17. Derek
Derek
I rushed out of Alexis’s apartment after Dean called, stating that he had new information on Anathema and that Eli would be a more valuable resource than we had initially anticipated.
I wanted nothing more than to stay with my lips locked against hers, but I wanted this assignment over and done with as soon as possible, and a lead like this was too good to pass up.
Arriving at the office, I ran into Dean when the elevator doors opened. He was already waiting for me and ready to review what he had found on Anathema and the headrace tunnels.
The two of us headed straight to my office, and he set up his laptop to show me what looked like old blueprints of the city.
“What exactly am I looking at?” I questioned, examining the map on the screen but understanding little of it.
“The full map of the tunnels between the abandoned flour mills, and right over here is the Twin City A-Mill entrance we entered through the other day.” Dean pointed out the location on the screen and dragged his stylus along what looked to be the tunnels themselves, leading away from the mill’s main basement entrance.
“This is the path we took when we went through them the first time, and right here—” He stopped and circled one of the split paths.
“This is the passage that we came across before we stopped.”
I leaned down to get a better look; sure enough, he was right. The passage that we knew led to the Anathema hideout was right there, plain as day.
We didn’t know just how long the tunnel was or how big the layout would be, and this map made it clear that their hideout was massive, with what could be a large and open central meeting area that branched off into several other rooms, many of which led to alternate exits.
It was like looking at an elaborate ant farm.
There were so many different sections, no wonder they could go unnoticed for so fucking long.
“Does Eli know about this?” I asked, standing up straight.
“He’s the one who got us these blueprints. I spent the past twenty-four hours looking over them to ensure there haven’t been any changes since this one was created.” Dean leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, proud of this newfound information.
“And?” I raised a brow; his smug smirk was a dead giveaway that this was the most up-to-date version of the tunnels. I didn’t need to ask the question, but I wanted verbal confirmation that my assumptions were correct .
“And, this is the most current documentation the city—or anyone for that matter—has on the current layout of the headrace tunnels between the mills.” He beamed from ear to ear, and I clapped his shoulder.
I stood there, silently studying the map on his screen.
“What are you thinking?” Dean asked as my brow furrowed.
“I’m thinking we need to pay a visit to Eli and see what else he knows about Anathema.
This map is good, but I bet there are plenty more secrets and withheld information where this came from.
” I gestured to the screen, satisfied that we finally had something more to help us, but I knew Eli was holding out on the bulk of what we wanted.
If I wasn’t mistaken, his knowledge of the dark web played an essential role within their organization; however, he was holding back the information we required, and I could bet he thought it could be used to leverage us for more than just protection.
Giving us access to this map was a start, but now we needed to see what exactly he wanted for the real stuff.
To gain a significant advantage, we would need names. Names were a gold mine in a case where everyone was invisible—anonymous. If he could give us one name, the name of the individual running Anathema, our case would be blown wide open.
“Let’s see what else he has to offer us.” I gestured to the door, and Dean stood, closing his laptop and following me out of the office.
This day just kept getting better and better.
As we approached Eli’s apartment, shouting could be heard down the length of the hall.
“Sounds like a pretty heated lover’s quarrel going on in there.
Maybe we should come back later; I don’t think either of us wants to catch the end of that fight.
” Dean joked, elbowing my arm as we stopped just outside the door.
I rolled my eyes at him. We weren’t coming back later; we were doing this now, and whoever else was in there could fuck him later.
We stood there momentarily, eavesdropping on Eli and whoever he was arguing with, until I realized I knew the female voice coming from the other side of the door. My heart twisted into a knot in my chest, and rage slowly began rising to the surface, self-restraint failing me.
I didn’t wait a second more before turning the handle and letting us in. Luckily, the door was unlocked; otherwise, it would have violently kicked my way in.
“Derek…” Dean whisper-shouted as I stepped inside the unit and froze.
There, standing in the kitchen, was Eli, and caged between his arms, his mouth locked on hers—Alexis. My fucking Alexis.
I fucking knew it, but I was too damn determined to prove myself wrong that I blinded my own judgment. Eli was the man she had been visiting this entire time. God-fucking-damnit .
How could I have been so stupid when I discovered he lived here? I should have assumed and gone with my gut. But instead, I had to walk in on the two of them, lips locked, with Eli looking as though he was ready to fuck her right up against that counter.
My heart was hammering in my chest, and I couldn’t hear anything over the blood rushing in my ears.
Something primal and possessive took over me, and I snapped, losing all sense of self-control. Without wasting a second more, I strode across the room, flexing my hands with every step before locking one into a fist and swinging as hard as possible for Eli’s fucking face.
