Page 49 of Ravaged By the Dark

“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.”

Cody rested his hands on her shoulders.

“His obsession is beyond anything I could have imagined. He’s taken to calling all the girls Bambi when he fucks them. And believe me—you don’t even want to know what else he does.”

Renee shivered but looked up at Arek—worry and uncertainty evident in her beautiful eyes. Her gaze flicked to the tattoo on his chest.

“You swear you’ll protect us?”

“With my life. Tyson will never get near you, or he will die trying.”

Renee sighed and turned to look out the small window over the sink. Arek watched her reflection, and as their eyes met again in the window, she nodded.

“Alright, I’ll go pack.”

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Trevor fumed as he slowly stood from behind his desk to glare at the party of three in his office and reined in his anger as the small boy hid behind Arek’s leg. He rubbed his face and took a deep breath.

“Is everything okay in here?” Sally opened the door and poked her head in the room.

Everyone turned in her direction. Trev took another deep breath to calm the building storm and nodded to his assistant. “Yes, Sally, thank you for checking. We will be fine. You might as well go home early. I will be tied up here with my brother.” He paused to glare at his sibling. “For a little while. Can you please cancel the rest of my meetings for the night, and since you stayed late for nothing, you can take tomorrow off.”

“Oh, I don’t need to do that,” Sally said, her eyes still saying she was unsure about the situation.

“No, I insist. We have been burning the midnight oil on this case, and I think we could all use a break. You still get full pay, of course.”

“Well, only if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure, now please head on home.” Trev didn’t speak again until he was sure Sally was indeed gone. He watched her leave on the security feed, on his desk, and then looked up at the party in his office.

“Let’s start at the beginning. I thought you said you were going to stay away from her after the arcade debacle?”

It was obvious this piece of knowledge was news to Renee as she fixed Arek with a surprised look.

“I was going to, and I did, but then I got my hands on this guy, and he told me about Tyson’s interest in Renee. Then I found Ice Man at the house…Trev, just trust me. They had to come here. Tyson is after them, but Ice Man, who is Renee’s brother, has agreed to help us. We’re the best shot they have of escaping his reach, and Ice—I mean Cody is our best chance at nailing Tyson the way we discussed.”

“Yes, and no offense, but Renee is also the best way to have us exposed. Do you plan on killing her if she becomes a loose end, or are you going to beg me to do your dirty work since you’re obviously too emotionally invested in this case? I mean, you’ve been obsessed with Miss Bambi here since you laid eyes on her. It might be time I cut the umbilical cord.”

Again Renee looked surprised by the news. So his brother hadn’t been as forthcoming as he had wanted to portray.

“No one touches her. Ever.” Arek’s jaw was set in a hard line as he clenched his fist.

Interesting.

“You would rather us go to jail than clean up what you stepped in?”

Arek glanced at Renee and then back at him.

“I would never let you go to jail for me. You know that, but I would go to jail if it came down to it. More likely though, we can either pay off or kill whoever we need to.” Arek shrugged.