Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE HEATHEN
Itake a seat with Carter and Knox on either side of me, as Killian enters the room. He arches an eyebrow.
“Still here, I see,” he mutters with annoyance, under his breath.
I flash him a fake but big smile
“Of course. Where else would I be? I’d miss you too much if I left.”
Knox snort laughs and reaches under the table to squeeze my thigh.
“Now, kids. Let's try to get along.”
Killian stares at the plate of food in front of him.
“We have a platter of food for you three, but mine is already on my plate? Are you trying to poison me, Killer?”
I stick my fork into a pork chop, and place it on my plate, while glancing up at him.
“Could be. Poisoning isn't really my style, but I guess there’s only one way for you to find out.”
Carter snickers beside me as he grabs food for himself.
I knew Killian would be surprised to still find me here. At first, running was my exact plan, but then I realized he’d do anything to get rid of me. Including lying about his brothers. He’s an asshole, and I can’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth.
I giggle as Killian takes his first bite of food. He stares at me with an angry glare as he swallows it.
“I promise you, Killer. If you poisoned me, neither of my brothers will be able to save you.”
Pointing my fork at him, I say, “And I promise you, Killian. If I wanted you dead, I’d be sure to do it right. You wouldn’t be alive to do anything about it.”
I know damn well pushing him isn’t going to make my life any easier, but I’m tired of being afraid. I’ve spent my entire life as a victim, and I’m not doing it anymore.
All three of them stare at me with obvious shock, but none more than the man across from me.
He throws his fork down on the table and rises from his seat.
“Careful, Killer. I know where you fucking sleep.”
I shrug, like his words mean nothing to me, and he turns to walk away but stops and looks at Knox and Carter.
“Be ready to go in thirty.”
I glance at Carter and ask, “Where are you going?”
He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow.
“We, Little Heathen. Where we go, you go. It's non-negotiable.”
I glance from one to the other, trying to find the perfect time to tell them I need to get back to my goal. Playing house with them has been fun, but I have work to do, and sick fuckers to kill.
“Killian has a fight, Tesoro. We are all going.”
I sigh audibly, as I brace myself for a fight I don’t want to have.
“You’re both a wonderful distraction, but I need to get back to work. I can’t stop what I’ve started. Every day I let these men live means more victims suffer. I’m the only one that can save them from turning out like me.”
Carter looks over my head to Knox, and they have one of their silent conversations as I wait with a frozen breath for a response.
“Tomorrow, Tesoro. Today we go to Killian’s fight. Tomorrow you kill those disgusting fucks. But not alone. You will always have one of us with you.”
I open my mouth to argue, and Carter grabs my chin, pulling my head in his direction until his gaze is on mine.
“We will not take this from you, Little Heathen. The kills are yours, and yours alone. You are due this revenge. That said, you will not go alone. I have waited my entire life for you. There is no scenario where I will risk something happening to you. I will not live without you.”
“Carter,” I gasp, as his beautiful words hit me in the chest, knocking the wind from my lungs. He places a hand on either side of my face and slams his lips to mine. I move my hands to my lap and grip onto my shirt, fighting the urge to sink my fingers into his hair.
He pulls back, glancing to see I’ve kept my hands to myself, and looks back up at me with wonder.
“Thank you. I know how hard it is. I’m sorry I’m so fucked up.”
I throw my head back in laughter as he narrows his gaze at me.
“You think you’re fucked up, Carter? I am the child of a cult leader, turned into a serial killer.
I kill men with crosses. I’m pretty sure I win the contest for Most Fucked Up here.
You, on the other hand, are perfectly imperfect.
I just wish I could touch you. Fuck, I wish I could touch you, but I accept that I can’t. I understand. I get it. I get you.”
He stares at me, appearing lost for words, and swallows hard as he presses his forehead to mine and sighs.
“Are you ready to go?”
I nod as he pulls away from me, and Killian walks back in looking as hot as usual, even with the pissed off glare he always saves for me.
Carter and Killian walk to the door, talking quietly, and Knox grabs my hand.
“Thank you, Tesoro,” he says as he lifts my hand to his lips, and kisses my knuckles.
“For what?”
Pulling me to the door, he answers my question.
“For giving me my brother back. You have brought him to life. He’s not the same man he was before he met you.”
I glance at him as we reach his car, and he opens the door for me.
“I didn’t do anything. I was just myself.”
Knox arches an eyebrow, before his lips pull up into a seductive smile.
“That’s enough, Tesoro. You are enough.”
His words cause a lump in my throat to form. My heart rate picks up from those three words, that probably shouldn’t mean as much to me as they do.
You are enough.
They are just words.
It shouldn’t mean anything, but somehow… It means everything.