16. Sixteen Lakey
Sixteen: Lakey
I clicked the security box shut with a satisfying snap, my fingers tracing the cool metal as I slid the key in, locking it. Perfect. Couldn't have those envelopes falling into the wrong hands. Technically, I guess we were the wrong hands, but… no one else needed to see these. I pushed the key into Cam’s pocket and handed him the box and the rolodex.
"Wanna grab some pics or nah?" Cam's low voice rumbled behind me.
I nodded, already whipping out my phone. "Yeah. I do." My thumb flew across the screen, slowly videotaping the office before walking out into the main lab. I grabbed shots of the jars before taking a video of the whole room.
Once I was satisfied with my impromptu photoshoot, I pocketed the phone and met Cam's dark gaze.
“Let’s make like a sportscar and zoom,” he said, chuckling when I rolled my eyes. He always had the absolute worst puns.
I took point, padding down the dim corridor like a cat on the prowl. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My ears strained for any hint of danger – a footstep, a whisper, hell, even a mouse fart. Do mice even fart? I think I read somewhere that they don’t…
"You're enjoying this way too much," Cam murmured, his breath hot on my neck.
I shot him a wicked grin over my shoulder. "What can I say? Learning that I was made infertile and seeing the absolute atrocities committed to Lydia gets my pussy pumping. Nothing quite like some extra trauma sprinkled on top of a lifetime of sordid deeds."
He snorted, but I caught the glint of approval in his eyes. That's what I loved about Cam – he got me, darkness and all.
As we crept further down the hallway, my mind raced with possibilities. What if we ran into some of those sick fucks who ran this place? The thought sent a delicious shiver down my spine. My fingers twitched, itching to inflict some well-deserved pain. I traced the outline of the knives strapped to my legs. I never left home without them, and it had been a hot minute since I fed them.
"Easy, tiger," Cam whispered, his hand ghosting over my lower back as he noticed the tension radiating off my body. His thumb gently pushed and prodded into my muscles to ease the tension that had built. "We got what we needed."
I pouted but nodded. He was right, of course. Didn't mean I had to like it.
The corridor seemed endless, each step heightening the swirl that had coiled in my gut. I could practically taste freedom, but at any point, someone could come down… one wrong move and we'd be royally fucked.
"Almost there," I breathed, more to steady myself than anything else.
As we rounded the final corner, I allowed myself a small smile. We’d made it back to where the corridor split into three. Just a bit further and we could climb up and get the fuck back home. Mission accomplished, bitches.
Suddenly, a sharp scuffling sound from upstairs shattered the silence. I froze mid-step, my body going rigid as a corpse. Cam's hand clamped down on my shoulder, steadying me.
My head snapped around, locking eyes with him. The adrenaline surged through me like liquid fire, and I could feel my lips curling into a feral grin. Oh, how I wanted to charge up there and unleash hell.
"Cam," I whispered, my voice dripping with barely contained excitement. "Did you hear that? We could—"
But before I could finish, Cam's dark eyes bore into mine, his expression a perfect mask of calm authority. He raised a finger to his lips, then pointed to the side. The message was clear: stay put, stay quiet.
I bristled, every fiber of my being screaming to act. My fingers twitched, already imagining the satisfying slick of blood running over them. "But—"
Cam's grip on my shoulder tightened, just shy of painful. He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear as he murmured, "Patience, little psycho. We play the long game, remember?"
I huffed out a frustrated sigh but nodded all the same. Cam knew best when it came to strategy. It's why we made such a deadly pair – his cold calculation tempered my white-hot rage. He pushed me down one of the off-shoots and we flattened ourselves against the wall.
As we stood there, frozen in the shadows, I marveled at how in sync we were. No more words needed, just a look, a touch, and we understood each other perfectly. His serenity infiltrated my excitement, bringing us both to a homeostatic state. My heart slowed, my breathing steadied. It was almost romantic, if you ignored the fact that we were two seriously fucked-up individuals.
"Fine," I breathed, enjoying the relaxation that coursed through me. "But next time, I get to play."
