8. Chapter Seven
My poor Fitz. He’s so confused. So lost. He’s trying so hard to look for answers to all of his questions. Because of his curiosity, he had to see a doctor about the beautiful mark spreading from his cock.
By the time I’m done marking him, he will have a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind claim that only he will have. No one else will have that branding. It will be unique to him alone.
But my silly, panicked, sweet mate ran to urgent care and his doctor was a woman.
Another woman has seen his cock.
I can’t have that. From here on out, he is mine. I am the only one allowed to see him bare like that. She’s probably thinking about him now, wishing he was hers. She’s probably dreaming about him, thinking of all the ways she could fuck him.
I’m not going to be able to let that go.
It took every ounce of self-control I had not to reveal myself in the patient room. There was nothing I wanted more than to wrap my tail around her throat, squeeze until her face turned purple, crush her windpipe, and watch her die.
Then, I saw Fitz on the table looking so afraid. He wasn’t in the position to see such violence. I don’t think he would have been able to handle it. He was already so worried about the mark. I couldn’t add to his stress.
He will always be first in my life. His feelings. His mental health. His physical health. Anything and everything in between are my first priority. I’d never subject him to witness death.
It’s why I’ll always kill behind his back. I’m thoughtful like that.
He’ll never have to witness such horrors. I’ll protect his peace while taking pieces of his soul as mine.
I’m in the backseat of the truck, leaning my chin on the right shoulder of his seat. I know he can feel me. He keeps looking in the rearview mirror, narrowing his eyes as if he sees something but isn’t sure.
“I’m right here, Doe Eyes ,” I whisper into his ear.
The truck swerves off the road. His big brown eyes are round in shock as they meet mine in the mirror. He is looking at nothing but I’m staring into lovely honey pools.
“What the fuck? What the fuck is happening?” he yells, pulling off the highway.
The truck bounces as we hit a ditch. I giggle as I tumble out of my seat, nearly hitting my head on the ceiling. It’s like a rollercoaster.
A rollercoaster. Have I been on one of those before? A faint memory tickles my mind, but I can’t place it. The faces are blurred and so is the background. All I can hear are musical notes from a carousel.
Maybe one day Fitz can take me. We can make our own memories. Oh my gosh, what if we could hold hands through the park? We can get ice cream cones. Oh, oh, oh! We could share one and my tongue can just accidentally slip into his mouth.
Sigh.
What a dream.
“Is there someone in the car with me?” Fitz voice trembles as he stares out of the windshield.
I sink back into the seat, not wanting him to know I’m here. He isn’t ready.
He flips his blinker on to get back on the highway when someone pulls in next to him with their window rolled down.
“You okay?” the man shouts from the other vehicle.
I sneer from the back window, wanting Fitz’s attention on me again.
Fitz rolls down his window next. “I’m fine. Sorry about that. I thought I saw something dash in front of me. My eyes were playing tricks.” My mate grins, flashing the charm that makes so many people like him instantly.
The kind stranger chuckles, his laugh grating on my nerves. My talons lengthen, wanting nothing more than to slice his throat so he will shut up.
“I get that. My eyes do the same. Alright then, have a good day.”
“Hey, you too! Thanks for stopping man.” Fitz hangs his arm out the window, slapping the driver’s side door with his palm before pointing to the guy as he drives away.
When we are alone again, I lean forward, closing my eyes to inhale his scent. He smells so fucking good. A hint of sweat, a dash of oil that must just be embedded in his DNA from working as a mechanic, and then a whole lot of me.
He reeks of being claimed. I love it. All I want to do is grip him by his hair, yank his head back, and bite him all over his lean body until he is begging for my cunt.
“It’s too early for all this wildness happening all at once.” He rolls up the window, puts his blinker on, and eases into a lane.
I decide to keep my mouth shut. I’d hate to scare him and cause him to wreck. What if we wrecked and he died? I wouldn’t be able to live. He is the reason I escaped Purgatory. He is the reason for my second chance at life.
I’m going to make sure he has the best existence possible. I only need a little bit longer before I reveal myself to him. Just a little more time to strengthen our bond so he won’t be able to leave me when he finds out the truth.
I’m doing him a favor. I’m saving him from being alone in a world that doesn’t deserve his kindness, his smile, or his genuine soul. I appreciate every single particle that makes him Fitz.
I came back to life for his love.
And I plan to live for all eternity making sure his heart is mine.
I don’t think he knows he has someone in his life that would do anything for him. No barrier exists that could stop me when it comes to protecting him.
