26. Dean
Dean
“I always wondered when the CIA would finally notice and appreciate the beauty in my work.” Colton entered our apartment, removing his black, chrome band aviators and shooting Marcus and me a wolfish grin.
His attitude and appearance were intimidating; dressed in acid-washed denim jeans, a white T-shirt, and a deep red leather biker jacket.
Colton was the clear-cut image of an overly attractive, arrogant, and cocky individual—at least, that was my first impression of him as he swaggered over toward Amber’s body.
His head tilted in fascination as he inspected every inch of her cold and lifeless corpse.
No wonder this kind of man was never suspected of handling things under the table or disposing of bodies for those who could afford his services .
A fixer.
“When we called, the deal was that no one would know we contacted you, and she was never here,” I announced as I watched him intently.
“Don’t tell me how to do my job, kid. I know what I’m doing; your secret’s safe with me. I didn’t earn my reputation by throwing my clients under the bus.” Colton sighed and blew a low whistle as he crouched beside the body. “Who’d she piss off? Dark and stormy over there?”
I glanced over my shoulder to where he had gestured to Marcus.
“Marcus? No.” I scowled while clearing my throat, unsure if I should even mention Madison’s name.
By the time Colton arrived, she had already left.
Marcus and I had informed her that we would handle this issue ourselves and that she needed to get back to some degree of normalcy with everything that had happened over the past few weeks.
Colton stood to his full height and, without uttering a word, made a swift beeline for the bathroom. While inside, I could hear him removing the shower curtain from its hooks before returning to the kitchen and laying the plastic liner on the floor next to her body.
“This has to be my easiest clean-up to date. Usually, the bodies are way bloodier... sometimes mutilated beyond recognition.” He chuckled darkly, more so to himself than us.
For a brief moment, Colton paused what he was doing and sighed as if recalling a memory from not too long ago before continuing his work.
I leaned against the kitchen counter as I watched Colton perform his job.
Dragging Amber’s cold, dead body onto the plastic and positioning her in a way that made it easier for him to wrap her up.
He used the fabric portion of the curtain to conceal her, binding both ends like a tootsie roll before lifting her up with him as he stood.
Marcus and I continued to watch in silence. I didn’t know what was running through Marcus’ mind as his attention was locked on Colton, but I was glad to finally be rid of the one woman I had hoped never to see again.
“Right, so I’ll take care of this body, and you boys can feel free to give me a call the next time you need a fix.” Colton winked, readjusting his hold on Amber to replace his sunglasses over his eyes before exiting our apartment just as casually as he had entered it.
“What have you been up to all morning?” I inquired as Marcus entered our office and tossed his backpack on the couch in the corner.
“Where’s Atlas?” Marcus laughed as he approached me to stand by the windows. “I assumed he’d have commandeered his room back by now.”
“I guess he missed Derek too much in his absence. He’s next door with him right now.” I turned in my chair, following his gaze as he stared out into the early afternoon skyline.
“That’s best friends for you…” Marcus hummed, sliding his hands into his pockets and sucking on his inner cheek .
“Are we really starting the work week off brooding?” I arched my brow, wondering what the fuck could have him in such a mood.
This was unlike Marcus; he was never one to mope around.
“I’m not brooding; I’m annoyed and frustrated. How do you even know that fucking word?” He scoffed with a sarcastic smirk, turning his head to face me with a slight glint in his eyes.
“Don’t deflect; answer the question. What’s up with you? One minute you are happy-go-lucky, and the next you’re…” I waved my hand, trying to find the word I was looking for but coming up empty. “This… mess…”
“You’re one to talk, Mr. I-just-broke-up-with-my-girlfriend-of-x-amount-of-months-so-now-I’m-going-to-bury-my-ass-in-work-to-avoid-talking-about-it. ”
“Well, that was a mouthful.”
“You’re a mouth full.”
“Yeah, I am—when I’m balls deep down Madison’s throat.” I teased with a sly grin.
I wasn’t trying to make lite of whatever he was dealing with, but I couldn’t resist the easy comeback when he handed it to me on a silver platter.
“Can we not?” Marcus sighed, stepping away from the window and falling on the couch, his backpack acting as a pillow under his head while he stared at the ceiling tiles.
“Okay, now I know something is up when the one guy who doesn’t have a care in the world is acting like it’s about to end—last chance to answer me before I go next door and drag Derek and Atlas in here.”
“Alright, alright… fuck… don’t go bringing their old asses into our business.” Marcus pulled himself up to sit, his forearms resting on his knees as he stared down at the floor, unable to make eye contact with me.
“Our?” I turned my chair around and narrowed my eyes on Marcus, crossing my arms and ankles as I leaned back and made myself comfortable, ready to hear what he had to say.
“I met with Drake earlier this morning.”
“And?” I cocked my head to the side, pressing him for more information, aside from the fact that he had a meeting with the Sergeant.
“And he requested a favor… that I babysit his Alpha-Six division while he’s out doing—whatever the fuck he needs to do—in trade for a favor that would be of extreme value to Madison.”
I furrowed my brows at his statement.
Madison? This was news to me.
The impression I got from Sergeant Drake in the tunnels was that he wasn’t fond of any of the women; Chyler, Alexis, or Madison.
So then, why—
“Why you? And why would he give two shits about Madison?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking until I realized the catch after I had left.” Marcus shrugged, lifting his gaze to meet mine across the room .
He leaned back to rest an elbow on the couch’s armrest, his temple now pressed against his knuckles, and his other hand lazily rested on his thigh.
“Which is?” I dragged a hand down my face, knowing that no part of this sounded good for the direction it was heading.
“ Adrian. ” He released a long, breathy growl at the name, and I suddenly realized just how serious this deal would be. “Drake is the one man we now know with access to Adrian.”
I shook my head in warning and bent forward in my chair, ready to strangle some sense into him. “Don’t you even think—”
“Too late. I’ve already made my decision, and I’m going to accept Drake’s favor trade.”
Jesus fucking Christ…
“Marcus, what the fuck!” I shouted, shooting to stand, my hands clenching out of reflex.
“You know as well as I do that she needs this, and I sure as fuck would do anything for her.” Marcus mimicked my movement, stepping towards me as we argued over what was right and wrong with this proposition.
“And I would too, but—” But who was I to question morals…
“But nothing then. What’s left to question? We just fucking stood by as Madison strangled Amber to death—” and there it fucking was…
“Keep your fucking voice down.” I hissed, my eyes snapping to the closed door of our office as if someone were standing there right at this very moment, listening to our conversation .
“—as if it was just a regular Thursday night, so where’s the harm in making this deal?” Marcus ignored my interruption, finishing his rant with his jaw clenched and eyes full of predetermined fire.
He had a point. Marcus had a fucking point…
I was all for revenge on that sick son-of-a-bitch, but the problem now was: Do we tell Madison? Or do we take this matter into our own hands?