabs the knife and digs it in before slowly removing it. Screams fill the space. “I want you to feel some of their helplessness,” he whispers, and thrusts the blade into his other thigh. “I think it’s only right.” Again, he removes it, and he punctures his side, and then the other.
Richard is beyond screams. He whimpers and falls to his side, and Ezra eases back. His eyes are wide, staring into my mate’s with horror. I step forward, and Ezra arranges him, straightening his legs. He lifts the edges of the tarp, making sure the blood is contained. He balances above him, his feet on either side of his body.
“Let me,” I say softly, and he looks at me sharply.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I don’t have to know all the details. I imagine the helplessness of the children and their parents.
“Come here,” he demands gruffly. I walk forward and stop on his left. “Stand as I am. In front of me.” I do as he says and I stare at Richard. His mouth is opening and closing, but no sound emerges. “Hold the knife.” He lifts it in front of me, and I replace his hand with mine. I crouch and hold it against Richard’s neck.
The blade is sharp and cuts through the skin easily. We can’t stop the memories of his destruction, but I hope in some way, they get peace from his death. I wait until his heart slows to dangerous levels, and then stops before standing.
“What now?” I ask, handing him the weapon.
“Now, I send proof. Step away.” He wipes the knife on Richard's shirt before sliding it in its sheath. “Hand me your gloves.” I glance at my hands, noticing the blood on the right one, and roll the left one over the other. He takes them and tosses them on the body. “Don’t touch anything.” I nod and put my hands in my pockets.
I wait patiently as Ezra erases any sign of our presence. He pulls another pair of gloves out of the bag. It seems like magic, its depths are endless. Richard is contained and enclosed in plastic. Humans have no clue the monster my mate eliminated. The people he is protecting would be the same who would hunt him if they knew he was a shifter. We would be threatened and studied. I admire him. He doesn’t ask for credit or glory. He does the job and gives the proof of the monster's death to those who need it. There was a part of me that needed to be involved. It wasn’t hard to kill an abuser. Oddly, this experience has helped me trust him and get to know him. He takes a picture of Richard, then gathers his supplies and places them by the back door.
“How did you know he would come in the front door?” I ask as he moves to the body bag.
“He didn’t think he needed to hide.” He lifts Richard over his shoulder. “Plus, his scent wasn’t anywhere behind the house, and there weren’t any signs across the grass. Let’s go, Foxy.” He nods, and I hustle through the kitchen. I lift my hand to open the door, but drop it, remembering what he said. “I got it.” He opens the door, motions me through, while holding a body, grabbing the bag, and somehow locking the house.
“Have you worked with anyone before?” I walk beside him as we trek back to the vehicle.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t needed to.” He glances at me. “Having someone else with me can cause issues I don’t want to deal with. Trustingsomeone with your life is a big deal. If they talk to the wrong person about a job or they can’t follow through at the moment, my life is at risk.”
“Yet, you brought me.” I lick my lips. “And you let me help.”
“I would never allow anyone to hurt you. I trust you.” He adjusts the body. “You are my mate, and the only one I will let come with me.”
“Oh…” My heart falls a little in love.
“I’m proud of you.”
“You are,” I whisper, absurdly touched.
“You didn’t panic, followed my lead, and helped me rid the world of an evil man. You did well, baby.” He smiles, and my cheeks warm.
“Thank you for trusting me.” We stop at the back of the car. I’m impressed with his process, and watch him in fascination. “What are you going to do with the body?” I ask as he closes it inside a hiding spot.
“Make it disappear.” He closes the back and walks me to the passenger side door. “The night before we met, I killed a man. Bash let me use a building to dispose of him. I suppose I’ll have to ask him again.”
“I wondered if you knew each other. I noticed you were friendly.” I get in, and he pauses, standing in the open door.
“I don’t know if I would describe our new connection as friendly.” He smirks, leans close, and pulls the seatbelt across my body. I suck in my stomach as his hand grazes my shirt. I have the urge to lean close and soak up his warmth. “I’m determined, though,” he says softly, clicking the lock. “He needs another friend.” I giggle, and he winks. He shuts the door, and I take the time it takes him to get in the driver's seat to attempt to calm my racing heartbeat.
