Chapter 11 #2
She turns around without hesitation, that beaming smile still on her face. “Did students hear about how my father died?”
Her smile falls, her hand coming to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Zee. Of all the people to succumb to suicide, I didn’t think it would be Professor Blackwood.”
My brow arches. “Why not?”
“He seemed grounded, you know? But…” Liv looks around. “They caught him having an affair with this woman from Toronto. It was years ago, and…” she trails. “I don’t know, this town is weird like that.”
“An affair?” I blink. “Married?”
Liv blinks quickly in return. “Yeah, after his affair, he married Lola Perez.”
Pressure lands on my chest. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
A frown appears on her face as her hand falls to her heart. “You weren’t close to your father, were you?”
“I guess nepotism has its drawbacks.”
Sugar Skull
I scan the grid of cameras, watching as Zee unpacks her bags again.
She hesitates, glancing around the room before she places a sweater into the vintage wooden drawer.
I should’ve told her to leave.
I should’ve told her to get her shit and go.
I can’t blame her for wanting to stay despite everything. We now share something more than two heated, unforgettable moments.
We share a question.
Who murdered Barry?
They told us it was a suicide. They told us Barry wanted out. But someone wanted him out, and they made it happen.
The records I’m sorting through don’t help to make sense of it. The times don’t line up.
Whoever did the job was sloppy. Too careless.
Reaching over to my landline, I dial the number. Pulling the receiver to my ears, my eyes stay fixed on the screen.
“Big Brother Ambrose,” Father answers. “Is it done?”
“The cleanup on Barrington predates the coroner.” I get to the point, my eyes skimming the documents in front of me again.
Silence.
“Has his case reopened?” Father asks.
“She’s part of it, isn’t she?”
“You’re reading things too closely.”
“That’s what I do.”
“Brother…” Father reminds me of my place. Below him. And that tells me more than he realizes. "Sometimes the right procedure isn’t required.”
“Everything requires procedure, or it leaves a mess.”
Silence.
I let it take over us.
He’ll break first.
“It’s a privilege to be here, Brother," he says. "Unfortunately, Father Barrington lost that privilege. Don’t lose yours either.” My grip tightens on the receiver.
That’s a fucking threat. “We said you needed to make yourself useful here. You’re not pure.
You can no longer just … caretake bugs. You need to care for this brotherhood as well.
The Establishment. That’s what matters.”
Click!
Father hangs up.
Placing the receiver down, my eyes stay on Zee as she moves to the living room. She places some of her romance books back on the shelf, her face close to the camera I replaced.
Her skin looks as smooth and soft as it felt that night, my mouth pressed to her delicious pussy and her juices running down my face.
Zee’s gaze moves right to the camera, a smirk crawling across those kissable lips.
She knows I’m watching.
The video I sent her told her I am.
“Hello, Angel."
She pulls a book from the shelf.
Then she gives the camera the middle finger.
A smile tickles my face.
She likes me watching her.
Does she know I watched her at the Insectarium today? I also watched Olivia be … too nice. Liv isn’t like the other girls, and Father hates that. But she’s in the bloodline. It would be better if Father sent her to live with nuns, but there’s not much we can do without her parents' approval.
Olivia likes Zee. Can’t blame her. But they’re watching Olivia too, and I’m the only one meant to be watching Zee. I don’t want them too close.
Taking her book, Zee lies on the sofa. The same one she laid across the first night we spent together.
At first, she just lies back, munching on chips while she indulges in her book in that tattered oversized sweater. But then, with her gaze on the camera, she slowly parts those thighs.
My thighs.
She’s already wet when she pulls her panties to the side. I can see the way her sweet centre glistens from here.
My abs tighten as I sit up, a swell in my pants.
Zee pushes two fingers in her mouth, sucking on them, slow and indulgent.
My cock twitches alive.
Is she thinking of me? How I pulsed my release down her throat? How she sucked every fucking drop out of me?
She drags her fingers between her breasts, down her curves until they’re between her legs. She parts her legs further, one hanging off the sofa.
“Good girl,” I mutter, a throb against my slacks.
She runs her fingers over her clit, the same way I told her to. In slow circles. Her head falls, her mouth open. All I can think about is shoving my cock inside her again.
She pushes her fingers inside her and … sweet fucking Jesus.
A soft moan leaves her as her book drops to the floor.
“Say you’re thinking of me, Angel,” I mutter, grabbing onto my cock beneath my pants. “Say my fucking name.”
Like we’re connected, her mouth falls wider as she pumps her fingers. “Sugar Skull.”
Fuck.
Zee wants to play.
My mind shuffles as I watch her.
Staying here isn’t good. My curiosity sparked suspicion in Father, and he wants Zee gone. She doesn’t have anything, but I have a lot. It’ll be dangerous, but I can take her away. Away from Drey. Away from Olivia.
Away from Father.
Zee deserves it all, and if I have to sacrifice myself to get it for her, I will. This girl is … everything.
I’m not waiting any longer.
I’m taking what’s mine.
That’s after I make her finish.
Grabbing my keys from my drawer, my momentum slows, my eyes catching on one of the feeds on the screen.
The camera pointed towards the road.
It’s faint. Something black in the corner, at the crossroads of the street.
My eyes narrow.
A black sedan, a star painted on the back window. Just enough in view.
My grip on my keys tightens. A throb in my neck.
Who the fuck is that?