Devoured by Doms (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 4)

She read the inscription and felt her heart seize.

Ronald Boyd

Loving teacher and friend

Born November 7, 1964

Died March 30, 2002

“Why did you bring me here?” she snapped.

“Because I know demons. This is your most hideous demon of all. The motherfucker died before you had a chance to confront him. The whole town lifted him up on a pedestal after he died.”

Erica took a deep breath, feeling the ancient panic begin to rise inside her. Even though she had her men, her saviors, her rocks, beside her, Ronald Boyd was right there, too. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to do here, guys.”

“It’s time for you to face the fucker and release the hell you’ve suffered for so long.” Dylan’s tone remained steady but firm.

“How? The man is dead.”

“Thank Go

d.” Cam grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Get to the point and fast, bro. Can’t you see she’s shaking?”

She hadn’t been aware that she was. Dylan had called Cam and set this up. They’d ambushed her.

Dylan moved closer to her. “Listen carefully to me, my love. With everything that has happened to you, you haven’t given up. The whole town knows that you are strong. You won’t go down without a fight. This asshole,” he pointed to Boyd’s grave, “needs to know that, too. You need to know that yourself.”

Cam released her hand and kissed her on the cheek. “I think Dylan is right, baby. Why not try?”

Dylan put his arm around her. “Tell Boyd everything. Tell him he’s a motherfucker. Tell him how strong you are.”

Her heart was racing. This was crazy.

Dylan removed his sunglasses and fixed his stare on her. “Don’t hesitate. Feel your pain. Let it out. This asshole deserves to pay for what he did to you.”

Here it was, in living color. She was to face her demon head-on and take her power back. Hadn’t that been why the pain had never fully gone away? She’d never gotten the closure she so desperately needed.

“Look at the motherfucker lying at peace,” Dylan said. “Not one damn thing in the world to worry about. Never mind that he raped a beautiful, innocent young woman.”

She stared at the ground where the monster’s remains had been put. “You sonofabitch. You did that to me. You ruined my senior year and many years after. I’d lost my parents, and you came with your sickening, lying smile and forced yourself on me.” The syllables felt like acid on her tongue. “I was too young to know how to handle that. But I’m not too young now.”

Filled with rage, she grabbed her gun out of her purse and fired a shot into Boyd’s grave. “That was for betraying me into believing you were my friend, asshole.” Another shot. “That was for your slimy grin, bastard.” Another shot. “That was for holding me down, you prick.” Another shot. “That was for not giving me a choice, you monster.” Another shot. “That was for taking away my innocence, you scumbag.” She glared at the grave and fired the last shot. “And that was for raping me, motherfucker. I’m not too young now.”

She felt all her power return. Her demon was dead. Really dead. No longer would he rise inside her mind to terrify her at night.

She looked at Cam and Dylan, her angels. They’d protected her and taught her how to protect herself. “I just shot a dead man.”

Dylan nodded. “You surprised me, baby. You unloaded every bullet into that bastard’s cold dead corpse.”

Her eyes widened. “Did I just break the law?” She turned to Cam. “Shooting a gun in a cemetery has to be illegal.”

Cam shrugged. “So? We’re the only ones here. Any witnesses are dead, so they won’t be talking.”

“Oh my God. What if I had miss and hit the tombstone? One of my shots might’ve ricocheted and got one of you.”

“You didn’t miss,” Dylan said.

“Once again, you’ve proven what kind of shot you are, baby,” Cam added.