“Ah, fuck it. Could be worse,” he talks to himself—which I notice he does more frequently than not.
It’s cute. I like it.
I sit my elbow on the middle console, holding my chin in my hand as I watch him.
“I could be dead,” he begins to list how it could be worse on his fingers. “I could have gotten into an accident.” He lifts another finger. “I could have ruined someone’s car somehow and then I would have had to pay for it. I could have an STD.” He shivers from the thought.
I curl my lip at him, wanting him to watch his mouth before I fill it with my tentacles.
“And that couldn’t have happened because I haven’t had sex in years. Not that I’d ever tell anyone but my doctor that.”
Oh, Doe Eyes. I fucked you so hard last night, you came twice .
I do love that he hasn’t been with anyone else in a while. Although, I still need to snag that list from his nightstand, so no exes pop up in our future.
I bet they will.
They always do.
“I could have fallen down the steps or burnt down my house,” he continues. “I mean, a sudden new birthmark isn’t bad. I’m alive. I’m well. I deserve ice cream after the morning I had, but I need coffee first. Coffee ice cream?” He ponders for a moment, wrinkling his nose when he decides against it. “Absolutely not. Coffee doesn’t belong in ice cream.”
I have to cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing at him.
“I’ll just go to Demi’s Diner. I’ll walk down when I get to the shop.” His phone rings, cutting off his conversation with himself. He presses a button on the steering wheel to answer, “Hey, Rhett. What’s up?”
Rhett is his friend, if I remember correctly. He is also a monster. I’m curious how he is a monster in broad daylight, and no one says anything about him. Is the town okay with beasts like me? Am I hiding for no reason?
“How did your doctor’s appointment go?” Rhett asks through the speaker.
I cover my ears to mute the sound of his voice.
I don’t like it.
“Oh, fine. She thinks it’s a birthmark that popped up or something. Nothing serious.”
She doesn’t know how serious I am. She will when I’m done with her.
“See? I told you everything was fine. What are you doing now?” Rhett asks.
“On my way to the garage. I have tires I have to change and usually those aren’t urgent, but the wires are showing. I’m not sure how this person was able to drive to the shop. The tires had to be sparking against the road.”
A heavy sigh sounds from his friend. “Well, it’s a good thing you found that urgent. I would have said too bad so sad. Alright, well, I just wanted to check-in. I might swing by the garage too. Mickey is getting sick of me hovering. I think it’s almost time. My beasts feel it.”
Beasts.
He’s more than one. How? How is that possible? I thought I was the only one like this.
“That’s great, Rhett!” Fitz cheers, pumping his fist in the air. “I’m so excited for you. I can’t wait to meet them. Do you or Mickey need anything? I can bring it. Any time of day or night.”
“I appreciate it. Right now, we are good, but I’ll let you know if that changes.”
“Alright, sounds good. I’m pulling into town now. I’ll see you later if you’re coming to the shop.”
“See you later.” Rhett disconnects the call just as we come to a stop at the same red light where I met the man who died in that horrible car accident.
Tragic.
Eye roll. Another overly confident asshole has been wiped from the earth. I am confident he won’t be missed.
I take the time to look around, noticing a boutique just to the right of us. The outside is painted teal, the trim painted white, and in the window, there is a gold dress with thin straps hanging on a mannequin.
I want it.
The light turns green and naturally Fitz presses on the gas to pull forward. I stare at the dress in the window, watching as it gets further and further away from my grasp.
“Aw, someone made crosses for Ms. Livingston and the man who was killed in the car accident. I’ll have to bring them some flowers. What a terrible thing.”
If he buys her flowers, I’ll tear them to shreds.
Or I’ll replace them with dead ones, take the live ones home, and smell the flowers he got me.
Yes, I’ll do that instead.
The blinker clicks as he turns right into the parking lot of the garage. Fitz whistles a tune I don’t know as he drives around back, parking the truck in his usual spot. There is a lot of land back here and half of it is filled with everything from cars in amazing condition to pieces of what used to be a vehicle lying on the ground.
I turn my attention to Fitz and he’s looking out the window to the yard, his eyes suddenly losing the spark that lights up his face. Without saying a word, he sighs, climbing out of the truck.
The door stays open as he stretches and groans. I take the opportunity to crawl up front, slide into the driver’s seat, then slip out of the door. I press myself against the truck, my skin and scales changing to match my surroundings.
He shakes his head, his brown shaggy hair swaying from the force. “Wild,” he whispers as he looks up at the garage.
