Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 87

Lucien's P.O.V.

When I see the men we are going to hunt, I can feel a vibration start to thrum in my veins. I want, no I need to, to make them pay for what they did to Bella. I'm thankful my Dad is driving because I would probably have floored it to over take them. I realize I'm holding Bella's hands pretty tightly, so I release the pressure before I hurt her with my enthusiasm. When I turn to look at her, she is staring blankly out the window. What we're about to do is not sitting well with her, or maybe it's the thought of coming face to face with John Henry. I have to make sure John is incapacitated enough that she understands he cannot hurt her anymore.

We follow far behind our quarry, driving deeper and deeper into the backcountry. Perfect. We won't have to worry about witnesses or having these assholes accidentally stumble upon someone who could help them. My Dad finally pulls the car off into a small clearing, cutting the engine while he takes a moment before turning in his seat to look at us.

"Miss Parker," he starts, "I understand this is going to be difficult for you." I see Bella nod twice, staring at him. "You must understand this is what Lucien and I do. We are going to physically harm them, but not beyond their capacity to heal. They will be terrified and penitent when we're finished. Do you wish to speak to them at that point?" Bella hasn't taken her eyes off my Dad as he's talking to her. Then she looks down, staring at her hands clasped tightly in mine. I think she should confront them, strip them down and see they are just men bound by the constraints of their mortality and prove to herself she is above them, but it's her choice to make. After a moment of silence, Bella looks up at my Dad and shrugs her shoulders. He quirks his lips at her. "Let's get out of the car and discuss this," he says, opening the car door.

We all exit the car, and I take Bella's hands again in an attempt to loan her some of my strength. She grabs my hands so hard, I'm not sure I could let her go if I wanted to. My father turns to us and looks down on Bella who's face is starting to resemble the color of eggshells. "May I call you Bella?" my father asks quietly. When she nods once, he smiles. "Please call me Sam," he tells her. "I have been tasked by my Father to punish people who take advantage of the weak, or who harm others for malicious purposes. Do you understand?" When she nods again, he continues. "The last thing I want to do is frighten you. That's probably not something you thought you'd hear the Devil say, is it?" She nods again with a slight smile and he grins at her. "You are the victim here, you deserve to be released from the terror that fills you when you think about these men. Lucien and I are very adept at handling people like this. I certainly will not force you, but experience has taught me facing them will speed along your recovery. Do you think you can do that?" Bella doesn't move for a moment, then slowly nods her head. My Dad smiles broadly at her. "You are very brave, young Bella. I can see why my son is so smitten with you."

He turns away to give us a moment before I leave with him. "I am more than smitten with you," I whisper in her ear and then kiss her forehead. "Stay in the car with the doors locked," I tell her as I walk toward my father. Bella finally finds her voice.

"Wait!" she exclaims. We both turn toward her and she says, with a waiver in her voice, "I'm pretty sure I was attacked by only one person."