“They’re not coming,” Thomas mutters.
I sigh and kneel next to the body I’ve been investigating all morning. My skin still feels too tight. Like I haven’t fully come down from being in the woods with him. “They wouldn’t know the difference anyway,” I mutter. “Rage killing, ritual—it’s all the same to them.”
“Okay. Let's get out of here. I’ll call it in anonymously on our way to headquarters.”
Leaving the woman's body lying on the sidewalk for the wolves to feast on gnaws at my soul. I couldn't care less aboutmost of the people in this town, but I know what it feels like to lose someone like this and I still think the death of others should be respected. I bite my fingernail. “What if they don’t come?” I murmur. My eyes flick back to the body. “What if she just… stays here?”
He shrugs and walks past me. “That’s not our problem, Rory. We did our part. Now it’s time to leave.”
I take one last look at the scene and resign myself to her visiting me in my nightmares as I follow Thomas toward our vehicles.
He reaches his truck before I get to mine, and he leans against his. Like he didn’t just stand over a dead body ten minutes ago. “Since it’s breakfast time, would you like to grab some food?”
My stomach grumbles. “I guess.” I point at his chest as I walk by. “But this isn’t a fucking date, Thomas.”
He chuckles, hops in his truck, and then rolls down his passenger window. “If you say so, Rory. Meet me at Ben’s.”
I nod and get into my car.
Plates clatter around me as Thomas and I sit in our booth in the corner of Ben’s. Ben’s has been here longer than I’ve been alive. It’s always packed, and always loud. There’s only one thing I hate more than the cult—crowds. I don’t understand the point of big gatherings and being surrounded by a ton of people you barely know in the first place.
Thomas attempts to make small talk with me as I look over the menu, but I ignore him. His voice fades into the background. It’s not his fault. It’s just not the voice I want to hear.
I give him a flat look and act as though I didn’t hear him ask me what my plans were this weekend. I don’t have time to go out on a date with him. I don’t have a personal life. Just vengeance. The kind Joey deserves. The kind I still haven’t gotten.
The cult will pay.That’s all I’m focused on. Besides, any time I have to myself, even for a few seconds, almost reluctantly, my mind wanders to Ryven. Not even on purpose. He just… shows up. He plagues my thoughts even when I fight them off. Like he never left.
The waitress strolls over to us with her pad and pen at the ready, starting with Thomas first. Before Thomas can speak, I cut in with my order and hand the waitress my menu. Then I jerk a thumb toward him. “He’s paying.”
I smirk at him as his eyes widen. He blinks at me, caught off guard.Good.I’m sick and tired of being treated as though I’m less than him just because he outranks me on paper. It’s not like he can determine the difference between rage killings and ritual killings.
He recovers quickly, clearing his throat and giving the waitress his dashing smile before placing his order. Once she’s gone, he reaches across the table to grab my hand. It’s not forceful. Not like Ryven. But I still don’t want it.
I quickly yank it from him. “Thomas, I told you this shit wasn’t a date,” I grumble and sit back in my chair.
He shrugs. “You're the one who is making me pay. Therefore, it’s a date in my eyes. So what are you going to give me for this breakfast?”
I scoff. “How about a knuckle sandwich and my continued obedience on the team while I spend the rest of my life being a huge pain in your ass?” I smile. “The only reason I’m having you pay is because it’s the least you can do after making me spend time with you outside of work.”
I don’t hate Thomas.I hate that one drunken mistake made him think he owns a piece of me.
He laughs and slides his hand under the table. Then he raises his brow. “You know… I could be into pegging if you were into that.”
I blink at him. “Don’t be so fucking weird, Thomas. You know what I was talking about. I don’t want to stick anything—” I look around the restaurant and notice other people staring at our table and blush pink.God damn him.
“You were saying?”
I wave him off. “Fuck off, Thomas.”
After breakfast and the dreaded small talk I hate, Thomas and I return to our vehicles. After successfully dodging a goodbye kiss, I finally head toward my house.
I wish he would get the fucking hint already. Because the only man I can’t seem to get away from—is the one I should fear the most.
Chapter 11
Ryven
Moonlight cuts through the trees, casting a pale beam over the altar. I’ve done this enough times that the scene barely registers anymore. I don’t look at her face right away. That’s the trick. Don’t make them people and it’s easier.