The gravel under his boots crunches as he strolls to the back door. He lifts his keys, plucking through all the silver until he finds the one he needs to unlock the deadbolt.
The door swings open and Fitz disappears inside.
In true fashion, I follow because I never want him out of my sight. Rain begins to fall, peppering my skin with slow cold drops, and it ruins my camouflage. Light purple flesh peeks through the rain on my arm. It’s as if the universe is trying to ruin my plan.
I rush into Snapdragons Garage, rubbing my arms to brush off the droplets. I had no idea I couldn’t use that ability in the rain. My skin glitches, switching from the color of the shadows and concrete floors to my natural purple coloring.
Fuck. I watch Fitz vanish behind another door. On the front, there is a sign that says ‘Front Office’ and I debate if I should take this chance to leave. If I do, something bad might happen to him.
I can’t leave him. He needs protection. I hate the rain. I hate storms. He’s the only person in this world and the next who gives me a sense of safety, comfort, and peace.
A knock on one of the metal garage bays echoes through the space.
“We’re closed. Only emergencies. It will be like that for a while, sorry!” Fitz says over the intercom so they can hear him outside.
“You’re going to want to see me, Son.”
I snarl at the tone of voice this man uses on my mate. How dare he? Doesn’t he know there isn’t a better man in the world than Fitz? I creep behind one of the cars, hiding myself just in case my chameleon ability is tarnished for the time being.
I peek over the trunk of a small grey car when I hear my mate stomping across the concrete floor.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Fitz’s tone is harsh and lethal, sending goosebumps down my arms.
My tentacles slip free, wanting him to use that tone on me.
He stops at the closed locked door and stares out of the window. “What the fuck do you want?”
My brows raise. I’ve never heard him talk like that to someone before. He’s… Fitz. He is sweet like a puppy. All he does is want to laugh, play, and sleep. I love that Fitz. This one… this one makes me want to kill whoever is standing on the other side of that door.
“Is that any way to greet your father?”
Hmm, could I kill his father?
Yes. Fitz will get over it. He’ll see I did it for him. It seems like he’d be better off anyway.
“Last I checked, I disowned you the moment I walked out the door when I was eighteen.”
“Well, I want to retire, Fitsgerald. You need to come home. Enough of this nonsense. You need to take over the family business.”
Fitz spreads his arms. “I have my own business already.”
“Changing oil? Going home with grease all over your body? Please, this isn’t a job for a man with a family fortune. Enough of this. Come home.”
“No. I meant it the day I left. You’re dead to me. You know the way out.”
“Don’t make your sister pay for the mistake you’re about to make, Fitz. Maybe I’ll bring my grandson into it. He’s old enough to learn all the tricks of the trade now. What is he? Twenty? By now?”
Eli is twenty-one years old now, why doesn’t his father know that?
Fitz opens the garage door and grabs his father by the jacket, slamming him against the wall. My tentacles rub over my clit, giving me a constant buzz of pleasure while I watch my mate defend his family.
“Don’t you dare bring Heather or Eli into this. You left her, remember? You disowned her when she was pregnant. Eli has no respect for you. You have no right to do that. Leave her and my nephew alone.”
“I will if you come to work with me. That’s my offer. Wallsworth Candy Canes will not die because my heir isn’t thinking clearly. We have expanded, you know. We’re Wallsworth Candy now. Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?”
Fitz tosses his dad to the right with more strength than I thought he possessed.
“Take your family history, your money, and that fucking candy out of my shop. I never want to see you again.”
“We’ll see about that, Fitz.”
Mmm, we will see about that.
No one threatens my mate or his sister. Whoever he claims as family, is my family. The man who calls himself Fitz’s father is about to get a rude awakening.
And he’ll never be able to see anything ever again.
Fitz rips his hat from his head and tosses it against the wall as he watches his dad drive away.
“Fuck!” he yells at the top of his lungs. He digs into his pocket and calls someone. “Heather, you two need to come move in with me right now. Dad just came to see me, and he said if I don’t take the job, you would be at risk. Pack up. You’re living with me. No arguments. Pull Elijah out of college and get him transferred here. We aren’t risking Dad getting his hands on either of you.” He hangs up, leaving no room for her to argue or say a word. He laces his fingers behind his head, trying to calm himself.
It doesn’t work.
He takes a deep breath, then chucks his phone against the wall. It shatters to pieces, clinking on the ground. Plastic slides across the shop floor and a chunk of glass from the screen hits my foot.
I’m going to crush his father’s bones just like his father seems to have crushed my mate’s soul.
So many people to kill. My list is getting longer.