Chapter 25

Easton

Patience.

Maybe it had been a temporary virtue after all.

In the middle of the raging storm, I'd taken my weapon outside, searching the grounds. I was firmly convinced someone had made their way onto my property through the back. There was an adjoining road leading to a subdivision yet to be built. It was the perfect entry point for someone who didn't want to be seen.

Sara had pointed out the area where she was somewhat certain she'd seen someone. There were broken tree limbs and possibly a path, but with the amount of rainfall received in just one hour, it was impossible to see if a path had been created.

"Just find out if you can track down the fucking burner phone, Creed. You have experts who can handle this shit."

Creed laughed. "If the asshole doesn't want it discovered, then he purchased it from some third-hand dealer who likely owned a bunch of them for months. You know that. You were trained."

"Try and find out. The fucker has gone too far."

The previous calls to my brothers had been scrambled, which had meant the cellphone used had been privately owned and not a toss away.

This was different.

Was it possible there wasn't a single entity threatening us?

In my mind, hell, yes. I remained in my office, pacing the floor and sucking down bourbon of all fucking alcohol. It appeared it was my go-to when I was the most stressed. And right now, I could rip the head off a damn pig if necessary. How dare someone try to terrify my beautiful woman.

"Are you ready to have cameras installed now?" he asked way too casually.

"Yes. Fucking yes."

"Okay, I'll have the installation arranged. Have you worked on the list yet?"

I laughed. The list of contenders. Right now, I had a feeling we were barking up the wrong tree. "I have a feeling the asshole isn't on that list."

"Then we rule them out and start over."

"I have a feeling we'll all be dead by then." I slammed my almost empty drink on the credenza, determined to fill it several times. I'd been reckless in trying to avoid who and what I was for so long. Being CFO had made me soft, as if the past could never come back and haunt us.

It had waited to exact revenge, seeping in under the bottom of the door and in through cracks in the foundation crevices. The demons had lurked, biding their time for the perfect moment to strike. That's how we could fall, even though we were far more powerful than our foes.

All three of us had become too confident, too comfortable in our skin. We'd pretended no one could hurt us. Meanwhile, it had just been a matter of time.

Creed sighed. "We'll get this prick, bro. I promise you that."

Yeah, well, we would have to see. "I want a meeting tomorrow. We are going on a hunt if necessary. The fucker will be found and he will die. I don't give a fuck what we need to do. I am finished with playing the nice guy. That's not me and never was. You and Styx were right. I've been a fucking fool to think I could run from who I am."

I could hear him sucking in his breath out of shock. So what. Maybe I was the dangerous brother. Angel of Death? I'd show the world a man who showed no mercy. No. I never would again.

"Agreed and about time. I'll set up the meeting in the morning. Don't go off halfcocked, brother. I know you care about Sara. That's obvious, but she's okay. Whoever is doing this was simply trying to push you into lashing out. You're the rational one. We'll find him."

"We damn well better. Now, I need to think." Where my two brothers usually acted quickly with typical threats, I was the one who thought the possible ramifications through, ensuring the outcome would be what I wanted it to be.

This time, I was so full of rage I wasn't certain I could bottle it up for long.

Maybe that's why when the call was ended and I held my phone against my forehead, I heard a slight cracking sound of the plastic giving way. I tossed it aside, raking my hand across my desk, barely missing smashing my laptop. My patience was gone.

Maybe never to return.

I completed my tantrum by pounding my fist on my desk several times. "Fuck. Fuck." After slapping both palms on the surface, I hung my head, seeing blood in my vision. I would find the fuck and cut his head off.

"I take it we're not going to the ceremony."

The shot of electricity almost dropped me to my knees. I slowly lifted my head, drinking in the vision before me. While the woman I adored had been threatened, I'd been off purchasing shit as presents. But she looked incredible in the dress I'd bought her, the stilettos adding inches of height while accentuating her already long legs.

My mind went to filthy aspects of what I wanted instead of the business at hand. I walked around the edge, stepping on the items I'd tossed off carelessly. "It's not a good idea. I'm sorry." I'd never answered her question because I wasn't certain about her mindset, how she'd handle the truth.

Or maybe I just didn't want to divulge what a monster I truly was.

She nodded and walked further into the room, glancing down at the mess I'd made. "That's fine." Her words were perfunctory. "I didn't care to go anyway."

Which meant she was disappointed. I couldn't risk taking her. If there was some vendetta being planned, the ceremony would be the perfect time and place to begin eliminating us.

If that's what the fucker intended.

