Chapter 9
RENZO
“I’ve got you,” I whisper against Jaylin’s forehead before pressing a kiss there. I breathe her in and tighten my hold on her. Thank Christ she’s back in my arms.
“Renzo?” Jaylin murmurs through tears.
“I’m so sorry I let this happen. I…” I swallow back tears of my own, and clear my throat. “Fuck, I was so worried.”
“I’m okay now. My head hurts a little.” Her voice trembles, twisting the knot of guilt in my stomach even tighter.
I gently cup her shoulders and hold my precious girl out in front of me so I can inspect her for damage. White hot fury ripples through my muscles when I see a cut along her hairline and a bruise already forming over her left eye and temple.
“I’m going to kill him,” I promise her.
“No, the fuck you’re not,” Allen says as he stumbles out of the car and points at me. We’re in a small, deserted alley, and he’s cornered. “Why would you throw everything we’ve built away for her?”
I clench my jaw and position myself between Jaylin and her father. He’ll never lay another finger on her. How can a man talk about his own daughter that way? Jaylin told me as much, but witnessing his cruel indifference first-hand is both infuriating and heartbreaking.
“If you can’t see how incredible she is, then that’s your loss. I know a treasure when I find one.” Jaylin gasps from behind me and takes my hand in hers. I squeeze it and look at her briefly, letting her see that I meant every word.
“I have something else you want, don’t I?” Allen counters. “A lucrative land deal that secures peace between the families. Is she really worth giving that up?”
“Yes,” I don’t hesitate to answer. Will this complicate things with the Bianchis? Undoubtedly. Nevertheless, I told Jaylin I’d sacrifice everything for her, and this is me keeping my promise.
Allen scowls, his face turning bright red at my response. “You need me!” he screams.
I whip my gun out and point it at this motherfucker’s head. “The only person I need is standing next to me,” I tell him in a low, controlled voice. “And you’re about to find out that I always get what I need.”
I lunge at Allen and pin him to the ground before digging the muzzle of my gun into his forehead. The fear in his eyes makes me smirk. I’m a sick fuck for wanting to watch the life drain from him, but I’ve killed for much less.
“Renzo, stop,” Jaylin pleads, her small hand resting on my shoulder.
I grit my teeth, my trigger finger itching to finish the job. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I don’t want his death on my hands or your hands. He’s not worth feeling guilty over, even for a second.”
I swallow thickly and stare at Allen, who looks like he’s about to piss his pants. I certainly won’t feel any guilt about ending this man’s life, but Jaylin’s right. I don’t want any blood on her hands. She’s my pure, perfect angel, and she shouldn’t have to see this side of me.
Still, I can’t let his actions go unpunished.
I nod at Jaylin, then bring the butt of my gun down on Allen’s nose, snapping the bone with a satisfying crunch. I pistol-whip him a few more times, then pull him up by his collar. He coughs and spits out blood along with a few teeth.
“Don’t ever fucking touch her again. Don’t look at her.
Don’t breathe in her direction. Don’t think about her after today.
If it were up to me, I’d be calling a clean-up crew right now to scrape your lifeless body off the concrete, but I’ll always respect Jaylin’s wishes.
She’s a better and stronger person than you or I will ever be. Don’t take her mercy for granted.”
Allen nods, and I shove him against the nearest brick wall, smirking when he crumples to the ground in a bloody heap. It’s a brutal scene, and I wish Jaylin didn’t have to witness it, but at least I didn’t shoot him in front of her.
“Let’s go home,” my love whispers, taking my hand once again. I lift it to my lips and press a kiss to her knuckles, showing her that even though I’m a ruthless animal, I’ll always be gentle with her.
I gather up Jaylin in my arms and carefully get her settled in the front seat of my car. Once we’re on the road heading back to the compound, I finally feel the band of anxiety loosen around my chest. I take a full breath for the first time since realizing Jaylin was missing.
I was waiting at the coffee shop for her to finish up with Rita. I’m glad I could connect those two. Rita is the mother I never had, and I have a feeling she’ll fill the same role for Jaylin.
When I got a text from Rita saying Jaylin just left and that she’s lovely, I knew something was wrong. It only takes two, maybe three minutes to get to the coffee shop from Rita’s. It had already been close to ten minutes at that point.
I raced outside just in time to see Allen drag his daughter into a car. Fuck, I’ll never get that horrific image out of my mind. I’m glad I got to Jaylin before Allen took her to a second location, but I’ll never forgive myself for letting him take her in the first place.
