Zoe
Dean helps me into a double shoulder holster and straps me with two Mossberg MC1sc’s before we head to their garage. This is the first time that I’ve been in their garage. My jaw goes slack, and I swear I have to scrape it off the concrete.
The entire garage is filled to the brim with subtle but luxurious vehicles. I was hoping we’d be taking the sparkling Audi A8, but there is no way all five of us could squeeze in. Instead, we pile into a Lamborghini Urus. It’s so nice I’m worried that I will taint the leather by just looking at it, butI mimic how they act and quickly relax in the middle seat in the back. I’m flanked by Teddy and Brandon, Max takes the passenger seat, and Dean claims the driver seat.
I’m already heating from the close proximity, but then Teddy puts his hand on my upper thigh, and Brandon follows suit with wrapping his arm around my waist, slightly pulling me closer to him. “Comfortable princess?”
“Mhm,” I squeeze my lips in a tight line and try to ignore the fire igniting in my lower stomach.
Dean takes off out of the underground garage. We speed run through a tunnel, then appear on a side street once we spit from the opening. Max looks intently at his phone while Brandon and Teddy begin to tease me with their fingers, tracing little circles into my skin.
Needing to focus on what we will be doing at the warehouses, I shoot forward, knocking both of their hands off of me, leaning between Max and Dean. “What is expected of me once we get there?” My question is directed at Max.
“It depends if we see anything out of the ordinary. But the warehouse crews will need to know you are one of us, so if anything arises- you should be the one to act.”
“Act as in?”
“I’ll let you determine that.” Says Max, still not removing his eyes from his phone screen.
I just stare forward at the road as we continue to drive. If I need to kill today, I need to bring back myNumb.
MyNumbis what I like to call the personality I possess when I need to take a life. Even though the people I kill deserveit, I’m still somewhat human. I have to separate myself from the acts, so I close my eyes and let out a deep breath before leaning back in the seat. Teddy is at once aware of the mood shift, Brandon tenses next to me. “Fine, but I’ll need some music.”
Max, hearing the shift in my tone turns back towards me, “What do you have in mind, Harpy?”
“Play ‘Burn’ by 2WEI and Edda Hayes, please.” I ask sweetly and I check my weapons on instinct.
Max doesn’t respond, and at once lets the music play, sound filling the car. I close my eyes and let the sound swallow me whole as I focus on summoning theNumbside of me.
My dad hated when I’d goNumb. It’s like he knew once I was there, he couldn’t drag the real Zoe out. He couldn’t hurt me. When I’d goNumb,he’d train me even harder. He’d pull out the shocking prods or the collar. He tried so hard to see my pain. To get some sort of response from me. The trick to those devices was, he’d turn it all the way up to make me scream in pain, but the shocks were activated by noise. When I’d scream, it’d shock me harder. So, I very quickly learned, no screaming.
Soon enough he stopped trying to get to me when I wentNumb.
The only person I didn’t goNumbfor, was my father. I needed to feel his life leaving from his body, I needed to see his soul leave from his already-dead eyes.
When the SUV comes to a sudden stop, my eyes jolt open, and I look at our surroundings through the windows. We are parked in front of a massive warehouse in the middle of nowhere. There are no surrounding buildings or businesses, or even cars. There are trees that are wrapping around it, hiding itfrom the road. Brandon gets out of the car but stops me before I exit and closes the door on me. Both Dean and Max get out as well and they circle the car.
“Why can’t I get out?” I ask Teddy, who is still sitting next to me.
“They’re scoping out the area. They want to be sure it’s all clear before you exit.”
Scoffing, I push the door open, “I can protect myself.” Teddy doesn’t stop me, instead he gets out with me.
Max turns to look at me and then scolds Teddy, “What the hell? I told you to keep her in the car while we checked everything out.”
Teddy only shrugs while he keeps an eye on me as I look towards the building.
“It’s so quiet out here, I thought you had workers inside?”
“We do,” Brandon answers as he joins me. “Soundproof walls.”
“All clear, let’s get this over with.” Dean demands.
I roll my eyes at his roughness, always such a dick, and of course I cannot stand it anymore. “Why are you always so pissy?” I ask Dean.
He looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head, “Pissy?”
I stop and put my hands on my hips, knowing that Teddy is covering my back in case something pops off. “Yes. Pissy, broody, angry, pensive, somber, irate, exasperated? I can go on if you want me to continue listing synonyms.” I step in front ofhim so he can’t dismiss my question. “Or do you need definitions too? I’m sure a meathead like you might need help breaking down the big words.”
