Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“Having sex with a stranger in public isn’t my jam.” Ella was no shy flower, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist either. And intimacy felt awkward for her when it was someone she didn’t know or trust.
“Make an exception,” Mia urged.
“Look, I’ll come with you so that you’re not going alone, but I’ll just hang at the bar.”
“Boring,” her sister droned.
“Yeah, that’s me. Totally boring. What time do you want to leave?”
“Say … eight-thirty?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“See you then. Remember to stay vigilant,” Mia pushed. “And make sure you tell Luka about the note.”
“I’m going to call him after I get off the phone with you.”
Luka didn’t take the news any better than Mia did. He spat out a gust of Russian words that were a mix of curses and threats. “As if it isn’t bad enough that he psychically assaulted you,” he began, a gruff edge to his voice, “he now dares follow you and hand-delivered yet another note.”
“He’s not scaring me, if that’s his plan,” said Ella.
“Doesn’t matter. Fucking with you this way, leaving written snares for you that have God knows what intent, isn’t acceptable.”
Ella tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “I think he’s getting ballsier, even if his notes are still petulant.”
“I think I’m going to subject him to several kinds of twisted, torturous, mind-warping pain and may not stop for a very long time.”
And what could she really say to that except … “Oh. Okay.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sitting in his office at the Red Rooms, Viper looked up as one of his brothers materialized in front of his desk. Taking in Omen’s dark expression, he sighed. “What you’re about to say is gonna piss me off, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I just found another body.”
Viper felt his jaw clench. “Where?”
“Behind our clubhouse. It was another of the missing humans. A young woman,” Omen added, his voice dropping with anger.
“Did you check the security footage?”
“Yes. The person who dumped her there was definitely a strix. And they knew they were on camera. Even smiled.”
Viper swore and pushed out of his seat. The entity inside him bared its teeth, its ego smarting from the taunt. Some demons who’d escaped hell did their best to lay low. Others, being natural thrill-seekers, tried challenging those who could end them.
It wasn’t something humans would understand. They sought safety and security, for the most part. They typically didn’t put their lives at risk for the thrill. Demons were different. Hell-born demons even more so.
Viper planted his feet. “They obviously guessed we’re responsible for the deaths of their brethren, just as we’d anticipated.” They would have traced their brethren back to the camp; would have noticed the scattering of ashes and the telling scorch marks on the ground and trees. “This was their way of striking back at us.”
“Dice will track them. He always finds his target.”
He did, but there was no saying how long it would take. Strix knew how to hide, and they wouldn’t taunt the club the way they were doing unless they were confident that their colony was well-hidden.
“Her body was in a bad state,” Omen went on. “It was covered in bruises. The strix beat her, but most of the damage seems to have been done postmortem. It’s as if they took out their fury on her in lieu of us.” He scratched his jaw. “I take it you want the body to be burned like the last one.”
Viper nodded. “It’s the only real way to get rid of the evidence.”
Jester materialized a few feet away from Omen. His brow furrowed as he absorbed the dark tension in the office. “Everything all right?”
“One of the missing humans was left behind the clubhouse.” Viper further elaborated, bringing him up to speed.
Jester’s jaw hardened. “Figured it’d happen. Fucking strix need wiping out. Like wasps. I hate them as well.”
“Is there any creature you don’t hate?” Omen asked, genuinely curious.
Jester thought about it for a second. “No.” He cut his gaze back to Viper. “I don’t know if my news is going to improve your mood or not, but … Ella walked through the door a minute ago.”
Viper felt his entire body go still. Ella was here, on what was essentially his territory?
His inner entity grinned, its anger rapidly replaced by anticipation. It wanted to see her. Smell her. Touch her.
Bite her.
Viper ground his teeth so hard it was surprising that no molars cracked. Her coming here … That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not yet. Not until the danger had passed and she’d be here at his invitation.
Turning to the security monitors hanging on the wall behind his desk, he studied each one in search of her.
“Did she ask for Viper?” Omen asked.
“No,” replied Jester. “She’s just meandering around with her sister.”
Omen hummed. “They’re probably here to hook up.”
Yeah, that wasn’t gonna happen. Not a chance would he allow another man to touch his woman.