Page 54 of Ravaged By the Dark (The Righteous 2)
“Damn man, they were messed up, like the wrong kind of fucked up dead. We couldn’t figure out why the Syphons were all up in our business about their guys, thinking that we killed them. This makes a lot of sense now. You were setting us up. Shit, I should’ve seen something like that. Instead, I thought it was another gang pinning shit on us.”
“You can stop talking now,” Arek said, and Cody gave him a smirk.
Prick.
“Look, Renee…I came here tonight to keep you safe. I learned that Tyson is after you, and like your brother said, he is messed up.”
Her eyes lifted to his. “And the two of you aren’t messed up?”
“Not Tyson messed up. I hate to admit it, but he’s right, Sis. It’s why I’m here. Tyson’s done waiting, wants to take you earlier than I negotiated for, and I don’t think I can delay him. If you just didn’t antagonize him so much—”
“So what, you want me to let him talk to me like I’m his property and touch me however he wants?” Renee’s voice rose, her hands balling into fists. “Is that it?”
“No, of course, I don’t. It’s just…it excites him when you fight back. He likes to hear people scream. Maybe if you’d played meek or acted like you were infatuated with him, he would’ve lost interest years ago, but now he jacks off yelling your name so I can hear it.”
Renee’s face turned a shade of green, her eyes dropping to her lap and her hands twisting the end of her sweater.
“You should just slit his throat.” Arek shrugged. It seemed like the most logical answer.
“Dude, you have no idea. Don’t you think I would if I could? That guy sleeps sitting up with a gun in his lap. He picks the most fortified room in any location and only has his most trusted guys around him when he goes out. Yes, he trusts me, but only to a point. I’m not even allowed a weapon when I have a meeting with him privately. The guy is completely paranoid, and for good reason.” Cody moved the peas to the other side of his face. “Why haven’t you already left, Sis? You were supposed to be the fuck out of here.”
“What?” Renee looked at her brother.
“I know you’ve been working toward going to that fancy New York dance school. I thought you’d be gone by now, across the country and far away from the freak.”
“I can’t now,” Renee said, so softly Arek could barely hear her.
“Why not? You have to get out of here and find somewhere safe. He will rape you. He will cut you up, and he will—”
“Enough!” Renee looked between the both of them. “I don’t want to hear any more. You want to know why I’m not gone? Because I don’t have the money. I almost had enough saved up in tips, and Mom stole it before she took off. Now she’s selling the house, and I can’t stop her.”
“Shit, Sis…”
“And then there’s this!” Renee grabbed the envelope on the table, her hands shaking as she pulled out a piece of paper and slapped it down on the table. Arek grabbed it before Cody could. He opened it and read it, and he looked at Renee. Her eyes looked tired like she had the world sitting squarely on her shoulders, and it was still bitch slapping her.
He handed the rejection letter to Cody.
“And!” Renee’s voice raised as her emotions swirled around the room. It broke Arek’s heart. “I already know what he wants. You’re both too late. I woke up with him in my bed.” Tears welled in Renee’s eyes.
The earlier wild dark emotions were back and riding Arek.
“Did he hurt you,” he asked quietly, and Renee rubbed her arms as she looked up to him.
“No, I pretended that I would go willingly, but he had to leave right then. I said I didn’t want J.J. to see anything like what he had planned. He made me promise not to try and run. Said he’d know if I tried, and he would hunt me down.”
Her voice hitched as the tears fell. He took a chance and wrapped Renee up in his arms. Her arms slid around his waist as he kissed the top of her head and knew he would do anything to help her. Right or wrong, he was going to protect her with his life if necessary.
“Pack your stuff and come stay with me for now,” Arek mumbled into the top of her head.
“I can’t do that. Tyson said he has people watching, and you just said you murder people for a living. I mean, what makes you any different than he is?”
Arek’s back straightened. “I’m not like him. I’ll never be like him.”
The look in his eyes was so intense, all she could do was nod. “Fine, but all I’ve ever wanted is to keep J.J. away from the gang side of life and what you are—well, it is just as bad.” She gently pulled away and stuffed her hands in her pockets, and Arek’s heart hurt.
“Actually, Sis, I think you should.” Renee’s mouth fell open. “Hear me out. The group he belongs to, The Righteous, they are a deadly group, and this guy has a reputation alone that people don’t want to mess with. If he has the resources to keep you and J.J. safe, you should take it. Tyson doesn’t have anyone watching the house.” Cody tapped the table with his fingertips.
“I sent the guy to do another errand. Being Tyson’s second has at least one perk. But, if Tyson gets his hands on J.J., he will kill him or break his spirit and make him part of the gang. That is after he uses him as a pawn to get to you.” Cody stood and walked to his sister. “I don’t know what is happening between you two, but what I do know is that until Tyson is neutralized, he is a threat no matter how far you run. I was stupid to think he wouldn’t find you in New York.”
