THE VILLAIN
After losingmy state of non-concentration twice, I called it a night and dragged Violet into the tub. After all, that was the point of being up here. She moaned with every inch she sank farther into the water. I knew she was doing it on purpose, but I still had a job to do.
It took me ten minute to finish cleaning up the kitchen and join her. Her eyes were closed, head resting on the edge of the tub. She didn’t even stir when I lowered myself in across fromher. I grinned a little, satisfied with the fact that I was actually wearing her out.
I shifted, pulling her into my arms so I could lean her on my chest. She groaned but her eyes stayed closed. I held her there and massaged her muscles. I started on her arms, working my way up to her shoulders, making sure I was taking the strain off all her muscles in the system. She was totally knotted. It was actually a miracle she managed to get herself out of bed.
She woke up when I started on her shoulders, which was good because I could make my way down her back with her leaning forward. She moaned and groaned and hissed until, slowly but surely, her body began to relax.
I had her move across the tub from me so I could work on her legs. I got a little distracted when my fingers slipped between them, but she didn’t complain so I sure as shit wouldn’t either. I stopped her when she tried to climb on top of me. I decided to push my plans to the morning. I wanted to give her a bit more time to recover because these plans weren’t gentle.
When she complained the water was starting to chill, I pulled out the plug and grabbed her a towel, wrapped her up then carried her back to bed. She refused to let go when I tried to put her down.
“Come to bed, you’re such a busybody.”
I chuckled. “If you would stop koala-ing me, I will.”
She huffed. “Why do I need to let go? We can sleep like this.”
My chuckled turned into a full-blown laugh.
“Now who’s the needy one?”
She huffed again.
“We cannot sleep like this, I’ll crush you.”
“I can take it,” she mumbled. So cute she was already falling back asleep.
“If you let go, I’ll run back downstairs and grab your laptop so we can watch a movie and cuddle until your bedtime call.”
She groaned but released her hold.
“Why would you ever implement this?”
“I told you, the others threatened you. I was worried they’d go after you while I was distracted so I needed help. I’d love to take it all back, but…I’m dead, so—” I shrugged.
“Maybe I should fake my death, too. We can run away and leave all this craziness behind. Start over.”
“You’d be okay leaving all your friends? The kids you work with?”
“Yes.”
My heart stuttered. No hesitation. Not a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She truly would leave—run. With me. For a moment, I considered telling her to do it. I would help her fake her death and we could go, anywhere she wanted. I couldn’t force the words out though. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Not with fifteen names left on the list, the question of who betrayed me, and the remaining labs. I had to end it first.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead instead.
“Not yet. Maybe one day.” I smiled before walking to the door. “Be right back.”
“Okay,so what are we feeling?Now You See Me, The Princess Bride—”I stopped the moment my eyes landed on Violet’s face. She was staring at her phone, colour drained from her face. “What is it?”
Her gaze met mine slowly and the word-vomit began. “I meant to tell you after your visit with Scarlett but then everything happened and I hadn’t received a message in a coupleof days. It completely slipped my mind. I thought maybe they dropped it. Maybe?—”
“Whoa, whoa, slow down.” I set her laptop on the nightstand and sat next to her on the bed. “Deep breath.”
She took one, two, three.
“Good. What happened?”
