Payback (Dueling Devils 2)

His stomach turned in protests. “We’re done here. Everyone get back and head to the club. I got the prospects throwing one hell of a party. If anyone asks, which I doubt they will, we’ll have an alibi.”

A rumbling of agreement and cheers filled the air.

“You guys did me proud tonight. I won’t forget it. Lefty hang back with me. I want to make sure this is put to bed properly.”

“Yep,” Lefty replied.

As the others disbanded, leaving the carnage behind, he watched the building go up in flames.

“You think this is over?” Lefty asked quietly.

“I sure as fuck hope so. I blew the warehouse, so there’d be nothing to come back for. I know we could’ve used it, but in the end, I don’t think it’d be worth the trouble it might cause.”

“Good call.”

“I hope so. I want this shit put to bed. You call in a marker at the station.”

“Yep, gun trade gone wrong.” Lefty nodded.

They lapsed into silence as the building crackled, popped and smoldered.

Ardy watched Demon from the back door as she finished the dishes. He’d been stoic for the past two weeks. He’d come home reeking of smoke and gasoline. He’d pulled her into his arms, held her tight and never said a word. It terrified her. Watching him pull back had been a painfully slow death, but she’d given him the space he needed. Now, she needed to pull him out of the darkness he’d been flirting with. She placed the last plate in the cabinet and walked to the sliding door.

Out on the deck, she approached him slowly. “Hey.”

“Hey. The kids finally asleep?” He glanced up.

“Oh yeah, after a whole afternoon in the park they were out once they hit the bed,” she answered, running her hand down his back.

He glanced down at her.

Ardy released a sigh. “Are we going to talk about what happened?”

“You know we don’t talk business with our women. That protects you too, you know?”

“I know, Jonah.” She leaned against his side, resting her face against his arm. “But something it eating you up and we’re not going to be able to move forward until you talk about it. I’m not asking for details. I just want to know what’s weighing so heavily on your shoulders.”

He slowly leaned his head back and peered up at the sky. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Ard.”

“Say whatever it is you want to say. Be blunt, be a dick if you need to, but say something. Every day, I feel you slip a little further away. Did you change your mind about wanting to be together?” She sucked on her bottom lip. “I don’t know where I stand, or what direct—

“No.” He placed a finger on her lips. “Don’t ever doubt the way I feel about you Ardy. Nothing’s changed there. I just needed to get this shit in my head straight. I’ve done a lot of bad shit in my life. I can handle the weight. But I never had to deal with wanting to be worthy for someone. How can I come to you with all this death clinging to me? It’s like tainting you.”

“What?”

“You’re pure and good. It drives home how much of a bastard I am for keeping you.”

“Keeping me? Like I’m an object that can be idly tossed aside.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then explain it, ‘cause this is sounding like a kiss off.”

“Fuck Ardy I don’t want to see you look at me with fear or disgust. I can’t handle it and eventually it’s going to happen. Don’t you understand that? I can’t keep the two worlds separate indefinitely and then what? I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t. Where is all this coming from?” She cupped his face with her hands. “Talk to me.”

“I took them all out Ardy. I made sure every last one of them was dead and I burned everything that meant anything to them down to the ground.”