Page 76 of Wicked Nightmare

I kissed the top of her head, inhaling the lavender scent of her shampoo. "Hell yes we are. And if we don't, I'll meet you on the other side. I'll follow you to hell in this lifetime, and through the next."

"Always," she whispered.

As the last notes of the credits faded, I stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow, we'd dive back into the chaos. Back to unraveling Chimera's web, back to planning stakeouts, dancing at strip clubs and torturing people for information. But for now, with Lakey's warmth pressed against me, I allowed myself to believe in the lie of a normal life.

Just for a little while.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Lakey

I jolted awake, Janine's house burning behind my eyelids. The thought blazed through my mind, urgent and all-consuming. I had to get back there, had to know what the fuck was going on.

"Cam," I said, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up, dick breath. We've got work to do."

He groaned, cracking one eye open. "Christ, Lakey. What time is it? You gotta stop waking me up like this. I'm getting PTSD."

"It's seven o'clock, asshole. Time to get our asses in gear," I snapped, already scrambling out of bed. My skin itched with the need to move, to act. "We're going back to Janine's place. Tonight."

Cam sat up, rubbing his face. "You sure that's smart, babe? Place is probably scrubbed."

I whirled on him. "I don't give a rat's ass about smart. I need answers, and that bitch's house is the only place we're gonna find them."

He studied me for a long moment. I could see the gears turning in that devious mind of his. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, baby. We'll go back to her house. BUT. No unnecessary risks. That means, if you see something you don't like, you gotta stay calm, 'ight? We handle everything with a level head."

I grinned. "When have I ever been unnecessary?"

Cam snorted, pulling me close. "Uh, I dunno. When you killed Steve, and we still needed information? Probably a little fucking unnecessary. You're a damn tornado, Lakey. We can kill when it's absolutely necessary."

I leaned into his touch, savoring the rare moment of tenderness. Whatever secrets Janine had been hiding, I was going to rip them out by the roots.

"Hooookaaaaay. Fine."

"So, what's the plan, boss lady?" Cam asked, his voice rough from sleep. The huskiness did something to my insides I didn't have time for right now.

I laid it out for him, quick and dirty, trying to distract myself from the unholy thoughts rattling through my brain. "We go in quiet, search every fucking inch of that place. There's gotta be something we missed. Documents, pictures, anything that'll tell us what that bitch was really up to."

Cam nodded. "And if we run into any... obstacles?"

I met his gaze, unflinching. "If they're non-cooperative, we remove them. Permanently. If they cooperate, maybe we can keep one as a pet. But don't worry, I will follow your lead, and I won't make it messy, we will wipe our prints down, yadda, yadda. Good?"

"That's my girl."

As we prepared, my mind kept circling back to that little girl's face. Those eyes, so hauntingly familiar. Was it possible? Could she really be...? I shoved the thought away. Surely, I'd remember having a whole fucking baby. I'd have never let them tear her from my grasp.

What did Steven say? They pick each genetic code. Maybe they're just addicted to small blue-eyed blondes.

With a sigh, I swung my legs out of bed and started getting ready for a day of preparation.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in bruised purples and angry reds. I stood in front of our cracked mirror, methodically applying a dark wig and heavy makeup. Beside me, Cam was pulling on a nondescript black hoodie.

"Pass me that lockpick set, would ya?" I said, not taking my eyes off my reflection. The face staring back at me was a stranger's. Perfect. Wouldn't do us any good sauntering up to Janine's looking like ourselves. Especially if she was back. A few seconds of confusion might save our asses before she'd be able to piece it together and recognize me.

Cam's large hand appeared in my periphery, the tools catching the dim light. "You sure about this, babe?"

I turned to face him, allowing a small, sharp smile to play across my lips. "When have I ever not been sure, baby?" I reached up to trace the line of his jaw. "We're gonna find out what that cunt was hiding even if I have to burn the whole fucking neighborhood down."

"God, you're beautiful when you're plotting murder," he said, pulling me in for a bruising kiss. "Just try your absolute best to remember that we agreed nothing unnecessary."

We broke apart, both a little breathless. "Yeah, yeah. Always trying to stifle my fun. Whatever. Let's roll," I said, grabbing my bag of supplies.