Chapter 26 #4
Alexei is released from his torture, unfolding his long, lithe form from the chair and holding his hand out like he’s studying an expensive diamond. He doesn’t have his father’s ring, unfortunately. This’ll have to do.
Widow stabs his smoke out on the side of a metal trash can and tosses it inside, obeying my don’t fucking litter rule.
I’m sure they’re all curious as to what’s in the box. Nobody asks yet. They’ll know soon enough. No one wants to talk too much shit in front of this stranger. Once Widow and I are inked, she’ll leave and then—
Sex.
I add Lemon’s empty box to the trash can, leaning my hip against the side of the chair to wait.
Smoking my cigarette. Bohnes does the same.
Alexei stands in the mud with his chin held high and his single gloved hand creaking as he clenches and then releases his fist. He doesn’t put a new glove over his fresh tattoo which I’m sure the artist appreciates.
Widow leans his head against me, and I dig the fingers of my free hand into his hair.
“You sure you want to cut this?” I ask him, playing with the turquoise, purple, and black strands. “A trim would be nice but—”
“It’s coming off,” he says, arrogant and annoying like always. I purse my lips. It is technically his hair. More technically it’s my hair though. “I want a good barber this time, no more dull-ass prison shears.”
Aaaand, how am I supposed to argue with him after he says something like that?
“Fuck.” This is Bohnes, the screen of his phone shining on his ghost-white face. He’s staring down at it with a deep frown. “A lot of cars are headed this way. We need to wrap it up.”
Never a dull moment in paradise. I tap Treasure’s distant relative on her shoulder and she pops off a single headphone, accepting the fat tip I slip her way to hurry the fuck up.
I take Widow’s place when he’s finished. He doesn’t go far, standing to my right with his hand on my shoulder. We both watch with hooded eyes as the final wedding ring is carved into the skin of the last psycho.
Beautiful.
When all is said and done, the artist takes off like she knows this location is hot, hot, hot.
“Who sent the cars?” Alexei asks imperiously, watching as the woman’s ‘92 Jaguar XJS sputters out of the parking lot. Eh. Maybe she can buy herself a new ride with the money she just made off us? Lord knows she needs it. “Not the family, I presume?”
“Chet Senior,” Bohnes huffs with a psychotic laugh. Ash smiles back at him.
“Do you think his pet down at the morgue finally told him something about Chet Jr.‘s remains?” Ash’s face lights up. “Do you think they’d be able to tell that I shoved his severed dick in his mouth?”
“If you set the fire hot like I told you to, then there won’t be anything left to examine.” Bohnes snaps the folding table closed, and we scatter to the various cars like a trained unit.
Widow in the Stingray. Alexei in the L88. Bohnes in the Chevelle. Me in the Pantera.
Ash, with me. He’s not allowed to drive yet. Poor scrub.
We rocket out of there, utilizing the road that sneaks through the old campground. Slow driving. No headlights. Sometimes speed is better. Other times, it’s discretion.
“I do want to mention something,” Ash begins, breaking the silence of the drive back to Bohnes’ house.
We all know what’s going to happen when we get back to the property.
Five stalkers alone in the dark, in a place where nobody can hear us scream.
We can’t wait any longer. Sex is going to be part of our regular routine.
“I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t address it properly. ”
I keep my eyes on the road, leading our motorcade out of the park area and into the suburbs.
We split in four different directions. North, south, east, west. I’m going to take a super fun roundabout by the old drive-up movie theater sign.
Gotta make sure to lose any possible tails.
I warned my girls to be cautious, too. We have hourly text message check-ins now.
A great way to hurt me would be to start offing my crew.
“Tell me.” I wait for Ash to spill whatever secrets he has left. I hope there aren’t many. I’ll start to be less forgiving about lies from this point forward.
He studies his hands, streetlights flickering across his handsome face as we drive.
“I love you. I cannot stress that enough. No matter what happens, I’m on your side.
” Ash folds his hands together and hangs his head, preparing himself for another night alive that he didn’t expect.
