18. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

T he second Landry left the Dragon Skull’s club, his stomach churned. He pulled out of the parking lot on his bike, looking the part of a Dragon Skull. Ellis had been watching him for a while. The sniper knew where to find him. He didn’t want to throw Ellis off.

The bad feeling could have been the image of Enzo standing in the parking lot, watching him leave. Raylee, Jude, and Jazlyn stood next to him as if they were a united front against Landry going. In fact, they all had a stake in the game. Daruss and Jazlyn’s mate had gone ahead, getting in place.

Enzo would hold off for a few minutes before following Landry. They decided it was better if he did because his protectiveness of Landry would hinder the assignment.

Nausea took hold the further away he got from Enzo. And that was when Landry knew what that bad feeling was.

They hadn’t been apart since the moment they met. Landry was attached. He would have been without bonding. Since they had, it made it even more apparent. Bonding implied he would.

I think I’m in love with you. Landry was almost sure, but he’d never been in love before, so he couldn’t say with certainty.

You tell me as you’re riding away from me. Enzo didn’t sound upset, but Landry could feel just how much the separation hurt him. Just as much as it hurt Landry. That was when he realized some of what he felt wasn’t his own. It belonged to Enzo. The feeling was so strong.

He was a skillful driver, but the motorcycle swerved when the realization hit him. He cursed as he gained control again. Thank the gods none of the other guys were with him. They’d tease him until forever.

I love you too, baby.

Landry’s heart wanted to explode. He knew he had a goofy grin on his face, which was very inappropriate, given what he was about to do. I’ll tell you again when this is all over.

If you turn around right now, I’ll show you how much.

Landry’s cock got hard. Not that he was any other way. Even thinking about Enzo made his body react in ways he never thought possible.

Focus on the task, baby.

Yeah, Landry needed to concentrate on what he was about to do. A lot could go wrong if he didn’t play his cards right.

Landry sighed. It would have been a lot easier if going to Ellis’s house was an option. He’d get in. Kill Ellis. And get out again. But he didn’t know how not to leave clues back to him. With forensics being what it was and Ellis being such a shitty person, the police were bound to trace it back to the people he’d victimized, which would lead them right to Landry. They’d swab his cheek within an hour of questioning him. Jail time was inevitable. It also wasn’t an option. He needed to be with Enzo. Jail time would hinder that.

So he’d go to the club and make himself a victim all over again. Only this time, he prepared himself by learning how to kill. Ellis didn’t scare him. Okay, he was terrified, but he had a plan and skills. He wasn’t a weak kid anymore.

And he had a reason to live. Daruss and Izzy had given him that by becoming his family. The Dragon Skulls were it for him. And then Enzo had made him better than he had been before. Gentle. Kind. Loving. He was a daddy and didn’t even know it.

And he was a little pissed at Landry for going after Ellis, but trying not to be. Enzo didn’t think Landry could tell. He’d tried to hide it, but it still came through their bond. Enzo’s dragon stalked around in his mind, growling at Landry. G et over here and let me protect you came through almost as clear as if it were his own thought.

Concentrate, boy.

Right. Yes.

Landry needed the reminder.

****

The club Ellis owned was in Duchester, which was less than an hour from Wingspan. And Ellis lived in a mansion somewhere in the city. Landry would have rather have Ellis live on the other side of the moon because it was as far away as he could get.

It didn’t take a genius, which Ellis was not, for him to find Landry. It was only a matter of time. Not that Landry thought Ellis would come for him. He wasn’t sure why he did. He hadn’t thought he was on Ellis’s mind.

But a part of Landry had always expected the other shoe to drop. The thought lived in the back of his mind. Since getting shot marked the beginning of his worst fear being realized, nothing scared him.

Landry parked his bike across the street from the club. If things went bad, he could reach it quicker if it wasn’t in the parking garage next down the street.

Franklin Street was covered in Christmas lights. Green and red garland festooned the streetlamps and lights surrounded the club doors.

It was the place to be after dark in the city. Landry should know. He had been one of the so-called ‘dancers’ inside the Club Ellis. They always left the front door open when someone was inside after hours.

Landry shuddered. Enzo.

I’m here, baby. Always here. It’s what he needed to hear. He needed the reminder that he wasn’t alone. Daruss and the others were nearby, probably watching him walk into the club. They might be hidden inside the club. Landry crossed his fingers and hoped that was the case.

