Chapter 34

WALKER

I cocked my head, taking in the sorry sight of the man tied to my chair, a breathable bag obscuring his face.

He was dressed in black trousers and a work shirt, standing about five ten, with not a hint of muscle on his frame.

His hair was a light brown, streaked with dye, and it looked terrible.

He was terrible.

No, that wasn’t fair.

Even shit deserved more respect than him!

Despite his skinny frame, he’d managed to hurt my girl.

Now, he was about to experience what it felt like to be on the receiving end of two guys who knew how to inflict pain.

Hayden was practically bouncing on his toes, ready to get started.

So many possibilities, so many bones to break!

“Please! Whatever you want, you can have it! Just let me go!” he whimpered.

Hayden, eyes wide and hands rubbing together in anticipation, began to circle the man in the chair.

~Well, hello there, Hayden’s dark side~, I thought.

“I have money! In my wallet!”

I scanned him, noticing the bulge in his left pocket. I was surprised Dominic hadn’t relieved him of his wallet during the transport.

I gave Hayden a nod, and he reached into the man’s pocket, pulling out a black leather wallet.

He tossed it to me, and I caught it with one hand.

Opening it, I pocketed the cash and a picture of Tayla from her school days. She looked younger, full of hope and innocence.

I pocketed that too.

“Will you let me go now?”

With a single look from me, Hayden landed a punch on the bag covering the man’s head.

He screamed.

He actually screamed like a little girl!

I closed my eyes as Hayden hit him again.

His painful scream filled the room, and I found a sick sense of satisfaction in it.

I was enjoying this.

“Please!” he begged, tears streaming down his face.

Hayden grabbed the man’s shoulders and drove his knee into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

He slumped forward in his chair, gasping for breath.

Hayden moved behind him, grabbing his hair through the bag and pulling him back in his chair, exposing his throat.

I stepped forward, my hunting knife in hand, and brought the tip to his Adam’s apple as Hayden held him in place.

I lowered my voice, speaking in a cold, detached tone.

“It would be so easy to kill you,” I growled.

The man began to shake, terrified. The smell of urine filled the air, confirming that he’d wet himself.

His fear was intoxicating. I pricked his skin on his neck, watching as blood welled up.

“So fucking easy,” I whispered.

“Please!” he cried.

Hayden yanked on the man’s hair, causing him to hiss in pain.

I stepped back, flipping my knife in my hand, tapping my finger on the point.

“Break a few ribs,” I instructed Hayden.

“No!”

Hayden grinned coldly and released the man’s hair, moving around to the front.

The man was helpless, his arms tied back. Hayden landed a punch on his side.

The man began to scream again, and I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of justice for Tayla.

Hayden hit the same side again, ensuring he broke at least two ribs before letting out a howl of pleasure.

He was a fucking beast!

I stepped forward again, landing a punch on the man’s face through the bag. I knew I’d broken his nose. I leaned in close to his ear.

“You will never hit another woman ever again, or we will finish what we started here today,” I threatened, making him whimper.

I noticed blood seeping from the bag over his head and smiled.

Nothing beat the sight of fresh blood!

Stepping back, I pulled out my phone as Hayden landed a few more punches.

“Dom? I got a drop-off for you!”

“Sure thing, Boss. Be there in ten.”

Hayden pulled out his gun from the back of his trousers.

Shit!

“No!” I said, firmly.

Hayden looked at me longingly.

I shook my head.

“No!”

He grunted and slid his gun back.

I moved towards him, touching his shoulder and smiling at him.

“Let’s get cleaned up,” I said, quietly.

Hayden gave the man in the chair one last look of pure hatred before we both retreated to the kitchen to wash our hands.

“Still think that fucker needs to die,” Hayden muttered.

I tossed him a towel and dried my hands on another.

Dominic entered the kitchen, twirling his keys on his finger.

Hayden’s face hardened.

“Or him?” he suggested.

“Love you too, big boy!” Dominic teased, winking at him.

Hayden made a move towards him, but I shot him a warning look, stopping him in his tracks.

“Suck my dick!” Hayden spat at Dominic.

Dominic leaned against the island and grinned.

“Not my department,” he retorted.

I could feel a headache coming on.

“Drop the asshole off somewhere under a bridge,” I ordered Dominic.

He nodded, and I turned to Hayden.

“Find out where Tayla is and keep an eye on her.”

Hayden pulled out his phone and started tapping away.

Dominic pushed off the island and headed down to the basement.

“Tracking says she’s on her way here in a car,” Hayden reported.

“Fuck! Help Dominic while I distract her. Once clear, get rid of the fucker!” I ordered.

Hayden headed down to the basement, and I took a seat on a stool, waiting for my girl to come home.

A few minutes later, I heard the door open, and there she was.

She had a duffle bag in one hand and car keys in the other.

“Did you steal Logan’s car?” I asked, laughing.

She shook her head, and I noticed her mood had shifted from this morning.

“The mini is mine. I’ve officially moved out,” she explained.

Her eyes lacked their usual sparkle, and I noticed her knuckles were slightly red.

Had she punched something?

Or someone?

Logan?

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded quickly, a clear sign she was hiding something.

I slid off the stool and moved towards her, causing her to look away.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her against me, forcing her to look up at me.

“Tayla? I’m going to ask you again. Are you alright?” I said, firmly.

I watched her swallow before nodding again.

I gently lifted her chin with my finger, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

“Don’t fib to me, sweetheart. What’s going on?”

“I had a fight with Logan,” she admitted.

I drew in a sharp breath.

Damn it!

“Promise me you won’t make a big deal out of this? I won’t ever have to see him again,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

I took her hand, leading her out onto the deck, away from the confines of the kitchen.

We settled onto the couch, her hand still in mine.

“And this?” I asked, pointing to her knuckles.

“You don’t miss a beat, do you?” she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

“How could I? You’re quite the distraction,” I told her.

I watched as a blush crept up her cheeks and stole a quick kiss.

Holding her hand up, I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain.

“I punched Logan.”

She punched that asshole?

Why?

What did he do?

A low growl rumbled in my chest.

“Walker? Let it go, please,” she pleaded, gripping my hand.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, not really,” she said, shaking her head.

“Tayla?” I growled.

“He tried to kiss me.”

Kiss her!

I shot up from the couch, running a hand through my hair.

Tayla sprang up, placing her hand on my shoulder.

“He’s my cousin and I don’t want you or Hayden to kill him,” she explained.

The look in her eyes tugged at my heart and I suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Did she see us as monsters?

“We just want to keep you safe,” I said, my voice soft.

“I know, and I love that, but just this once? Can we forget this happened and not tell Hayden? I think it might trigger something in him I’m not ready to see,” she said, worry etched on her face.

If only she knew?

There was no way I could tell Hayden about this and stop him from tearing Logan apart.

She looked up at me, her eyes pleading, and I growled again.

“Alright. But if he comes anywhere near you again, I’m siccing Hayden on him,” I warned.

She tiptoed to plant a quick kiss on my lips before something caught her eye.

“Is there something sticking out of your pocket?”

Her hand darted to my side and she held up the photo I had swiped from her ex’s wallet.