Him & I

DAMIEN

I can’t find the words to express the rage boiling inside me. I saw Marcus pull her outside and didn’t think twice about it.

How could I be so blind? She was clearly in trouble and I overlooked his strange behavior. It wasn’t until the guys decided to leave that I heard a woman’s voice crying out for help.

The fear and pain in her voice shattered my heart. I felt a chill run down my spine and a sense of dread washed over me. Somehow, I knew it was Sienna calling out for me.

I sprinted towards the alley, leaving Cole to handle the guys. When I reached the entrance of the alley, I was livid at the sight before me. Who the hell does he think he is?

I rushed over and yanked the creep away from my girl. The beast inside me was unleashed, and the thought of his hands on her pushed me over the edge.

Without a second thought, I started beating Marcus. He was a dead man. No one messes with what’s mine and gets away with it.

Punch after punch, it wasn’t enough. The monster inside me craved more bloodshed. He needed to die, only then would it be enough.

He was going to die, not just for my satisfaction, but for the petite woman he tried to take. No one who behaves like this should be free, not on my watch.

The world has let enough people down. I won’t be another bystander who turns a blind eye to those in need.

“You think you can touch what’s mine and get away with it? You’re a dead man, Filton.”

The sound of a car pulling up snapped me back to reality. Cole must have figured out who it was and sent the guys to get the car.

I watched as four of my men dragged Marcus to the trunk of the car. I’d deal with him later.

I turned back to see Sienna had managed to stand, but she was unsteady; her legs were shaking and her eyes were glazed over. She was on the verge of passing out, but I wouldn’t let her fall.

I took a slow step towards her—I didn’t want to scare her—but before I could take another step, her legs gave out.

I caught her before she hit the ground. My hands naturally wrapped around her waist. It felt right having her so close. I felt a wave of relief knowing she was safe with me.

Tonight confirmed that my connection with this brown-haired goddess was beyond comprehension. She had to be mine. She was a beacon of light, pure and innocent, everything I wasn’t.

People like her needed protection, and I was going to be the one to protect her.

“Are you okay, Sienna-Rose?” I knew it was a dumb question. She was clearly not okay after the night she’d had.

First, Ashton, one of my guys, roughed her up, and now she had to deal with that jerk Marcus trying to take advantage of her.

Just thinking about how Ashton treated her made me disappointed in my men.

I have one rule: respect women, especially innocent ones like Sienna, and he broke that rule right in front of me. I shared some of the blame; I should have stepped in when Ashton crossed the line.

But a part of me, the selfish part, wanted to see how she’d handle the situation. How she defended herself against Ashton would show if she was strong enough to handle my lifestyle.

She nodded, but I didn’t believe her. No one could be okay after a day like this.

“I’m Damien Black. You served me and my men in the VIP room earlier.”

I was still angry thinking about the circumstances that led to our introduction. She was glancing at me, but she hadn’t fully faced me yet.

“You’re Sophie’s nephew, right? She told me a bit about you, but it seems like you’ve done some digging too. You called me Sienna-Rose, not just Rose, and if I remember correctly, I didn’t give you my name this morning.”

She sounded nervous. Maybe she knew who I really was and my role in the Mafia, but if she did, she’d be trying to get away from me.

I was surprised by her words, and a smirk spread across my face. The fact that she’d asked about me gave me a glimmer of hope. Maybe she felt this inexplicable connection too.

“Well, that’s your name, isn’t it? I don’t know why you don’t use the whole thing, Angel. It’s a beautiful name, suits you.”

A blush spread across her face. I’d never been so captivated by anyone before. I’d only known her for a day, and she’d already consumed my every thought and desire.

She was all I saw now; my sole purpose was to ensure her safety and protection, a promise not even death could break.

She tilted her head slightly, and I found myself lost in her stunning pale green eyes. But my gaze soon fell on the darkening red mark on her left cheek. The redness was spreading.

That bastard had punched her. That must have been when she started calling for help.

I was furious and disappointed in myself. Furious because she should never have been in that situation, and disappointed because I wasn’t there fast enough to save her from the horrors Marcus had inflicted on her.

What was the point of feeling this deep connection to someone if I couldn’t prevent things like this from happening?

I silently vowed that something like this would never happen again while I was around. I would be the support she needed, standing by her side as she found her strength.

I was determined to shield her from any harm that might threaten her peace of mind, to reassure her that she was deserving of all the good things in life. I vowed that no one would ever inflict this kind of pain on her again, not as long as I was alive, and even in the lives to come.

Sienna hung her head, as if she too was disappointed in herself. Oh sweetheart, if only you knew how courageous you were tonight. I gently lifted her chin with my thumb and forefinger, guiding her eyes to meet mine.

She had no reason to feel guilty; she’d fought off that bastard as best she could. I tilted her head up a bit more to get a better look at her injury, and a surge of anger ignited within me.

Without even realizing it, I started to stroke her face. I needed to feel her, to know she was safe with me. If this was the only way to soothe my nerves, then so be it.

