17. Dante

Chapter seventeen

Dante

“ W hat do you mean, he’s disappeared?” I should have known Austin would pull a stunt like this. Why on earth I’d trusted him, I had no idea. I thought he’d be safe with Conrad, but he’d given him the slip.

Lucky or cocky? I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter, but when I got my hands on him…

“I’m sorry, boss. One minute he was there. The next he’d gone. His friend Amber had an accident in the kitchen. I couldn’t leave her lying on the floor.”

“You know he planned that.” Gullible didn’t cover it.

“I know that now, yes.”

I sighed. “Where’s he gone?”

“No clue, but he can’t have gone far. He told his grandpa he wouldn’t be long.”

“He was in on it too?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’m sure of it.”

“You let a twenty-something part angel get the drop on you, a five-hundred-year-old immortal.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“I’ll be right there. Then we’ll go find him. I only hope he hasn’t got himself into any trouble.”

But the moment I’d rounded the corner, my poor dark heart almost stopped seeing Austin surrounded by at least fifty men and not all of them human.

He stood ready to flee, but I knew he wouldn’t get far before being taken out by at least one of them. They were quicker, stronger, more agile than him, and he’d not last a second, let alone five.

A burning fury filled me, and it was all I could do to hang back and not run in, ripping heads of everyone, leaving carnage in my wake.

My chest swelled as I inhaled, smelling fear and anxiety. Some from Austin, but most from the men invited by Nick, men intent on killing Austin.

I refused to let that happen, but if one of them touched him, the pent-up wrath and anger that had simmered beneath the surface for years would be unleashed.

Whether he was my mate or not, the pull I felt when he was near was all-consuming, and I knew it was my duty to protect him at all costs.

I pushed up my sleeves and nodded at Conrad. I’d tucked Austin between us, keeping him as safe as possible.

The men advanced, some with weapons aimed, others raising their bare hands, relying on brute force.

Nick stood off to the side, a trembling Freddie next to him.

He hadn’t deserved the beating he’d received. Another reason to exact my revenge.

I’d killed Joel swiftly. This time I wouldn’t be so lenient.

A human approached, a knife in his hand. He tossed it from one to the other, his stance offensive, a cocky grin on his face.

I sighed. This was going to be way too easy.

I grabbed his throat and lifted him off the floor, his eyes bulging. Austin gasped behind me, and for one moment, I lost concentration.

The guy swiped with the knife, catching me on the cheek.

Huh, that didn’t normally happen. I dabbed my face and came away with a smear of blood on my fingertips.

Austin was a distraction I didn’t need, but how else could I keep him safe from the horde of men that appeared to have grown?

Taking them down was easy. One clap of my hands and I could disable them all, but a lesson needed to be taught. One I was happy to teach.

“Keep him safe,” I said to Conrad. Time to put an end to this.

I felt Austin’s presence leave me and knew Conrad had taken him to safety. Dealing with this mob would be no trouble at all.

I snapped the neck of the man who’d cut me and dropped him to the ground. Another took his place, and with a swipe of my hand, I slit his throat. He landed with a thud, blood staining the ground.

Again and again, I took men down. I danced around them, easily avoiding their weapons and fists.

A man with a sword came close. That could come in handy. Using the heel of my hand, I forced his head back, and with a satisfying crack, he fell to the ground.

I grabbed the sword and sliced and stabbed my way through the men in front of me, killing all in my path.

Blood flew in all directions, splattering my face and clothes. One by one, they tumbled to the ground in slow motion. I could manipulate time to benefit my needs, so I’d slowed it down, allowing me to deal with the throng of attackers coming at me.

Not even breaking a sweat, I continued to fight my way towards Nick and Freddie. He was my goal.

A behemoth of a man approached, except he was no man but a demon taking advantage of the bounty on Austin’s head.

He grunted as he stomped forwards, the ground shaking with each step. Killing him would be a little trickier but not impossible.

He snatched the sword from my hands and snapped it in two.

Well, that wasn’t nice.

He threw his head back and roared, his arms outstretched. Some people liked to draw attention to themselves, but that was hardly ever a good thing.

I punched him in the gut. Ouch. I shook out my hand. It was like hitting a brick wall, but I wouldn’t let that deter me.

This one needed taking down.

“Hey, big guy.” I placed my hand on his head, sending a pulse of power into his brain. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he dropped to the ground, convulsing.

I stepped over him and moved on to the next and the next and the next until only a handful remained standing.

The coppery smell of blood filled the air, the playground looked like a battlefield, and here I was, mere feet from a terrified-looking Nick.

“Fraudster, eh? You might want to rethink that.” I lifted my shirt and wiped the blood from my face.

“I…I…”

“I fucking told you,” Freddie said to Nick, his face pale as a sheet. “I warned you what would happen.”

“Don’t talk to me like that.” Nick lifted his arm. I’d not sent him home for that to happen.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.” I caught his arm inches before Freddie’s face and forced it backwards.

Nick howled, his arm hanging limp by his side.

“Now, you call off the rest of your men, or else they’ll end up the same way the others have. Then you take your little operation and go somewhere else.”

“I promise I will. You fucking broke my elbow. I need a hospital.”

“That you do. Now be nice to Freddie and get on your way.”

What was I saying? Since when had I been forgiving? Since when had I let things slide? This man hadn’t earned any of my sympathy. He’d manipulated and stolen from me and others. He’d beaten Freddie when he hadn’t been justified.

Nah, he didn’t deserve to live.

