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Avamarie liked his dirty talk? I can do that.
Smirking, I can feel my excitement grow. “Thank you, Fallon.” I turn toward the elevator, snatching my wallet and keys as I go. “Take good care of my girl while I’m gone.” Stopping in front of the elevator, I press the button and wait for the doors to open. Once I step inside, I turn back and hold her gaze from across the room as I warn, “If anything happens, I will hold you personally responsible.” She doesn’t get a chance to react as the doors slide closed but I’m sure my intent was clear enough.
If I come home to my little girl in anything less than perfect condition, the woman I’ve entrusted her to will pay.
And she will not like the price.
“Hey old man!” Arriana calls as she skips toward me, waving her arm.
I groan and question my decision for calling her. Massaging my temple, I remind myself that I want this to be done quickly and to do that I need help. Unfortunately, this pain in my ass happens to be my best option for said help at the moment.
Coming to a halt, she smiles up at me, patting my arm as she snickers, “Knew ya liked me. Come on. Admit it.” Her eyes twinkle as she teases me, no doubt getting the exact reaction she wants as I grumble under my breath. Tipping her head back, her gelled hair brushes against the nape of her neck with the movement. “That’s alright. You’ll come to accept the truth eventually.”
Crossing my arms, I glare at her. “You done?” I snap, ready to get this over with.
She sobers immediately, straightening her posture. “Yeah.” Crossing her arms to mirror my stance, she asks, “So you get any leads?”
I shake my head, annoyed at the fact. “No, Andrew and I have been through every surveillance camera within a fifty mile radius and nothing.” Glancing around, I make sure no one is within ear shot before leaning forward to whisper, “I’m pretty sure it’s Charles.”
Arriana doesn’t have a reaction to the revelation, her expression turning pensive. “You know,” She muses, tapping her chin. “I always got a bad vibe from him.” Running her gaze up and down my body, she inclines her head. “Yeah, I could see that. He’s probably starting to regret bailing you out now that he’s realizing how much of a badass you are.”
I grunt in response, both relieved and frustrated to have my suspicions corroborated.
Charles and I never got along, it was more a marriage of convenience so to speak. He needed a killer and I needed freedom. I’m amazed it took him so long to try to take me out.
Poor timing on his part.
A few months ago I might have welcomed death’s embrace with open arms. Now? Now I’m taking anyone I can with me as I claw and scratch my way from the black abyss awaiting my soul.
I’ll always fight to return to my little firecracker. My reason for existing. The air that fills my lungs and gives my miserable life purpose.
Arriana clears her throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “So, what’s the plan?”
I pull my phone from my pocket, typing out a message to Andrew before tucking it away again. “It’s time for a regime change.”
Chapter 31
Avamarie
My head throbs as I wake up. I glance around the dark room, my heart rate increasing. “Killian?” I whisper into the darkness. No response.
I try to recall what happened but it’s fuzzy. The last thing I can remember is having to answer more questions in the hospitalbefore they finally agreed to release me. I know I had Killian to thank for my freedom as his intimidating presence was enough to convince the medical professionals I wasn’t worth the trouble.
We had to go over all the risks of leaving and benefits of staying. When it became clear neither Killian nor I were going to budge, they grudgingly brought in some paperwork for me to sign. One document was an AMA, or “against medical advice”, form that essentially said I was leaving despite the doctor’s insistence I stay.
The other form was harder to sign. That one was called a “No Suicide Contract” that was pretty self explanatory, and a blatant lie for me to sign. With shaking hands, I had lifted the pen and scribbled my signature.
Sometime after, I must have dozed off because I woke up here.
Shimming out from under the blanket, I quietly pad toward the door, peeking my head out. An infuriating relief fills me as I recognize the hall. Stepping out of the room, I glance down, surprised to find my body covered by a large shirt. I grip the hemline, bringing the material to my nose as I inhale, the scent of whiskey and vetiver enveloping me. I fight back a moan even as tears fill my eyes from the familiar smell.
He dressed me in his shirt.
My mind stumbles over the thought. Glancing over my shoulder, I realize he also tucked me away in his room.
Why? Why is he doing all of this?
A small flicker of hope lights up some of the darkness inside of me. I wait for it to be smothered just as all the others have been but it continues to burn, something stronger than the ever present nothingness keeping it alight.