Cam's lips quirked up in that crooked smirk I adored. "Wouldn't have it any other way, darlin'. Now shhhhh." He pressed his finger into my lips, and I bit down on it, sucking it into my mouth before releasing with a wink. I swore I could have heard him growl, not that I needed it with the way his other hand gripped into my ass, surely leaving beautiful imprints on my skin underneath my pants.
The dim lights flickered, and darkness pressed in around us, but I felt like I could sense everything. I could feel my heart going steady, each beat a war drum in my chest. My soul itched for action, for violence, but I held myself still. Cam's steady presence beside me was both a comfort and a torment – I knew he was right but fuck if it didn't drive me crazy.
I took shallow breaths, trying to quiet the storm raging inside me. My mind raced, bouncing between bloodlust and strategy like a deranged pinball. I wanted to lash out, to feel flesh tear beneath my hands, but I also knew the value of waiting, of striking when the moment was perfect. If I killed these fucks now, we might not be able to move on down the target list… we might fuck up our chance at finding the real assholes behind this whole thing. Frustration made me want to scream, so I bit down on my cheek instead, swallowing the blood as a cut opened and leaked into my mouth.
"Shit," I hissed under my breath, barely audible. "This fucking sucks."
Cam gripped my ass tighter, grinding me against him, his grip firm and grounding. He didn't speak, but I felt his silent approval of my restraint.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. My entire body tensed, ready to spring if they discovered us hiding away in this little nook. But what I saw next made my blood run cold.
Two figures emerged from the shadows wearing plague masks and long white coats, carrying what looked like a limp body between them. As they passed by our hiding spot, I caught a glimpse of their burden – a young girl, unconscious and pale as death.
My eyes narrowed, taking in every detail. The girl's stringy blonde hair, the bruises on her arms, the way her head lolled unnaturally to the side. My mind raced, piecing together possibilities faster than I could process them.
"Well, well," I murmured, a dark excitement building in my chest. "Looks like they haven’t quit their day jobs. We should go fuck them up."
Cam's grip on my hand tightened, a silent warning. But I was already lost in the thrill of the hunt, imagining all the delicious ways we could use the information I’d pry from their lips.
"Oh, don't worry, big guy," I whispered, a wicked grin spreading across my face. "I'm not gonna do anything stupid. But you gotta admit, this changes things."
“Lakes, I know you wanna go free her, I do too, but if we get caught, or if there are more of ‘em upstairs, then we get fucked, do you understand?”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
The footsteps faded with the swinging of the door at the end of the hall, and Cam nodded. We moved like shadows, our feet barely touching the ground as we crept down the corridor. My heart pounded, but not from fear—from the thrill of it all. The ladder loomed ahead, our ticket out of this hellhole.
I scrambled up first, my fingers finding purchase on cold metal rungs. We had no idea what us was above, but from the silence, we were probably safe to head up and land back in the shed. Cam followed; his massive frame somehow just as silent as mine. We burst onto the rickety wooden floor; the musty air complimented the stale underground scent that permeated from the open cellar door.
"Fuck," I hissed, peering through a crack in the wooden slats. My eyes widened at the scene outside.
A black SUV with a gaudy cross emblazoned on its side sat in the driveway, engine running. Nuns scurried around like demonic penguins, sloshing gas from red cans. There, sitting on the front step with a smoke hanging out of her mouth was none other than Sister Anne.
"They're trying to torch the place," I spat, my fists clenching so tight I felt my nails break skin. "Those hypocritical bitches."
Cam's hand landed heavy on my shoulder. "They must have figured out someone was on their tail," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Probably saw that old dickless fuck decaying in his living room.”
I turned to him, a manic grin splitting my face. "Well, ain't that just peachy? Guess we're not the only ones with a hard-on for violence. What do you think the odds are that they know it’s us?"
My mind raced, cataloging every detail of the scene. The way the gas splashed, the nervous twitches of the youngest looking among them as her head swivelled from Sister Anne to the screeches of her kin barking orders, the acrid smell seeping through the cracks. Part of me wanted to stay, to watch it all burn. But Cam's grip tightened, reminding me that we couldn’t. Not if we wanted to make it out of here. We got what we needed anyway.
