Chapter 27 KILLIAN
KILLIAN
Finn so graciously handed me the reins when we stepped into the office but it had a lot more to do with the existential crisis he was dealing with, rather than his desire to have me drive.
He didn’t even try adding to that stupid tally board, the fucker wandering our head like a lost puppy.
Granted, finding out that he wasn’t the original had to be a blow to his inflated ego.
Dark and Daemon weren’t too happy with the progression of events but no one was more pissed off than I was finding out that Runo was getting released.
He did not belong out in the world, not after the shit he tried to pull.
His idea of wrong and right was warped, so fucking twisted that a means to an end meant everything to him.
Dark and Daemon thought that Slash and Samael were ruthless. Runo was on a completely different level, even more unhinged than Finn, with less morals and way more energy. This was going to be a disaster on all fronts.
It can’t be that bad.
It’s definitely that bad.
You’re just mad because you don’t like him.
No, it’s because he’s unpredictable. You think you are but you’re just chaotic. Our men’s wet dream. Runo is something else entirely. He does not belong in society or anywhere else.
None of the alters responded to that but I didn’t expect them to.
We were toeing a dangerous line with Runo days away from release.
Someone tapped the table, drawing me out of my head as I came face to face with Jamie.
“What have you got for me? You came in saying you were going to give us the scoop and now you’re sitting here, doe-eyed, twirling around in a chair. ”
I grinned and slid a paper toward him before taking an obnoxious slurp of the coffee prepared from the breakroom.
It was just as shitty as that café but it was free.
“Project Pearl has been completed. Wrote it up this morning. A tell-all from my weekend with Merchant. He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.
” Memories flashed through my head, bringing back that weekend we had spent in bed.
My little article embellished a lot of moments, left out pertinent details, and made Samael into a lover for the ages. No doubt, they would reach out to ask Samael for a comment but the story would be published, heightening his status as one of the most eligible bachelors.
Jamie flipped through the papers I had printed out before chucking them back onto the table. “This has to be fucking bullshit.”
“It’s not. It’s very personal, okay? Write it up however you like but he’s a very nice man.”
Nice isn’t the word I would have used to describe him.
Rough. Passionate. Raw. Protective, but nice?
Samael is going to kill you for that story.
I’ll just say you wrote it.
Finn once again fell silent. Weird.
Alex stalked in, staring at the scattered papers, and then focused on me. “Killian, I didn’t actually think you would come through with that. We’re going to have to check our sources but apparently, one of the biggest sources—Nyla—didn’t come into work today. Any idea where she is?”
“No, why?”
“Because I distinctly heard you inviting her out last night.” Alex raised one of his brows, leaning back against the wall. “She also showed up dead in an alleyway this morning.”
I forced my face into an expression of horror, a dragged-out ‘what?’ falling from my lips.
I slapped a hand over my mouth, trying to mirror what looked like shock as if I hadn’t been there while Finn tore the woman apart.
“We just went for a little fun in one of the private rooms and then I left. Merchant sent her away in a cab, I think. You don’t think I killed her, do you?
” I pushed an extra ounce of wobble into my voice, falling into the innocence I had crafted over the years.
Jamie snorted, slapping me on the back. “A timid piece like you? Not a chance. It’s the work of The Skinner, they’re saying. I just think it’s odd you were there before she died.”
I didn’t know why that was my problem. The Skinner had killed other people and no one had ever come looking for me before. Was it just because I was so closely related to the victim? Hell, Slash hadn’t been called in when his stepmothers had died. Why was this any different?
“Okay? Nyla and I were cubby mates for a while. Fuck, she's really dead?”
You’re supposed to be the innocent one, Primrose.
I’m beginning to think you’re even more heartless than Finn.
She disrespected Killian.
We didn’t have feelings for her.
Her pussy was nice though.
“Why are you asking me questions?”
“Because it seems that your boyfriend—your ex? I’m not even sure but he’s here with another officer asking to speak with you. They’ve got fifteen minutes and then they need to be gone.” Alex nodded to Jamie and they both exited, leaving me confused.
Why would my dad send Samael when he knew that we had dated? If he knew of my involvement at Bondage Palace, then he also knew about Samael’s. None of this was adding up, which just further cemented my need to sit down with my father tonight.
I’m guessing this wasn’t part of the plan, was it?
No, it wasn’t. The plan is falling apart.
Samael and another detective strolled in, their faces expressionless as they took seats across from me.
Then Samael let the wall around his emotions fall, showing off how pissed he was in this moment.
My father must have mentioned something in the past several hours since I had last seen him and it couldn’t be good.
“Hello, I’m Detective Hales, and this is Detective Stenson but you can call us Victor and Merchant.”
I snorted. “Victor, I dated Merchant. I know who he is and my father is the chief of police. This doesn’t have to be as informal as you’re making it. Just ask your questions.”
Victor’s eyes widened as he glanced over at Samael and then back at me. “Wait, this is the chief’s son? Fuck. You should have told me.”
“Everyone knows,” Samael laughed. “You just don’t pay attention.”
Victor cleared his throat and pulled out a small file from his bag, no doubt about to run through the methodical questioning that most of Primrose’s officers did during an interrogation.
I obliged, answering his questions regarding my whereabouts, when I arrived, when I left, my alibis, etc.
Five minutes in, Victor was confident that I had nothing to do with it—although his cheeks were a fiery red after learning Samael and I liked to tag team.
We didn’t.
At all.
To sell this whole thing, though, we’d have to show up at Bondage Palace again to make it look like it wasn’t just a one-time thing.
Victor quickly packed up his files and shoved them back into his bag before exiting the room, which left me with Samael. “Your father is really worried about you. Showed me Finn’s medical files and the sealed criminal case he was part of. Tell me, what’s that about?”
“How did you know I wasn’t Finn?”
“You didn’t immediately try to taunt me. Finn pushes back. You submit. Subtle differences at times but easy enough to pick out if you know what you’re looking for. Now, answer my question, or better yet, I have a different one. Who’s Runo?”
The color drained from my face as I tried to fix the fear running through me. “He’s one of Finn’s. I just… he’s not good. He’s in jail right now and I’m hoping he stays there.”
“Hoping?”
Finn was going to kill me for this. I could already feel him slowly ripping me from the driver’s seat. “He’s getting out this weekend.” And then I was gone.
FINN
Fucking bastard giving away our secrets. None of them were supposed to know about Runo and the fact that my father shared everything with Samael pissed me off. Samael watched as I settled into our body, the detective picking up on the change. “You’re getting a little too good at that, Finn.”
I shrugged and pushed to my feet, making the split-second decision to walk around the table and press a kiss to the man’s forehead.
“Because I’m done taking their shit. Killian might be the original but he took over for long enough.
It’s my turn to have fun before he inevitably stuffs me away again. ”
“And that involves Runo?”
“Yes.”
“Runo who?”
“Runo Ipse.”
When Samael didn’t respond, I left the room.
Something was off again but I couldn’t pinpoint it.
None of the alters were trying to talk, not even Killian after I so rudely ripped him out of the driver’s seat.
The action had been taxing, that lead feeling slowly filling my arms and legs.
If I didn’t make it back to my seat fast enough, I would collapse on the fucking floor.