Page 13 of Echoes of Temptation

“I won’t, King,” he tells me.

“If something happens to her…”

“You won’t get paid,” he smirks. “I know. Go off and do your thing.”

Leaning down, I look the bastard dead in his eyes.

The smell of fear causes my dick to twitch. Sick fucker.

“I don’t give a damn about the money,” I tell him. “If she has so much as a splinter when I return I will take you to my chamber and tie you up with the other men who pissed me the fuck off. Got it?”

Swallowing, he nods.

“Good.”

With nothing left to say I head to my car and pull out my phone.

The doctor, Malachi, his son, and the three men who tormented Sophia, are still prisoners in my torture chamber. They won’t survive much longer, which I’m fine with. I’ve had my fun and have already told Venom that if he wants their last breaths for what they did to his woman then he best get down there quickly.

“Hey, King,” Knox answers. “I was just about to call you.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Your mom called,” he tells me. “She was asking if Ma was busy next week. I guess they have plans for your birthday.”

I couldn’t stop smiling if I wanted to. Ma and my mama have been best friends since I prospected for Obsidian years back. They’re always scheming for new ways to celebrate my birthday when I tell them every year that a family cookout will be just fine.

“Anyway, did you need something?”

“Just wanted to make sure you were connected to the school’s cameras,” I admit.

“Of course,” he replies and I can hear the smile in his voice. He, Bitsy, Sophia, and Blaze have all gotten really close to Madeline this past week. Blaze has been the one staying at the clubhouse to watch over her while I hunt. I won’t let my brothers help with that part. It can get too dangerous if too many people are asking questions.

“I’m looking at her right now,” he tells me. “She’s currently singing and dancing in front of the class and it’s making them all laugh. She really loves those kids, you know. It’s all she’s talked about.”

“I know,” I smile.

I could feel her love for her students and seeing the kindness in her heart broke down the brick wall I had been trying so hard to build. I’ve never in my entire career wanted to break myown rules. I placed them there for a reason. But, I have every plan of making this woman mine. I just need to find out who is threatening her first.

Which is where I’m heading now.

“I have to go, Knox,” I say. “Be good.”

I laugh when he inhales sharply before hanging up the phone. Knox is submissive to his very bone as well as a Little. I’m not a Daddy Dom but we all consider ourselves the boy’s caretaker until he finds his very own. Even then, I highly doubt we’ll stop trying to take care of him.

Shoving thoughts of my family to the back of my mind, I start the car and head to the other side of Harborbrook. With a little hunting, I watched as the mail carrier was bribed with money a couple of days ago to deliver another letter to Madeline’s parents’ home. I followed the man back to some old building where he stayed the rest of the night.

It didn’t take much to put two and two together. I found the one responsible for tormenting Madeline. But I never jump the gun. I don’t protect guilty people and I don’t kill innocent ones. Regardless of the proof, I want a face-to-face with this man before I make a decision. Getting his contact information was a breeze for Knox and he set this meeting up for me.

“Did you bring me my money?” the man in question asks the moment I walk through the door. This building was once a gas station but was closed down when the company went under. Looking around, I see multiple men counting stacks of money while others appear to be bagging drugs.

Not my business.

“I’m not here to give you money, Wesley,” I say. “I’m here to find out why you’re threatening an innocent woman.”

“Innocent?” he hisses. “She is far from innocent. She stole several grands worth of oxy and I haven’t seen the bitch since.”

“If she stole from you then why haven’t you had her dealt with?” I ask out of simple curiosity. “Why are you hiding behind a piece of paper instead of taking care of the situation?”