Landry took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. His hands shook as he pulled open the door.

As soon as he walked inside, it all came flooding back. The gold and black everywhere and the bartender was in a tuxedo without the jacket. The go-go boys practicing on the side stage. The boys being out in the open made it easier to rescue them. They would tell Landry where the others were. They appeared as beaten down and traumatized as Landry remembered being. I’m not the same as that boy anymore.

He didn’t know he’d thought it aloud until Enzo answered him. You’re right. You’re strong and capable, baby. And you’re mine. I love you.

Landry’s chest ached right where his heart was. I’ll make it quick.

I don’t care how quick you are. Just make it back in one piece.

I promise. It was the first promise he’d made to Enzo and one he would have to fight to keep, but then fighting was one thing he did best.

Ellis sat in a corner talking to two men in suits. Whatever conversation they were having ended the second he saw Landry.

Ellis grinned. “Well, well. What a surprise. I thought I would have to come to you again. But here you are, offering yourself up on a platter.”

Landry said nothing. Ellis would use everything he said against him. Instead, he stood and waited. Ellis would get to the punishment part sooner rather than later. And when he did, Landry would give him a big surprise.

“Get Donny down here.” Donny. What a fucker. Landry had hated every minute of his punishments.

Landry couldn’t wait to kick Donny’s ass. All Landry had to do was make it seem as if they had targeted him, not the other way around. It was easier not to catch a charge if he could claim self-defense.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Ellis stood.

The other two men followed. Only one of them had a gun. Ellis hadn’t ever carried one before, but Landry hadn’t ruled out the possibility.

“I want you to leave me alone.”

Ellis laughed. “Do you?”

“If you don’t, there will be consequences.”

Ellis looked at the man on his right. “‘There will be consequences’, Paul.”

Paul chuckled. “What sort of consequences?”

He met Landry’s gaze again. “Yeah. Tell us what you’ll do. Will you fuck us all? If I remember correctly, it’s what you were best at.”

Landry wanted to say so many things at that moment, but he knew they’d be wasted words. Ellis didn’t care he’d taken the choice from Landry, and he didn’t care how Landry felt about it. But Ellis’s feelings would change by the time Landry was done with him. He’d feel a lot of things right before death.

“You won’t do to anyone else what you did to me.”

When Donny entered the room, the go-go dancers stopped. Their eyes were wide and showed their fear. They huddled together in the corner. Landry wondered why they didn’t go into the back until he saw Izzy in the shadows giving them directions. If it wasn’t for Izzy’s size, Landry wouldn’t have seen him. Landry couldn’t tell what gesture he made. It must have been to stay put. Izzy waited for Landry to start the fight. He’d use it as a distraction and let the victims leave undetected.

Landry’s dragon took over, but Landry kept control. He told himself that was the way he had to be. Ellis wouldn’t take anything from him ever again.

Landry’s eyes shifted first. He made sure Ellis took them in and really saw them. And then he let just a little heat build in his core. Enough for smoke to flow from his nose and mouth.

Ellis sucked in a breath and seemed to hold it. He yelled Donny’s name, as if that human scumbag would save his life. “What the fuck are you?”

“Not a kid anymore.”

The guy with the gun pulled it from his jacket with an unsteady hand. He got a shot off. Landry jumped to the side. The bullet grazed his arm, but it was a superficial wound.

Enzo would lose his mind when he saw it.

It was enough blood for Landry to make his case believable to the cops.

Donny never came to Ellis’s rescue, which told Landry Daruss or one of the other guys must have eliminated him and every other threat in the building.

“Guess Donny won’t do your dirty work this time.” Landry’s memories of Donny weren’t pleasant. The man had been a sadistic—psychopath. If Donny was dead, Landry hoped it had been slow and painful, although he doubted it. Daruss would want him out of the way. Landry was sure Donny had had a swift exit out of this world.

“Get it done, Landry.” Izzy yelled from his corner in the shadows.

It was clear Ellis and the other two didn’t know he was there because they turned toward him. The guy with the gun took another shot.

I heard shots fired. Did you get hit? Enzo was there already.

Landry sighed upon hearing him. It was a relief to know he was close by. I’m fine.

That’s not what I asked, baby. Tell me the truth.

A bullet grazed my arm. They shot at Izzy the second time, but the shot went wide.

