Chapter 25
Melody
I got in! Despite how ill prepared I thought I was for the entrance exam, I actually made it into the Vet Tech course! The results were out within three days of the exam, and I was over the moon with happiness.
I was aware of how busy Daredevil was. He had told me that there was a war going on between them and a rival shifter MC, called the Claws. They were all wolves, and Daredevil said they were the worst kind of shifters. Apart from that, he had told me very little, even though I suspected that there was some danger involved. I tried not to worry about him though, if there was anyone who could take care of himself; it was Daredevil.
Tonight was going to be special though. Nina was staying with Leo over the weekend again, which meant that I had the apartment all to myself. I’d texted Daredevil earlier, to tell him that I wanted to make him dinner. I hadn’t properly spoken to him since that night he made me spaghetti and I was expecting him to tell me that he wouldn’t have time.
Instead, he replied -
You should know, I like meat. Almost as much as I like you. I’ll be there at nine and I’ll bring champagne to celebrate your results. Proud of you.
I’d blushed when I read that message, and then read it again three more times. Daredevil was proud of me! He had more faith in me and my abilities, than I had in myself.
So, I made steaks, and some garlic bread and got dressed for the evening. In a tight navy body con dress, high black stilettos, I ironed my red hair poker straight and sleek. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I wondered if I had overdone the makeup. Silver eyeshadow, a deep plum lipstick and an hour spent getting my foundation all right…I was satisfied. I wondered what Daredevil would think when he saw me tonight, all dolled up for him.
I went back to check on the garlic bread in the oven, when there was a knock on the door. I nearly skipped as I rushed to the door, my heart pounding as I opened it. Alone with him again!
It wasn’t Daredevil on the other side, it was Maxwell and he came charging in, roughly pushing me aside.
“You got company?” he thundered at me and then banged the door shut. I shrieked and tried to run past him to my cellphone on the kitchen counter, but Maxwell grabbed my hair, jerking me tightly back to himself. He had knocked in a civilized way this time, I couldn’t have known it was him!
“What do you want from me?” I screamed as he held me in position, snarling at my face.
“I want my money back and I want to know who the hell you’ve got all dressed up for!” he growled, baring his teeth at me like a rabid dog. Tonight he wasn’t drunk, so alcohol wasn’t his excuse.
“I told you I don’t have your money. Just please leave me alone,” I said, speaking through tears now and Maxwell held up his hand, poised for a slap across my face.
“You lying bitch. I know you’ve taken it and now you’re cheating on me!” he said and I shrieked, cowering under him, expecting his slap to land any moment on my face.
“Let her go before you regret it,” I heard Daredevil’s voice and saw Maxwell look up towards the door.
“Daredevil!” I shrieked, trying to wriggle out of Maxwell’s grip, but he only tightened his fist in my hair, jerking me back towards him.
“Who the hell are you?” Maxwell hissed at Daredevil, as he took a few steps towards us.
“Let her go and I’ll tell you,” Daredevil’s voice was surprisingly calm, compared to the rage I had seen in his eyes before. I could sense Maxwell’s muscles stiffening. He might have thought he was a big man when he hit me, but in reality he was a coward. And it was obvious who the stronger man in the room was.
“Is this the guy you’re cheating on me with?” spittle flew from his mouth when he turned to me again.
Daredevil was walking closer to us, and Maxwell started backing away, his hands in my hair still. I couldn’t stop crying, being pulled back by my hair and when my eyes locked with Daredevil, I saw the silent fury in his eyes.
“Do you want to die tonight?” he said, in a deep threatening voice. He had backed Maxwell into a corner, who was using me as a shield now.
“Back off man. This is between me and my girl,” Maxwell said and I saw a devilish smile erupt on Daredevil’s face.
He lunged at Maxwell, his hands wrapping around his neck as he pinned him to the wall. He was choking, and his grip on my hair weakened and he had no choice but to let me go. I slipped out from under Daredevil’s arm, my hands clapped to my mouth. Maxwell’s face was beginning to bloat, turning purple in color. I could see the pumped veins on Daredevil’s arms while he continued to choke Maxwell.
“Daredevil, don’t kill him!” I shrieked and he threw me a look. Then he released the pressure on Maxwell’s neck, but just as Maxwell started panting for breath, he punched him in the gut.
Maxwell keeled over, bending as he held on to his stomach with pain. Daredevil tipped his face backwards with one hand, just so he could punch him in the face again. I heard the crack of Maxwell’s jaw as he toppled to the floor. There was blood pouring down his nose and I stepped back in horror.
“You hurt her!” Daredevil kicked him in the stomach again, and Maxwell rolled over on the floor, still clutching his belly, the blood still dripping from his face.
“You’re going to kill him, Daredevil, no!” I screamed, terrified that he wouldn’t know how to stop.
“He deserves to die!” he growled, kicking him in the jaw again. He growled loudly and I could tell I was about to have a tiger in the living room if I didn’t calm him down. I could hear Maxwell moaning and groaning, rolling away, flinching every time Daredevil moved.
“Get up asshole. Get up! See how this feels?” Daredevil had grabbed Maxwell’s hair now and was holding his head up, the same way he’d been holding mine.
“Open your eyes and look at her!” Daredevil screamed in Maxwell’s ears and he had no choice but to look at me. I could see his left eye was severely bruised and swollen shut. I couldn’t bear to look at him, I couldn’t even look at Daredevil. I was beginning to feel sick.
“If you ever come near her again, nothing will stop me from killing you. Do you understand?” Daredevil hissed in Maxwell’s ear and he nodded his head wildly in agreement.
Then he let him go and Maxwell fell to the floor, on his hands and knees, crawling pathetically towards the corner of the room. I stared at him, tears still streaming down my cheeks. There was an aching throb at the back of my head now, where he had been pulling my hair tightly.
“It’s me,” I heard Daredevil’s voice. I looked over to see him speaking into his phone. His shoulders were heaving, his nostrils were flared with rage, and he was glaring down at Maxwell disgustedly.
“I have a situation here. Get Melody’s address from Big D and come over with the others. There’s something I need to take care of,” Daredevil said and then looked up at me. I couldn’t control my crying still, and he strode towards me, grabbing me by my waist and pulling me to himself.
I sobbed on his chest, burying my face into him and when I felt the strength of his arms around me, I knew that I was going to be safe.
“And call Justine. This place needs to be cleaned up,” Daredevil said, and then clicked his phone shut.
He was stroking my hair, planting wet kisses on my forehead. It seemed like he couldn’t handle seeing me crying.
“Come with me, princess,” he whispered in my ear and when I looked at him again, I nodded in agreement. I’d go anywhere with him. He didn’t need to ask me twice.
“This guy is never coming near you again. You hear me? You’re safe now,” he said, whispering gently in my ear. I clung on to him, as though for dear life and my gaze landed on Maxwell on the floor, nursing his wounds with grunts and groans.
I felt nothing for him. Not a bone in my body ached for this man I had shared a life with for so many years. It was Daredevil who had saved my life, he was the one who I cared about. I was just realizing that Maxwell had meant nothing to me, not ever. Not even close to the way Daredevil did.