THE DEVIL’S HEART
The Devil’s Heart – Chapter 17
(Her possessive devil)
©Goodness Okoye
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The two jerked drifting their gaze towards the direction of the voice. The man was leaning up on his car, he had a black shade on his eyes.
“What do you mean?” August asked, he had pulled Pispa beside himself, while they watched the man makes his steps towards them.
“I’m Wayne. The CEO of greatest cooking academy in the country.” Wayne said with a charming smiles. “Work for me then your father’s hospital bills would be a chicken feed.”
August’s grip on Pispa tightened as Wayne’s words hung in the air. Pispa’s eyes narrowed, her voice low. “You think money buys everything?”
Wayne’s smile didn’t falter. “It buys a lot. Your dad’s life, for instance.”
Pispa’s anger flared, but August’s voice cut in, cold. “She’s not interested.”
Wayne’s gaze slid to Pispa. “Your call, Pispa. Your dad’s life… or your pride.”
Pispa’s eyes locked onto August’s, a silent battle waging between them. August’s face was stone, but his eyes… his eyes said “I got you”.
Pispa turned to Wayne, her voice firm. “No deal.”
Wayne’s smile twisted. “Fine. But you’ll regret this.”
As Wayne turned to leave, August’s voice cut through the tension. “You won’t touch her dad.”
Wayne’s laughter echoed through the night.
Pispa stepped forward, her voice venomous. “You don’t know what I’d do for my dad.”
Wayne’s eyes glinted. “I know what you’ll do. You’ll cook for me. Exclusive catering. And you’ll like it.”
August’s voice was ice. “She’s not playing.”
Pispa’s jaw set, her voice firm. “No deal.”
Wayne’s smile faltered for a moment, then he laughed. “You think you have a choice?”
Pispa’s eyes flashed. “I have every choice. I’ll find another way to pay my dad’s bills.”
August’s grip on her relaxed slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.
Wayne’s expression darkened. “You’re making a mistake.” Wayne said walking away disappointingly.
August’s eyes never left Wayne’s retreating figure, his jaw clenched. Then, he turned to Pispa, his expression softening like the first light of dawn.
“Pispa.”
He pulled her into a gentle hug, his voice whispering against her ear. “We’ll figure this out. No deals with strangers, okay?”
Pispa’s tension melted into his chest. “What about Dad?”
August’s arms tightened. “I’ve got connections. We’ll get him treated. No casino gambles, no Wayne.”
He pulled back, his gaze locking onto hers. “Trust me?”
Pispa’s smile was fragile. “Always.”
August’s eyes crised, his face dipping closer. Their lips almost touched when…
The sound of an ambulance siren broke the spell. Pispa’s eyes widened. “Dad!”
August’s grip firmed. “I’ll take you. Now.”
August’s grip on Pispa’s hand was like a lifeline as they sped to the hospital. The sterile smell hit them like a wave as they burst through the doors.
Pispa’s dad lay in the ICU, tubes and wires snaking everywhere. August’s eyes met Pispa’s, and he knew.
“He’s gonna make it,” he said softly, his thumb brushing her cheek.
The doctor appeared, weariness etched on his face. “Pispa… we need to talk.”
August’s arm wrapped around her waist, holding her steady.
The doctor’s words spilled out – surgery, costs, risks. Pispa’s eyes glazed.
August’s voice cut in, firm. “Do it. I’ll pay.”
Pispa turned, her eyes brimming. “August…”
He smiled, his voice low. “You’re not alone.”
The ICU lights blurred as Pispa leaned into him. August’s lips brushed her forehead. “He’ll be okay.”
Pispa pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise as she stared at August. “How… how did you…?”
August’s smile was tight. “I told you. I got connections.”
But before he could say more, Hazard stepped into the hospital room, a suave smile on his face. “Glad to see your dad’s in good hands.”
Pispa’s gaze snapped to him, confusion etched on her face. “Hazard? You… you paid for my dad’s bills?”
Hazard nodded, his eyes glinting. “Consider it a… business investment.”
August’s jaw clenched, his voice low. “She doesn’t need your investments.”
Hazard’s smile didn’t falter. “Ah. Always territorial.”
Pispa’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
Hazard leaned in, his voice silier. “But I gave it anyway. You owe me.”
August stepped forward, his eyes flashing.
Pispa’s eyes widened as Hazard’s words hung in the air, a shiver running down her spine. August’s face darkened, his voice low and menacing.
“You don’t own her, Dickhead.”
Hazard’s smile twisted, his gaze raking over Pispa like she was a possession. “She’s mine. Always has been.”
Pispa’s anger flared, her voice sharp. “I’m not a slave, Hazard.”