He didn’t want to waste the advantage of the distraction. He targeted the man with the gun first, grabbing him from behind. It took a lot of force to kill a person by snapping his neck, but it was an effective way to kill someone. For Landry, it was also the path of least resistance.

The gun clattered to the floor.

Ellis’s associate grabbed Landry from behind and around the neck. But his hold was sloppy. Landry flipped him onto his back. The man landed with a thud .

Ellis scrambled for the gun at the same time Landry did. Ellis was just a little quicker. Landry swept Ellis off his feet, which sent the gun skidding across the floor.

Landry kicked Ellis first and then his associate before picking up the gun. He shot Ellis in the leg before aiming at the other guy’s head.

Landry wasn’t the best with guns, but at close range he proved he could hit his mark.

Landry crouched in front of Ellis.

Those last two shots were mine. I’m fine.

“I see that, baby.”

Landry smiled at hearing Enzo’s voice. But he never took his eyes off Ellis. “You should have left me alone. I wouldn’t have come for you.”

Ellis turned pale.

Landry stood and took off his clothes. Leave the building, Daddy.

No way is that happening.

I’m going to set him on fire. I don’t want you to get caught in it.

“Then don’t set the entire building ablaze, baby. I’m not leaving.”

Landry shifted. Ellis started screaming again and then doubled down on it when Landry sent a stream of fire toward him. His screams turned from fear to pain.

By the time Landry shifted to his human form and dressed again, Ellis had stopped screaming.

Landry walked right into Enzo’s arms.

Enzo held him close, but only for a moment. He growled. “Let me see the wound.”

Smoke filled the room, so Landry grabbed Enzo’s hand and pulled him out. Smoke and flames didn’t affect Landry the same way they did others. He could breathe in smoke without injury. Flames wouldn’t burn him as fast. But Enzo was a normal dragon. He could die from smoke inhalation just as fast as a human could.

But Landry could get a cut or shot, and it healed almost as slow as a human. Go figure.

As soon as they were outside, so were the others, including the three dancers and four other victims. None of them appeared as if they needed Enzo to treat them. They didn’t appear to have external wounds. The internal wounds were still raw, though. He could see the horror of what they’d been through in their eyes. He knew the kinds of things they endured. He’d been through all of it.

Enzo patted Landry down as if he were frisking him. He ran his hands over Landry. “Where’s the wound?”

“Left arm.” Landry didn’t take his gaze off them the entire time Enzo was freaking out over what amounted to nothing more than a cut. In some ways, Ellis’s latest victims were a representation of Landry’s past. They were who he used to be.

It wasn’t until Enzo sighed and pulled Landry to him that Landry shut his eyes and wrapped his arms around Enzo. He breathed in Enzo’s scent. “I was scared for nothing. It wasn’t even that hard to kill Ellis.”

Sirens wailed in the distance.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Izzy patted Landry on the back. “I’ll take your bike. You ride with your mate.”

“Thanks.”

Enzo held him close as they made their way to Daruss’s truck. “That was pretty impressive back there. You killed all three of them in under five minutes.”

“Did you time me?” Landry didn’t think it had taken that long.

Enzo kissed his hair. “Not exactly. The last hour has been the longest of my life.”

It was for Landry too. He expected killing Ellis to be more difficult than it was, but the hardest part was being separated from Enzo.

Landry turned to the victim sitting beside him in the back. He handed the poor guy a bottle of water. The guy took it but didn’t speak. He clutched the bottle in both hands.

“You’re safe now. It’ll get better from here on out.” Landry knew for a fact it would only get better. But it wouldn’t be a quick or easy journey.

He laced his fingers with Enzo’s and leaned into him.

Landry reached forward and squeezed Daruss’s shoulder.

Daruss met his gaze through the rearview mirror. His brows drew together in concern. And Landry knew why. He didn’t touch people on purpose. Not even Daruss or Izzy, who were like his parents. But Landry wasn’t the same person as he was before. He wanted Daruss to understand. “Are you okay?”

“Never better.” Landry smiled.

Daruss nodded. “You did good, kid. Did all the right things. Everything Izzy and I taught you.”

Landry felt the heat on his cheeks. He could never figure out how to take praise. His ineptness always showed on his face. “Thank you.”

Enzo kissed him. “You’re saying how you thought you loved me.”

Landry chuckled. “I’m very sure now that I do.”

“Good.” I love you too, baby.

Enzo was his present and his future. He could count on it as surely as he could count on his Dragon Skull family.