I scanned her body for any serious injuries that might require a hospital visit.

There was a large bruise on her stomach and scrape marks on her sides, extending towards her back. From the way she winced when her back touched the wall, I could tell the scrapes were all over her back.

Our eyes met again, and I was utterly captivated by her. I’ll fucking kill him for laying a hand on what’s mine. Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, and that’s when I realized I’d spoken my thoughts out loud.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her, but once again we were pulled apart. This time, it was Sienna who stepped back.

“Thank you for saving me, Damien.” The way my name slipped off her tongue sent shivers coursing through my body.

I loved the way she affected me, how my body responded to her as if it had found its missing piece, its home.

I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same intense tingles and shivers when I was near, or if her heart pounded a little faster when she saw me.

Like everything else fades away and the only thing that matters is them, and how quickly you can get to them to hold them close.

I gave a slight nod, signaling that it was okay, that she didn’t need to worry.

“I should probably get my stuff and head home. Thank you again.” She turned away from me and started walking towards the back entrance of the club.

I was letting her walk away again, but I knew I’d see her again. Something in the back of my mind told me it would be soon.

I found Cole at the front of the club, my car already waiting.

“You good, man?” I knew he was referring to the incident earlier, but if I were being honest, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on that bastard.

That was the only thing that could calm me down right now, apart from Sienna. But I couldn’t have her yet, and that alone was enough to sour my mood.

That woman had me completely hooked, and she didn’t even know it.

“Yeah, I just want to get back and deal with Filton; it’s been a long day.” I was driving down the street when I spotted a petite figure exiting the main entrance of the club.

As I got closer, I slowed the car down to match her walking pace. Cole started to roll down his window, giving me the opportunity to call out to Sienna.

“Do you need a ride home, Angel?”

“I’m probably just going to take the bus. It’s fine.” I wasn’t going to let that happen.

After the night she’d had, she deserved to be driven home, not waiting for a bus in the early hours of the morning where anything could happen.

I stopped the car and turned to Cole. “Get in the back.” He nodded and climbed into the back seat.

“Get in the car, Angel, I’ll take you home. I don’t think taking the bus after the night you’ve had is a smart idea.” I gave Sienna a look that said I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She climbed into the seat Cole had just vacated.

She gave me her address. I didn’t tell her that I already had it memorized, that I already knew the area. I just started driving, giving her a reassuring smile to help ease her nerves.

Her leg wouldn’t stop bouncing. I wasn’t sure if she was scared or nervous, probably both.

Soon, Cole broke the silence.

“Well, if you won’t introduce me, I’ll do it myself. Hi, I’m Cole, this jerk’s best friend. I just wanted to say that show you put on in the VIP room was one to remember. Where did you learn to do that?”

I tuned into the conversation when he asked the question that had been bouncing around in my mind since she’d put Ashton in his place at the club.

“I get that a lot, really. I have to tell at least fifty men and sometimes some women to keep their hands to themselves daily. So, I guess it just took plenty of practice.”

For some reason, the image of a married man with kids came to mind when she said that.

It wasn’t news that my angel was beautiful, but the thought of her constantly being touched without her consent infuriated me. I gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

Nothing more was said after that; we lapsed into a comfortable silence. I kept stealing glances at Sienna to make sure she was comfortable. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel tense and uneasy around me.

I pulled up in front of her house. It was a decent-sized house, and from what I remembered from her case file, she had five siblings. It probably wasn’t spacious enough for all of them, but they likely made it work.

“Thank you for the ride. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me tonight.”

I watched as Sienna walked up her front porch. Despite everything she’d been through tonight, she still moved with a grace that would make most women envious.

I waited for her to go inside before driving off, heading back to my house to deal with the business waiting for me in my basement.

It took forty minutes to get to the gang house from Sienna’s. The car was silent on the way there, not that I minded. It was a welcome respite, giving me a chance to gather my thoughts and plan exactly what I was going to do to Filton when I arrived.

I pulled up and parked my car in its usual spot before heading to the house basement. It was a fairly large house, home to almost half of the London Mafia.

The air was thick with testosterone, a common occurrence when a bunch of alpha males gathered in one place.

Before I could even start my descent to the basement, a pained cry echoed from the man I was itching to tear apart.

“Quit your whining, Filton. You brought this on yourself.” I took the last few steps and stepped into the light.

Marcus was bound to a chair with our special ropes, laced with razor-sharp fibers and a touch of acid for good measure.

We didn’t use them often, only for special occasions. Like the one Filton found himself the star of.

“Diablo, I swear I didn’t know she was yours.” I couldn’t help but laugh, a sound that echoed in the silent room. If he thought his actions were acceptable with any woman, he was more messed up than I thought.

“That’s the problem, Filton. Your arrogance has landed you in hot water again. I should just get rid of you. The world would be better off without one more creep roaming my city.”

With a flick of my wrist, I felt the familiar touch of leather in my hand, my trusty needle-point blade ready for action.

“I swear I didn’t know. Does she even know she’s yours? She didn’t seem to care about you when I was kissing her neck.”

