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Blood covers my skin, and I scream without making a noise. My reflection morphs below me, growing bigger and bigger until my mouth is just a gaping hole. My teeth sharpen and I stare in shock at the monstrous figure I turn into.
I can’t do anything as I dive down, closer and closer...
I jolt upright, my body thrashing as my nightmare releases me. Gasping, I scrub my face, trying to orient myself. I must’ve fallen asleep again. I still feel hungover. Sick. My head spins, and my heart doesn’t stop racing. I want nothing more than to curl up on the carpet.
“Stacia! Open up! Don’t make me break down this mother fucking door.” Talon’s voice rises with the thud of his fist pounding the door.
Groaning, I push to my feet, wobbling. Talon bangs excessively, harder and faster. He might actually break down the door.
“Coming,” I croak, my voice hoarse with sleep.
I stare through the peephole, making sure he’s alone. Talon’s silhouette fills the space outside my door. A rush of relief washes through me, and I fling it open. He doesn’t get a chance to brace himself before I jump at him, forcing him to hug me. He doesn’t push me back or anything, just takes a step forward and closes the door. It’s as if my mind and body know he’s safe. He’ll protect me. He’ll help.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmur. Trembles shake through me. “I was scared you wouldn’t show.”
“Of fucking course I’d come. Now, be honest with me, wild child. What am I dealing with? You can tell me anything. Do you think you were assaulted?” Talon’s voice deepens with his question, and I feel his worry as if it’s my own. It’s one of those things. Always assume the worst, because the worst tends to happen a lot around here.
“I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. I woke up naked next to...” I wave my hand toward the master suite in the penthouse.
Talon’s eyebrows furrow as he follows my line of sight. “He’s still here? I’m going to kill him.”
I laugh in exasperation, but not because it’s funny. It’s the only response my body knows how to give to his threat. My voice rises and pitch, sounding maniacal. “You can’t kill someone who’s already dead.” I sob and shake, my admission striking me on a soul-deep level.
Talon sets me on my feet and gives me a once over, realizing I’m only wearing a robe. Taking a step back, he blinks his eyes as if he’s trying to process what I had just said. He scrubs the back of his neck and turns away. “Stacia, what do you mean he’s already dead? You’re fucking with me, right?”
I lick my trembling bottom lip, sucking it between my teeth. Shaking my head, I answer him with silence.
Swinging his arm, Talon punches the wall, leaving a crater behind. “Fuck.”
“I don’t even know who he is. He’s not the man I left with last night. Things are so fuzzy.” I take a step closer to Talon and touch his arm. “If you don’t want to help me or if you want to call the police—”
“No. I’m absolutely helping you. We can’t get the damn police involved. There’s no need to if we can cover this shit up. It’s less work and cheaper.” Because there are members of the police department and local government that our chapter buys off. You can get away with a lot if you have enough money.
“I’m sorry,” I say, knowing that Talon doesn’t deserve this kind of shit. “I would’ve called my dad, but...you know.”
“He’s not happy with you, Stacia. You’re going to have to deal with it, you know. I don’t understand what got in your head, but I’m sure you had a reason. I hope it was a good one to risk your stance and freedom.” Talon meets my gaze expectantly, silently asking for me to explain myself without demanding it.
“Christos is my ex. He used me as part of his initiation into his chapter without letting me know and without my consent. They have a video.” I lift and drop my shoulders, trying not to relive the humiliation. “I didn’t want to be a part of his Welcome Ceremony. There was no way I was going to give him even an ounce of respect or my attention.”
Talon stiffens, curling his fingers into fists. “Does your father know?”
I purse my lips, nodding my head. “Yes. He accepted the same collateral as part of my initiation into the Looking Glass chapter, so I didn’t have to do anything else.”
Some would think it was lucky of me, but I still cringe thinking about it. There were options and my decision was stolen from me. Daddy thought I got off easy. Maybe it’s why he didn’t think things through. He doesn’t care about how I feel and will probably holler at me to get over myself since it was years ago.
“And he still insisted you welcome the bastard?” The question isn’t intended for me. He’s more likely speaking his thoughts out loud.
“None of that matters right now.” I take his hand and tug him closer, just wanting him to help me. I don’t want to think about the body anymore or what could’ve happened.
He shakes his head. “It does matter, but you’re right. Let’s see what’s going—”
A loud knock on the door startles me, and I hear a woman call out, “Ms. Saint Germaine, room service.”
I grimace and look at Talon.
He brings his finger to his lips, silently asking me to be quiet.
“I have orders to leave it on the table if you don’t answer.” The woman says it for security reasons, obliging by whatever instructions she was given.
