Chapter 21
CALISTA
College has always been a waste of time for me.
Skills are honed in the real world, the lessons learned beyond the walls of a classroom far more valuable than those found within. The idea of education is a societal label, and were it not for my mother’s stance on the topic, I wouldn’t attend at all.
Not that I attend much as it is.
The college is more of an observatory than anything. A way to check in with my fellow prodigies, watch fights break out over lunchtime, and study the few females who have the misfortune of being in attendance.
For every girl, there’s twenty males.
Daddies tend to have a soft spot for their darlings so more often than not, daughters are shipped away to a safer place. It’s an old fashioned notion, stashing their precious babies in a place where the shadows won’t jump out at you.
Given the dismal amount of sunlight illuminating the gritty streets of Wolf Hollow, I don't blame them.
Pulling into the parking lot, I find Christopher waiting for me. His aviators are perched on the end of his nose, the stubble dusting his jawline thicker than usual. It’s a tantalizing sight, especially once you throw in the leather jacket pulled tight around his shoulders.
“Ken doll doesn’t look happy to see you.”
Vector tilts his head, studying the man like he would a puzzle.
“What’d you do this time?”
“Whatever gave you the idea I was the problem?”
He smirks, glancing at me from the passenger seat, “Aren’t you always the problem?”
Pulling my lipstick out of my purse, I pause to reapply. The colour is coined fatal red and I can’t help but think it sets a productive tone for the day.
“A woman is only as terrible as her reputation, Vector.” Smacking my lips together, I give the beast a grin, “And I pride myself on having the worst of them all.”
His eyes narrow but he doesn’t say a word.
Such an improvement in such a short time.
Swinging my door open, I let my heels scrape the gravel of the parking lot. Christopher watches me silently, his eyes roaming the length of my legs from behind his sunglasses.
“Nice ride.”
“Which one?”
My teasing grin paired with Vector’s timely exit has Christopher’s expression shifting. A fleeting glimpse of something feral before his easy demeanor settles back in place.
“A Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.” He steps forward, running a hand over the smooth surface of my muscle car, “Over 700 horsepower and 650 pounds of torque.”
His tatted knuckles glide over the dark exterior, teasing the red pinstripe gently. I watch him caress the car the same way he played with my pussy the other night.
It’s a fucking sight to see.
“Hard and fast.” His lips tilt upwards, forcing my gaze back on the stubble gracing his cheekbones, “That’s how she likes it.”
“Sounds like you’ve been paying attention.”
“You make it impossible not to.”
His hand is on my car but his gaze is on me.
“It’s a beautiful machine, Calista.”
“I know.”
Christopher tilts his head, studying me silently. I study him right back, admiring the strands of pitch-black hair falling into his soulful eyes.
The portrait of a wolf catches my attention. Creeping past the collar of his jacket, the mural of a hunting party plays out along Christopher’s skin.
The wolf’s snout is pulled into a fearsome snarl, his fangs snapping at the archers surrounding him. You can feel the rage radiating from the animal, the savage look in his eyes akin to the blood leaking from the wounds in his fur coat.
It’s a gruesome piece, but I’m more interested in the faint white lines breaking through the blood staining the wolf’s neck.
“Let’s cut to the chase.”
Christopher clears his throat, interrupting my chain of thought.
“You have something I need. One way or another I’m going to get it from you, so why don’t we skip the hassle and negotiate a trade.”
I tap my lips thoughtfully, “Now you see, I don’t believe I have anything you need.”
“Nice try, darling.”
“Is this about the other night?” Letting out a long sigh, I take a step closer, “I’m flattered, really, but sucking your dick wasn’t life changing for me.”
His lips twitch, “I’m not talking about sexual favours, Miss Drache.”
“Oh, dear. You are still upset about the other night.” I lean in until my breath brushes his lips, “It was nothing personal, Devil. Just a little fun at the White Castle.”
“Right. And the diamond?”
“Long gone.” Flapping my hand, I offer him a wide smile, “Sold off to a buyer as it were. He was very interested in hearing about the history of the dwarves.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?” Pursing my lips, I think it over, “Last time I checked, a rather large deposit was made to my bank account this morning. Did wonders for my credit score.”
For the first time, Christopher starts to look uneasy.
“Cut the bullshit. Where’s my diamond.”
“I told you. Sold to an anonymous third party.” My shoulders lift in a shrug, “I could give you their number but you know how the black market is with burner phones and all that.”
“Shit. Shit!”
Shoving a hand through his hair, Christopher closes his eyes and sucks in a deep breath.
I lean forward and press my lips against his cheek, scraping my tongue teasingly against his scruff. He doesn’t pull away as I slowly work my way down his neck.
“Poor baby.” Purring against his skin, I nip his ear lobe playfully, “Always working so hard for the last dollar. Do you want to kiss and makeup?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He growls the word.
Running my tongue along the column of his throat, I give the wolf an equal amount of attention as the man.
“You’re so tense, Devil. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Stop getting in my way.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Running my nails down the front of his jacket, I slip them between the folds to play with the soft edge of his shirt, “To survive Wolf Hollow, you need to achieve a certain reputation. A reputation which cannot be achieved if I roll over and show my belly to every newcomer who steps in my territory.”
His chest is warm against my palms, the firm edge of his muscles shifting with every breath.
“I’m not here to piss in your food bowl.”
“No.” My lips split into a wide smile, “You’re here to steal it.”
A reluctant chuckle slips past his lips, a sound that rumbles through my palms and buries itself deep in my sternum.
It’s a pleasant sound, Christopher’s laugh. Heartfelt and inviting, it’s the kind of sound that could double as a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.
Warm me up on even the coldest day.
My hands fall from his chest and the warmth goes with it. Settling back into my hollow state, I step away and look at the man planning to steal the Drache fortune.
“Face it, Devil. This is one test you’re bound to fail.”
Dark eyes skitter across my face, picking and prying at the glue holding my mask in place.
“And if I pass?”
Silence stretches between us.
“You won’t.”
I turn and walk away, feeling the weight of his gaze with every step. The image of a wounded wolf stains my mind as I rejoin Vector in the auditorium, our usual seats in the backrow offering less entertainment than usual.
The desk in front of me stays silent and empty, Christopher’s absence adding to the solemn mood of the morning.
Solemn, that is, until my phone pings with the message I’ve been waiting for.
MARLIN: Be at the Seaborn Mansion tonight.