But oh, how I loved a bonfire. Too bad Sister Anne wouldn’t be the centerpiece, but alas, no such luck of her burning herself.
"Yeah, yeah. We gotta bounce," I muttered, the words tasting like betrayal in my mouth. "But I swear, I'm coming back to dance on the ashes of this fucking place."
Without a word, Cam and I locked eyes. A silent understanding passed between us—it was time to get the hell out of dodge. My heart hammered against my ribs. If we weren’t fast, they’d see us. I pointed to a treeline that was straight ahead and out of sight from the main building. Cam squeezed my shoulder, his other hand gripped tight on the items we’d brought with us.
I burst through the shed door, sprinting towards his motorcycle. The roar of blood in my ears drowned out the startled shrieks of the nuns. Fuck, they saw us. Cam was right behind me, his footfalls heavy and sure.
"Move your ass, sunshine!" I yelled, throwing my leg over the bike. The familiar rumble of the engine beneath me was like a lover's embrace.
Cam vaulted onto the back, his chest slamming against my spine as he clutched our hard-won prizes. His arm snaked around my waist, fingers digging into my hip.
"Hang on tight, babe," I purred, revving the engine. "Mama's about to show you how to really ride."
We peeled out of there like a bat out of hell, gravel spraying in our wake. The wind whipped through my hair, carrying the stench of gasoline and the muffled curses of our holy pursuers.
My eyes darted, scanning for any sign of pursuit.
"See anything?" Cam's voice was rough in my ear, his breath hot on my neck.
"Not yet," I growled, taking a sharp turn that had us both leaning dangerously. "But I've got a feeling those penguin-suited psychos aren't gonna give up easy."
The thrill of escape coursed through my veins, a heady cocktail of adrenaline and barely contained violence. Part of me—a big, loud part—hoped they'd try to follow. My trigger finger was itching something fierce.
"Next time," Cam said, as if reading my thoughts, "we'll make 'em burn."
I grinned, wild and free. "Promise?"
His answering laugh was dark and full of promise. "Cross my black little heart, darlin'."
The motorcycle's roar echoed off the concrete walls as we descended into our buildings underground parking. The familiar gloom enveloped us, a welcome respite from the chaos we'd left behind. I pulled into our spot, killing the engine with a flick of my wrist.
"Home sweet home," I sighed, my body still humming with leftover adrenaline. "Shit, I could use a drink."
Cam dismounted first, grabbing me to steady me as the bike groaned under the loss of his weight. I watched him, admiring the way his muscles rippled under his shirt. He caught my eye and smirked, the bastard.
"Like what you see, Lakey?" he taunted, voice low and rough.
I rolled my eyes, swinging my leg over the bike. "Don't flatter yourself, asshole. I'm just making sure you didn't drop anything important."
As I stood, my legs wobbled slightly, the adrenaline crash hitting me harder than expected. Cam's hand shot out, steadying me without a word. I loved how my skin still tingled at his touch.
"You good?" he asked, dark eyes searching mine.
"Yep," I muttered. "Let's get this shit upstairs before I change my mind and go back."
We made our way to the elevator, the security box and rolodex clutched tightly in Cam's hands. As the doors slid shut, an eerie silence fell over us. Guess we were just both lost in our thoughts because we didn’t speak the entire ride up.
My mind raced, replaying the day’s events on a loop. The tunnels, the files, those goddamn nuns. It was all so fucked up, I almost wanted to laugh. Who knew our little town could harbor so much fuckery?
"You're thinking too loud," Cam's voice cut through my thoughts.
I glanced at him, taking in the tightness around his eyes, the set of his jaw. He was wound up tight, ready to snap at any moment. Just like me. The only difference was, he could still look relaxed and sexy, I just looked downright feral. Catching a glance at myself in the scratched metal of the elevator door, I grimaced. I looked horrid.
"Can't help it," I replied, leaning against the elevator wall. "All that shit was wild."
Cam's lips quirked in a smile. "That's one word for it."
The elevator dinged, doors sliding open to reveal our floor. As we stepped out, I sighed suddenly feeling exhausted. I wasn’t one for puzzles and this was just about the longest one I’d ever done.