Hazard’s eyes flashed, his mask slipping. “You’re mine, little Feisty one. You’ll come back to me.”
August stepped between them, his voice ice-cold. “She said no. Leave. Now.”
Hazard’s gaze locked onto August, a silent challenge passing between them. Then, he turned to Pispa. “We’ll talk.”
As Hazard turned to leave, Pispa’s voice cut through the tension. “I’ll never go back… I mean not now that I need to wait for my dad to gain consciousness”
The air hung heavy with tension.
Hazard’s smile was a thin slice, his eyes glinting with possession. “We’ll see about that.”
As he turned to leave, August’s voice stopped him cold. “If you come near her, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you really are.”
Hazard’s gaze snapped back, a flicker of unease in his eyes. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
Pispa’s eyes narrowed. “I know enough.”
Hazard’s shoulders squared, but he turned and walked out, leaving Pispa trembling.
August pulled her close. “You’re safe. I got you.”
Pispa’s voice was barely audible. “He’s not gonna stop.”
August’s jaw clenched. “He’ll have to go through me first.”
Hazard burst back into the hospital room, his eyes wild with fury. “You think you can hide from me, little girl?”
August stepped in front of her, his fists clenched. “Get out.”
Hazard’s laughter was manic. “You think you can stop me? She’s mine.”
He lunged at Pispa, grabbing her wrist. August charged, but Hazard was too fast, dragging Pispa away.
“Let go!” Pispa’s voice echoed down the hall.
August sprinted after them, but Hazard’s men blocked his way, their faces cold.
Pispa’s screams faded as Hazard shoved her into a car. Tires screeched. She was gone.
August’s roar echoed through the night. “PISPA!”
Pispa’s mother and siblings were frozen in terror as August’s desperate roar echoed through the night. Her mom’s eyes welled up, her voice barely audible.
“Oh God, not again…”
August’s face contorted with rage and desperation as he pushed past Hazard’s men, his fists flying. But they took Pispa.
He spun back, rushing in the hospital, he met Shirin, Mel and Dulcie,they wore a sad faces.
“Who..”
“Who are you?” Dulcie trailed August off.
August sighed. He felt a flush of fear in him. “I.. I’m Pispa’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” The family exclaimed.
August nodded. That’s the reason he never wanted to visit them.
“Damn, you are so cute.” Mel smiled charmily. Forgotten about their father’s condition. “She never mentioned you.”
“What’s your name?”
“August. August Stone.”
“Okay.”
August smiled awkwardly as he nodded gently. “..And who was that?” August breathed.
Mel exhaled with a shrug. “Someone so stupid to claim my sister.. he’s so cruel.”
“What that supposed to mean?”
“Dude.. we are as speechless as you are.. I think Pispa is hooked on that man’s web.” Dulcie chipped in.
“You sounded like you know him better.” Shirin asked.
August breathed. “I have heard a lot about him.” He spun to the family, his voice raw. “I’ll get her back. I swear.”
Pispa’s mom grabbed his arm, tears streaming. “Please, August. Save her.”
August’s jaw clenched. “I will.”
The hospital parking lot was chaos as August sprinted to his bike, his phone already dialing.
August’s bike roared to life as he sped towards the old warehouse, his mind racing with plans. He burst through the door, Tommy and a few friends already there, looking grim.
“Dude, what’s the plan?” Tommy asked, eyeing August’s wild look.
August’s voice was low and deadly. “We get Pispa back. Hazard’s got her on his private island.”
The group exchanged looks, but August’s determination was contagious. They nodded, gearing up.
Tommy handed August a gun. “You know how to use this?”
August’s eyes flashed. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
They piled into a car, speeding towards the docks. A speedboat waited, engines humming.
*
Hazard loomed over Pispa, his voice a menacing growl. “Who was that? Who helped you?”
Pispa’s gaze was vacant, her mind a thousand miles away. Her father’s face floated in her thoughts, pale and frail in the hospital bed. The machines beeped, a steady heartbeat that seemed to echo her own fear.
August’s face flashed in her mind, his bright smile, his fierce determination. He’d be frantic by now, searching for her.
Hazard’s voice cut through her thoughts, jarring. “Answer me!”
Pispa’s voice was barely a whisper. “No one.”
Hazard’s laughter was a harsh bark. “No one? You think I’d believe that?”
His eyes narrowed, his grip on her chin tightening. “You’re here because of me.. You are working for me. So you’ll do as I say. Or else.”
Pispa’s eyes dropped, her body stiff with obedience. Her father’s life hung in the balance, a fragile thread tied to Hazard’s whims.
She owns a lot now.
TBC…
