A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

brick wall. "That pathetic whore doesn't deserve to be saved," he spits out. Daveon shakes with rage as he begins slamming Enzo into the wall over and over. I watch in numbed horror as blood trickles down his face but Enzo only laughs manically. “After she let you fuck her all she deserves is.-"

Daveon thrusts the knife upward between his ribs below his chest. Cutting off his sentence, not allowing him to finish. I watch frozen as he holds him up against the wall. Slowly he pulls it out, stepping back. His shoulders are heaving up and down with his erratic breathing as he watches Enzo’s bloodied body slump to the ground. Blood blossoms over his shirt like a scarlet ink stain and I can't look away. Daveon is still watching him with his back to me until the garbled wheezing stops.

He finally turns and his eyes scan around searching for me. He finds me huddled on the ground, backed up against the wall. His eyes still clouded by rage. They soften as he releases a relieved breath. Dropping the knife, it clatters on the ground as he walks to me. Crouching down he looks me over, reaching a hand out he caresses my cheek. "Are you okay?"

Not able to speak, I nod. Still watching me he holds his hand out to me helping me up. My eyes glance behind him in Enzo’s direction again as he sidesteps, blocking me from looking. He shakes his head. "Don't. You don't need to see that." I look up to him instead. "Come on we need to go. We need to get you out of here."

"But what about the body?" I ask, feeling numb to it all. I don't realize I'm shaking until Daveon puts his hand on my shoulders stilling me.

"Elijah is here. He will take care of it."

"Why is Elijah here?" I ask before realizing. "Marina?" Daveon nods. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, she’s fine. Aside from probably having to deal with a pissed off Elijah right now, she's just fine." He places his hand on the small of my back as he leads me out of the alley. The body of the man Enzo had killed is already gone like he was never there.

Getting to a car parked half on the sidewalk half on the road I stop, looking up to Daveon questioningly. He shrugs. "I was in a hurry." I can't help from raising a brow up to him, which he begins shaking his head at me for. "Are you seriously giving me shit over my parking after what just happened?" My playfulness disappears once more at the quick reminder.

His lips drop at seeing my expression change. He ushers me to the car before helping me in. Climbing in he backs away off the sidewalk, pulling onto the street.

"How did you know where to find me?" He turns briefly to look at me.

"When I saw the dead body on the sidewalk It wasn’t too hard to follow the trail." My mind goes back to the man who had died trying to help me. His body already disposed of. Another life brushed under the carpet. Like he didn't exist at all. I look down feeling hollow and sorrowful. "It wasn't your fault." His voice is firm, leaving no room for argument.

"How do you seem so calm and unfazed by any of this?"

"Calm?" He gives a dry laugh. "Darlin', I can tell you I am far from calm. The moment Elijah told me Enzo was here, I all but lost my shit. When I saw him on top of you I saw red. It took every ounce of self control not to just shoot the fucker, blowing him to pieces over you. I wanted to do much worse to him. In fact, if I didn't need to get you the hell out of there, I'd have mutilated that fucker until he was unrecognizable for touching you." I notice his hand turning white as he grips the wheel. "He got off way too easy. I should have dragged it out, made him suffer." His voice is hard and cruel as he speaks.

I reach out wanting to feel his touch and calm him. I lightly place my hand over his. He glances over at me before loosening his grip on the wheel. Threading his large hand into mine, I lay back letting the strength from his grip comfort me. I close my eyes, suddenly wanting to rest.

Daveon shakes my hand. Pulling my eyelids open, I look over at him. "Sorry darlin', but you gotta stay awake for a little bit. Gotta make sure you're alright. You got a pretty good cut on the back of your head."

Though his voice is soft and gentle, his eyes are a contradiction as they flare with anger. He remains silent the rest of the drive and I am too tired to keep up any type of conversation. By the time we get home it's all I can do to keep myself awake. The adrenaline that was just moments before pumping through my veins continues to fade, leaving me exhausted as it takes what little energy I had left with it. Coming around to my side Daveon swoops me into his arms carrying me inside.

I lay my head against his chest listening to the steady beating of his heart. My body gets heavy as I sink into him further clinging to his warmth. He gives me a light shake jostling me awake. "Gianna. What did I say? At least let me look at you once we are inside, if you look okay I'll let you rest."

"Fine." I grumble out.

"I need to make sure you didn't hit your head hard enough for a concussion, okay?"

"I'm fine."

"And what did I say before? That you'd tell me you were fine even if you were bleeding to death. So don't mind me ignoring you on that."

My tongue feels heavy and I don't bother to try to get out a reply. I barely hear the