Perhaps she does belong in the Keep. I’d have to convince her not to tell them what I’ve done, but fear and hope are great motivators.
But first, there are some scores to settle.
I wash up, retrieve my notebook, and return to the bed.
“Give me the names of the people who’d harmed you.”
“Huh?”
“On Salem Street. I want names.”
“Are you going to kill them, too?” she whispers.
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”
“Deal. Now I need names.”
“Um, there’s Lady Violet. She beats girls when they don’t comply. Frank runs a club. Sammy drugs girls and sells them to clients. Agatha lies to girls about what’s expected of them. Ellen sells them…young…”
For the better part of an hour, I take notes, asking details like hair and eye color. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but thankfully, I have more than enough time.
She falls asleep as I’m planning, which is good because I don’t need her distracting me. The work I do is flawless, because I care a lot about the details.
Before she wakes, I radio the Keep to tell them I have a woman who needs to be picked up. Caspian says they are a little busy and it might take a few days before they can come.
The thought of being alone with Fiona for several days has me anxious. I try to busy myself as she sleeps, but I’m forever drawn to her.
Watching her sleep is messing with my head, so I put on my gear, grab my sword, and head out to take down a bunch of ragers. Which is highly therapeutic.
Bringing her in doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like I’m claiming her. She can be some other man’s Kept woman because that life isn’t meant for me.
I’m a hunter in search of prey. I’ll never have a happily ever after, and this girl doesn’t change that.
And if she knows what’s good for her, she’ll stay the hell away.
Chapter 1
HUNTER
Present Day
The mask comes off.
After today, I’ll never have to pretend to be normal for anyone.
I knew this day would come eventually. That it was only a matter of time before someone discovered my nature.
When Cole radioed, telling me Alistair was to be my partner, and we’d be searching the dilapidated section of the city, I knew something wasn’t right.
I wore my goddamn mask. The one I learned to create around others so they wouldn’t see the real me, and for the most part, I’d thought Alistair had fallen for it. But deep in the back of my mind, things weren’t adding up.
It made sense that Cole was pairing people up on account of rumors that the Vultures were going rogue and there was a serialkiller on the loose, but the places they had us searching didn’t make sense.
The signs became too great to ignore, and I knew I needed to get the truth out of Alistair.
There’s only one true way to do that.
