With a groan, I realize exactly what I have to do. And that means my night is about to get a lot longer.
The Aether quickly takes me back home, dropping me into my room in the bunker. Distantly, I hear Isla chatting with a colleague; some presentation they collaborated on having gone exceptionally well.
Of course, it did. Isla doesn't do anything half-assed. She puts her whole, shapely, fantastic, plump ass into everything she does.
Including being a fucking thorn in my side.
Shaking my head to keep focused, I dig through my closet until I find the disguise I like the least. Muttering to myself about howmuch I fucking hate it, I still slide into the skin-tight dark blue pants and matching shirt, attaching the badge and fake firearm. The real tazer. The stupid hat. With one swift look into the mirror, I transport to my favorite taco shop, all the way down in Guadalajara. With a quick glance around, I quickly gather everything they have prepared, feeling guilty and dropping more than enough cash to pay for the inconvenience of their missing food.
Finally, the last step before I can enact my sure-to-be-a-disaster plan. I leave the tacos on the kitchen table in the bunker and a note near the TV. That little shit didn't eat any fucking protein at lunch, and she's definitely going to pay for it tomorrow morning, but I don't have time to deal with it right now.
Instead, I return to the scene of my next crime, only having been gone long enough for the hunter to return and get comfortable again.
No sign of Silas or Stefanie, and the couple from the dark corner disappeared, too.
Again, I knock on the door. Even harder this time.
"Fuck off!" someone inside the house yells.
So I knock harder.
A few moments pass before there's finally movement on the other side of the door. As it swings open, I pray to whoever might be listening that the hunters inside are too drug-addled to realize just who is standing on the doorstep.
"What the fuck do you— oh, shit." The man stops short, staring at me with red, exhausted eyes.
With a mirthless, fake polite smile, I respond, tapping on my badge, "Elko Police. We've had multiple noise complaints coming from this address."
"Uhhh, hang on," he stammers before shouting, "Silas!"
Within a few seconds, the current bane of my existence appears, disheveled and shoveling his cock back into his pants with a panting Stefanie hanging off his shoulder. He straightens upon seeing me, undoubtedly seeing the disgust I can't hide.
"How can I help you, Officer?" he asks, donning a mask of the upstanding gentleman when both of us are really monsters underneath our careful facades.
"As I was just telling your friend, there, we've had several noise complaints about your address. I'm assuming you're the owner of this house? Do you mind if I come inside and take a look around?" I ask, taking a step forward to make it clear it's not a request.
He raises a single brow, humor lighting up his face as if he's indulging me. "Sure, Officer..." he peers closer to get a better look at my badge.
"Gretzky."
He slaps a hand on my shoulder, and I fight off a shudder at the unwanted contact. "Officer Gretzky, come on in, man."
What the hell is he doing?Stefanie's mind screams loudly enough that Silas might actually feel her discomfort, shooting her a wink and tapping gently at his hip.
Gently, I ease another thought into her mind, urging her to find the other woman in here and get as far away from this as possible. As much as I'd like to believe tonight will end without bloodshed, Silas is already making it clear that he has no problem putting a bullet through me and cleaning up the mess later.
Which can only mean the local department is just as dirty as I predicted.
Stefanie, seeming unsure, blinks a couple of times, wondering if her paranoia is clawing at her mindagain,before disappearing down the hallway, hopefully to do as I commanded.
As a door down the hall opens, the unmistakable sound of skin slapping skin alerts me, and I look at their gracious host again.
He laughs, a jovial, friendly sound, and I want to fucking throttle him, "It's a party. What can you do?"
The door shuts, and the sounds dull behind it until they stop completely. "Come on in, Gretzky. We're just having a few drinks and listening to some music." He guides me into the living area I've been watching most of the afternoon as it filled with guests and substances.
They didn't even try to hide the cocaine residue smeared across the glass coffee table, another sign they don't care if I walk out of there. Silas gestures to the couch, offering me a seat and a drink, and I get the feeling he does this to anyone he comes in contact with.
Plays the friendly fool, charms and smooshes his way into their good graces before tricking them into signing away something they can't get back. I can only imagine this is startlingly similar to how he charmed that woman down the hall into his bed before using her naivety against her. No telling how many others. The exact woman who, along with Stefanie, makes her way out the front door into the cold. Half naked and definitely in no shape to drive; I don't really want them out there for long, but anywhere is better than here for them.