Nothing was off the table at this point.

The silence was telling and awkward. I sighed and looked away. "Did you open the computer?"

"Yes, it's way too expensive but very powerful. Just like you." Now she had a wistful tone, and I sensed the heat of her piercing eyes before she walked carefully toward my bar.

I cocked my head, watching as she grabbed another rocks glass, filling both with the expensive whiskey. Every action she took was methodical, every step after spinning around to face me practiced. It was possible she was in a state of denial or even slight shock.

"It's the least I could do for all the hard work you've been putting in on the book."

"Being given co-author rights will be payment enough."

At least I could still chuckle. And she wasn't joking. "Already in the works, baby. Already in the works."

She was one of the strongest women I'd ever met. As she handed me the drink and our fingers touched, we both took a deep breath.

"Who threatened me about you?"

"I wish I knew the answer, Sara. My brothers and I have been attempting to discover the bastard."

"That means you've been threatened before."

"Yes. By email and phone. It's a game, a similar one to what our father used to play when he was luring his prey to the hunt." It was at the point she deserved to know the situation was becoming even more dangerous.

"An old enemy?"

"That's what we're looking into and I suspect it's someone like a family member of a former… client of my father's."

She burst into nervous laughter. "A client. A nice of way of putting a former piece of prey."

"This is no joke, my sweet Sara. The person is out for revenge. He will stop at nothing to get it. And know this. You've been identified as my weakness. As such, the person or persons will try and use you against me."

"By making me hate you?"

I took a deep breath, nodding. "Possibly. At minimum, they will make you fear me, telling you I will hurt you."

"Will you?"

"I haven't lied to you at all. While I haven't told you every one of my past activities, you're a very smart girl. I'm certain you now understand why."

She took a few seconds before nodding. At least perhaps now she better understood my caution and my continued anger.

"And I will never, ever hurt you, Sara. You're very important to me, even though it was a mistake to bring you into my life."

"Because I'll always be ammunition?"

"Yes. After this is over, you will be free to go if you want. In fact, I suggest you consider leaving town." The ache in just saying the words surprised the fuck out of me. Since when did I ever let something I wanted go?

Since I'd found the one thing I couldn't own.

Her love.

I could keep her captive for the rest of her life, showering her with beautiful things but I wasn't that kind of man. I wanted more.

Much more.

The question was, could I provide her the kind of life she deserved? It would seem we were both having a difficult time keeping our eyes off each other. Partly because she was trying to figure out whether she should run screaming from me. Maybe she should. But I was just enjoying basking in her beauty, knowing the moment might be short lived. However, whether or not she wanted it, I would protect her. No one would dare touch her again.

Even the way she was dragging the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip remained far too provocative, which wasn't what I should be thinking about.

I watched as she brought the drink to her lips, closing her eyes as she took a sip. When she lowered the glass, she darted her eyes back and forth. "I need an answer, Easton. Are you or are you not this Angel of Death the press mentioned?"

"As I said to you before, my sweet, some answers will terrify you." I attempted to touch her face and she glared at me defiantly.

Her laugh was bittersweet. "We've been embroiled in writing about murders so cleverly handled, so masterfully envisioned that our serial killer can't be arrested because there is no evidence. And our heroine is in the process of falling in love with him. With a madman killer. Imagine that."

We locked eyes for a few seconds before she spun around on her heel, heading to the leather loveseat. As she sat down, her actions were as if she was trying to command the room.

As well as the man.

Her glaring continued and I walked closer. "You want the truth?"

"Yes, I do."

"Yes, I've done some very bad things in my life, some things I've already told you about. And yes, I've killed before."

"For your father?"

I laughed. "Not really. Even in the end after we'd chased the bastards, inflicting wounds, none of them were allowed to be mortal wounds. Our father had the pleasure of issuing the final blows. However, in the business of the Saint family, those betraying us cannot be allowed to continue without punishment."

"Consequences for their actions."

She was far too matter-of-fact about this, so much so I was beginning to question if I'd missed something about her. "Yes, little fawn. As with everything in life."

"So you are the Angel of Death, avenging innocent victims by eliminating the people who attempted to hurt them. Yes?"

Everything about her smugness should piss me off but it was her way of understanding. I walked closer, never allowing my eyes to leave. "You asked for the truth and I'll give it to you. However, you will never be allowed to divulge what I tell you."

"Yes, consequences."

I laughed as I slowly sat in the chair opposite her. "While the moniker is ridiculous, I have taken lives to protect the innocent. Abusers. Rapists. Bullies. I can't stand them."

