Page 14 of The Unravelings

A grin splits my lips as I watch his every frantic move. There’s a shakiness to his steps—an urgency to his movements.

Now would be a grand time to read minds. Oh, what a superpower that would be. Although torture sessions would be less spectacular. I flick my eyes back to the man of the hour, noting the thick sheets of sweat trickling down his temples, and the determined look on his face as he propels himself through the groups of people lingering on campus.

JJ might not be an exciting little bug to track, but there’s something in the air. Static? A premonition of sorts? Whatever it is, the moment JJ does whatever his pea brain has set him out to do will be a game-changer.

I’m certain of it.

It’s a pity my keeper, Wilder, was still sound asleep when I slipped out the front door to prowl around campus and set my eyes on my enemies. He could have stopped me from witnessing this. Or he could have come and shared my nonexistent popcorn.

Not that he’d appreciate this stakeout, anyway.

“I’m going to chain you to your bed. Fucking…don’t do anything else stupid,” Wilder growls, standing outside my bedroom. “No more kidnappings.” He points a disappointed finger in my direction.

My dearest keeper is so disappointed in me. A shame, really.

“Scout’s honor.” I grin, crossing my fingers behind my back.

He doesn’t have to know I have no honor. Not right now. Not when my sister is missing, and a doctor is at large with possible answers. Not to mention her missing coworker, who witnessed what she did.

Two missing girls. One suspected doctor. Maybe I should remove her spleen and see how she likes it. Make her sing like a little birdy.

Oh, yes. That sounds delightful.

Wilder pinches the bridge of his nose. “Malic, I’m fucking serious. You kidnapped Huxley goddamn Crewes! If he informs those other two fuckheads, our heads are going to roll!” he shouts, tossing out a hand. “And boss! He’ll be pissed as shit. He told us to be good.” He glares at me now.

“I’ll be a good boy, Daddy.” Not a complete lie. I’m always a good boy. Well, in my eyes, anyway.

Wilder scoffs at me, taking a step back. “Don’t call me fucking daddy. It’s weird! God. Just sleep. You’ve been up all night. And I need more sleep. Whatever you gave me⁠—”

“Tylenol PM. Three, to be exact,” I interrupt with a grin. “It should wear off soon. You’ll feel tip-top soon, old Chap.”

He scowls more before walking away and shouting, “Stay in the goddamn house! I swear to God I’ll put a tracker on you if you don’t stop running away. God, you’re like a toddler!”

Oh, he’s regretting his position as my keeper. It’s too bad he’s stuck with me forever. We’re like a married couple—a packaged deal. I wonder how my little ghost would feel about Wilder being around all the time. You know, when I carry her down the aisle and bind our souls together forever.

Would Wilder want to join in on the festivities? Wait. Would I want him to join? Images of the three of us together with my little ghost squished between us, moaning and writhing in ecstasy. Calling out both our names as we both enter her. Oh. Oh, yes. I see this happening. In fact, my rising dick says it’s a possibility.

I’ll make that happen.

“Kinky,” I quip back, earning a door slam and silence in return.

Rude.

To say sleep evaded me was an understatement. I mean, who can sleep when last night’s non-torture session happened? No blood. Screams. Guts. Or anything exciting happened to relieve the constant stress weighing on my shoulders. The only answers I achieved were about Meredith and maybe why she disappeared.

“Malic, I need you!” Mere’s voice rings in my head, followed by the images of her dirty face, distorting in pain, begging me to save her from the nightmare she’s been pulled into.

“Fuck!” I growl, smacking the side of my head and shaking away the false images of my sister. It’s not real. It doesn’t fucking exist. She’s okay.

She’s alive. Somewhere. She needs me to figure this out. Find her.

That’s why my impromptu meeting with Huxley was so vital. Even if he was useless. Per fucking usual. Frankly, he’s nothing but a bloated king with a chip on his shoulder. One, I’d love to knock off and show him his true place. Beneath my damn shoe. You know, I was looking forward to not only finding my sister but making Huxley pay in all the best ways. Not just for speaking to my sister behind my back and luring her in with a false sense of friendship, but all the other bullshit he’s pulled over the years. Hearing his screams echoing off the basement walls would have been the cherry on top of everything.

Too bad my damn keeper ruined it.

After he told me about my sister needing money and coming to him for help with the organ-stealing doctors, that was all she wrote. Wilder woke up from his sleeping-pill-induced sleep and ruined it all with his conscience. Meredith is still missing, and Huxley still has his testicles. Barely. Next time, I’ll make him squeal like a pig.

And it’ll bring me great joy to do so.