The apartment door clicked shut behind us, and my legs gave out. I crumpled to the floor, my back against the wall, as the adrenaline that had been keeping me upright finally drained away. Cam slid down next to me, our shoulders touching.
"Fuck," I breathed, my head falling back with a thud. "I feel like we left so much undone."
Cam grunted in agreement; his eyes closed. I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. We sat there in silence, both processing the shitstorm we'd just escaped.
"Those fucking nuns," I muttered, anger bubbling up in my chest. "They’re getting rid of everything. They must have pieced it together, which makes me think all these foster homes are a funnel of sorts."
"Guess they didn't appreciate our little scavenger hunt," Cam replied, his voice rasping.
I snorted, a hysterical laugh threatening to escape. "Ya think?"
Cam's eyes snapped open, fixing me with that intense stare that always made my insides squirm. "We got what we came for, Lakey. That's what matters."
I nodded, trying to focus on our victory instead of how nice it would have felt to sink my blade into their soft bellies. Cam pushed himself up suddenly, striding over to the fireplace. I watched as he reached for the bottle of whiskey on the mantle, his movements smooth and confident despite the night's chaos.
He turned back to me, a familiar glint in his eye. "Think we've earned this, don't you?"
I couldn't help but smirk. "Fuck yeah, we have."
Cam dropped back down beside me, unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig before passing the bottle. The whiskey burned going down, but it was a welcome sensation. Something real to ground me in the moment.
"To not being fertile anymore," I toasted sarcastically, raising the bottle before taking another gulp.
Cam's laugh was dark and low. "To making them regret the day they fucked with us."
We passed the bottle back and forth, the alcohol slowly dulling the hazy red that tinted my vision. I could feel Cam's body heat next to me. There was nowhere else I'd rather be than right here, plotting revenge with the only person who truly understood me. The only thing that would have made today the best in my sordid existence, would have been kidnapping Sister Anne.
Oh, fuck! Skeeter!
“Babe, we still have Skeets in the tub.”
“Eh, let him chill for a bit. We have a lot of work for him to do, so let’s let him rest for now. Besides, my heads starting to spin and I kinda want you to ride me like a cowgirl.”
I leaned back against the wall, letting my head fall onto Cam's shoulder. His arm snaked around me, pulling me closer. The familiar scent of his skin mixed with whiskey and adrenaline made my head swim.
"You know," I murmured, tracing the outline of his tattoo through his shirt, "sometimes I think we're the only real honest people on this planet."
Cam's chest rumbled with a low chuckle. "That's 'cause we are, babe. Everyone else is just playing pretend. At least we’re honest enough to admit our impulses exist and act on them. Whether they’re right or wrong is merely up to personal interpretation. Personally, I rather like when you’re painted like one of those French girls. The red makes your eyes stand out. Like a cute little owl."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. "God, you're such an asshole."
"Yeah, but I'm your asshole," he retorted, pressing a rough kiss to my temple.
The silence stretched between us. I thought about the girl we'd seen being carried away, the nuns with their gas cans. The world was full of monsters wearing masks of righteousness. But Cam and me? We wore our monstrosity on our sleeves.
"Hey," I said suddenly, sitting up to look him in the eye. "You ever regret... this?" I gestured vaguely between us. "All the blood and chaos?"
Cam's dark eyes bore into mine, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I saw a flicker of the boy I'd known in that hellhole of a foster home – scared, angry, desperate for connection. Then his familiar smirk returned.
"Regret?" he scoffed. "Sweetheart, you're the best goddamn thing that's ever happened to me. I could never regret you. You’re the only thing I’ve done right in my life."
I felt something uncoil in my chest, a tension I hadn't even realized was there. Cam might be a sadistic bastard, but he was my sadistic bastard. And I was his murderous little pet. It wasn't love, at least, not in any way the rest of the world would recognize. But it was ours, forged in blood and fire and shared trauma.
I leaned in, biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood before kissing him fiercely. "Good," I breathed against his mouth. "'Cause I'm not done with you yet, Cam Axley."
His answering grin was all teeth and promise. "Wouldn't have it any other way, Lakey Aldrich."