Page 23 of Naughty

"No. She's busy making sure the systems are secure. Have Mama Gloria do it."

Nodding, he holds her tight and runs for the door. I get it now. I truly understand his fear and pain when Red ran off with his mate. The only difference is, I trust Red with my life. I still don't trust Asmon as far as I can shove him.

I roll my neck and loosen my shoulders before heading towards the door Noel came from. Maybe this is how we finally mend the gap between us. If things weren't so dire, and I wasn't so worried about losing Ein Hexenmeister, I would have taken Noel home myself. Watching her disappear with Asmon is agonizing. It feels like the other half of my soul is drifting into an abyss. Once she's back in my arms, I'm never letting her go.

A loud thump startles me. Whirling around, I hunch down into a defensive stance. When I see Red coming through the back door, I ease my way back up.

"Cough next time, would ya?" I stare at him for a second, ascertaining if he's back to normal. "You're good, right? You've got my back?"

"You're an asshole. I don't see how you're not somehow on that naughty list. But I made a vow to protect Christmas with my life. That, unfortunately, includes you. So yes, I have your back."

Nodding, we both enter the darkened room. The space is empty except for a door leading into another room and a small, metal cage. My heart constricts at the sight. No wonder Noel freaked out. At that moment, I consider banning cages of all types. I never want my mate to feel afraid again.

I force my gaze away and tiptoe about the space. Red tilts his head up into the air and heads off in the opposite direction. I don't even question him. I follow close behind, keeping alert to any sounds. As we come to a dead end, I frown. Red holds his finger in front of his lips and begins to feel around the wood, his nostrils twitching every few seconds.

After several agonizing minutes, the panel slides to the side, revealing a staircase. We ease our way down, stopping at yet another door. Bright light spills out from around the seams. The handle turns effortlessly, and we both stumble into a bedroom. Everything is soft and delicate. Lacy curtains wisp about brick, giving an illusion of a window but a much bleaker reality.

Turning to the left, I spot a canopy bed with a figure hidden by white, gauzy drapes. Before I pull them back, Red tears past me with a strangled yell. He rips the curtains away and lifts Angelica into his arms. Her arm rolls off of him and onto the bed. Frantic, he shakes her, attempting to elicit a response. Tears flow down his cheeks as he looks up at me.

"She's not dead," he whispers, clutching her to his chest.

I can only stand there in amazement as he rocks her back and forth. Angelica's head lolls to the side, and her eyes brighten just a touch when her gaze lands on my face.

"Kris."

Her soft voice cuts into me. Red turns his eyes towards mine and gives me a silent snarl.

"She's yours, Red. I don't want her."

"And that's just it, isn't it? You don't want her."

Ice slides down my back at the gravelly voice. Red lays Angelica back on the bed and puts himself between the door and her. I turn, peering into the darkness. The figure closely resembles Father. For a brief moment, elation fills me, only to be followed by hollowed sadness. This charlatan is nothing like Father. He could only dream of filling his shoes.

"Ein Hexenmeister?"

"Good guess. Lucky for you, you have observant friends."

I ease my way over, luring him to my direction. Hopefully, Red can take a hint and escape with Angelica. It's the least I can do for all the anguish I've put him through.

"Yes. I am lucky. Now that you've worked so hard to get my attention, what exactly is it that you want?"

He throws his head back and laughs, the bouncing sound more strident than tinkling. Though he's dressed in the robes and looks the part, there could never be a chance anyone could confuse him for a Santa. His jolly persona reads as fake. His smile never reaches his eyes. Stepping back a little more, my heart leaps as he follows me, turning his back on Red.

"I would love nothing more than your death."

My heart stops for a brief second. Logically, I knew this was the endgame, but hearing it is completely different.

"If you kill me, then there will be no more Christmas. Is your petty revenge worth that?"

His eyes widen and become crazed. Stepping back a bit more, I tilt my head towards the door. Red nods once and scoops Angelica into his arms, rising silently.

"Petty? You think my revenge is petty?" Laughing, he takes another step towards me. "You killed my daughter. You defiled her. You used her up like she was trash, then tossed her out with all the other garbage. I think it's completely fair. Your life for hers."

I shake my head and step to the side, keeping his back constantly turned away from Red. As his foot hits the bottom step, my body wilts with relief.

"It wasn't like that. I cared for Angelica."

"Oh, really? And that's why, after a week or two, after you slaked your vile lusts onto her, you just toss her out. Do you have any idea what it's like to see your own child go from a vibrant young woman to an empty husk? She won't eat. She barely sleeps. It's been like this for decades? And do you care? No! You move on to the next cunt that will spread for you."