The stress is going to kill him eventually, even if we manage to keep him safe from the mob.
“Anything you want me to do, I’ll do it. My life is entirely yours.”
“You see this?” I lift my hand and wiggle my fingers, inked rings and metal rings both present.
Bohnes is going to have to get me a physical one, too.
Probably something from one of those fifty-cent toy dispensers at Wesley’s diner, the ones that eat quarters and give up prizes in little plastic balls with brightly colored lids.
I’d like that. “You’re so deep into this that you’re never getting away.
I’m now more dangerous to you than Jonas is. ”
Ash laughs at that, reaching up to rub his hoodie sleeve across his perfect mouth.
“If I stay alive, then is it a bad thing for me to have said it? If I die, it’s crucial.” Ash slumps back against the seat, trying to relax. His gaze remains fixed on the window and the side mirror. Paranoid as he needs to be, considering the situation.
“I love you, too. Ash, I’ve loved you for a while. Since our first night together on the Mustang.” I force myself not to look at him, staring out the front window instead. I’m relaxed, but I’m cautious. Giving my full attention to driving is essential. An accident would be catastrophic right now.
“I’m sorry that you had to rely on Bohnes to bring you her heart,” Ash says softly, like he can’t bear to acknowledge the words I just said to him. Ah. So he already knows what’s in the box. “Alexis’, I mean. Obviously.”
“Doesn’t change anything. That’s just his way of being romantic.
You’re the one that shot her. Give yourself a little credit.
” I make a left turn, shutting off my headlights and slowing down to a crawl.
I’ll pull over here in a bit, see if anyone shows up.
I’d rather hide in the fog and watch a tail drive by than end up leading one home because I’m in a hurry.
The car settles into the shadows as I shut off the engine, trapping the pair of us in the dark with woods on one side, farms on the other. The road is silent. There are no streetlights here.
“You have such a handsome face, it makes it hard for women to say no.” I try to lighten the mood and Ash accepts the invitation, dragging his fingers through his hair and giving me a very dramatic come-hither expression.
Only, he’s really fucking good-looking so it’s not comical at all.
It’s distracting. There’s so much melancholy under his brief good humor.
“You’re going to make me crash if you look at me that way while I’m driving,” I grumble and he laughs.
“This is a face that’s literally lured women to their deaths, so I must be some sort of siren.
” His mouth twitches a little, and I’m happy to see that he’s enjoying tonight’s adrenaline spike.
Ash enjoys this crap, slinking around in the dark like something that isn’t fully human.
Bohnes thrives in this place. “Or an incubus.”
Oooh.
My Nightmare rolls to a crawl beside us, the Chevelle’s headlights off. His window is down, so I roll mine to match and we look at each other, clouds of white breath puffing into the cold dark air.
“You’re clear. You can head home. Use your headlights if you want.” He smirks a little, a teasing expression that reads use your headlights if you suck.
“You’re going to regret saying that when we get back.” I lick the edge of my lip and roll the window up, flipping him off as I pull out in front of Bohnes and he eats my rear bumper the rest of the way home.
No headlights needed.
I come to a stop inside the open warehouse doors, shutting the Pantera’s engine off. The Chevelle pulls up alongside me and the L88 and the Stingray were already here.
“Do you want to shut your brain off tonight?” Ash asks softly, like maybe he is the one who wants to shut his brain off. Existential dread can be erased with sex. Can confirm as someone who’s literally experienced the other side. “I could make tea. And scones.”
He sounds really fucking British.
The other boys have already climbed out of their cars and are spreading out in different directions to complete all the necessary chores. Checking on Trish and Ernest. Closing the big warehouse doors. Ensuring all the cameras are working properly. Ash and I are the only ones sitting still.
“Shut my brain off?” I ask him, canting a look his way.
I make a face that shows exactly what it is I plan on doing.
“You think you boys are allowed to leave me unsatisfied any night of the week? Especially not on my wedding night. You said you were an incubus, Ash.” My smile is so wicked that he groans, putting his hand over his crotch and giving it a squeeze. “Prove it.”