Owen Cavalier; Wattpad Version

Chapter 25; You'd Better Kill Me

"Julie, this is Owen." Daveigh smiled, gripping Owen's arm tightly.

Owen extended an arm with an awkward smile, and Julie looked apprehensive for a moment, but then drew a gorgeous smile upon her face and shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Owen." Julie nodded, and then went into the lounge.

Owen looked around the house. It was homely, and looked entirely too big for just the two of them. He remembered Daveigh mentioning her guardian just as a hulking mass of creature in a suit came down the steps. He was impeccably dressed but Owen's eyes simply widened looking at his face, which was, in a word, troll-like. The suited creature assertively extended a hand.

"Peppers, this is Owen, Owen, this is my guardian and moral compass, Malachi Peppers Beaumont" Daveigh said.

"It's nice to meet you, sir" Owen said slightly anxious.

"Pleased to meet you. Call me Malachi. Or Mr Beaumont. Or Peppers. Whatever you feel more comfortable with. Also, I'm a half-troll. Just in the interest of full disclosure." Peppers said in a booming English voice.

"Pleased to meet you Malachi." Owen said. Peppers' hand closed over his and covered it entirely. Owen tried his hardest to avoid staring at the troll's tusks.

"Make yourself at home, I'm cooking tonight." Daveigh kissed Owen on the cheek and walked to the kitchen, her steps light and carefree. Owen marvelled at the sight, and smiled without really meaning to do so.

"You know, the day after she lost her family, Daveigh was this whole other person. She rarely smiled, avoided all the photos, knocked them all down. Attempted to go on as if nothing had happened. At night I could hear her sobbing from outside the house while I smoked. I've long since stopped but... I'd be a liar if I didn't admit to myself how unbearably sad it was. She's strong to a fault. And then there are days like these. Where the weight is off her shoulders and she can walk carefree. I think I have you to thank for that. I'm not going to lecture you on the issues of courting my ward, that's another day's conversation. But today, we're all going to enjoy the peace while we can." Peppers smiled.

"I understand. Truthfully, I could use a little peace."

The doorbell rang. Owen didn't know if anyone heard. "I'll get it." He announced and Daveigh adorably hummed approval from the kitchen. Owen opened the door.

And Drake St. Claire stood in front of it.

Owen took a step or two back. Drake smiled and he noticed Owen's hand instinctively touched the spot where Drake had stabbed him. Daveigh sauntered over smiling until she saw who it was.

"You are not welcome here." She scowled.

"Oh, deary me." Drake smirked.

"You slept with my cousin."

"Off-topic."

"And now you're at my doorstep, you sick fuck."

"I didn't come here to fight."

"Did you come to harass my cousin?" Daveigh spat. Owen gritted his teeth. He clenched his fists.

"Where's Alyssa?" He said. Daveigh could hear the growl in his voice as he said it, however, Drake condescendingly smiled and simply shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Where she needs to be. Owen. I'm actually a little glad you're here. She likes you, you know that? She thinks you're a good person. Sorry for stabbing you. I get carried away sometimes."

"I will hurt you." Owen scowled at Drake.

"Of course. But let me say this." Drake's face changed. It was as if something bitter had itself caught between his teeth. But upon closer inspection, it was more than that... It was actual hatred. "You don't know anything about my sister, Owen. You don't understand who she is or what she's done. And you need to stay out of this world. I'm saying this only once. If you try coming after her, if you try and stop me, Owen, I will kill you. Without a second thought."

"You better hope you actually finish the job next time asshole, because otherwise I'm going to stab you in the fucking face."

"I'm quivering, I swear." Drake laughed. "Once I've settled the score with my sister, she might even be able to return to this craphole of a town. She can live whatever life she pleases. But all of that really depends, Owen. I'm the bad guy here, but I'm not the worst. That's something I wanted to explain to Juliet. Who I know is listening from the lounge." Something fell in the lounge, and Daveigh heard Julie curse under her breath. "But I'll speak to her some other time." Drake turned and walked away.

"If you hurt Alyssa in any way... I don't care if it's because of some fucked up revenge scheme, if you cause her any more suffering, you'd better kill me the next time you see me. Because otherwise you're going to wish you never met me." Owen said.

"Be careful what you wish for."

Owen blinked, and Drake had vanished. He cursed violently , and slammed the door behind him.