Page 33 of His to Take

"My hero."

"The way you act, kid? Someone has to be." A small smile played at the corners of his lips. "You've got a knack for getting into trouble."

"Trouble's my middle name," Dylan quipped, trying to play it off. He rubbed his wrists where the ropes had bitten into his skin. "Don't worry, I'm too savvy to get hurt by a dumb asshole like him."

He tried to laugh it off, but the shaky sound that escaped him betrayed the fear he still felt. A violent tremble ran through him.

Ajax's expression softened as he swept Dylan up in his arms, cradling him close. The sudden tenderness was overwhelming, and Dylan couldn't fight the urge to cry any longer. Hot tears streamed down his cheeks, his body trembling with the force of his sobs.

"I thought I was going to die," Dylan confessed, his voice barely audible.

"Hey," Ajax murmured, tightening his grip around Dylan, protective and comforting at once. "I won't let that happen, alright? You're safe now."

Dylan looked up at Ajax, their faces illuminated by the silvery moonlight streaming through the cracked window of the shed. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. He whispered, "Kiss me."

Ajax didn't hesitate. He lowered his head, pressing his lips to Dylan's in a tender yet passionate kiss. It wasn't just a meeting of lips; it was an affirmation, a promise of protection.

As Ajax deepened the kiss, Dylan melted into his strong arms, feeling the raw power and control that had always drawn him to the mafia enforcer. In this moment, Dylan knew he was safe, and he allowed himself to truly experience the kiss, to take solace in the warmth of Ajax's embrace.

A sudden groan from Logan broke the spell, bringing them back to the grim reality of the situation. They turned to look at the semi-conscious man who had caused them so much pain.

"Shit," Ajax muttered, his jaw tightening. "I need to call this in." He began to reach for his phone, but Dylan grabbed his wrist, desperation clear in his eyes.

"Please, Ajax," he begged, tears hot and wet on his cheeks. "Don't let him get away with it again. He killed Kai! I need justice for him – nobody else will give it to us."

Asking this of Ajax was risky. Ajax was a Thorne man, and whatever this thing Dylan felt between the two of them, he couldn't expect Ajax to betray his brothers in arms.

But Dylan couldn't let Logan slip through his fingers, either. Not after everything he'd done.

Ajax's dark eyes bore into Dylan's, searching for something. Then, his expression softened, and he cradled Dylan's face in his large hands. "I can't let you kill him, Dylan."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Dylan begged, frustration bubbling within him.

"Listen to me," Ajax said firmly, his eyes never leaving Dylan's. "I can't let youkillhim." The meaningful look in his eyes sent a shiver down Dylan's spine.

Oh. Oh,hell yes.

Understanding dawned on Dylan, and a smile crept across his bruised lips. "This isn't going to be pretty," he warned.

"Everything you do is pretty, kid," Ajax replied, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

And with one last lingering gaze, he turned and walked out of the boat shed, about to call for backup — and leaving Dylan alone with Logan.

As the door shut behind Ajax, Dylan's smile spread. For now, it was just him and Logan – and the darkness that enveloped them both.

Dylan moved swiftly. There was a knife on the shelf, probably intended for ropes. Dylan had other plans for it. Its weight was cold and familiar in his hand. His heart raced, but now it wasn't from fear.

"Hey there, bro," Dylan drawled, a wicked smile curving his lips as he approached the slumped figure by the wall. "You look like you're about to pass out."

Logan lifted his head, eyes glassy and unfocused. "You... you little shit," he slurred, a venomous sneer twisting his face. "I'll make you pay for this..."

"Sure, sure," Dylan taunted, twirling the knife between his fingers with ease. "But we've only got a few minutes alone together, so I suggest you hold still…Realstill."

Logan tried to push himself up, but the drugs coursing through his veins made it impossible. Anger and fear warred in his eyes, but Dylan felt no pity for him.

This was the man who'd tried to assault him, who had killed Kai, who had tried to kill him — and Dylan would be damned if he let him get away with it.

As Logan's cries echoed through the darkness, Dylan felt something inside him shift, as if the weight of his past was finally being lifted.

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