“Alaric, I’m a whole-ass woman who makes my own decisions. He doesn’t scare me and I won’t hide giving him the satisfaction of fear. The event is happening whether you like it or not. If it makes you feel better, I will add you and your team's name to the list. Use the opportunity to scope out and finally catch the son of a bitch. I appreciate your concern more than you know. Since my father died, I’ve never felt so secure and cared for but I also won’t have someone dictate my choice, regardless of your intentions.” Glancing up at the clock, I realize that I need to get home.
As I go to move past him, his hand wraps around my arm and he draws me into him. We say nothing for a few moments and I let myself melt into him. He holds me, engulfing me with his scent. I can feel him sigh deeply as he realizes my decisionis final and I won’t back down from it. He realizes he has a woman who’s far more superior, stubborn, and driven than anyone he’s ever been with. What he doesn’t know is that he’s in love with a killer, far more dangerous than The Jawbreaker.
“Put my name and my team's on the list. I’ll send you their names. I’ll feel better knowing that I can keep an eye on you. You’re right, we could use this as an opportunity to catch this fucker. Maybe once this is all over, we can take a trip to Italy and get away, just you and me.” His lips brush my forehead as he finally relaxes and concedes to my decision.
“There, was that so hard? As much as I would love to stay and hide away with you, I have to head home to a little human and have our little pedi date I promised her. I will send you all the information you need. Oh, and don’t come all agent like. Come as a civilian and make sure your team knows that as well.” I rise up on my tippy toes and kiss him gently.
I peel away from him and gather my things from his room before I head towards the door. He leans against the wall watching me as if he’s taking a mental note of my movements, profiling me to get a better understanding of the woman that won’t cower down to his demands. A part of me feels uneasy, like I’m just another case he’s trying to analyze. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it and just need to realize he’s an overbearing, protective boyfriend who actually gives a shit about me.
“Let me know when you get home safe. I love you.” Before I can open the door, he whirls me around and kisses me with so much passion, as if it’s the last time we will be together.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, breathless from that kiss.
Once I get into the elevator, I pull my phone out and send a quick text to the boys to give them a heads up of the new eyes that will be joining the club. It changes nothing, though. I will be the next victim and I know Alaric is going to lose his shit.They weren’t fast enough to save Samantha and I refuse to sit idly while we wait for her dead body to appear in the middle of Times Square.
My mask adorns my face once more, ready for war to wage.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ALARIC
“Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.” - William Shakespeare, Much ado nothing about
After Celeste leaves my apartment I dive right back into analyzing everything about this guy. Now that the stakes are higher with someone I care deeply about in the mix, it makes me feel even more uneasy. Why she thought it would be a good idea to host a big event at the biggest club in the city is beyond me. I can’t help but think she’s up to something, though. She was so adamant about keeping it and I didn’t miss the fire that flamed in her eyes.
I shouldn’t have let her look through the documents and see all the photos of the victims, but she didn’t shy away from the sight of death. It was like she absorbed it and she was calculating something she wouldn’t speak aloud. One of hers is involved and I have no doubt she would do anything to protect her own, but does that mean she would be reckless at the chance of getting caught and lured into his web?
There’s something about her that islethal and I can’t help but be so drawn to it. It also makes me think back to Monroe giving me a warning, but I still refuse to hear what she has to say because Celeste is not a threat. She doesn’t know her like I do. She's protective, driven, and she comes off as if she doesn’t need protection, no matter who screams at her that she does.
All I know is, Celeste Hansley is going to do something big and I needed to keep an eye on her. She did, however, invite me and my team to the event as if it was going to help us with a lead. I couldn’t deny her offer. It’s a brilliant idea to lure him into the heart of the sin he hates so much, but he wouldn’t show himself in the plain daylight. He’ll come disguised and will blend in with the crowd, which could and will be a problem.
What I need to do now is bring this into the department and come up with a plan to be discreet and calculating. We need to blend in as customers instead of Special Agents. There’s nothing more I can do now until I head in and I sure as hell am not going to have anyone come over at this hour.
Pushing off the counter, I gather all the documents and place them into my backpack before heading down the hall. I quickly clean up the room that I keep closed at all times hiding my deepest desires. Smiling to myself, the images of Celeste knotted and hanging on full display makes my cock twitch. It surprised me how much she loved it and never once asked for me to stop. It was like she wanted something more, something more daring, but I didn’t want to go too far to scare her off.
Slipping into bed, her scent engulfs me, making me feel like a piece of me is missing. My whole world revolves around her now. When I’m at work, I’m distracted by the moments we share together, the conversations we have and late night calls. My team has noticed a difference in me. Beckett seems to like the new side of me. He often tells me I’m more alive and less of an asshole, but then you have Monroe who huffs and makes slyremarks that I’ve pulled away from my duties. That I can’t afford distractions and to get my head on straight. But she’s wrong. Knowing what Celeste does for a living makes me want to catch this asshole even more.
My body slowly starts to relax, sinking deeper into the mattress. My phone dings causing me to jolt upright, making me groan. Damn, right when I was getting comfy.
Celeste: I’m home. Thank you for today. Next time, I want to be hung upside down
Goddamn, why does she have to be so perfect and tease me like this when I’m alone?
Me: Damn, baby girl, why do you have to tease me like that? You could come back over so I can fulfill your request.
Celeste: As tempting as that is, I have a girl’s night to fulfill and you have work early in the morning. Dream of me. Xoxo
Before closing out my phone, I set my alarm and send a quick text to Monroe and Beckett to meet me in the conference room in the morning. Setting my phone down, my body starts to relax again and slowly my eyes drift closed, taking me into deep sleep.
“You know, having us come in this early should be illegal. Must be something good for even you to grace us with your presence at this hour,” Beckett jokes as he sets his computer bag on the table and slumps into the chair.
“I brought coffee and breakfast sandwiches from the coffee shop down the road.” I gesture towards the end of the table.
Beckett shoots up from his seat and makes his way down the table. Grabbing one of the sandwiches, he tears open the aluminum foil and shoves the sandwich in his mouth. He closes his eyes and moans as a piece of egg hangs from his lips. Dear lord, you would think he doesn’t eat.
“Damn, trying to butter us up with some actual good coffee and food. Must be serious,” he responds with a mouth full of food.
Monroe walks into the room, closing the door behind her. She notices Beckett and shakes her head before she grabs herself a coffee and takes a seat at the table. She doesn’t speak a word, which may be better for all of us. She’s not a morning person and I don’t have the patience to deal with her wrath of disturbing her beauty sleep. On top of it all, she’s already on my shit list for how she treats Celeste and I may just lose all control with one snide remark.