“Hey,” Jaylin says softly, her hand finding mine once more. “I’m right here. I’m okay.”
“You’re bleeding,” I mutter.
“But not dead!”
I growl and cut my eyes over to her smiling face. “Don’t joke about that. If anything happened to you…” Every muscle in my body tenses, but Jaylin squeezes my hand to calm me down. How can she do that with just a simple touch?
“You won’t let it,” she tells me with all the confidence in the world. I don’t deserve her loyalty after today, but fuck if I’m not going to do everything in my power to make sure she never regrets it.
“That’s right, angel.”
I pull into the compound and park in front of my mansion, eager to get Jaylin inside. I lead her to the bathroom, half walking, half carrying her down the hall. Keeping her close, I turn on the hot water and start filling the massive clawfoot tub.
Gently, so damn gently, I begin removing her clothes, taking note of every scratch on her delicate skin. Jaylin leans into my touch, surrendering herself to my care. I guide her into the tub and begin washing the dirt and grime off of my beautiful angel.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. I glide the washcloth down her spine, then massage the muscles on the way back up.
“Never thank me for taking care of you, sweet girl.” I concentrate on her head wound, dabbing the dried blood away and wincing at the knot already forming.
I take a close-up picture of her wound, and she gives me a questioning look.
“Stay right here for me, okay? Just relax in the bath. I’m going to call one of our doctors. ”
“Oh, that’s okay. Really, it’s not that bad.”
“Baby, I take your health very seriously. There’s no way in hell I’m not calling a doctor.”
She tries pouting, but I see the sweet, caring smile underneath. She likes being taken care of. Good. She’ll have to get used to it.
I slip out of the bathroom and lean against the hallway wall, wiping a hand down my face. It’s been a long fucking day, but it’s almost over. The most important thing is that Jaylin is back home.
After sharing the picture with one of the family’s trusted doctors, we agreed it’s likely a concussion, but nothing more serious.
Jaylin is lucid, speaking in full sentences, and doesn’t have dilated pupils.
If there is any concern or odd behavior in the next day or so, I’m to bring her to the hospital right away.
Taking another deep breath, I gather my thoughts enough to change out of my dirty clothes.
Right before heading back to the bathroom, I get a call from Reaper.
I’ve basically been no-contact for the last day while smoothing things over with Jaylin, so I’m sure he’s chomping at the bit to check in with me.
I peer into the bathroom and see Jaylin stretched out in the warm water, her head leaning against the back of the tub as a small smile graces her features. She’s content for now, so I decide to take the call.
“Reaper,” I answer.
“Jesus, where have you been? I thought you died.”
“You have that little faith in me, huh?”
“When you run in the kinds of circles we do, death isn’t uncommon,” he counters.
“Fair enough. But don’t you worry. I have more reason than ever to stay alive. She’s actually the reason I’ve been missing.”
“She?”
“I know, I know. How the mighty have fallen. Go ahead, make fun of me.”
“It’s not that,” Reaper says, surprising me. “It’s just… never mind.”
“Do you really think I’m going to just let that comment go?”
My old friend sighs. “I guess it doesn’t seem so terrible to have a partner,” he hedges. “I mean, I don’t know the first thing about being in a relationship. I’d probably be terrible at it.”
“For the right person, you’ll figure it the fuck out,” I tell him. Reaper blows out a breath, and I get the hint to change the subject. “Anyway, what’s the update?”
“We’re closing in on the location of the new auction house. Still don’t know who is behind it on the local side, but it has to be a large group of people supporting this whole vile thing.”
“Do you need anything from me? Ground support? Money?”
“Not at the moment. My brothers at Wicked Riders are on it. We’re staking out a few locations, and then we’ll send someone in once we’ve narrowed it down.
I’ll take care of this shit here in Denver, and you work on leads in other cities.
There are Wicked Riders chapters all across the country.
We’ll root out these fuckers for good when the time comes. ”
“Sounds like you have a good plan. I expect another call if anything changes.”
“Will you pick up this time?”
“If I’m not with my woman, yes.”
“I guess that’s the best I can ask for,” he mutters. I chuckle at his response, then hang up.
Walking back into the bathroom, I pause to appreciate Jaylin’s naked body as she’s stretched out in the tub. I shouldn’t be having lustful thoughts after what we’ve been through today, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop craving her.