Runaway

The sound of boots, clunking down the stairs heralded Devlin's currently awakened status. Hayley blew out a breath and sent up a silent prayer that Devlin wouldn't be an ass.

"Sir, please let me go." She repeated quietly.

He ignored her again.

"Is that Devlin? Is he coming?" The man's head turned this way and that looking for her employer. Hayley opened her mouth to respond but was stopped when she heard the sound of a safety being taken off.

"You have three seconds to let her go or I will shoot you where you stand." Devlin said tone filled with a calm Hayley recognized as one he used before he shot someone.

Hayley groaned she had no desire to have to yet again give a statement to the police about why her employer was shooting his potential clients. The last one threatened to press charges against Devlin.

"Devlin please, this man is just anxious to see you. Aren't you Mr. uh, what is your name?" Hayley said trying to bring some sort of calm to the situation.

"My name is Taylor Meadows. Mr. Virgil, a pleasure to meet you, at last."

Taylor Meadows said as he quickly let go of Hayley, causing her to fall on the desk. Her stomach hit the hard wooden surface knocking the air out of her. It took her a moment or two to recover before she made her way back behind her desk and into her seat. Finally seated in her chair she blanched when she saw that Devlin had Mr. Meadows pinned against the wall. A gun was pointed at his chest.

"Devlin let him go this instant. Devlin! I'm warning you." Hayley cried out. Standing up, she marched over to Devlin, she grabbed his left arm and tried to pull him back but he wouldn't budge.

"Devlin, stop this. Let him go!" Hayley ordered.

"He put his hands on you." Devlin growled, his eyes never leaving Mr. Meadows.

"Yes, but that is no excuse for you to threaten him and assault him. Stop this, please."

It took a second before Devlin let go of Mr. Meadows, who duly sank to the floor. Devlin put the safety back on and slid his gun into the waistband of his jeans.

"Devlin put that thing away. You could get hurt or worse hurt someone else." Hayley ordered.

"Where's the coffee?" Devlin asked, not putting his gun away.

"I'll get you a cup. Just put your gun away," Hayley retorted.

"You sure? It makes me feel safe." Devlin said with a twinkle in his eye.

Hayley rolled her eyes. "From what?"

He didn't answer. Instead, heading for his desk, this was situated directly behind hers. Mr. Meadows had recovered enough to stand up and follow Devlin back to his desk.

"Mr. Virgil, please you must help me. The police won't do it, they said forty-eight hours, but I can't wait that long. It's my wife you see, she's missing."

"Mr. Virgil was my father. Don't call me that."

"Devlin, please help me."

Devlin grimaced.

"Don't call me that either."

"Please just help me."

"Why?"

"I'll pay whatever the amount, please find my wife."

Hayley heard the sound of a drawer opening, a loud clunk and then the drawer was slammed shut. Devlin had put his gun in his drawer instead of in the holster on the underside of his desk. She shook her head as she poured coffee into the Penguins Can Kick Your Ass mug, Devlin's favorite.

Bringing his coffee to him, she walked around his desk, placed the mug on the surface, opened the left hand drawer, and took out the gun, checked to see if the safety was on. It was, bending down. She put it back in the drawer and shut it.

"Careful a few inches over and I may sue you for sexual harassment." Devlin said amusement in his voice. Hayley as usual, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"I'd have to want you for that to happen."

"You know you do."

"Bite me."

"Hard or soft"

"Neither, you know you're an ass Devlin."

"So, I've been told."

Turning to Mr. Meadows she pasted a smile on her face. "Would you like some coffee Mr. Meadows?"

Mr. Meadows ignored her. Hayley shrugged and walked away.

"She asked you a question. I may be rude to her on occasion but clients possible or not, should be polite, now accept the coffee." Devlin ordered, taking a slow sip of the brew.

"On occasion?" Hayley asked, eyebrow, raised, looking in Devlin's direction.