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Balthazar snarls behind me. “He attacked her.”
Both of my friends’ gazes whip to me. Three simple words yet tears flood my eyes from the enormity of what happened. What would have happened if Balthazar didn’t save me.
Bree gasps and her arms instantly open beckoning me to her. Surprisingly, Balthazar releases me, and I stagger to her, feeling weak and shaky now that the adrenaline has dissipated. Her grip feels almost as soothing as Balthazar’s.
“I can’t believe this.”
Alex stares up at Balthazar, questioning him, me, everything.
The way Balthazar steels his expression at my brother’s best friend confirms he doesn’t appreciate the skepticism. “Believe it.”
Balthazar steps toward them, and Alex is smart enough to get out of the way. He’s big but Balthazar is way bigger. Like Casey’s nothing but a ragdoll, Balthazar grabs him by the jacket and flips him onto his shoulder.
We all watch in silence as Balthazar carries him out of the apartment and down the metal steps until the footsteps fade to nothing.
“Are you okay?”
Her fear pushes me over the edge because I know the apprehension stems from more than Casey’s assault. “No. Please don’t be mad at Balthazar. I know you said not to go out with him but if it wasn’t for him…”
A sob wells up in my throat from the thought of what Casey planned to do. I can’t go on.
She strokes my back. “It’s okay. Don’t cry. He was here when you needed him. That’s all that matters now.”
She’s right. Balthazar always gives me what I need. So even if she doesn’t understand or agree, I can’t give him up. I will fight for him just like he fights for me.
Balthazar
Motherfucker moans and mumbles shit as he dangles over my shoulder. He’ll be quiet soon enough.
Luck’s on my side as I approach the dumpster behind Seraphina’s building with the lid already propped up. A few plastic bags smatter across the bottom so there’s plenty of room for more trash.
I shove the piece of shit over the edge and enjoy watching his head smack hard against the rusted metal. That shuts him up. At least for a little while. When he comes to inside my dungeon, he’ll have plenty to cry about.
I text Albert that I have a pickup for Melchior and shove my phone back in my pocket. I would have loved to waste this asshole in her apartment but that would have been too easy on him and too terrifying for her.
Now I’ll get the pleasure of drawing out the most painful punishment he never could have imagined in his sad, pathetic life.
The thought of his torture calms me, and I smooth my suit jacket and straighten my tie. I need my best game face on for her friends. Ironic how I square off against the deadliest opponents in the world, and these two ordinary people are my biggest concern.
They stand between me and my girl.
I hustle back around to the entrance and up the stairs, grabbing the evergreen I left in the hallway after opening her door and seeing that bastard pinning her down. Rage spikes through my veins from the image I won’t ever be able to burn from my mind.
Hauling the tree inside, I find her cuddled on the sofa with Bree while Alex paces near the window.
Seraphina glances from the blue spruce to me with shiny eyes. Her tears fucking destroy me.
“What’s this?”
“I brought over your tree to decorate. You deserve better than that old fake one.”
Joy explodes through her grief, and she scrambles off the couch and launches herself at me. Of course I welcome her like oxygen in a choke hold. She trembles against me, and all I want to do is figure out a way to make her stop.
“Thank you!”
Her whisper possesses more emotion than if she screamed. I nuzzle her sweet neck. “You’re welcome, angel.”
Both her friends scrutinize me. Alex nods, seemingly in tentative approval. He understands I handled the bullshit that a man needs to handle. The rest is unimportant.