I flicked my wrist, and he dropped to the ground. Stone dead.

“You all right there, Freddie?” I asked.

He nodded, but he winced at the tiny movement. His face was covered in bruises and cuts inflicted by the fucker lying at my feet.

He’d brought it upon himself.

I stepped over mangled bodies and walked through puddles of dark blood. They shouldn’t have threatened Austin, shouldn’t have the intention to end his life.

In doing so, they’d signed their death warrants.

Ironic how they’d wanted me to burn the world to the ground, using him as leverage. I’d done it anyway, and while killing them hadn’t neutralised the threat, it had postponed it.

Austin was safe… for now.

I found Conrad and Austin standing in a nearby car park.

“Done?” Conrad asked.

“It’s done.”

“W-were they going to kill me?” Austin’s voice wavered.

I stroked his face. To be so innocent and naive. He might have committed crimes, but he’d been unused to the level of violence I’d performed today.

“Yes. They would have killed you. You’re safe now, but we need to get you back to the casino.”

“What about Grandpa? Nick said he’d kill him.”

“No one needs to worry about Nick anymore. Your grandpa will be safe. I promise.”

Unable to help myself, I gathered Austin to me and wrapped my arms around him. My unease slowly ebbed away until a calmness I hadn’t experienced in years washed over me.

Reluctantly he slung his arms around my waist and collapsed against me, breathing deep, shuddering breaths.

“It’ll be okay. I promise.” I had no business saying that, having no idea if it would indeed be okay.

Would I continue to savage the earth until I was satisfied, or would I succumb to my inner voice and complete the bond?

What exactly would that achieve, and was I willing to sacrifice myself for a man I barely knew?

“I’ll take care of that little lot.” Conrad walked back towards the playground. He’d clean up. He always did. No one would know anything had happened there.

Austin and I stood for a while longer until finally we broke apart.

“I need to get back to Grandpa. I said I wouldn’t be long.”

“It’s been less than an hour, but I’ll take you there now.”

We walked back to the house in silence. What was going through his head? Would he even want to return with me?

I was on the alert, watching the shadows, listening for any indication that anyone was lurking in the alleyways, but it was quiet, just the rustling of the leaves

As we approached the house, he broke into a run, and I dashed after him.

He stood on the threshold, but I waited a few steps from him. Would I be welcome inside? But Austin was upset by the events, and I reckoned he’d need the comfort of his family and friend, not me. I didn’t want our time together coming to an end, though. I wanted him. I needed him.

I needed him to soothe me, to still the destructive thoughts that had plagued me lately, but instead of saying goodbye, he surprised me.

“You’d best come in. I’m not walking to the casino later. I’ll need a lift.”

Elation. That was the only word I could think of to describe how I felt.

How had Austin burrowed so deeply into me? I was loathed to give him up. I had no explanation for it, but I knew it was the right thing.

A girl sat with his grandpa. The moment we walked in, she jumped up and ran to Austin.

“Is everything okay? I tried to stall him as long as I could.”

“So you were the one stopping my man from doing his job?”

“Hey, she was only doing what I asked her to do. Don’t scare her, Dante. It’s me you should be cross with.”

I wasn’t cross. Well, I was a little, but thankfully, everything had turned out for good this time.

“We shouldn’t stay long,” I reminded him.

“Where did you go, and why aren’t you staying here with me?” Austin knelt next to his grandpa and took his hand, but he spoke to Amber too.

“I can’t stay. I’m in a bit of trouble.”

“Is it to do with your momma?” Austin’s grandpa sure was astute. He hadn’t missed a trick.

“I’d love to say no, but I think what I am means that quite a few people would like to see me gone.”

Amber sucked in a breath. “What do you mean, what you are, and who the hell wants you dead? I warned you about those friends of yours.”

“It’s not them. If only it were that simple. When all this is over, I promise I’ll explain, but for now, I need to stay with Dante for a while. Only he can protect me. Please trust me on this.”

His grandpa patted his face. “You’ll come back to me when you can. I know you will.”

“Amber, can you help look after him?”

“You know I will.” She wagged her finger at me. “You’d best make sure nothing happens to him. If I find out he’s dead, I’ll be coming for you.” From the fire in her eyes, I didn’t doubt her for a minute. Thank fuck, Austin had such a fierce friend.

“It’s time.”

Slowly Austin got to his feet.

Conrad had arrived, and I could see the car outside, waiting.

“I promise I’ll come back.”

Without another word, we left the house. On the ride back to the casino, Austin stayed silent, and as soon as we entered, he made his way upstairs and straight to the bedroom, closing the door quietly.

Today had brought home that he was a wanted man, that people were trying to murder him. For me, it was an everyday occurrence. Someone was always out to assassinate the devil, but for him, it was new and would take some getting used to.

I showered and had some food sent up. He needed to eat and keep up his strength.

I knocked on the door, aware of the subtle shift from prisoner to occupier of my apartment, specifically my bedroom.

He didn’t reply, but I opened the door anyway.

He lay on the bed in his underwear, fast asleep, a frown on his face.

I hated seeing it there. Had I not touched the angel mark, the only thing he’d needed to worry about was me.

I’d caused this fuck-up, so it was up to me to fix it.

I couldn’t explain why, but it was an obligation that had fallen to me.

I tiptoed to the door. He needed his rest.

“Dante?” He peered at me through sleep-filled eyes.

“What do you need?”

“I need you to hold me. Can you do that for me?”