He growls under his breath, blood dripping down his chin. “Collins is still due in on Saturday. If she doesn’t show up, do her normal routine, then that’s grounds for me to go to Ace. Tell her all about her perfect baby sister’s dirty dancing. I’m sure yourpreciousAce would enjoy that.”
It’s an empty threat. But I know how much Collins enjoys dancing, loves the attention, how it quiets her mind. How it gives her something to soothe that tainted side. Maeve wouldn’t care if she found out, but this is for my fiancée.
“We’ll be there.”
24
HAYES
The office lights cast a heavenly glow on the dark wood floor as I enter the room. I didn’t expect anyone to be up.
My nerves and mind are shot. I should have bunked at my studio—the same apartment I’ve had since I was seventeen—but I told Collins I’d be here when she woke up. I don’t break promises.
It’s amazing what a few nights being with her has done to me. Turned me into some dependent jackass. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hunkered over Maeve is Killian, and they’re both locked in a furious staring contest.
My composure snaps, and I pull off my jacket. “You, out.”
The reaper doesn’t look corralled, glaring at me, fingers clawing into the desktop. He’s serious—fuck.
Maeve stands, sliding her hands into her pockets, moving toward me. Listen, I don’t expect praise for the interruption, but the cold rage is new.
“Did you go to the Bruno compound?”
It takes me a spilt second to understand her words, even less when I realize the fucking ghoulfollowedme. That’s the only way she would’ve found out.
“You fucking prick,” I seethe. “What, you followed me, just to run back to your master?” All the anger and aggression of the last few weeks roars in my ears and I react.
Throwing a punch, my fist connects with his face, as euphoria and relief sing in my veins. I’ve been wanting to pummel the reaper for years—no rules, no mats, no honor. Just a good old-fashioned beating.
He doesn’t let me get another hit, twisting my arm, pinning me to the wall, chest crushing me into the wood. He’s fucking quick, the bastard. I kick back, barely missing his shin, and he locks me down, holding me tight, body nothing but fucking iron.
“You’re lucky, Prince,” he hisses tightly, “that she loves you, otherwise I’d spill your intestines and make you watch me wrap them around your neck.”Graphic.
“Killian,” Maeve calls, halting our struggle. The reaper does one more shove, clipping my chin and I taste blood.Fucker made me bite my tongue.
As soon as his grip slacks, I spin, swinging. Catching his jaw, my knuckles split open against his teeth, and his knife suddenly finds my throat. The curved blade cuts, just enough to break the fog of rage. He’s got me pinned.
“Go ahead,” he dares. “Try it.” He pulls out his gun from the small of his back and hands me the barrel. “Really show me what you’ve got.Shootme. We both know you want to.”
“You have no fucking idea.” I grip the end but I don’t raise it.
He positions the gun right at his heart and he smirks wide.
“Don’t have the balls now, Prince?” His dark eyes flash with menace. “Or did the brute finally grow a brain?”
Growling, I cock the gun and Maeve darts between us, pulling the knife from my neck and blocking the gun from Killian’s chest. Glaring up at me, she sighs deeply.
“Enough.”
The reaper steps back lazily, a deranged smile irritating me but I drop the gun, letting the trigger guard hang from my finger. Between Roman’s attack and Val’s condition, the reaper is lucky I didn’t shoot.
“Did you?” she asks, words heavy.
“Why? Did yourmutttell you?” I look over Maeve’s head. “Do you ever get tired of begging for scraps?”
His tongue darts out, licking his bottom lip. “People like when I beg. Especially with my tongue out.”
