Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(73)

“Fine.” He bit out.

“This second account is in Joshua’s name with Madison as the backup. This will be his college account.” He hit send and looked back at Madison and Trevor. “Does that sound fair to everyone?”

Madison wiped her eyes and smiled. She mouthed “thank you.” He winked at her.

“Fine. But that’s it,” Trevor said. He knew he was trapped. “You don’t show that video to anyone and I won’t bother them again.”

“Not quite. Sign this.” Ephraim pulled out a clipboard from his desk drawer. “I had my lawyer draft up some papers.”

“What are these?”

“You are officially severing ties to Joshua and handing over custody to Mrs. Buckman, his grandmother and she in turn will make sure the boy goes to Madison if something should happen to her. I'll be providing for the boy so you won’t need to be bothered again.”

Trevor took the pen and signed. “Fine he was just a tax credit anyway.”

Ephraim hit him upside his head, sending him stumbling. “Watch it.”

Tears welled up in Trevor’s eyes. He nodded. “Paula, if you could?” He held out the paper.

“Don’t worry, handsome, no charge for witnessing this. This guy’s too big an ass**le. Keep him far away from that little boy.”

“Thank you, Paula.” Madison’s voice broke.

“Can I go now?” Trevor bit out.

“Yes, of course. Just remember that if you try to fight the transactions or get more money from her I’ll come back for you with this video.”

“Whatever.” He paused before Madison.

“Figures you’d turn out to be just like your mother. Spreading to get a man to do whatever you want,” he said acidly. Madison flinched back from the insult. "Fucking slut."

Ephraim stormed forward. He pulled out his wallet and tossed it to Madison who barely managed to catch it. “Pay Paula, tip well.”

He grabbed Trevor by the throat and lifted him in the air, shoving him violently against the wall. “You don’t ever talk to her like that again!”

Trevor could only sputter and choke. “I will f**king kill you! Do you understand?”

Madison’s hands shook as she opened Ephraim’s wallet. It was filled with crisp one hundred dollar bills. “How much does he owe you?”

“Two thousand,” Paula said in a trance.

Trevor’s face was turning red. Ephraim wasn’t easing up. Madison quickly counted out the money and added five hundred. “Do you have a way to leave?”

“We took two rental cars. I drove one and Trevor the other.”

Madison thanked god that Paula was already dressed. She shoved the money in his hand. “Thank you so much for your help. But I need you to go so that I can handle this.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” With money in his hand Paula yanked open the bedroom door and fled from the house.

All hope that Ephraim wouldn’t lose control flew out the window when Trevor’s eyes widened in terror and he began kicking and clawing at Ephraim. This had to end.

“Trevor, I’m going to get him to let you go. If you tell anyone about him I will show the video and he’ll probably come after you. Do you understand?”

Trevor continued to thrash, but blinked his understanding. “Ephraim, baby, let go. You’re going to kill him if you don’t. Look, he’s starting to turn purple.”

Ephraim didn’t look at her, but she could see his red eyes and fangs clearly enough. He wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. “He disrespected you,” he growled.

“That doesn’t mean he has to die. Baby, let go.”

“No,” the word came out in a loud growl.

She needed to get between them, but Trevor wouldn’t stop kicking. If he kicked her Madison knew without a doubt that Ephraim would rip his throat out. “Trevor, stop kicking so I can get you down.”

He didn’t hesitate. He froze on the spot. Madison slid between, it was a tight fit. Ephraim didn’t seem to realize or care that she was there. His eyes were fixed on Trevor’s face.

“Ephraim, put him down.” He didn’t respond. If this didn’t work she would have to shoot him. She couldn’t stand by and let him kill someone even an ass**le like Trevor.

She stood on her toes and pressed her mouth against Ephraim’s neck. She licked and nipped at his neck, sucking greedily. She felt his arms lower a fraction. Trevor slid slightly down the wall. He took in a gasping breath. Good, he was able to breathe.

Her tongue traced his Adam’s apple while her fingers yanked down his fly. She reached in and pulled him out. He was long and thick, but soft. She ran her hand over him. She’d never done this before, but knew the idea of the matter was to move her hand up and down him.

He growled low and deep as he firmed beneath her hand. She hoped he wasn’t too far gone that he would bite her. That would be the start of a whole other problem. She knew from his description that he was already in bloodlust brought on by anger so she had to tread carefully.

Trevor was slowly lowered to the ground. Ephraim’s grip remained firm as ever. Madison kept gently tugging him forward and his h*ps moved in response as if they had a mind of their own, but he did not ease his hold or his anger. She could feel it in his neck. His muscles were fixed for battle.