Hellfire or Holy Water
Hellfire or Holy Water
Niko looks at me. “I had only planned to watch. I watched it all and kept watching after you left. He called someone and told him everything.”
Chase asks, “Who?”
“Maximus,” Niko replies.
“Well, shit!” Malcolm exclaims as he runs his hand over his face.
Niko nods solemnly. “Yeah. Maximus knows that she's your mate, Mal. He only thinks you asked Chase to protect her.”
Malcolm sighs. “That's good at least.”
“I beheaded Randall and pretended to be him. Maximus wanted her by the weekend. He thinks Randall is alive and will try to get our gal. Randall is ash in his trashcan. I wrote a letter and left it. All the employees saw me leave as him. If you don't believe me, Emma touch his desk,” Niko told me.
I just take in a few breaths. Trent's warmth is comforting. “You are positive that he was working for Maximus?”
Niko nods. “I know his voice just as you do.”
“Fine. But I don't like people dying,” I reply.
Malcolm says, “He would have raped you before he handed you over. That's if he handed you over.” He comes between me and the table. He leans back against it. “Eyes here.” I just obey. He's not compelling me to. ljust want to. “Good. Emma, life is precious. Underworlders can lead very long lives. It is what they do with it that matters. Not everyone does something good with their immortality. There must be consequences.” He touches my cheek. “Do you understand?”
“I think so,” I reply.
Malcolm shakes his head. “I would feel better with a yes or a no. Pretend Randall was human. Let's say he has raped and abducted a few women for murderers. His latest victim he was considering keeping for himself. But the police got there just in time. He's now in custody. What should be his sentence?”
“Well, we would want a list of his victims and buyers. If he provided them then he would get a lesser sentence, if not he could face the death penalty,” I reply.
“In this case, he didn't provide them,” Malcolm says.
“Then I guess life in prison or death.”
Malcolm nods. “Niko did what Underworld justice demands. It's not pretty nor easy. As you can tell by looking at him, he didn't take a ton of joy from it.” Malcolm cups my face in his hands. “He did it for love. None of us could bear anything happening to you because we love you.”
Eric nods. “Emma, I know you've never felt love until recently. It takes many forms and sometimes needs time to grow.”
Niko looks at me pleasingly. “I had no other choice. I couldn't allow him to live. If you wish me to go, I will.”
Wish? Wait, he's a genie, well Djinn. He just gave me power over him. Do I really want him to go? “I understand now, Mal.”
Malcolm nods. “Good.” He kissed me and then returned to his seat. Trent just kept rubbing his face in my hair.
I look at Niko. “Stay.”
Niko lets out a breath. “Thank you.”
Trent chuckles. “You got lucky and got holy water, man.”
Mike laughs. “My walls thank you.”
I blush as I laugh. We all ended up laughing. Mikey made a joke! “I'm rubbing off on you, Mikey.”
“Don't go getting all cocky now,” he quips.
I laugh. “But I have so many to choose from.” My hands fly to cover my mouth. I can't believe I said that!
“Trent!” Chase yells.
Trent smirks. “That wasn't because of me.” He moved my hair and kissed my neck. “Our love here is just starting to accept all of this. You let her be!”