She finally altered her expression, licking her bottom lip. "I can take care of myself."

"Zane wasn't a good man. Neither was Dylan. They had no respect for women at all. I cannot tolerate that."

"Because of your mother."

"Yes."

"Your father really killed her."

I took a deep breath. I'd never admitted what I was about to say to anyone. Not to a friend or to my brothers. "He suspected her of cheating, or so he told me later. It was a lie. When my father was out, my mother took me to a psychiatrist to try and help me with nightmares. They were horrible and bloody. She was doing everything to try and protect me and he believed her absence meant she was… sleeping around." I hadn't realized just how much the admittance would bother me.

There was a strange look in her eyes and she placed her hand over her mouth. "All this time, you blamed yourself for what happened to your mother."

I closed my eyes briefly. "I guess so."

"That's why you went after these men. To avenge your mother's death."

As I lifted my glass, I wasn't certain if telling her had been the right thing to do but lying to her wasn't something I would allow. "Yes, my little fawn. You see, killing my father wasn't enough. And try as my sweet mother did, the nightmares had returned."

She looked away, processing what I'd told her. "You're not a killer, Easton. You had a horrible father who forced you to do reprehensible things. But you can't keep acting as judge and jury. Kill people in your books. I enjoy it." She laughed as if it was all one big joke.

"A burden to keep hidden." I took a swig of my drink.

"We all have them, ugly little secrets to keep hidden."

"Yes, we do. Tell me about him."

"Him?" She jerked her head up.

"Your half-uncle. Ronny Carlton."

She was horrified that I'd found out. "How did you…" Her laugh was even more bitter than before. "Of course. You had me checked out."

"Yes, my little fawn. I did. It's necessary. What I learned is that we're exactly alike, which is why we work together so well." Was I trying to convince her of that?

"Right. In your line of work. Here's where we differ, Easton. When the acts my uncle committed were discovered, our entire family was almost destroyed. He did some very vile things that the people in our town and the press could never forget. They crucified us for what he did, as if it was in our blood."

"Is that why you're writing horror stories, to find out?"

"I thought so," she said, nodding. "But now I know I've been fine with who I am because my parents were tough but loving. They taught me right from wrong. Come to find out I'm writing because I love it and because I'm damn good at it. Not because I'm worried that I'll turn into a monster. And if you want to know the truth. You're writing to prove that to yourself as well. You're a good man. I can sense it. Killing even under the guise of best intentions won't bring her back nor will it release the guilt. Only you can do that for yourself."

"Wise words for someone so young. But you aren't me."

"No, but you aren't the monster you think you are either. Maybe you need to tell your mother what you did so she can release you from this prison you've put yourself in. If you don't, you're only going to suffer horribly for the rest of your life. And I doubt that's going to be for very long."

"Maybe so but killing is in my blood."

"How about saving lives?"

I wasn't certain what she wanted me to say.

In truth, I wasn't certain of the answer any longer but one thing that remained clear.

Sara was everything I needed, yet more than that, I'd allowed myself to feel again. She was truly everything I'd ever wanted.

I could see turmoil in her eyes as she stood, very slowly heading for the door. When she stopped, I was intrigued as to what she wanted me to say.

"My friend has been warning me about you."

"Josie?"

She bit her lip before nodding. "Her father is a senator. He used to be the police chief. I have a feeling he wants you and your brothers put away."

I laughed, although I was more than curious about what Josie knew. "Her father can take a number."

There was another moment of awkward tension settling between us.

"I told her not to bother me."

"That's not a bad idea. At least for now. She's your friend and I don't want to interfere with that under any circumstances."

She offered another nod, her eyes darting back and forth but this time not at me. She was concerned, uncertain.

Including whether to trust me. How could I blame her?

"You're right about Zane. He was a horrible man." Her voice was now small, her brow furrowed.

"Why are you saying that other than what he did to you?" I asked, swirling my drink.

She held her arms, tipping her head over her shoulder. "He assaulted his girlfriend and never paid the price. Maybe I'm glad he finally received punishment. Maybe I'm jealous, wishing I'd been there at least to see it. I'm curious. Are you having the nightmares any longer?"

I thought about her question. "Not since you came into my life."

I could hear her ragged exhale, as if uncertain whether to believe me, but I realized it was very true. She was my salvation after all.

With that she walked from the room and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I wanted to be a better man.

And I never wanted her to end up like me.

My beautiful light.

My shining star.

The woman who would forever haunt my dreams.