He was digging his own grave, reminding me of what he did to her. I could feel myself slipping into Diablo, the merciless monster the world knew. Without my angel, there was nothing to hold the devil back.

Without a second thought, my arm swung around, plunging the blade into his thigh.

Holding tight, I twisted the blade, deepening the wound, slicing through as many arteries and tendons as I could. I wanted him to suffer as much as my queen had.

I wanted him to experience the same fear and pain she had in those agonizing minutes.

“You know…” I took two measured steps closer to him, making myself appear even larger and more intimidating. “I was going to keep it simple, torment you a bit and then kill you but now…”

I watched as his throat tightened with fear.

“I’m not going to kill you yet. First, I’m going to make you suffer. I’m going to wait until the fight leaves your eyes, just like hers did, and you’re begging me for death. And even then, I won’t grant you that wish.

“Only when I think you’ve experienced the same amount of pain and torment she did, then and only then will I give you the sweet release of death.”

His eyes were wide and pale. I signaled my men to continue. “Do what you want, just don’t kill him.” I walked away, the screams of my prey echoing behind me.

Reaching the top floor, I headed straight for my office. It was now seven a.m.; another sleepless night. It was going to be a long day, but I had to ensure no surprises in the future.

I needed to find a new manager for the club and someone to handle the finances of Black Industries.

Just as I opened my laptop to start my day’s work, my phone rang.

Sophie’s caller ID flashed across the screen. I was tempted to ignore it, expecting another complaint from her. But I answered the call.

“Damien, you need to come to the café right away, we have a problem.” Sophie’s voice was filled with worry and sadness; it sounded like she was crying.

“Why? Are you in trouble?” I was ready to rush over at the thought of my aunt in danger.

“No, I’m fine, but…” Her words echoed in the room and I braced myself for what was coming. “It’s Sienna, she’s badly hurt. I don’t think she’s breathing.” Sophie was now sobbing.

I went numb. I don’t remember getting in my car until I pulled up outside the café and called out for Sophie.

“Aunt Sophie! Where are you?” My heart pounded in my chest. Just when I found someone I could connect with, she was being taken away from me before I had the chance to know her.

“Back here, Damien.” Her voice was hoarse, a clear sign she had been crying.

I didn’t waste any time, running around the back following the sound of my aunt’s cries. Turning the corner, my heart sank.

There she was. Sophie had her head resting against her lap, applying pressure to what looked like multiple stab wounds on her abdomen.

My heart shattered and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. She was covered in bruises and cuts, and from the awkward angle of her arm, it looked like she had broken it and a few ribs.

She was still in her club clothes, revealing every wound on her body. She was surrounded by a pool of her own blood, indicating she had been there for a while.

I quickly sprang into action.

I strode over to Sienna and checked for a pulse. It was there but faint; she didn’t have much time left.

I picked her up, careful to avoid her open wounds, and gently placed her in the back of my car. Sophie sat with her, keeping pressure on her wounds.

I hit the gas, weaving through cars, trying to shave off as much time as possible. She wasn’t leaving yet; we hadn’t had our time.

What should have been a thirty-minute drive was cut to ten. I didn’t even bother turning off the car before jumping out and picking up my angel. She looked so fragile and broken.

Why her of all people? I ran as fast as I could without jostling her too much, knowing she was already in a lot of pain. The wounds were deep and oozing crimson.

I burst through the door of the Mafia’s hospital wing and headed straight for the queen’s suite, yelling at every nurse and doctor to page Dr. Brown.

As I walked through the door and laid my girl on the bed, Dr. Brown entered right behind me with several nurses who began hooking her up to the necessary equipment.

Dr. Brown approached me while the nurses prepped Sienna for surgery.

“Diablo, I get that you’re worried about her, but you’ve got to step out so we can do our job.” The guy’s words sparked a fire in me. Who did he think he was, ordering me around?

“The only reason she’s in this mess is because I fucked up and left her. I’m not about to repeat that mistake.” I felt a gentle tug on my arm, guiding me toward the exit.

I spun around to find my aunt standing there, her face streaked with tears and her clothes smeared with blood.

“Diablo, I know this is tough, but that girl in there is like my own kid. You’ve got to put your feelings aside for now and think about what’s best for her.”

Her words were a blur, barely making sense in my head. I couldn’t move, my mind consumed with worry for the angel lying on that bed.

“Do you care about her?” The question took me by surprise. I’d only known her for a day and a bit, but she’d already cast a spell over me. Sure, I’d seen her around a few times, but I’d never really noticed how perfect she was until now.

“Yes… I do care about her. I think she’s the one.” I’d happily ditch my playboy ways for her. It might sound nuts, but when I look at her, I see my future.

I didn’t love her, not yet. But I could, and for the first time, I wanted to.

What I felt was more like a crush than love, but I was determined to win her heart, to earn her love. Because she was my salvation, my angel.

This time, I let Sophie lead me out of the hospital room, but I never took my eyes off her.

She was going to be okay. And once this was all over, once she was on the mend, she’d be under my personal protection.