Chapter 18 Evie #2
I hated this part.
I loved the way they screamed and cursed after, though. Even the way they begged for forgiveness, as if they weren’t about to kill me.
The way men would have the most depraved thoughts about me, only to beg and scream when I matched a fraction of those thoughts.
I waited as he fell to the ground, blood coating his shirt. He reached out, trying to grab my leg, but I stepped back.
“Eww, no thank you.”
“Bitch,” he groaned, his hand around the handle of my knife.
“Wow, way to hit me where it hurts,” I sighed, as if I hadn’t heard that a thousand times in my life. “I wouldn’t pull that out if I were you.”
He didn’t listen, pulling at the blade as blood rushed from the wound.
“Who are you?” I asked, watching the blood seep across his jacket. He screamed, thrashing to put pressure on it.
“Like I would tell you.” A scream seeped between each word.
“Don’t you want your boss to know you’re dead? How else would I let him know where to find your body?”
“Bitch,” he said again through gritted teeth.
“Here, you’re right. Let me help.” I shoved the knife back in as he screamed. “I don’t particularly care where your body ends up or if anyone ever knows about it. Anything more important you need me to pass along?”
He grinned, blood coating his teeth now, which couldn’t be a good sign for him. “Nothing they don’t already know. You should watch out, though. I wasn’t the only one.”
I glanced around, not seeing anyone else with him. “You never are. It only matters to me if you mean you’re not the only one right now, or ever.”
I heard the bike before I saw it. The echo of the exhaust filling the parking garage. I froze, already reaching for my phone. It only sounded like one bike, but if this guy was threatening me with more of them showing up, I couldn’t be dumb and wait to see if there were going to be more.
By the time I got my phone and keys out, the bike rounded the corner. The rider angled the bike at us, flying across the open garage until he nearly ran over the guy still trying to get up off the ground. The bike skidded to a sharp halt, the tires kicking up stray rocks as my breath caught.
I was frozen, but it didn’t matter. The rider tore off his helmet and my stomach flipped—Aiden.
He swung off the bike, face unreadable but eyes dangerous. He moved fast without hesitation, and before the guy could react, Aiden grabbed my knife from his chest only to sink it in again.
And again.
And again.
The blood sprayed, dark and quick, as the man slumped back to the ground.
Aiden finally turned to me, wild-eyed and chest heaving. “Are you hurt?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t think I could.
Because Aiden looked unhinged.
Like something barely held together, something too raw and furious to be the composed version of him I knew.
And I loved it.
“Evie.” His voice was sharp, a growl. “Are you hurt?”
I couldn’t find words, my mouth dry as I stared at him.
He stood up straight now, unfurling his tall frame until all six foot four of a bloody, pissed off Aiden stood in front of me. I’d never wanted to jump him so badly.
What is wrong with me that feral and bloody made me lose every sane thought in my head?
“What are you doing?” I finally asked.
“Saving you, apparently.”
“I mean, he already had the knife in him,” I said, motioning to the knife once again stuck in his chest. “Is that really considered a rescue?”
“And was still very much alive and able to get back up to attack you more if he wanted.”
Aiden’s gaze swept the garage, checking for more threats. His shoulders tensed, the faintest furrow creasing his brow. Before he could finish whatever silent calculation he was running, I stepped into his line of sight, forcing his attention on me.
“There weren’t any more with him. None that I saw, at least. Now tell me what you are doing here.”
“I was out for a drive and heading to park here. I heard a commotion and figured I should check it out.” He shrugged as he pulled out his phone.
“You don’t hide it well when you’re lying so blatantly. You won’t even look at me.” My hands flew to my hips as anger boiled beneath the surface. “Did you follow me here tonight? There’s no way you could have known I was here unless you followed me.”
“I didn’t follow you.” He glanced at me, his eyes jumping to my car and then back at me. Someone else may not have noticed, but I did. “Not exactly.”
“Oh my god, you asshole, you have a tracker on my car, don’t you?”
He didn’t respond, but crouched down next to the body.
I stepped up behind him, fisting the hair at his nape and yanking his head back until he was forced to look up at me. His expression gave nothing away, but I knew I was right—he’d put a tracker on my car.
Aiden and I had both become human lie detectors to each other. I could never get a lie past him—he could read my tells now, like I could read his.
“You’re not going anywhere important in that car that I couldn’t know about anyway. Anywhere important or dangerous you go is on my bike with me.”
“And that gives you a right to put a tracker on me?” I nearly yelled.
“I’m your bodyguard. Remember? I can do anything I want if it keeps my psycho girl safe.
” He grinned. A full, happy grin as he looked up at me, my hand still fisted in his hair as I forced his head back more.
“And you fucking like it,” he said, the words drawn out so slow and deep I nearly collapsed.
“I could put a fucking tracker in your damn arm and you would like it.”
A shiver ran down my spine at the blunt words filled with heat. He wasn’t even trying to hide the deep carnal tone in his voice.
Part of me couldn’t believe this was happening.
The other part was trying to figure out if this was enough of an invitation to sink down onto his lap.
“No—no. I wouldn’t like it.” The words were half stuttered, but I got the lie out. I couldn’t comprehend the amount of fucked-up happiness I would have if Aiden suddenly became that obsessed with me.
He groaned, the sound vibrating through me. “Just like you know when I’m lying, I know when you’re lying, Psycho. Now, can I call for the guys to come help clean this up, or do you want to stay here and force me to my knees next to a dead body all night?”
I looked around, realizing I was alone with Aiden on his knees. “I mean . . . that doesn’t sound too bad, actually.”
He stayed crouched but spun to face me. My hand dropped from his hair and he grabbed my hips, pulling himself up. His body slid against mine as he stood, the warmth of him seeping into me.
“You covered me with more blood,” I mumbled.