It was a direct hit to the nose. Blood spilled out, running down his face.
“So we can’t use her father as a form of punishment.”
“I doubt she’ll need that threat once you enter the scene,” I replied, watching as he parcelled Sophie like she was about to be delivered by a courier service.
“Mmm. I can’t wait to toy with my little avocado,” he snickered.
Now that I’d like to watch.
“How did you get her to come with you so quickly?”
“Police warrant card. A bit of urgency,” he grunted, as he looped the rope around again.
I wouldn’t get away with that—my tattoos made sure of it. Rowan had made the right call sending Alec. His instincts were usually accurate.
Alec hoisted Sophie’s corpse and dragged the worthless sack of shit off the bed.
I’d be hauling James up the stairs myself.
I wasn’t carrying him.
???
The house was quiet when we got back from the farm. Too quiet. My eyes flicked instinctively toward the stairs.
She was there.
In the communal room.
Rowan had briefed us on the way back, calm and precise as always.
He had the first floor. I took the second. Alec, predictably, enjoyed being on top.
We joined Rowan in the living room. He already had the drinks poured and an ashtray set out on the table, like this was any other night. Like we hadn’t just buried bodies and rewritten a woman’s life.
“Did she say anything about the bed?” Alec asked as he dropped into a chair.
Rowan turned the television off.
“Not a word,” he said.“I told her it was a guest room.” He handed me my drink.“Everything go smoothly?”
I took the beer, the cold glass grounding me, and nodded.
“Nick, delegate the collections for the week,” Rowan continued.“She has a mandatory one-week notice period. You’ll drop her off and pick her up.”
He paused, then added casually,“She might enjoy your ride.”
“I’ll take one of the cars,” I said flatly.
She wasn’t getting on my bike.
“Safety first,” Alec said with a grin.“I don’t want anything happening to my little avocado until I’ve come in her a few times.”
Rowan smirked.“You can take her to the clinic, then.”
He shot me a knowing look.
My piercings ran from the tip of my cock to my balls. He knew exactly how much condoms pissed me off.
