Chapter 8 #2
Stepping around the same corner she had passed moments ago, I noticed her at the far end of the block speaking to three shitheads that I knew by name.
Every instinct in my body exploded, ready to break through my flesh.
Nobody deserved to talk to my Little Spade without my permission, especially these particular filth demons.
Rip and his men thrived as part of the elite scum of Superbia.
If there was a dirty deal going down, these guys were involved.
They had their hands in a lot of pockets and probably stroked every other wrinkled dick in this city to keep their hands figuratively clean.
Seeing them advancing on Eve when she was retreating summoned all the hellfire that ran through my blood.
Eve took off like a rabbit with a band of coyotes chasing behind her.
Little did they know, they had a fucking dire wolf lurking behind them.
As they all disappeared down an alley, I hastened my approach.
My footsteps grew heavier with each step closer, and my vision sharpened and turned red as my power took over all my senses.
Stepping up to the alley’s mouth, I clenched my fists at my sides tight enough to pop my knuckles and turn them white. They had caught up with Eve and had their slimy hands on her.
Raw power seeped out of me from every pore, looking for any escape into the atmosphere. Nothing would have pleased me more than to thrust it onto the group of men before me, tearing them limb from limb in the process.
It was obvious that Jinx and Jasper saw me first by the way they looked ready to shit their pants. Good.
Through clenched teeth, I growled out my claim, “She’s mine.”
Eve opened that smart mouth of hers, and the way she so readily accepted my claim further fed my possessive feelings over her. Maybe she understood now. If not, she soon would.
Rip turned and stared at me, eyes widening for a microsecond before he masked the expression, cloaking it in cockiness instead.
“Ace, my friend. Is that you?” he asked as he plastered a diplomatic smile on his face. “What brings you here? Heard you had quite a sickeningly posh event tonight at Sevenfold. I’m surprised you aren’t tending to your beloved guests.”
Advancing with deliberate slowness, I snarled loud enough that my upper lip curled, leaving it twitching with barely controlled rage. “I said, she’s mine.”
He dared to look surprised as he glanced at my girl and then back at me. “Yours? Funny, I don’t see your mark anywhere on her.”
Something I’d remedy after this. “Need I remind you, as a Knight of Hell, my declaration is equally as valid as any mark.”
With unwavering confidence, Eve attempted to step past Rip until he placed an arm in front of her, barring her from passing. His challenge clear in his beady fucking eyes. “She owes me a debt. Once I get what is owed from her, you can have the leftovers.”
Before I could respond, Eve interjected.
“The only fucking thing I owe you is a kick to your balls!” She snapped as her hands pushed Rip’s arm, only managing to budge it an inch.
Nonetheless, she maintained contact through a few more persistent shoves to try to bypass him.
It only lasted a few seconds, but I could sense her powers triggering during the contact.
Good girl.
I stepped another foot forward, and the movement triggered Rip to shove Eve back. She must have seen the swing of his arm in her mind’s eye because she easily ducked underneath and ran for me.
Grabbing her arm, tighter than I probably should have, I drew her in against my chest. Threats towards anything of mine lit up a protective streak in me thicker than infernal tar.
“Show me proof of her debt to you, and I will gladly pay it,” I demanded. We both knew he had nothing to validate that this mysterious debt existed. Nobody voluntarily got themselves ensnared in Rip’s predatory dealings.
He grumbled, his eyes narrowing in frustration. “The type of debt owed to me can’t be paid in anything you can afford. Let this be your warning, Reynard. This isn’t over. I will take what’s mine from your pet, and while I’m at it? I will be even closer to seizing control of your casino.”
Over my dead body would he do either of those things.
Squirming under my ironclad grasp, Eve shot back at Rip with all the feistiness of a pissed off banshee, “You wish, asshole! Let me do you a favor and tell you what I see. A sad sack of shit demon who can’t even convince starving maggots to suck his rotting dick.”
I exhaled sharply. I’d almost be amused by her choice of words if they weren’t instigating a battle that strategy demanded I fight later.
Growling in annoyance that she continued to taunt Rip and his two jackals with colorful curses punctuated by flipping two birds at them, I harshly whispered into her ear, “Little Spade, you’d do best to shut your pretty little mouth.
If you don’t, I will find something to fill it with until the only sounds I hear are you gagging or whimpering for more.
” I paused meaningfully before adding, “Your choice.”
Could I handle three demons? Of course. Could I do it while keeping Eve safe? Not if she kept this shit up.
Rip barked out a rattling laugh. “Oh my, what a fun treat it will be putting you in your place, Evie.”
Before I could remind him that she didn’t belong to him, he lifted a hand.
“I know, she’s yours—for now. We will see how long that lasts when my last few deals close and Sevenfold becomes Rip’s Rare Treasures.
And darling,” he said, looking at my Little Spade.
“You’d be one of my best-selling acts with that precious gift of yours. ”
Adding insult to injury, he puckered his razor-thin lips in an exaggerated kiss before fucking winking at her.
Eve opened her mouth, but when I cleared my throat and squeezed her arm in clear warning, she wisely chose to remain silent this time. Thank the unholy trinity for small favors.
Remaining tall in my stance, I glared at Rip. “You don’t have the clout to make the type of deals to take Sevenfold or anything else from me. You forget that you’re not the only one who has friends in high places.”
He shrugged, unfazed. “Ah, yes. We will see how strong your royal friendship is when convenience outweighs your burdensome financial woes, won’t we? Past failures have a way of coming back to make fools of us all.”
Rip motioned at Jinx and Jasper to fall back like obedient lapdogs. “Keep her warm for me, won’t ya, Ace? I’ll be back to collect, with interest.” He flashed an unsettling grin before turning and taking his leave down the far end of the alley.
Only after the three of them had left did I feel the crimson filter of my sight slowly fade, and my hold on Eve loosened.
Looking down at her sweet face, I couldn’t let there be any question about who she belonged to. I needed to keep her safe, and the only way I could do that was to mark her as mine.
…Officially.