The audible ‘crack’ from my fist meeting his jaw was the most satisfying sound I had heard all morning.
“Motherfucker—” I heard Eli hiss before my eyes locked on to Alexis.
“I—I can explain… Derek.” Her voice trembled as I tightly gripped her arm and pulled her into me.
I didn’t know if I could believe anything that came out of her mouth after what I had just seen. But I knew that she was mine, and I’ll be damned if I let Eli lay another finger on her again.
Alexis whimpered as I shoved her body into Dean behind me and moved to grab Eli by his tank top, twisting my fist in the fabric as I pulled him up to his feet.
“The fuck do you think you are doing, Derek!” He shouted, gripping my wrist.
I slammed his back into the refrigerator with a deep, feral growl .
“I could ask you the same fucking question, Eli.” I sneered, wishing I could pull out my gun and end his pathetic life. But we needed him for the CIA; he was our only working lead, which protected him— for now .
“Derek, stop,” Alexis croaked from behind me.
Why would she defend this piece of shit?
“Tell me I’m wrong, Lex,” I demanded, without breaking eye contact with Eli.
I wasn’t going to let this fucker out of my sight, not even for a second.
“What?” She gasped as if confused by my words.
“Tell me you haven’t been fucking him this entire time. Tell me I didn’t just walk in on you making out with him after you just gave yourself to me.” I was seething inside, and I could feel the fury that rattled my voice, burning me alive.
The longer I stood here, the more the image of them together seared deep into my mind; I was ready to snap at any given moment.
Eli shifted in my grasp, and I pulled back, slamming him into the refrigerator again.
“Don’t you fucking move, you piece of shit.”
Breathing heavily, I was seconds from saying ‘fuck it’ and killing him.
Soft fingers trailed up my arm, and I broke my focus on Eli to see ice-blue eyes looking up at me—pleading with me .
“It’s not what you think, Derek. Let him go.” She swallowed; her voice was soft and breathless as she rubbed her hand along my arm.
I loosened my grip on Eli’s tank top but wasn’t ready to let him off that easily, and it pissed me off that she would run to protect his sorry ass.
“Derek,” Dean spoke up. “Do as she says, I’ll deal with him. You deal with her.” He added as he came up on my other side, and I released Eli to him.
Dean guided Eli to the far end of the room, and I turned to face Alexis.
Without a word, she tore her gaze from mine, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the apartment, trying to get as far away from me as possible. She had no right to be mad at me for this, no fucking right.
Moving quickly, I chased after her, closing the door behind us for privacy. Not like we would have any, standing in the main hallway of the apartment building, but it was better than having Eli and Dean take part in the argument that was soon to follow.
“Lex—” I was cut off as Alexis turned and slapped me hard across the face before wrapping her hands around my head and pulling my face to hers, kissing me deeply.
“That… was incredibly hot,” She mumbled into my mouth as her tongue continued to explore mine.
The strength of her hunger caused me to fall back against the wall. My hands wrapped around the back of her neck, tangling in her short hair. I could get used to this side of her .
“Tell me how jealous you are at the thought of me fucking another man.” Alexis moaned, reaching a hand between us and sliding it below the waistband of my jeans.
“Fuck” I groaned, my dick growing harder by the second.
I wanted to fuck her. If I had known my jealousy and possessiveness were a turn-on, I would have played that card much earlier on her. I can’t think of a time I had ever seen my pretty viper this wound up over me and something I had done.
Her smooth hand wrapped around my hard cock, and she stroked me from base to tip with a firm squeeze. My eyes rolled to the back of my head; each movement from her was a stroke of heaven.
“Take me home, Derek.” She murmured, digging her nails into my shoulder. “Show me how much you hate the thought of another man between my legs, fucking me and taking what’s yours.” Her words were breathless, drunk on a high of desire.
I didn’t want to wait any longer; I needed her now, laid out before me like my own personal feast.
“I’ve got a better idea,” I smirked, raising a dark brow and grabbing her wrist, pulling her hand away from my starving cock.
Throwing open the door and reentering the apartment, I set my stern eyes on Dean and left no room for question.
“You two, get the fuck out, now.” I gestured to the door as I spun Alexis around and shoved her down onto the bed.
“Or stay and watch, I don’t give a fuck.” I added with a shrug, not even bothering to see their choice. I’d take her with an audience, but I’d much rather do it alone .
I unbuttoned my jeans, pulling my cock out and fisting it in my hand. Within seconds, I heard the door close, and I chuckled.
Alexis stared up at me with hungry eyes as she launched herself forward and dragged her tongue over the tip of my cock, licking up the bead of pre-cum that leaked out from it.