“Thanks. It was fun.” Just the thought of kissing Lace disgusted me but I had to sell as she chugged the water. I kissed her cheek and then began nibbling on her ear. “As much as I’d like to continue this evening, some people work in the morning.” Lace playfully patted my chest, giggling at my words.
This was the critical part. This was the moment that meanteverything.She had better do it perfectly.
She set the glass on the counter and buried her head into my chest. “Next time, then?” Lace slurred her words, her head lobbing back as if she couldn’t hold it up. I took the opportunity to reach around and squeeze her ass, nearly throwing up in my mouth as she pressed herself against me, trying to garner a reaction. To the world, it looked like we were a couple ofdrunk lovers. The truth? She wasactuallytrying to get me to go home with her. Being The King had a few perks, perks I hadn’t touched since Killian resurfaced in my life.
The bartender tapped the counter, grabbing our attention. “Man, I think she’s done for the night.”
If the bartender wanted to keep his fingers, he needed to step back. Even so, his concern would factor into what happened next. “I can see that,” I pushed out as I sat Lace on the stool, keeping her facing me. Then I whipped out my phone and called her a cab. I made sure not to say her address, letting her know that she could tell the driver when he arrived. She had to leave the club on her own two feet and I had to watch her do it so she wouldn’t slip up.
“Wait, no… this isn’t adding up. You’re a cop!” He hissed those words, barely over a whisper, fear radiating through his expression as he tried to reason with his internal emotions.
There was no good response to that. This was Slash’s scene and while I had been seen here once or twice, I didn’t fit the dynamic and I had never taken part in anything other than a one-man show. The fact that anyone here only knew me as Merchant should they recognize me, helped. Lace stepped in, saving me. She patted my chest before leaning her head against me. “He’s got a thing for dominance if you can’t tell. What?” She twisted around, just enough for the bartender to see her lips moving. “Role play is fun. Cop comes in, busts down the door.His friends take away the culprit and then the cop gets his turn. Leave it alone.”
That would further explain Killian’s departure. Maybe Lace was good for something.
The bartender stared between the two of us for several seconds. “So… the badge isn’t real.”
“It’s very real but I’m not here to arrest anyone.” I tapped Lace’s shoulder and helped her toward the entrance, effectively ending the conversation. I made sure to stand directly in front of the cameras, Lace in front of me so that when she slid into the cab, it was obvious I hadn’t gone with her. A little bit of research revealed the club cameras only played in black and white and were nearly indistinguishable at night. I waited until the cab was halfway down the street before heading back through the club to exit the other side. Cameras needed to show that I was here when Lace left so that when the body showed up, I’d be absolved of any connection to it.
I made sure to stop at several little stores along the way, adding to my alibi. Until everything was set in motion, I couldn’t go home. So, I texted Slash to meet at his place, hoping he’d have dragged something out of Finn or Killian at this point. And then I needed to fuck someone into the goddamn mattress because shit, the scene he had left me to clean up had left me rock hard and wanting.
FINN
The bath was a refreshing touch as Daemon sobbed to them about feeling lost and then curled into himself before giving in to me. Toying with his emotions had been the highlight of my life. Dark was terrified and Killian was just there, amused at the outcome. Stealing those memories from Daemon factored directly into my plans. It meant I could manipulate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Dark and Daemon were mine to control.
Killian and I still needed to have a conversation, though.
When Slash and Aeron left me in Samael’s bedroom to rest, I sent Jade a text to let her know that the second phase of the plan was ready, that I was safe, and that I’d be home shortly. My gaze drifted to the time and I scoffed at how much time I hadlost. Two am? That was bullshit. Apparently, playing games took time which was why I stuffed the three back into that room so that the rest of this early morning was mine.
I ruffled through a few of the drawers and slipped on the smallest clothes I could find before heading down the stairs. My body felt like lead, jerking the alters around taking more concentration and strength than I had thought. When I had been officially diagnosed with HMD, the doctors had told me it was a taxing diagnosis. My brain was constantly working and warring with itself. My body would eventually give out if I didn’t start taking steps to treat the issue.
The pills they gave me, though, made me feel less of myself. We all kind of faded into the background, none of us able to firmly take the driver’s seat. We were just… there and that was no way to live.
Ignoring that problem for now, I headed for the front door, Brent standing there with a box in his hands. “I don’t know what the fuck they see in you, Killian. Or should I say, Finn?” He spat. “You’re going to ruin a good man and an even better cop.”
A cackle left me before I slapped a hand over my face. “Brent, seriously? Samael is not a good man. None of us are. We torture, kill, and play with our food. The citizens of Primrose are just pawns in a game they don’t understand, sitting ducks as we pick off who we like.” I pointed at that box. “That’s for me, isn’t it?”
“You’re a goddamn virus, Finn.”
“Sure, but my men are just as sick as I am.” I wiggled the box from his grip, excited for this next step. Just before I turned away to head for the kitchen, I left Brent with one last tidbit. “Also, Samael is a horrid cop. Justice for the people, my ass.” I skipped down the hallway, not at all surprised that Aeron was in the kitchen. Slash was suspiciously absent, my cannibal glancing up at me.
“I thought you would be sleeping. Slash went to go meet with Samael. They’ll be back shortly. Are you hungry? Do you want—” His words died on his tongue, his head tilting to the side as he observed me. I placed the container on the table, waiting for the recognition to swarm his features. “Finn?”
“Bingo! I couldn’t stay up in that room for a moment longer. By the way, the lavender is a fantastic touch. Truly. I smell like a motherfucking meadow. And yes, I’m famished. Daemon threw everything up.” I tapped the box, drawing Aeron’s attention to it. “I brought you a little something so that we could share a meal.”
Aeron frowned. “Is that what just got delivered? Wait… did you have something of Nyla delivered here?”
I nodded enthusiastically. Everything had been planned meticulously. Jade had done what was asked of her after I sliced Killian’s coworker up and retrieved a small portion for my favorite cannibal. All she had to do was wait for the signal and then show up at the house as a delivery boy.
Aeron shrank back and then approached the box, slowly opening it to reveal my present. “Finn…”
“I told you I wanted curry. I brought the meat and I know Samael is rich enough to have all the spices.” I stepped up to his side, placing a gentle hand on his back. He tensed beneath my touch but not from fear. Curiosity bloomed through his features as I dug my fingers into his skin, a breathy sigh leaving my cannibal.
With the other three alters, Aeron was in charge. With me? Aeron seemed to lean.
I wanted to know how far he would.
His features twisted up as he settled on an expression, several seconds later those sea-glass eyes meeting mine with a spark that had been previously absent. “You’d eat my curry with me? What about the others?” He tapped my forehead.
