Page 88 of XO Karma

My curiosity is piqued. “And what’s that?”

“They need me at a crime scene.” He reaches beneath me, pulls the phone out, then types around on it. “I just asked someone else to go. I’d prefer it not be me anyways.”

My brows furrow, realization trickling through me. “Is it one of yours?”

He shrugs, unable to hide his smirk. “Maybe.”

“Aster!” I push myself off him, and he rushes to stand, towering over me.

“What?”

“Would it kill you to go a few days without taking someone out?”

“No.” He grips my chin and nudges my gaze to meet his. “But it might kill you.”

I suck in a breath as a chill runs down my spine. He didn’t. This party is too loud. Too many people. Too many witnesses for this conversation. Anger thrums through me. I told him I had Vetrel handled. I shove him off, spin around, and weave through the crowd, his presence burning on my back. I know he’s following from the way the crowd parts, but their gazes fall past me.

“Hey!” Amara says, setting a hand on my arm, and I jump in place. She glances between us, brows furrowing. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” I force a smile. “Everything is fine. Aster just has something to do for work, and I’m joining him.”

“Okay.” She waggles her brows. “Go to work.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I ask, guilt racking through me. I did just get here.

She leans close to my ear. “You looked happier the last twenty minutes than I’ve seen you in weeks. Please, go enjoy yourself with this divine man.”

There’s no need to tell her I’m leaving to rip Aster a new one. Instead I just say, “Thanks.”

Once out the front door, I rush down the front steps adorned with carved pumpkins and head to the sidewalk, trying to collect my thoughts.

“Where are you going?” Aster asks, racing after me, the Reaper weapon in his grip. Another wet daydream of him chasing me through a forest and tripping me with his scythe flashes through my mind, and I force it away. Not! The! Time! We’re a ten-minute walk from Aster’s place and a twenty-minute walk to mine. I’m also unsure if Liam is home, and there are a hundred things I’d like to say right now that I do not need my police brother overhearing.

“Your place.”

“Really?” he coos. “Am I being rewarded?”

I shoot him a glare. “Don’t speak to me until we’re inside.” There can’t be any audience or witnesses for what I plan to say. You never know who’s lurking in the shadows in this town. By the time we’re through his front door, I’m trembling with rage. The moment it slams behind us, I’m spinning to face him, arms crossed.

“Who did you kill?” I snap, even though I have a pretty good guess. But I need to hear it out loud.

“What do you want me to say?” He tosses his mask on the sideboard, along with his keys. He leans his scythe on the wall, then strolls past me as I tug off my boots.

“I literally just told you.” I follow him down the hall. “Their name.”

He heads straight for the kitchen, grabs a bottle of bourbon, and fills a glass. He gulps half of it then sets the remainder on the kitchen island with a clank, eyes finding mine. “I told you what could happen if Vetrel stayed alive.”

Irritation bubbles under the surface. “Yes, what could happen.”

He shakes his head, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “The possibility of him hurting you was too much of a risk.”

“You shouldn’t have killed him.”

“What can I say?” He smirks, piercing green eyes meeting mine. “You left me unsupervised.”

Fuck him and his stupid sexy smile. His calmness only heightens my frustration. “You gave me shit for shooting him in the leg, then went and murdered him?!”

“I killed him because you shot him.”