“You’re all mine now, Violet Cabot. You see, Devlin Windsor isn’t the devil. He’s little more than a boy playing a man’s game.” Connor laughed—a deep sinister laugh. “I’m the real devil and you’re about to find out how much I love to break every one of my toys.”
He pulled back and hit me again—and I heard his laugh echoing in my ears as the darkness engulfed me.FourteenDevlinI palmed the bouquet of flowers in my hands.
I wanted to celebrate the fact I'd gotten rid of Connor. That Violet was all mine now, without the shadow of another person lurking in the background. I wasn't letting anyone else near her from now on. She would remain my pretty captive, locked away behind closed doors, like a beautiful flower should be, with only her owner being able to admire her.
I smiled to myself as the view of Devil's Manor came into view through the car window.
Noticing another car on my driveway, I furrowed my brows and glanced at it as we drove through the gate. It had tinted windows.
Just as my driver parked, the other car sped up, getting off my property at a too-high speed. I got out of my own vehicle before Jasper had the chance to open my door for me. I glared down at the trail of dust the car was leaving behind.
"What the fuck was that?" I muttered to myself. "Who the hell was that?"
"I have no idea, Sir," Jasper muttered from behind me.
I took my sunglasses off, passing them to my assistant.
"Clear my schedule for the rest of the day," I told him. "I'm going to be busy tonight."
"Yes, Sir," Jasper nodded, noting something down on his clipboard and walking into the house with me. "What do you want us to do if we get any calls for you?"
"I'm unavailable," I got out, turning around to stare at him. "Unavailable to everyone. No distractions."
"Got it," he nodded, looking a little embarrassed about not realizing that sooner.
Good, I thought to myself. I want him to stay sharp.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jasper," I said, nodding to him and making it clear he was dismissed, then walking further into the house.
I was greeted by chaos. A crying Belle sat on the floor in the main hall, sobbing her eyes out, and the servants surrounding her all looked at me with terror in their eyes.
"What the hell?" I growled, walking right up to Belle.
The employees parted before me like the Red Sea for Moses. But it wasn't God who was on my side. It was the Devil himself.
"What happened?" I got out, grabbing Belle by her apron and pulling her to her feet.
I was careful not to touch her or harm her in any way, but she still cried out when I raised her to reach my own face.
"What did you do?" I demanded. "Where's Violet?"
"G-Gone," she whispered, and I struggled not to let her fall to the ground. "Please, Mr. Windsor! Let me down!"
"Where?" I barked instead, flattening her back against the wall behind her. "Gone fucking where?"
"With h-her sister," Belle managed to get out, fat tears slipping down her cheeks. "She went with Georgia, I think..."
"Georgia Cabot," I repeated quietly, knowing that meant one thing, and one thing only.
That fucking bastard had taken her.
I let go of Belle, not paying attention to her wails as I ran out into the driveway, the bouquet of flowers still clutched in my right hand.
I put a hand over my forehead to block out the sun and stared at the road leading off my property.
There was nothing but dust on the horizon.
I didn't let go of the flowers. Instead, I crushed the stems between my fingers until green juice ran down my fingertips, the flowers dying beneath my fingers.
"Connor Peterson," I growled to myself. "You're going to fucking die."
Prison is too good for you.
To be continued…