Page 6 of Wild Devil

The words hint at something. Is there another player behind the scenes in addition to my father? Someone that even Colton has the sense to fear?

He doesn’t explain more before turning on his heel to leave, slamming the door in his wake.

THREE

DAZE

“Looks like your hunch was right on the money,” Damien remarks, eyeing his cell phone. “Kane says he spotted the dad and the fiancé leaving the church. If we go now, we can tail them to the house. Maybe even figure out what they’re up to. I’ll drive,” he says. “But you two should duck in the back. Be sure to hide those pretty fucking faces.”

“Yeah, yeah, asshole.”

Suddenly, he pauses, his eyes on his cell. “You aren’t going to like this, Day,” he says.

“What?”

“Looks like Heywood didn’t want to leave your girl alone after all. He sent someone to keep an eye on her.”

“Who?”

“I’ll give you three guesses.” Even his grimace warns that I won’t like any of them, but I feel compelled to give it a try.

“I only need one,” I counter. “Silas.”

FOUR

FREY

There is too much riding on this marriage. Colton’s ominous warning echoes in my skull long after he’s gone. The more time passes, the more uneasy I feel. It seems that he and my father are planning something—and I’m just a bonus prize for him and his family. Collateral.

Father wants nothing more than to be elected, but I didn’t stop to think about what else he stands to gain. Or what those who support him expect.

I almost wish Colton were still here so that I could ask him what outright. Somehow, I’d make him tell me. Luckily, I have access to the next best thing. Rising to my feet, I tiptoe through the darkened space and feel for the door.

“Hello?” I call out.

Despite the fact that no one answers, I can smell a guard lurking on the other side, reeking of cigarettes and food grease. As my nostrils wrinkle, I shudder. These men don’t seem to be the polished, professional bodyguards my father normally hires. They remind me more of the men I met during Daze’s cage fight. Gritty. Gruff.

“I know you’re there,” I say, making my voice louder. “I need to use the restroom, please.”

After a few seconds, the door is abruptly opened from outside.

Startled, I stumble back. My escort isn’t the slender man I met earlier—someone I could try to coax into giving me information. As he towers above me, he blocks out most of the artificial light illuminating the hall. What little of him I can make out, has me swallowing hard—not a nondescript black uniform, but a T-shirt and jeans that do nothing to disguise the muscle coiled over every inch of his frame. All in all, he requires no introduction. Silas.

I spit his name out, and he laughs darkly in return.

“Your daddy wanted me to watch you personally, little girl,” he explains in response to my unanswered question. His gloating expression is convincing. I almost believe him.

Almost.

“I intend to take this job seriously,” he adds. “After all, there is a naughty fugitive out there, looking for you.” His eyes sweep over me, raising goosebumps in their wake, but I have a hint as to why he’s really here. Daze.

I take another step back, hating the weakness the action reveals. Despite his cruelty, my father isn’t a fool. Leaving Silas here is the equivalent of letting a fox guard the henhouse. The criminal biker isn’t in his class. Should they cross paths, I doubt he’d even acknowledge him on the street. No… Just like Silas has another aim in mind, my father wouldn’t leave him to guard me without his own reasons.

Then it dawns on me—their goal is the same. Daze. What better way to lure him out of hiding than to use me? That is the real reason why I’m here, to act as bait.

“Ah, you don’t seem very happy to see me, little girl,” Silas croons. Behind him, I can see the still-open door and the darkened corridor beyond. Considering how the sound echoes, I have a horrible suspicion that he is the only one here. At least for now.

We’re alone.